GO potato aeroponic seed production in Indonesia, producers’ perception toward the benefits and challenges

The high-quality potato seed availability in Indonesia always to be attempted continuously by Indonesian governments to encourage national potato production optimization. One of the efforts is through aeroponic potato seed production. The G0 (zero generation seed) aeroponic potato produces a better yield and healthier tuber compare to G0 conventional potato production. IVegRI has undertaken studies related to G0 potato aeroponic. The results have been disseminated and some of them have been adopted by the potato producers in various regions in Indonesia. The study aimed to investigate the potato aeroponic seed production in Indonesia based on the producers’ perception of the benefits and challenges. The study was conducted from April to December 2017, in 8 districts from 6 provinces, engaging 18 G0 aeroponic potato producers. Data were analyzed descriptively. The resulting study showed that G0 aeroponic producers perceived the production of G0 aeroponic potato as more profitable compared to G0 conventional. The advantages covered: the production was higher, the yield tuber was healthier and sterile, and also it could be produced anytime. Meanwhile, challenges faced were: initially investment cost was quite expensive, electricity installation frequently was unstable and, the challenge concocted a suitable potato aeroponic nutrition.

A Review of the Antimicrobial Activity of Selenium Nanoparticles

Antimicrobial resistance has become a severe problem for health systems worldwide, and counteractions are challenging because of the lack of interest of pharmaceutical companies in generating new and effective antimicrobial drugs. Selenium nanoparticles have attracted considerable interest in treating bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses of clinical importance due to their high therapeutic efficacy and almost zero generation of adverse effects. Some studies have revealed that the antimicrobial activity of these nanoparticles is due to the generation of reactive oxygen species, but more studies are needed to clarify their antimicrobial mechanisms. Other studies show that their antimicrobial activity is increased when the surface of the nanoparticles is functionalized with some biomolecules or when their surface carries a specific drug. This review addresses the existing background on the antimicrobial potential offered by selenium nanoparticles against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites of clinical importance.

Comparative Analysis of Thermovision Images of Healthy Young Men with Different Terms of Adaptation to Conditions of the North

Introduction. The correlation between skin temperature and cutaneous blood flow is a factor that influences thermal imaging of the body in response to thermoregulation. The objective of our study was to identify features of thermal images of young male permanent residents of the Russian North belonging to different generations. Materials and methods. Thermography was carried out using a thermal imaging camera (FLIR SC620 thermal imager, Sweden), providing long-wave (7.5–13 μm) imaging with a thermal sensitivity of 0.1 °С. Quantitative analysis of thermovision images was performed for eight sites of the body captured from the front and back in a sitting position. We examined 90 young healthy men aged 17 to 21 years, permanently residing in the Magadan Region. Depending on the duration of adaptation to extreme conditions of the North, all subjects were divided into four groups: adapting migrants (“zero generation”) and those born in the North in the first, second and third generations. Results. We established a significant increase in skin temperature at all measured body sites in the series from adapting migrants (“zero generation”) to the natives in the first to third generation. The maximum differences were observed for the average temperature of the forehead, abdomen, and lower back, reaching 0.97, 1.04, and 0.98 °C, respectively. It should be noted that the young men of the city of Magadan had a higher average skin temperature than those living in optimal climatic and geographical conditions of Central Russia and Eastern Europe. The smallest difference (0.43 °С) was registered for breast temperature between the migrants and representatives of the third generation. Conclusions. Our findings prove compensatory and adaptive physiological changes occurring in the body over time to reduce adverse effects of the cold environment. This reorganization of the body is achieved through optimization of the thermoregulatory mechanism and changes in vegetative skin vasomotor responses.

Possible alternative for national supply of seed potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) from in vitro culture at the Agro-physio-genetic and Plants Biotechnology laboratory of IPR / IFRA of Katibougou, Mali

