Changes in Tillering, Nutritional Status, and Biomass Yield of Panicum Maximum Used for Cadmium Phytoextraction

Although several grasses have been evaluated for cadmium (Cd) phytoextraction, there are no studies assessing how Cd is accumulated and distributed in the tissues of Panicum maximum grown in mildly polluted soils. The evaluation of tillering, nutritional status and biomass yield of this grass, mainly along successive shoot regrowths, is not well studied so far. Thus, P. maximum Jacq. cv. Massai was grown for two periods in an Oxisol presenting bioavailable Cd concentrations varying from 0.04 (control) to 10.91 mg kg−1 soil. Biomass yield of leaves and stems´ growth have decreased under the highest Cd exposure, but it did not occur in the regrowth period, indicating that Cd-induced toxicity is stronger in the early stages of development of P. maximum. The tillering was not compromised even the basal node presenting Cd concentrations higher than 100 mg kg−1 DW. We identified a restriction on Cd transport upwards from basal node, which was the main local of Cd accumulation. Apparently, P, K, Mg, S and Cu are involved in processes that restrict Cd translocation and confer high tolerance to Cd in P. maximum. The Cd-induced nutritional disorders did not negatively correlate with factors used to calculate phytoextraction efficiency. However, the nutritional adjustments of P. maximum to cope with Cd stress restricted the upward Cd transport, which decreased the phytoextraction efficiency from the available Cd concentration of 5.93 mg kg−1 soil.

Pasture Height of A Tropical Erect Grass Affecting Young Lamb Herbage Intake And Performance

Tropical erect grass pastures have high forage production potential in subtropical and tropical regions of the world. However, in this kind of pasture, the body weight gain of weaned lambs is usually below of their potential. We determined the effect of pasture height of an erect tropical grass, consequently its structure, on intake and performance of young lambs. The experiment was repeated in two years. Thirty young weaned lambs (4-5 months) were assigned, each year, to three Panicum maximum pasture heights: 1) Tall-75 cm; 2) Medium-50 cm and 3) Short-25 cm. Herbage mass, pasture height, plant morphological composition, pasture nutritional quality, lamb’s average daily gain, gain per hectare and herbage intake were measured. The experiment was installed in a completely randomized design, evaluated in two periods each year. The Short treatment presented, on average and for longer, the highest leaf:stem ratio (1.3 ± 0.23) and average daily gain (91 ± 10 g/day) in relation to the Medium and Tall treatments (68 ± 10 and 40 ± 13 g, respectively). There was a significant interaction between treatment*period for herbage intake. The Tall treatment showed a marked decrease in intake from the first to the second period. The pasture height management interferes in the speed at which the number of stems increases of a tropical erect grass, in relation to leaves. For a better performance of weaned young lambs during summer-autumn period, it is important to manage tropical erect grass pastures at lower height than is generally recommended, lower than 25 cm.

Impact of Replacing Different Levels of Panicum maximum in Rabbit Diets on Growth Performance, Hemato-Biochemical Profile, and Histological Responses of Some Internal Organs

There has been an interest in alternative sources in rabbit feeding. Therefore, the current study aimed to estimate the health status, growth performance, hemato-biochemical, and histological picture of some important internal organs in growing Newziland rabbits as a result of replacing different levels of Panicum maximum (PM) in its pelleted diet. A total of 35 weaned rabbits (20 males and 15 females) aged 5 weeks were purchased with an average body weight of 839.7 ± 7.05 g and 771.20 ± 9.19 g for males and females, respectively. Randomly, five equal rabbit groups were formed (7 rabbits in each group). The first group (control) was fed a basal diet without PM. The second, third, fourth, and fifth groups were fed pelleted diets containing PM with a replacing percent of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of clover hay, respectively. All groups were fed ad libitum of pelleted feed for two months. The blood was aspirated individually three times, including at the beginning of the experiment (as zero time), after one month, and at the end of the experiment, respectively. The whole blood was used for the measurement of hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit percentage, erythrocytes, and total leukocyte counts. At the experimental end, in each group, 3 male rabbits were sacrificed and their internal organs including liver, kidney, cecum, and rectum were collected for histopathology. The live body weight was significantly affected by sex where males were heavier than females, also feed conversion ratio, growth rate, and feed intake were significantly affected by feeding on different levels of PM. Blood hemoglobin, hematocrit, and the total leukocytic count had a non-significant effect while the erythrocyte count increased significantly in all experimental groups. There were insignificant changes in plasma total protein, albumin, globulin, ALT, AST, creatinine, and glucose concentrations when different levels of PM were added. furthermore, the plasma total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly decreased in rabbits fed PM, 75% and 100% when compared with 25%, 50%, and control groups. Finally, replacement PM instead of clover hay in pelleted diets till 75% was found to be the safety and optimum percentage for biological and healthy rabbits.

