Historic genetic structuring and paraphyly within the Great-tailed Grackle

The Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) and Boat-tailed Grackle (Q. major) are sister species that have expanded their ranges during historical times. This expansion has created an area of sympatry between these species in Texas and Louisiana, and between distinctive Great-tailed Grackle subspecies in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. We investigated the evolutionary histories of both species using mitochondrial DNA sequence data and modern phylogenetic methods. Our results reveal genetic structure within Great-tailed, but not Boat-tailed Grackles. Great-tailed Grackles are separated into two clades, but range expansion in the north has led to secondary contact between them. Boat-tailed Grackles are monophyletic and are embedded within the Great-tailed Grackle assemblage, rendering the latter paraphyletic. These results reveal a complex phylogeographic pattern caused by recent range expansion and secondary contact of once allopatric units

The search for the ideal biocatalyst

While the use of enzymes as biocatalysts to assist in the industrial manufacture of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals has enormous potential, application is frequently limited by evolution-led catalyst traits. The advent of designer biocatalysts, produced by informed selection and mutation through recombinant DNA technology, enables production of process-compatible enzymes. However, to fully realize the potential of designer enzymes in industrial applications, it will be necessary to tailor catalyst properties so that they are optimal not only for a given reaction but also in the context of the industrial process in which the enzyme is applied

Effects of the Immunocontraceptive GonaCon on Pregnancy in \u3cem\u3eBrucella\u3c/em\u3e-Seropositive American Bison (\u3cem\u3eBison bison\u3c/em\u3e)

The purpose of this study was to determine if the number of pregnancies in naturally infected Brucella abortus-positive bison (Bison bison) cows would be reduced over a period of 5 yr after one treatment with 3000 mg gonadotropin-releasing hormone immunocontraceptive (GonaCon) compared to a similar group of naturally infected B. abortus-positive bison cows not treated with GonaCon. In each of the 5 yr, GonaCon-treated cows produced fewer offspring in relation to number of cows than the nontreated cows. Fisher’s Exact test comparing offspring produced during the first reproductive season showed a significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.0028). Differences in number of calves produced in GonaCon-treated and control groups were also noted in remaining years, but statistics were not applied because of data constraints. These data indicate that one treatment with GonaCon in brucellosis-seropositive female bison reduced pregnancies over five reproductive years. Thus, immunocontraception could potentially be used to manage brucellosis in affected herds

Comparison of the efficacy of four drug combinations for immobilization of wild pigs

Field immobilization of native or invasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa) is challenging. Drug combinations commonly used often result in unsatisfactory immobilization, poor recovery, and adverse side effects, leading to unsafe handling conditions for both animals and humans. We compared four chemical immobilization combinations, medetomidine–midazolam–butorphanol (MMB), butorphanol–azaperone–medetomidine (BAM™), nalbuphine–medetomidine–azaperone (NalMed-A), and tiletamine– zolazepam–xylazine (TZX), to determine which drug combinations might provide better chemical immobilization of wild pigs. We achieved adequate immobilization with no post-recovery morbidity withMMB. Adequate immobilization was achieved with BAM™; however, we observed post-recovery morbidity. Both MMB and BAM™ produced more optimal results relative to body temperature, recovery, and post-recovery morbidity and mortality compared to TZX. Adequate immobilization was not achieved with NalMed-A. Of the four drug combinations examined, we conclude that MMB performed most optimally for immobilization and recovery of wild pigs

