Characterization of lyophilized equine colostrum

Foals require maternal colostrum in the first hours of life to prevent failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTIP). Innovative storage methods such as lyophilization may enable conservation of colostrum immunoglobulins by a differentiated process of dehydration. The current study aimed to compare the quality of equine colostrum after freezing and after the lyophilization process. Thirty-one pregnant Quarter Horse mares were used. The IgG concentration of frozen and lyophilized colostrum was determined by simple radial immunodiffusion (SRID) and Brix refractometry. The physical-chemical composition (pH, total protein (TP), fat, lactose, salts, total solids (TS), and density) of the samples was evaluated and the lyophilized colostrum reconstitution test was performed. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the variables IgG, fat, lactose, salts, TS, density, and pH between samples measured before and after lyophilization. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the Brix average and the TP of the frozen and lyophilized colostrum samples. Lyophilization resulted in a small reduction (6.55%) in the IgG concentration measured by SRID. A strong positive correlation was observed between colostrum density and IgG concentration by SRID (r = 0.76) and between Brix and IgG concentration by SRID (r = 0.77). In the reconstitution test, the lyophilized colostrum was easily rehydrated in water, with full dilution, and remained stable. Lyophilization could be an alternative for the conservation of mare colostrum, since it is a very efficient process for retaining the physicochemical characteristics of the product, with minimal loss, particularly of IgG.

Resistance induction anthracnose control in pepper plants using acibenzolar-S-methyl

ABSTRACT: The resistance induction becomes an alternative to control microorganisms that attacks like plants. Little is known about the dose and its effect on the enzymatic activities associated with the induction of resistance of pepper plants under anthracnose attack. The objective of this study was to evaluate the severity and to estimate the enzymatic activity of Arcade F1 hybrid peppers infected with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and submitted to different doses of the abiotic acibenzolar-S-methyl inducer. The experimental design was completely randomized blocks with five treatments, four doses of acibenzolar-S-methyl (0.15, 0.30, 0.45 and 0.60 g.L-1), and the control with distilled water only. The evaluation of leaf severity and collection for enzymatic activity of β-1,3-glucanase, catalase, peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase and ascorbate peroxidase were performed on the 4th, 8th and 12th day after inoculation of the phytopathogen. The application of acibenzolar-S-methyl provided a reduction in anthracnose severity, with an increase in all the enzymatic activities evaluated, but there was no prevalence of a specific dose. However, all doses of the evaluated inducers were able to delay the development of the phytopathogen with elevated activity of one or more antioxidant enzyme. KEYWORDS: Antioxidant enzymes, phytopathogenic fungus, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.  

Genetic diversity of N-fixing and plant growth-promoting bacterial community in different sugarcane genotypes, association habitat and phenological phase of the crop

This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity of bacterial community associated to different sugarcane genotypes, association habitat and phenological phase of the culture, as well as to isolate, to identify and to characterize your potential for plant growth-promoting. Root and rhizospheric soil samples from RB 92579 and RB 867515 varieties were collected at 120 and 300 days after regrowth (DAR). The diversity of bacterial was evaluated through of the 16S rRNA and nifH genes. We found greater genetic diversity in the root endophytic habitat at 120 DAR. We identify the genera Burkholderia sp., Pantoea sp., Erwinia sp., Stenotrophomonas sp., Enterobacter sp. and Pseudomonas sp. The genera Bacillus sp. and Dyella sp. were only identified in the variety RB 92579. We found indices above 50% for biological nitrogen fixation, production of indole acetic acid and phosphate solubilization, showing that the use of these bacteria in biotechnological products is very promising.