José Carlos Barbosa

Pre- and post-milking teat antisepsis is one of the most effective methods for reducing the incidence of mastitis. Plant extracts have proven effective in reducing microorganisms, providing a natural alternative for antisepsis, along with additional benefits for teat health. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial and antiseptic effects of two newly formulated products, used as pre-dipping and post-dipping agents, respectively, based on plant extracts from papain (Carica papaya), aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis), andiroba (Carapa guianensis), copaiba (Copaifera officinalis), tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia), and barbatimão (Stryphnodendron barbatiman). Minimum inhibitory concentration tests were performed in vitro, along with microbiological analyses of different bacterial groups and in vivo compliance assessments to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the formulations, as well as the molecular identification of Staphylococcus aureus. The results demonstrated that the products were effective in vitro against the main pathogens that cause mastitis, including Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Escherichia coli. In the in vivo assays, similar performance was observed between the tested products and the control products, indicating that the plant-extract-based formulations, applied as pre-dipping and post-dipping agents, effectively reduced the microbial load on the teats. The effects were equivalent to those of hydrogen-peroxide- and iodine-based products, being able to reduce the total microbial load by more than 80%.

The use of intercropping system allows crops to better utilize inputs supplied and the productive capacity of the area, which can be advantageous to the farmer. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the production performance of eggplant and industrial tomato intercropped as a function of the date of eggplant transplantation compared with tomato transplantation, in two seasons. Ten dates of eggplant transplantation were evaluated (-30, -25, -20, -15, -10, -5, 0, + 5, +10 and +15 days compared with tomato transplantation), with the first season from February to September 2009 and the second from August 2009 to February 2010. The number of commercial fruits per plant, commercial yield per plant and commercial yield of eggplant and tomato were influenced by the date of transplanting of eggplant. Highest eggplant yields were obtained in the second season, due to the more favorable weather conditions for the development of this crop. Late eggplant transplants resulted in yield losses due to tomato interference. For tomatoes, the later the eggplant was transplanted, the higher the yield. Therefore, it is concluded that the species have a high degree of interference with each other and the variation in the time of eggplant transplantation influenced the production characters of both crops. In terms of production, the intercropping of these species may not be economically viable for the farmer due to negative influences on the growth, development and production of these crops.

Bovine mastitis is one of the main causes of economic damage in dairy farms. Therefore, the control and prevention of microorganisms involved in this disease, mainly Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus agalactiae, are essential. One of the most important steps for the prevention of the disease is the use of antiseptic products before and after the milking process to avoid bacteria from infecting the udder of the animal. Currently, the most used antiseptic product in dairy farms is iodine-based, and organic dairy farms, which follow several strict regulations, including the use of natural products whenever possible, are often forced to adopt non-natural antiseptic products, such as iodine-based ones, because of the lack of natural alternatives. Propolis, a natural substance produced by honeybees, has been extensively studied for its various properties, one of which is antimicrobial activity. Therefore, a new natural antiseptic product containing 1% propolis in 10% hydroalcoholic solution for the pre-dipping, and 10% glycerol solution added with 0.2% citronella oil for the post-dipping was analyzed for its capacity to reduce bacteria in vivo in order to prevent bovine mastitis, allowing its use on organic dairy farms. A total of 128 samples were analyzed in terms of bacterial growth for Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus spp. using the spreadplate technique. The reduction in the bacterial concentration after the application of the products was compared between two antiseptic solutions, an iodine-based solution as the control and a propolis-based one as the natural alternative. The results obtained show a similar efficiency for both products in terms of total bacterial reduction, indicating considerable antimicrobial activity against bacteria most commonly associated with bovine mastitis. Molecular analysis was carried out for the identification of Streptococcus agalactiae; the PCR results were negative for the presence of S. agalactiae in all samples, indicating that the animals most likely did not have any form of the disease. The efficiency of the natural antiseptic was satisfactory, indicating an important find facilitating organic milk production worldwide, showcasing a natural antiseptic solution with efficient antimicrobial activity.

