A review of conservation and management of the Pantaneiro horse in the Brazilian Pantanal

SummaryThe Pantaneiro horse is an important social and economic part of the infrastructure of cattle farms in the Brazilian Pantanal. It is of Iberian origin and closely related to other Brazilian breeds, specifically Mangalarga, Mangalarga Machador and Campolina. Physiological studies have shown this horse to be tolerant to long treks and capable of being maintained on natural pastures. The Brazilian Pantaneiro Horse Breeders' Association has registered, to date, approximately 1 600 mares and 300 stallions, the bulk of which are in the Poconé subregion. The horse is considered small and fast. Linear measurements taken at registration are shown to be, in general, highly heritable. The population has a vulnerable status. Characterization studies showed that a combination of genetic and physical characteristics of the Pantaneiro makes it a unique population that must be conserved. Recent trends in selection may threaten the rusticity and adaptability of this valuable genetic resource. In this paper, several research studies are reviewed and areas where research and technical training are needed are highlighted.

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Identification and Characterization of Pestalotiopsis spp. Causing Scab Disease of Guava, Psidium guajava, in Hawaii

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pd-90-0016 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 90 (1) ◽

pp. 16-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Lisa M. Keith ◽

Maile E. Velasquez ◽

Francis T. Zee

Keyword(s):

Fungal Pathogens ◽

Genetic Resource ◽

Psidium Guajava ◽

Molecular Methods ◽

Fruit Rot ◽

Tropical Plant ◽

Characterization Studies ◽

The Tropics ◽

Identification And Characterization

Guava is one of the most widely grown plants in the tropics; however, it is affected by many fruit rot diseases. Fruit diseases decrease the marketability of fresh fruit and fruit for processing. A survey of scab disease was conducted at the USDA/ARS Tropical Plant Genetic Resource Management Unit in Hilo, HI, where more than 50 accessions of guava are grown. Symptoms observed were gray/light brown lesions surrounded by dark brown borders on leaves and brown, raised, corky, necrotic lesions on the exocarp of fruit which progressed as the fruits matured. Seventeen isolates from infected fruit, six isolates from lesions on leaves, and nine isolates from additional crops surrounding the guava trees were collected. The main fungi consistently isolated from symptomatic leaves and fruit were Pestalotiopsis spp. Morphology, colony characteristics, and pathogenicity of the isolates were examined and potential sources of host resistance were identified for germplasm characterization studies. Molecular methods were used to identify four Pestalotiopsis taxa (P. clavispora, P. microspora, P. sp. GJ-1, and P. disseminata) on guava in Hawaii. To our knowledge, this is the first report of traditional and molecular methods of identification and characterization being used for fungal pathogens of guava in Hawaii.

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Determinants of Crossbreeding Practices by Cattle Farmers in South Benin, West Africa: Implications for the Sustainable Use of the Indigenous Lagune Cattle Population

Sustainable Agriculture Research ◽

10.5539/sar.v8n2p101 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 101 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Maurice Cossi Ahozonlin ◽

Ivan Bossima Koura ◽

Luc Hippolyte Dossa

Keyword(s):

Technical Assistance ◽

Genetic Resource ◽

Sustainable Use ◽

Technical Skills ◽

West African ◽

Market Demand ◽

Collective Actions ◽

Regression Approach ◽

Cattle Farms ◽

Cattle Farmer

While it is widely acknowledged that the small-sized West African Shorthorn taurine Lagune cattle is being increasingly crossbred with and replaced by large-sized zebus, little is known about the factors that influence farmers’ crossbreeding decisions and selection practices. But this information is necessary for the development of strategies towards a rationale use and conservation of this unique African genetic resource. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted, between September and November 2016, a questionnaire survey in the belt of this breed in South Benin. One hundred seventy-three cattle farms were surveyed. The binomial logistic regression approach was used to predict the likelihood of a Lagune cattle farmer to be willing to introduce zebus in his herd. The herds were composed of either Lagune only (82.1%), zebu only (4.0%), crossbred Lagune x zebu (1.2%), Lagune and zebu (9.2%) or Lagune and crossbred Lagune x zebu (3.5%). The low productivity of the Lagune cattle and the market demand for large-sized animals were the main farmers’ motivations for crossbreeding. Farmers raising large herds of Lagune cattle under control mating system were more likely to adopt crossbreeding. The risk of dilution of the Lagune breed could be reduced by increasing awareness among farmers, improving their technical skills in herd management and empowering them to develop legal institutions, by-laws and collective actions for sustainable breed management. Farmers who have already adopted crossbreeding should be provided with appropriate services and technical assistance, whereas breed conservation initiatives should mainly focus on small purebred herds kept under control mating.

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