Histopathological Biomarkers as Indicators of the Environmental Quality of Two Estuaries in Northeastern Brazil

The present study aimed at evaluating the environment quality of the Santa Cruz Channel estuary (area 1) and Sirinhaém river estuary (area 2), Northeastern Brazil, using histopathological biomarkers of liver and gills of fish species with different trophic levels as indicators. It was collected liver and gills from five species: Bairdiella ronchus (n=24) and Gobionellus stomatus (n=34) in the area 1; Caranx latus (n=35), Centropomus undecimalis (n=24) and Centropomus parallelus (n=29) from area 2. The liver showed several damages, such as, hepatic steatosis, necrosis, vacuolar degeneration, and infiltration. Centropomus undecimalis had the highest Histopathological Index of Liver (HIL). Gills exhibited moderate to severe alterations for all species, such as the lifting of epithelial cells, lamellar aneurysm, and rupture of the lamellar epithelium. Centropomus undecimalis in area 2 and G. stomatus in area 1 had the higher number of alterations in their organs. Both areas have been historically affected by mercury (Hg) pollution in área 1 and by the sugarcane industry in area 2 and the species used as biomarkers has been proven to be severely damaged in both estuaries. Species chosen in this study were considered good bioindicators of pollution and the combination of biomarkers methodologies in two organs, pioneering in the Northeastern of Brazil, was efficient in diagnosing the health status of the area using fish as bioindicator.

Effects of Sugarcane and Soybean Intercropping on the Nitrogen-Fixing Bacterial Community in the Rhizosphere

Intercropping between sugarcane and soybean is widely used to increase crop yield and promote the sustainable development of the sugarcane industry. However, our understanding of the soil microenvironment in intercropping systems, especially the effect of crop varieties on rhizosphere soil bacterial communities, remains poor. We selected two excellent sugarcane cultivars, Zhongzhe1 (ZZ1) and Zhongzhe9 (ZZ9), from Guangxi and the local soybean variety GUIZAO2 from Guangxi for field interplanting experiments. These two cultivars of sugarcane have good drought resistance. Rhizosphere soil samples were collected from the two intercropping systems to measure physicochemical properties and soil enzyme activities and to extract total soil DNA for high-throughput sequencing. We found that the diversity of the rhizosphere bacterial community was significantly different between the two intercropping systems. Compared with ZZ1, the ZZ9 intercropping system enriched the nitrogen-fixing bacteria, increasing the available nitrogen content by 18% compared with that with ZZ1. In addition, ZZ9 intercropping with soybean formed a more compact rhizosphere environment than ZZ1, thus providing favorable conditions for sugarcane growth. These results provide guidance for the sugarcane industry, especially for the management of sugarcane and soybean intercropping in Guangxi, China.

Study on Sugarcane Production Efficiency Based on DEA-Malmquist Index: A Case Study of 8 Cities in Guangdong Province

This article takes the evaluation model of data envelopment analysis (DEA) and Malmquist index change and its decomposition method, from 2014 to 2018, of sugarcane production in 8 cities in Guangdong province as the research object and the selection of sugarcane production output and production factors as a model output variable and input variable, respectively, according to the eight cities of Guangdong province in 2014–2018 statistics and analyzes the sugarcane production efficiency of 8 cities in Guangdong province. The research results show that there are significant differences in the regional development level of sugarcane production comprehensive efficiency and the regional development imbalance of sugarcane industry in the eight cities of Guangdong province. The lower TPI of the eight cities is mainly due to the lower level of technological innovation. So as to put forward countermeasures which are university resource orientation for the sugarcane comprehensive efficiency in cities less than 1, transportation and telecommunication infrastructure, enhancement of the strength, the establishment of Guangdong province agricultural science and technology innovation alliance, and increase in sugarcane industry with modern manufacturing and the butt joint degree of the international marketing environment, the government actively build international BBS in sugarcane industries.

Triatominium search and diagnosis of trypanosoma cruzi in vectors captured in cane calk originating from sugarcane industry

The objective of the study was to survey triatomines and diagnose Trypanosoma cruzi in captured vectors and sugarcane juice from sugarcane mills. 100% (3/3) of the active sugar cane mills in the study area were surveyed. An active and passive search of the vectors and research of T. cruzi in the feces of engorged triatomines by compression of the abdomen and for the juice in natura by sedimentation with Giemsa staining technique were carried out, where five samples per mill were collected, totaling 15 researched. As a result, in 100% (3/3) of the mills, 22 hematophagous triatomines were captured, with 41% (9/22) by passive search and 59% (13/22) by active search. 81.8% (18/22) were found in the household environment and 18.2% (04/22) in the intra-household environment of the mills. Two species were identified being 68.18% (15/22) Triatoma brasiliensis and 9.09% (02/22) Triatoma pseudomaculata, with one adult and the four nymphs unable to be identified. T. cruzi diagnosis for triatomines was observed 4.54% (1/22) positive and 95.45% (21/22) negative, while broth, 100% (15/15) negative. However in 33.3% (5/15) broth samples the presence of soiling (microplastics) was observed. Demonstrating the importance of investigation and monitoring of milling sites with the possibility of oral transmission, which currently represent the majority of infection records in Brazil.