The study was developed in the Sheep Production Laboratory of the Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. Thirty-two non-castrated Ile de France lambs weighing 20.0 ± 0.2 kg received 4 diets with a roughage: concentrate ratio of 40: 60. The experimental treatments consisted of D1: corn silage + concentrate; D2: corn silage + concentrate + 30 mg rosemary extract kg body weight1; D3: corn silage + concentrate + 30 mg green tea extract kg body weight-1; and D4: corn silage + concentrate + 30 mg oregano extract kg body weight-1, up to 35.0 ± 0.2 kg body weight. The objectives were to evaluate rib eye area, cholesterol content, lipid oxidation, qualitative parameters, as well as perform sensory analysis, centesimal composition, and fatty acid profile of the meat. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments and eight replicates. The treatments were compared by Tukey’s test through the SAS software (Statistical Analysis System Institute [SAS], 2003). Inclusion of phytogenic additives into the diets did not affect the qualitative parameters cholesterol content, lipid oxidation, and centesimal composition (except for protein content, which was lower in D2, 22.57%, compared to D1, 25.62%), as well as meat fatty acid profile (except for C18: 1n7 cis-vaccenic). The use of phytogenic additives provided suitable qualitative parameters.

Larvae ofHeliothis virescens(Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) often infest soybean crops,Glycine max(L.) (Fabaceae), causing significant yield losses in important soybean‐producing regions. The use of soybean varieties resistant to lepidopteran larvae is a major approach in soybean integrated pest management. However, standardization and optimization of bioassays that are used to screen genotypes for insect resistance are essential for high‐throughput phenotyping. Methodologies for screening were assessed to determine the most effective method for discriminating levels of antixenosis toH. virescensin soybean plants. Feeding and oviposition preference assays were performed to determine optimal densities of larvae and adults, and optimal plant structures and growth stages for conducting assays. In addition, trichome densities, and fiber and lignin contents were quantified in plant structures of soybean cultivars differing in resistance. Resistance levels of cultivars were best differentiated using nine neonate larvae and two 6‐day‐old larvae, and by using young leaves of plants at the vegetative stage. This was likely due to the more pronounced differences in lignin and fiber contents in young leaves of vegetative‐stage plants. Density of adult pairs, plant structure, and growth stage did not affect ability to distinguish differences in oviposition preference byH. virescens. Higher numbers of eggs were found on the leaves, which were the plant structures that exhibited the lowest trichome densities. The protocol developed in this work will benefit future evaluations of soybean genotypes for antixenosis againstH. virescens.

O percevejo-marrom-da-soja Euschistus heros, destaca-se como uma das principais pragas da cultura, sendo fundamental realizar amostragens periódicas para aferir a densidade populacional e auxiliar na tomada de decisão de controle.O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar a dinâmica populacional de E. heros em cultivares de soja transgênica de diferentes ciclos de desenvolvimento. Os experimentos foram conduzidos nos anos agrícolas 2013/14 e 2014/15 na FCAV/UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil. Foram selecionados três campos, e em cada um foi demarcada uma área de 8.000 m2 (0,8 ha), sendo cada área subdividida em 80 parcelas de 100 m2 (10 m x 10 m). As cultivares de soja transgênica de diferentes ciclos de desenvolvimento utilizadas foram: SYN 1365 RR (precoce), M 7908 RR (média) e BRS Valiosa RR (tardia). As amostragens foram realizadas semanalmente pelo método da batida de pano, registrando-se o número de ninfas e adultos. Foram confeccionadas figuras para demonstrar a dinâmica populacional entre os dados médios de infestação do inseto-praga e o estágio fenológico da cultura, sendo a influência dos fatores meteorológicos analisada por meio da análise de regressão múltipla com seleção de variáveis pelo método “stepwise”. De acordo com os resultados da dinâmica populacional, as maiores densidades populacionais de E. heros foram observadas no estádio fenológico R6 da soja, e a temperatura máxima é o fator meteorológico que mais influenciou na variação da densidade populacional de E. heros.