Effect of frequency of protein energy supplementation on the performance of Nelore steers during the dry season

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the frequency of provision of protein energy supplementation on pasture during the dry period of the year on the performance of Nelore steers in rearing phase. FAZU teaching school conducted the experiment from July to September 2017. Twenty-two animals of the Nelore breed, aged 12 months and mean initial weight of 232.22 (± 20) kg, modules of 2 ha each, subdivided in six paddocks of Panicum maximum cultivars Mombaça and Tanzânia. The experimental design was completely randomized (DIC) and the averages were compared by the Tukey test at 5% significance. There was no significant difference between the three frequencies of supply of energy protein supplementation, in relation to the average daily weight gain, which were 837; 881 and 855g, at the frequencies of 7; 5 and 3 times per week, respectively. However, there was a significant difference (P <0.05) for the mean daily weight gain between the treatment in which the animals received mineral supplementation (434g), which was lower than the treatments in which the animals were fed with protein energy supplement at the level of 0.25% of body weight. In conclusion, during the period and in the evaluation conditions of this experiment, there was no difference in the effect of the frequency of supply of a protein energy supplement in the supply level of 0.25% of the animals' body weight. The average daily gain was higher for the animals that received the protein energy supplement compared to those supplemented with mineral. Five times a week supplementation obtained the best economic benefit among the evaluated frequencies.

Rumen Fermentative Properties of Pregnant West African Dwarf Does Fed Diets Containing Algae Biomass

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding algae biomass rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids at 0%, 1.5%, 3.0% and 4.5%, respectively, using Panicum maximum as basal feed, on rumen fermentative properties of pregnant West African Dwarf (WAD) does. A total of twenty (20) pregnant WAD does were grouped into four treatments containing five (5) animals per treatment and randomly allotted to the experimental diets. Rumen fluid were collected prior to mating and at the last trimester of pregnancy for determination of rumen fermentative properties. Data obtained were subjected to one way Analysis of Variance in a Completely Randomized Design. Inclusion of algae biomass up to 4.5% had no significant (p>0.05) effect on bacteria population in the rumen of the experimental does. The inclusion levels of algae biomass gave rise to the predominance of Eischeria coli (a gram negative bacterium) in the rumen of pregnant does fed the algae biomass diet. Results obtained showed a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the values obtained for ammonia nitrogen concentration in the rumen of the pregnant does when compared to the values recorded prior to mating. The total volatile fatty acid production and its molar proportion in the rumen fluid were not significantly (p>0.05) influenced by the inclusion of algae biomass.

PENGARUH 2,4- D TERHADAP PENINGKATAN KUALITAS DAN KUANTITAS KALUS YANG DIINDUKSI DENGAN KOMBINASI AUKSIN DAN SITOKININ PADA KULTUR DAUN RUMPUT BENGGALA ( Panicum maximum) VARIETAS TRICHOGLUME

To determine the effect various concentration 2, 4, 6 and 8 mg/l of 2,4- D (2,4- dicloropenoxy acetic acid) on callus induction of Benggala grass variety Trichoglume leaf culture on Murashige and Skoog (MS) standard medium and its organogenesis stimulated using deffent concentration of growth regulator, namely [N6- (2- isopenteny)- adenine] or 2iP (0, 0.2 and 1.0 mg/l ) and (l- naphthalene acetic ent, wacid) or NAA (0, 0.03, 0.16 and 3.0 mg/l) were performed. Percentage of callus were measured and organogenesis from callus were subjected to description analysis . The results showed that callus induction was optimum when 2,4-D was treated at 4 mg/l, friable callus were produced. Percentage production of callus week 4 was 46.2 percent, while using 8 mg/l 2,4 –D the callus production was about 59.7 percent yellowish coloured and more compact callus were produced. Combination of 0 mg/l 2iP ( auxin) + 3mg/l (cytokinin) at 3 weeks showed reseilted 100 % of calluses produced roots, the highest amaunt roots (9,0) was observed in combination 0 mg/l 2iP + 3 mg/l NAA, and the longest root (17,0 mm) was recorded in combination 0 mg/l 2iP + 3 mg/l NAA. Calluses yielded varied from white, yellowish to brown colour.

