174 What Quality and Fertility Should We Expect When Using Semen Cryopreservation and AI with Livestock? a Comparison Across Species

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) can be used across most agricultural species and will result in some degree of fertility when employed correctly. Still, conversations with agricultural producers and scientists (corporate, academic, governmental) repeatedly reveal that they do not know what success rates they should anticipate when using some ARTs, specifically semen cryopreservation and artificial insemination, with agricultural species (beef and dairy cattle, goats, pigs, poultry, sheep). These perceptions hinder ART application within the agricultural and scientific communities. Understanding these expected results is a critical component that is used to guide the USDA National Animal Germplasm Program laboratory operations for collecting, freezing and using germ plasm (semen, eggs, embryos, DNA, tissues, organs, cells), has consequently resulted in growth of the national collection, and provided tools, technologies, and educational opportunities for agricultural producers with documented success. Therefore, the intent of this presentation is to provide an overview of what results should be expected when using semen cryopreservation and artificial insemination across livestock species, explain the factors that influence successful use of these ARTs, which should encourage a more broad acceptance of their use with all agricultural species, and discuss opportunities for research and optimization that will improve fertility when using these technologies.

Utilization of Ozone and Composite Materials in the Seed Treatment to Stimulate the Germination and Growth of Agricultural Crops

In the work are presented the results of research on the influence of biostimulation treatment of three agricultural species, namely wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), corn (Zea mays L.) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). Biostimulation of agricultural species consists of a pretreatment with ozonated water with concentration 1.3 mg /L and deposition on the surface of the seeds of a layer with thickness 0.3 � 0.5 mm composite material consisting of a clay solution with carbon clusters. The study showed that the seeds subjected to treatment have a higher germination energy for all samples compared to the control ones. Also, treatment with composite materials induced an obvious stimulation of growth, which led to increased growth rates of plants, in particular, by 41.17% for wheat, by 18.46% for corn and by 29.5% for beans, compared to control samples, measured 10 days after planting. The application of ozone treatment on seeds increased the growth rate by 16.19% for beans, by 26.08 % for wheat and only by 2.97% for corn.

Biofertilizers: An Alternative for Sustainable Agriculture in the Amazon Region

Agricultural production plays a strategic role in Amazon, since it has economic and food-growing importance, but also represents a great highlight in the cultural and social scenarios. However, such theme still faces some challenges regarding the development of alternative methods capable of achieving sustainable productions, with quality and quantity, and yet with no harm to the natural resources. The Trichoderma fungus has become significant as a biological agent in agricultural species, presenting considerable answers to the development and protection of vegetables, and has also guaranteed the environmental preservation and food safety. Such issues considered, this study intends to guide small agricultural producers about the usage of Trichoderma fungi, emphasizing the agricultural species cultivation. The university extension program took place in four communities promoting workshops about the usage of the Trichoderma and other alternative biofertilizers. Each community was interviewed in an attempt to identify the main difficulties regarding a sustainable agricultural production. As a result, 75% of the communities still used chemicals in their fertilizing and plague control processes and did not use biological-origin products due to the lack of information on where to obtain them and how to use such items; only 25% had alternatives of biological defensives and merely 5% had any knowledge about the usage of biofertilizers like Trichoderma. Such findings evidence it is necessary to continue the extension program actions, focusing on their improvement and expansion, since they benefit society, economy and the environment of the Amazon region.

Diversidad, Composición Y Estructura De Los Sistemas De Producción Agrícolas De Las Comunidades Shuar De La Amazonía Del Ecuador

A diagnosis was applied on agricultural crops in the Shuar Yandia Yacu and San José de Armenia communities, in Orellana (Ecuador). Fourteen farms were chosen, seven in San José de Armenia and seven in Yandia Yacu. For sampling, they were divided into plots of 1x1 m for herbaceous and minor cultivable species, 5x5 m for shrubs and arable species of medium size, and 10x10 m for bigger cultivable and usable tree species. Data about composition and plant abundance were taken, by direct counting and participatory techniques, such as surveys and interviews. It was identified and classified by crop group, annual, perennial, use and utilitarian value. Indices of richness, diversity, similarity and cumulative frequency of the crops were calculated. As a result were found 97 agricultural species, the most representative families were Arecaceae, Solanaceae and Fabaceae, mostly fruit trees. The diversity and specific richness was registered low, representing approximately 5% of the registered agricultural species in the country. The annual food species with the highest accumulated frequency was corn (Zea maize L.), the perennial species of mayor importance was coffee (Coffea arabica L.), and the most important annual ancestral species was yucca (Manihotesculenta Crantz.). In conclusion there is a significant increase of monocultures, therefore it is necessary to recover and strengthen the production of ancestral crops to conserve the diversity of agricultural species in the Amazon region.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) and fertility management in agricultural species

A reliable, easy to assess marker for fertility in agricultural species would be highly desirable and Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) is a promising candidate. This review summarizes recent findings concerning AMH and its role in fertility management, mainly in cattle. It focuses on (1) alterations in circulating AMH concentrations from birth to puberty and during estrous cycles; (2) correlation of circulating AMH concentrations with ovarian follicle numbers and ovarian reserve; (3) factors that impact circulating AMH concentrations; (4) use of AMH as a predictor of fertility. Circulating AMH concentrations can be easily and reliably measured with a single blood sample in adult cattle because AMH varies minimally during the estrous cycle and is repeatable across multiple cycles. Circulating AMH concentrations are positively associated with several measures of fertility. Dairy heifers with low compared with higher AMH concentrations subsequently had lower pregnancy rates, higher probability of being culled after birth of their first calf and shorter herd longevity. Also, AMH is predictive of response to superovulation in cattle and sheep. Several factors contribute to the variability in AMH concentrations among individuals; for example, beef cattle have higher AMH than dairy cattle. Nutritional imbalances, disease and endocrine disruptors during fetal life may negatively program the size of the ovarian reserve and consequently serum AMH concentrations and potential fertility in adulthood. We conclude that AMH may be a predictor of fertility and herd longevity in cattle, whereas in sheep and other farm species, the potential association between AMH and reproductive performance remains largely unexplored. Free Italian abstract: An Italian translation of this abstract is freely available at http://www.reproduction-online.org/content/154/1/R1/suppl/DC1

Expression biomarkers used for the selective breeding of complex polygenic traits

We present a novel way to select for highly polygenic traits. For millennia, humans have used observable phenotypes to selectively breed stronger or more productive livestock and crops. Selection on genotype, using single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and quantitative trait loci (QTLs), is also now applied broadly in livestock breeding programs; however, selection on protein or mRNA expression markers have not been proved useful yet. Here we demonstrate the utility of protein markers to select for disease-resistant behaviour in the European honey bees (Apis melliferaL.). Robust, mechanistically-linked protein expression markers, by integrating cis and trans effects from many genomic loci, may overcome limitations of genomic markers to allow for selection. After three generations of selection, the resulting stock performed as well or better than bees selected using phenotype–based assessment of this trait, when challenged with disease. This is the first demonstration of the efficacy of protein markers for selective breeding in any agricultural species, plant or animal.Significance statementThe honey bee has been in the news a lot recently, largely because of world-wide die-offs due to the parasitic Varroa mite, which is becoming resistant to the chemical controls the bee industry uses. In this study, we show that robust expression biomarkers of a disease-resistance trait can be used, in an out-bred population, to select for that trait. After three generations of selection, the resulting stock performed as well or better than bees selected using the phenotypic best method for assessing this trait when challenged with disease. This is the first demonstration of an expression marker for selective breeding in any agricultural species, plant or animal. This also represents a completely novel way to select for highly polygenic traits.