O percevejo Neomegalotomus parvus (Westwood) é conhecido como praga de algumas culturas. No entanto, são limitadas as informações sobre o comportamento deste inseto e a influência de fatores ambientais em sua ocorrência no campo. Objetivou-se neste estudo determinar a dinâmica populacional e a distribuição espacial de N. parvus em culturas de soja e milho com presença de uma área de refúgio. O estudo foi conduzido em uma área com sucessão de soja/milho, e período de pousio, onde foi implantado uma área de refúgio (beetle bank), para avaliar o padrão de distribuição espacial de N. parvus e vincular sua eventual agregação e colonização à presença da área de refúgio. Também se avaliou a influência da precipitação, temperatura do ar e os estágios fenológicos das culturas na distribuição temporal deste percevejo. Os resultados mostraram que N. parvus possui um padrão agregado de distribuição espacial e que a agregação e a colonização estão relacionadas à cultura, contudo os insetos não se beneficiam da presença da área de refúgio. A maior abundância de N. parvus ocorreu no período do milho, com grãos fisiologicamente maduros, chuvas reduzidas e temperaturas amenas. Esses resultados podem contribuir para o desenvolvimento de planos de manejo para N. parvus, com ações direcionadas.

Lettuce and cucumber are two important vegetables cultivated in greenhouses. Intercropping can increase the yield without increasing the demands for inputs. A more efficient use of resources in production systems can reduce costs and environmental impacts. We evaluated the land equivalent ratio (LER) of intercropping cucumber and lettuce as a function of the cucumber population. An experiment was conducted in a greenhouse to evaluate the cucumber population density (100, 85, 70, and 55% of 2.35 plants m⁻²) and two lettuce cultivars, ‘Lucy Brown’ and ‘Vanda’. The cucumber population density affected the amount of photosynthetically active radiation that reached the lettuce. The higher the density, the lower the total fresh mass and yield of the two lettuce cultivars. Fruit yield per plant and per area decreased and increased, respectively, as the density increased. LER was highest when cucumber was intercropped with ‘Vanda’ lettuce. LER increased with the density of ‘Vanda’ but decreased for ‘Lucy Brown’. ‘Lucy Brown’ produced commercial traits (head formation) only at the lowest density (55%). The presence of lettuce did not affect the cucumber yield per plant or per area. The intercropped system used land more efficiently than monocultured crops of lettuce and cucumber, with better results for ‘Vanda’ than ‘Lucy Brown’.

An experiment was carried out in the city of Itápolis (SP), from October 2007 to January 2008, in a Red-Yellow Distrophic Argissolo (loamy soil), in order to evaluate growth, accumulation and exportation of macro and micro­nutrients in Top Gun hybrid watermelon. The experimental design took place in randomized blocks, having six different treatments corresponding to the sampling stages of plants: elongation of the main branch; presence of tertiary branches; early flowering; fruit with a diameter of 8 cm; fruit with a mass of between 4 and 5kg; and end of the cycle. The accumulation of dry mass was slow up to 35 DAS, increasing from this point on, reaching 1528 g plant-1 at the end of the cycle. The total accumulated dry mass was made up of 11.6% stems, 19.5% leaves, and 68.9% fruit. In terms of nutrient accumulation, this was also slow up to 35 DAS. With fruiting, came an increase in the demand for nutrients with 45 to 59 DAS being the period of greater nutritional demand. The order of decreas­ing nutrients was: K> N> Ca> Mg> P> S> Mn> Fe> B> Zn> Cu. The export of macronutrients (in kg ha-1) was 36.4; 4.3; 62.7; 5.0; 6.5; and 2.3 for N, P, K, Ca, Mg and S, respectively. For Mn, Fe, B, Zn and Cu, the values exported in g ha-1 were 137.0; 157.7; 120.4; 60.4 and 22.1, respectively.