Chemical control of morning glory as a function of water restriction levels

Among the herbicides recommended for the dry season and registered to sugarcane crop, amicarbazone, isoxaflutole and the association diuron + hexazinone + sulfomethuron-methyl can be highlighted. These are pre-emergence herbicides efficient against broad-leaved weeds. Morning glory causes large losses in infested sugarcane fields by bending the stalks and interfering in harvesting. In this study the effectiveness of pre-emergence herbicides for two species of morning glory (Ipomoea hederifolia and Ipomoea grandifolia) was evaluated. Treatments were arranged in completely randomized factorial design (4 x 7). There were four periods of water restriction (0, 30, 60 and 90 days), seven chemical treatments [diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl (1387 + 391 + 33.35 g a.i. ha-1), diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl (1507.5 + 425 + 36.25 g a.i. ha-1), diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl (1658.25 + 467.5 + 39.87 g a.i. ha-1), diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron­methyl (1809 + 510 + 43.5 g a.i. ha-1), amicarbazone (1190 g a.i. ha-1), amicarbazone + isoxaflutole (840 + 82.5 g a.i. ha-1)] and a control with no application. At 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after the restoration of moisture, control was visually evaluated. After the final evaluation, the dry mass of morning glories was measured. At 90 days of water restriction, diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl was more effective to control I. hederifolia than the amicarbazone + isoxaflutole tank mixture. The four diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron­methyl doses have reduced morning glory dry mass to zero; whereas treatments with amicarbazone have not. The most effective treatment for morning glory control was diuron + hexazinone + sulfometuron-methyl. This result may be due to a possible synergistic interaction.Entre os herbicidas recomendados para a época seca e registrados para a cultura da cana-de-açúcar estão amicarbazone, isoxaflutole e a associação diuron + hexazinona + sulfometuron­metil. Esses herbicidas apresentam ação em pré-emergência e atuam em plantas daninhas de folha larga. Cordas-de-viola provocam grandes perdas em canaviais infestados, causando tombamento da cana e interferindo nas operações de colheita. Neste estudo foi avaliada a eficácia de controle de herbicidas pré-emergentes em duas espécies de corda-de-viola (Ipomoea hederifolia e Ipomoea grandifolia). Os tratamentos foram dispostos em esquema fatorial 4 x 7. Foram quatro períodos de restrição hídrica (0, 30, 60 e 90 dias), sete tratamentos químicos [diuron + hexazinona + sulfometuron-metil (1.387 + 391 + 33,35 g i.a. ha-1), diuron + hexazinona + sulfometuron-metil (1.507,5 + 425 + 36,25 g i.a. ha-1), diuron + hexazinona + sulfometuron-metil (1.658,25 + 467,5 + 39,87 g i.a. ha-1), diuron + hexazinona + sulfometuron-metil (1.809 + 510 + 43,5 g i.a. ha-1), amicarbazone (1.190 g i.a. ha-1) e amicarbazone + isoxaflutole (840 + 82,5 g i.a. ha-1)] e um controle sem aplicação. Após 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias do restabelecimento da umidade, foram realizadas avaliações visuais de controle. Depois da última avaliação, foi determinada a massa seca das cordas-de-viola. Após 90 dias de restrição hídrica, diuron + hexazinona + sulfometuron-metil controlou I. hederifolia de forma mais eficaz que a mistura de amicarbazone + isoxaflutole. As quatro doses de diuron + hexazinona + sulfometuron-metil reduziram a massa seca das cordas-de-viola a zero, o que não aconteceu com os tratamentos com amicarbazone. O tratamento mais eficaz para o controle de corda-de-viola foi diuron + hexazinona + sulfometuron-metil em todas as doses estudadas; esse resultado pode se dever a possíveis relações de sinergismo entre esses produtos.UNESPDuPontEscola Superior Luís de QueirosUNES

Seletividade do halosulfuron-methyl aplicado na dessecação antes da semeadura da cultura do algodoeiro

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar a seletividade do herbicida halosulfuron-methyl para a cultura do algodoeiro quando aplicado na dessecação antes da semeadura. Dois experimentos foram conduzidos em condições de casa-de-vegetação em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos corresponderam a quatro períodos entre a aplicação do herbicida e a semeadura (0, 7, 14 e 21 dias) e uma testemunha sem aplicação. Os solos utilizados como substrato em cada experimento foram classificados como arenoso e franco-argilo-arenoso. As avaliações realizadas foram: altura de plantas aos 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias após a emergência (DAE); diâmetro do caule, área foliar, volume de raízes, massa seca de parte aérea e raízes aos 28 DAE. Foi possível concluir que o halosulfuron-methyl aplicado até 14 dias antes da semeadura não é seletivo ao algodoeiro