Effect of Fertilization Level and Cutting Pattern on Species Diversity of Meadow Stand

The distribution of grasslands and their floristic composition is related to the climate at the largest scale. Particular grassland is affected by bedrock, soil, water regime, altitude, nutrient status, local climate, disturbance etc (Gibson, 2009). Grasslands provide not only production functions but also large scale of ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling, sequestration of carbon dioxide, prevention of soil loss and many others. Ability of grasslands to afford both production and ecosystem functions depends among others on the floristic composition (Chytry, 2007). Semi-natural permanent meadows, as a result of the concurrence of many factors, represent a great reservoir of biodiversity. The aim of this contribution is to asses the effect of intensity of grassland management on its species diversity

Influence of Grass Species on the Mycotoxins Content

Clean and healthy phytomass is a prerequisite for producing high-quality forage. Development of microscopic fungi may lead to the formation of mycotoxins (Opitz von Boberfeld et al., 2006), which are secondary metabolites produced especially by the fungi Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium (Rodrigues and Naehrer, 2012). Mycotoxins are produced due to interactions and reactions of fungi to environmental conditions (Opitz von Boberfeld et al., 2002). Mycotoxins naturally have negative impacts upon livestock, causing alterations in hormonal functions, poor feed utilization, lower rates of body weight gain, and possibly death (Duarte et al., 2013). Preventing the occurrence of mycotoxins in forage should begin in the field. These include the use of varieties or hybrids that are well adapted to the given growing area and that are resistant to fungal disease. Production and control of mycotoxins in silage are not well understood. General recommendations for limiting their occurrence include minimizing plant disease (Barnes et al., 2007). The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in green matters and silages of perennial grass species, evaluate the difference among grass species and the impact of fertilization and sites on the occurrence of mycotoxins

Theranostic approach for the protein corona of polysaccharide nanoparticles.

Polysaccharide nanoparticles are promising materials in the wide range of disciplines such as medicine, nutrition, food production, agriculture, material science and others. They excel- not only in their non-toxicity and biodegradability but also in their easy preparation. As well as inorganic particles, a protein corona (PC) around polysaccharide nanoparticles is formed in biofluids. Moreover, it has been considered that the overall response of the organism to nanoparticles presence depends on the PC. This review summarises scientific publications about the structural chemistry of polysaccharide nanoparticles and their impact on theranostic applications. Three strategies of implementation of the PC in theranostics have been discussed: I) Utilisation of the PC in therapy; II) How the composition of the PC is analysed for specific disease markers; III) How the formed PC can interact with the immune system and enhances the immunomodulation or immunoelimination. Thus, the findings from this review can contribute to improve the design of drug delivery systems. However, it is still necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of nano-bio interactions and discover new connections in nanoscale research

Produkcni a kvalitativni charakteristika travnich porostu pro prodlouzenou podzimni a zimni pastvu.

The work was carried out to study the influence of a differentiated system of use in the summer period on the production and quality of sward herbage in the autumn and winter period. It was focused on a possibility of improving the stand characteristics of grass community intended to be used in the autumn and winter period by means of additional sowing of suited grass species and their hybrids. An evaluation was made of the rate and status of the succession changes in the swards used.Available from STL Prague, CZ / NTK - National Technical LibrarySIGLECZCzech Republi

Effect of Species, Fertilization and Harvest Date on Microbial Composition and Mycotoxin Content in Forage

The aim of the project was to evaluate the potential of microbial threat to feed safety in the year 2018. Analyses of the epiphytic community of several forage species (clovers, cocksfoot, fescue, festulolium, perennial ryegrass, timothy and trefoil) in variants of fertilized and non-fertilized vegetation were performed. The hypothesis is based on the fact that microorganisms are normally present on plant material during its growth all the way from the seed to the senescence; they are influenced by a plant’s fitness, and they affect its harvest and utilization. Microflora was analyzed by cultivation on specific substrates, total microbial count and five specific microbial groups were observed and quantified. Forage species did not affect plant microflora. The highest risk factor of microbial contamination of feed was proved to be harvest date. Mycotoxin contamination of fresh feed was determined (deoxynivalenol and zearalenone) using ELISA. Zearalenone (ZEA) levels were negatively correlated to fertilization intensity, although these results were not statistically significant. Deoxynivalenol (DON) levels were the lowest in a moderate fertilization regime. Significant differences in mycotoxin content were found among botanical species