Lead immobilisation in mining contaminated soil using biochar and ash from sugarcane

Immobilisation of lead (Pb) and toxic elements in contaminated soils is of importance due to their persistence in the environment. Herein, we investigated the effects of sugarcane filter cake biochar (SFCB) and sugarcane bagasse ash (SBA) on the extractability of Pb and some toxic and potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cu, and Zn) in polluted mine soil samples from Lower Klity Creek, Thailand. The soil was equilibrated with the SFCB and SBA at the respective rates of 0, 1, and 5% (w/w) for 120 days at field capacity. The results revealed that both SFCB and SBA materials significantly (P < 0.05) decreased Pb extractability in the studied soil, and it stabilised after 56 days of incubation. At 120 days, the SFCB and SBA application at the rates of 5% SFCB, 5% SBA, 1% SFCB, and 1% SBA decreased the extractable Pb contents by 50.35, 40.81, 29.42, and 19.27%, respectively, compared to unamended soil. The SFCB and SBA materials also improved soil chemical properties by increasing the soil pH, available phosphorus, and extractable sulfur. At 5%, SFCB decreased As extractability and increased organic carbon in the studied soil. The Zn availability in the studied soil was also improved by SFCB and SBA addition. This study highlights the potential use of biochar and ash from the sugarcane industry to stabilise Pb and As in contaminated soils.

Audit quality and the cost of debt in private firms: evidence from the Brazilian sugarcane industry

Evidence is mixed regarding the economic benefits achieved by companies hiring large firms to audit their financial statements. The studies approaching this theme concentrate mostly on public companies in developed markets, while the effect on private firms in emerging markets is still an open question. This research explores this gap by analyzing whether private firms in the Brazilian sugarcane industry audited by a Big 4 have a lower cost of debt than those audited by a non-Big 4. For that, a unique, hand-collected, dataset was used. This paper contributes to the literature by providing evidence of the role of audit institutions in an environment lacking studies on private firms’ financial reports, especially in emerging economies. The empirical analysis does not indicate that the cost of debt is negatively influenced by the verification of financial statements by a high-quality auditor. Banks and credit unions, as the primary funding sources of the industry, condition the cost of debt reduction to the levels of tangibility, leverage, and profitability. We also contribute to the literature by demonstrating that lenders may have other soft information sources, obtained through banking relationship, which may substitute higher-quality auditor. The results hold after robustness checks and endogeneity concerns.

Resistance To Pokkah Boeng Disease In New And Main Cultivated Sugarcane Varieties

Pokkah boeng is an epidemic fungal disease that seriously affects development of the sugarcane industry in China. Resistance to pokkah boeng disease differs among sugarcane varieties. Breeding and planting resistant cultivars is the most economic and effective measure for controlling this disease. In this study, new sugarcane varieties bred by the China Sugarcane System and the main varieties cultivated in various sugarcane areas, were screened to find new elite pokkah boeng resistant varieties for application in sugarcane production. The natural field resistance to pokkah boeng disease of 60 new varieties was evaluated in regionalized experiment. Meanwhile, the field resistance of the 31 main cultivated varieties was analyzed in Lincang city, Puer city, Yuxi city, Yunnan Province, and in Yizhou district, Guangxi Province, where the incidence of pokkah boeng is particularly high. Field surveys showed that 35 (58.33%) of the 60 new sugarcane varieties were highly resistant to moderately resistant, and 25 (41.67%) were susceptible to highly susceptible. Of the 31 main cultivated varieties, 15 (48.39%) were highly resistant to moderately resistant, and 16 (51.61%) were susceptible to highly susceptible. The results suggested that, in wetter and rainy sugarcane areas with high incidence of pokkah boeng disease, it is necessary to increase efforts to eliminate the susceptible main cultivated varieties and promote the application of resistant new varieties. This will help to achieve a reasonable distribution of varieties, fundamentally control the outbreak of pokkah boeng disease, and facilitate the high-quality development of the sugarcane industry in China.