The enhancement of the potential for reducing food insecurity and poverty through potato cultivation in Mali is largely limited by difficult access to quality seed. In trying to find ways to reduce these shortcomings outlined above that work has been done. The objective of this work was to assess the economic profitability of the local potato seed sourcing scheme from in vitro propagation and to analyze the competitiveness of the sourcing scheme from imported elite seed. The technical and economic feasibility of the local potato seed supply scheme was assessed at five levels. The first concerns the production of vitro-plants in the laboratory, the second the production of mini zero generation tubers (G0). Regarding the other three levels of evaluation, they were carried out in collaboration with the seed cooperatives by successive multiplication from mini-tubers to obtain seeds of one “G1”, two “G2” and three “G3” generations". The profitability of the procurement scheme from the elite imported and multiplied once seed was evaluated in order to analyze its competitiveness in relation to the local circuit. The valuation indicates positive profit margins. However, it should be noted that the economic efficiency coefficients of vitro-propagation (0.77) and tunnel multiplication (0.75) are less than 1. The production cost of one kilogram of G3 is equal to at 463.39 F CFA. A profit margin of 456.61 F CFA / kg emerges between this unit production cost and the selling price of imported seeds, which amounts on average to 920 F CFA / kg. The production of plants is technically feasible and profitable with a cost price of one kg of G3 in the order of 500 to 600 F CFA against 900 to 1000 F CFA / kg for imported seed. La valorisation du potentiel de réduction de l’insécurité alimentaire et de la pauvreté à travers la culture de la pomme de terre au Mali est limitée en grande partie par l’accès difficile à la semence de qualité. En essayant de trouver des moyens pour réduire ces insuffisances soulignées ci-dessus que ce travail a été effectué. Le présent travail avait pour objectif d’évaluer la rentabilité économique du schéma d’approvisionnement locale en semences de pomme de terre à partir de la vitro propagation et d’analyser la compétitivité du schéma d’approvisionnement à partir de la semence élite importées. La faisabilité technico-économique du schéma d’approvisionnement local en semences de pomme de terre était évaluée à cinq niveaux. Le premier concerne la production de vitro-plants au laboratoire, le deuxième la production de mini tubercules de génération zéro (G0). Pour ce qui concerne les trois autres niveaux d’évaluation, ils ont été réalisés en collaboration avec les coopératives semencières par multiplications successives à partir de mini-tubercules pour obtenir des semences de génération une «G1», deux «G2» et trois «G3». La rentabilité, du schéma d’approvisionnement à partir de la semence élite importée et multipliée une fois, a été évaluée en vue d’analyser sa compétitivité en rapport avec le circuit local. L’évaluation indique des marges bénéficiaires positives. Cependant, il faut remarquer que les coefficients d’efficacité économiques de la vitro-propagation (0,77) et de la multiplication sous tunnels (0,75) sont inférieurs à 1. Le coût de production d’un kilogramme de G3 est égal à 463,39 F CFA. Une marge bénéficiaire de 456,61 F CFA / kg se dégage entre ce coût de production unitaire et le prix de vente des semences importées qui s’élève en moyenne à 920 F CFA / kg. La production de plants est techniquement faisable et rentable avec un coût de revient d’un kg de G3 de l’ordre de 500 à 600 F CFA contre 900 à 1 000 F CFA / kg pour la semence importée.

Synthesis and Properties of Hybrid Carbosilane Dendrimers with Cyclosiloxane External Shells

The hydrosilylation of polyallylcarbosilane dendrimers with hydride-containing six- and eight-membered dimethylcyclosiloxanes affords a series of hybrid carbosilane–siloxane dendrimers featuring different densities of the surface cyclosiloxane layers, while retaining all other molecular parameters. The main physicochemical constants of the resulting dendrimers are defined. The possibility of functionalization of these dendrimers by the opening of cyclosiloxane structural moieties in the external shell is demonstrated by the example of the zero-generation dendrimer bearing heptamethylcyclotetrasiloxane terminal groups.

Divergent selection for fat index in Pannon Ka rabbits: genetic parameters, selection response

<p>The objective of this study was to estimate the response to selection for total body fat content of rabbits measured by computer tomography (CT). A divergent selection experiment was performed using Pannon Ka rabbits, which were previously selected for number of kits born alive. The so-called zero generation consisted of 351 Pannon Ka rabbits, from which the index, total body fat volume (cm³) divided by the body weight (kg), was measured. Rabbits with low and high fat index values were selected to form the parent groups of the lean and fat lines, respectively. The lines consisted of 55-72 females and 35-47 males, depending on the line and generation. After three generations, the rabbits were evaluated by means of a single trait animal model. The fat index showed a moderate heritability estimate (0.28±0.03). The magnitude of the common litter effect was small (0.10±0.02). The breeding values averaged per generation provided slightly asymmetrical responses. Based on the results, the divergent selection was successful in confirming that CT is a very suitable method for performing selection for body composition traits.</p>

Features Exterior of Cattle of Breed Limousian in the Period of Their Acclimation in the Conditions of the Northern Trans-Ural

The paper presents a characteristic of the exterior features of the specialized limousin meat breed bred in the conditions of the Tyumen region. Studies were conducted on first-calf cows of different generations of animals. At the same time, the introduced animals belong to the zero generation, their descendants to the 1st generation, and the grandchildren belong to the 2nd genetic-ecological generation. In the process of research, it was that the acclimatization process left its mark on the manifestation of the main breeding and productive qualities of the studied livestock generations. One of the manifestations of which was a certain grinding of cows of the first generation. The obtained results of the exterior assessment of cows of different generations showed that the best exterior development was observed in cows of the second and zero generation. So, in cows of the first and second generations there was a decrease in measurements of the chest, estimated by the chest index by 1.1–3.1 % (P> 0.999), with an increase in the proportions characterizing the development of meat qualities of animals by 6.2–6.6 % (P> 0.999). Adaptation to new conditions confirms the development of such indices as the typical physique and severity of type, which, when changing generations, had an increase dynamic.