Biogenic amines and hygienic quality of lucerne silage

This experiment examined the influence of two different silage additives of biological (Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, enzyme xylanase) and chemical (43% formic acid, 30% ammonium formate, 10% propionic acid, 2% benzoic acid) types on biogenic amines concentration, nutrient content, fermentation process, and microbiologic indicators in lucerne (Medicago sativa) silage after 90 days of fermentation. The biological additive significantly (P < 0.05) increased putrescine (+51%), lactic acid (+11%) and protein content (+11%) in comparison with control silage. It significantly decreased cadaverine (−29%), histamine (−57%), spermidine (−15%), spermine (−55%), acetic acid (−40%), ethanol (−55%), ammonium (−25%) and ash (−9%). After the chemical-additive treatment, greater amounts of histamine and tyramine were recorded. Significant decrease was observed in the concentrations of putrescine (−18%), cadaverine (−55%), spermidine (−47%), spermine (−45%), lactic acid (−16%), acetic acid (−46%), ammonium (−59%), ash (−13%) and fat (−24%). Populations of bacteria associated with lactic acid fermentation, moulds, yeasts, enterobacteria and total microorganisms count were also influenced. Both biological and chemical additives can be highly recommended for producing high-quality silages meeting hygienic requirements. In lucerne silage, the chemical preservative showed a stronger effect in achieving the health safety of silage compared to the biological inoculant

Epiphytic microflora and mycotoxin content in meadows-Is plant biodiversity affecting fungal contamination?

Ecosystem services are an important aspect of grasslands utilization; however, they are often contradictory to their main purpose, which is a production of good quality and safe feed. In this study, we evaluated the difference between grass monocultures and species-rich mixtures in terms of epiphytic microflora and mycotoxin contamination levels. We hypothesized that higher species diversity would lead to higher microbial counts, which could lead to higher mycotoxin contamination risk. Differences in epiphytic fungal, yeast and total amount of microorganisms (CFU g -1) depending on the species diversity in the field has been evaluated by cultivation method. Concentration of deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) was measured by ELISA. Results are suggesting that higher total amount of microorganisms were found in monocultures, however, fungal and yeast counts were higher in species-rich mixtures. Higher species diversity of grasses was related to higher total microbial count (TMC) and yeast colonization of phyllosphere. Our results suggest higher risk of fungal phyllosphere colonization of species-rich mixtures with higher biodiversity and therefore higher risk of mycotoxin contamination of such feed

Usability of graphene oxide as a mycotoxin binder: In vitro study.

Mycotoxin management in agriculture is an essential challenge for maintaining the health of both animals and humans. Choosing the right adsorbent is still a question for many breeders and an important criterion for feed manufacturers. New adsorbents are still being sought. Graphene oxide is a promising material in the field of nanotechnology, which excels in its adsorption properties. Presented in vitro study investigates graphene oxide for the binding of mycotoxins from crushed wheat. The results show that graphene oxide has an adsorption capacity for aflatoxin 0.045 mg/g, zearalenone 0.53 mg/g and deoxynivalenol 1.69 mg/g at 37° C. In vitro simulation of crushed wheat digestion showed rapid adsorption during the gastric phase. Of the minerals, Mg, Cu and Zn were the most adsorbed. The applied dose of graphene oxide of 10 mg/g caused only a slight inhibition of the digestive enzymes α-amylase and trypsin compared to pepsin and gastric lipase. In vitro results indicated the suitability of graphene oxide in the adsorption of the aflatoxin, zearalenone and deoxynivalenol

How Do Grass Species, Season and Ensiling Influence Mycotoxin Content in Forage?

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungal species that have harmful effects on mammals. The aim of this study was to assess the content of mycotoxins in fresh-cut material of selected forage grass species both during and at the end of the growing season. We further assessed mycotoxin content in subsequently produced first-cutting silages with respect to the species used in this study: Lolium perenne (cv. Kentaur), Festulolium pabulare (cv. Felina), Festulolium braunii (cv. Perseus), and mixtures of these species with Festuca rubra (cv. Gondolin) or Poa pratensis (Slezanka). The mycotoxins deoxynivalenol, zearalenone and T-2 toxin were mainly detected in the fresh-cut grass material, while fumonisin and aflatoxin contents were below the detection limits. July and October were the most risky periods for mycotoxins to occur. During the cold temperatures in November and December, the occurrence of mycotoxins in fresh-cut material declined. Although June was a period with low incidence of mycotoxins in green silage, contents of deoxynivalenol and zearalenone in silages from the first cutting exceeded by several times those determined in their biomass collected directly from the field. Moreover, we observed that use of preservatives or inoculants did not prevent mycotoxin production