ANÁLISE DE RESTAURAÇÃO ECOLÓGICA ATRAVÉS DE INDICADORES EM ÁREA DE REFLORESTAMENTO NO PARQUE ESTADUAL MATA DOS GODOY, LONDRINA, PR.

Introdução: os projetos de restauração de áreas degradadas têm por finalidade planejar a implantação de um novo ecossistema em áreas onde, por causa antrópica ou não, a cobertura vegetal existente foi parcial ou integralmente suprimida. O acompanhamento do desenvolvimento das espécies plantadas na área em restauração torna-se imprescindível e há a necessidade do estabelecimento de indicadores que permitam avaliações periódicas durante todo o desenvolvimento do projeto, possibilitando um monitoramento efetivo na área e verificando se os objetivos estabelecidos estão sendo alcançados. Objetivo: analisar o processo de restauração ecológica de um reflorestamento com espécies nativas denominado “Projeto Primavera” no Parque Estadual Mata dos Godoy (PEMG) através da aplicação de protocolo de monitoramento de áreas em restauração por uma matriz universal de indicadores ecológicos, a fim de obter dados que pudessem indicar o grau de desenvolvimento do ecossistema analisado. Material e métodos: em uma área mais homogênea deste reflorestamento, com borda próxima a área de floresta nativa do PEMG, foram alocadas 5 parcelas amostrais de 12m x 12m para coleta de dados. Quatro indicadores universais foram analisados: cobertura do solo, estratificação, estádio sucessional e presença de espécies lenhosas invasoras. Resultados: o indicador cobertura de solo foi obtido a partir da medida linear da projeção das copas das espécies marcadas em cada parcela e o valor final da porcentagem foi superior a 80%, indicando conformidade adequada. Quanto à estratificação, a área estudada possui dois estratos, um mais uniforme e outro com algumas espécies emergentes. Quanto ao estádio sucessional à fitofisionomia, a área foi considerada como uma capoeirinha/capoeira, estando então os indicadores estratificação e estádio sucessional fitofisionomia na conformidade adequada, isto é, não é necessário nenhum tipo de intervenção adicional. Não se observou a presença de espécies lenhosas invasoras na área analisada, porém, foi observada uma considerável invasão por Panicum maximum Jacq. (capim-colonião). Considerou-se crítica esta situação, uma vez que em nenhuma parcela evidenciou-se um banco de plântulas, ou seja, foi detectada ausência de um sub-bosque regenerante. Conclusão: foi considerado necessário o controle desta espécie gramínea invasora, e avaliações periódicas da regeneração natural para o sucesso da restauração ecológica deste projeto de reflorestamento.

Efeito do ambiente na produção de leite

A zona de conforto térmico dos animais refere-se a uma faixa de temperatura onde não se necessita de mudanças fisiológicas ou comportamental para manter a temperatura corporal, nessa faixa ocorre a maior eficiência produtiva. Assim, objetivou-se avaliar a influência dos fatores climáticos através do Índice de Temperatura Equivalente (ETI) sobre a produção de leite. Os animais experimentais foram vacas multíparas da raça Girolanda. O sistema de produção era de pastejo rotacionado em Panicum maximum cv. Mombaça, associado ao fornecimento de concentrado com 24% PB e cevada no período seco e apenas suplemento mineral e cevada no período das águas. Avaliou-se as correlações do ETI e a produção por vaca e a média do rebanho. Os valores médios de ETI foram 24,5 e 33,1 de julho a agosto e setembro a janeiro, respectivamente. A correlação foi negativa entre ETI e produção de leite (R=-0,8215; p<0,05). Em regiões tropicais com vacas leiteiras com capacidade de produção acima de 15 litros deve-se utilizar ferramentas para controle das condições climáticas para que não haja prejuízo à produção leiteira.