Ministry of Agriculture

About: Ministry of Agriculture is a government organization based out in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Biology & Chemistry. The organization has 1153 authors who have published 1189 publications receiving 14442 citations.

Genetic Diversity among Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) Landraces Suggests Central Mozambique as an Important Hotspot of Variation

Abstract: Cowpea is a multiple-purpose drought-tolerant leguminous pulse crop grown in several dry tropical areas. Its domestication center is thought to be East or West Africa, where a high level of genetic diversity is apparently still found. However, detailed genetic information is lacking in many African countries, limiting the success of breeding programs. In this work, we assessed the genetic variation and gene flow in 59 Vigna unguiculata (cowpea) accessions from 10 landraces spanning across six agro-ecological zones of Mozambique, based on nuclear microsatellite markers. The results revealed the existence of high genetic diversity between the landraces, even in comparison to other world regions. Four genetic groups were found, with no specific geographic pattern, suggesting the presence of gene flow between landraces. In comparison, the two commercial varieties had lower values of genetic diversity, although still close to the ones found in local landraces. The high genetic diversity found in Mozambique sustains the importance of local genetic resources and farm protection to enhance genetic diversity in modern varieties of cowpea worldwide.

Validation of the multiplex PCR for identification of Brucella spp.

Abstract: A multiplex PCR technique for detection of Brucella spp. in samples of bacterial suspension was validated as a complementary tool in the diagnosis of the disease. This technique allows the characterization of the agent without performing biochemical tests, which greatly reduces the time for a final diagnosis, and provides more security for the analyst by reducing the time of exposure to microorganisms. The validation was performed in accordance with the Manual of Diagnostic Tests from OIE (2008) and following the requirements present in the ABNT NBR ISO/IEC 17025:2005. The mPCR validated in this study identified the different species of Brucella (Brucella abortus, B. suis, B. ovis e B. melitensis) of bacterial suspension obtained from the slaughterhouse samples, as well as distinguished the biovars (1, 2 e 4; 3b, 5, 6 e 9) of B. abortus in grouped form and differentiated the field strains from vaccine strains, as a quick, useful and less expensive technique in diagnosis of brucellosis in Brazil.

Consumo, comportamento e desempenho em ovinos alimentados com dietas contendo torta de mamona

Abstract: A torta de mamona tem potencial para utilizacao na alimentacao de ovinos em regioes semiaridas, mas apresenta como limitacao a ricina, que pode causar intoxicacao. Objetivou-se avaliar influencia de dietas contendo torta de mamona em comportamento ingestivo, consumo e desempenho em ovinos. Foram distribuidos 20 ovinos Morada Nova em blocos ao acaso (dois blocos) com cinco tratamentos (torta de mamona nao tratada, tratada com calcario calcitico, com ureia, com fosfato monobicalcico e autoclavada) e quatro repeticoes. O consumo dos nutrientes nao foi influenciado pelos tratamentos de destoxificacao, alem dos animais nao terem apresentado sintomas de intoxicacao. Quanto ao comportamento ingestivo, nao houve diferenca para a maioria das variaveis entre tratamentos, bem como nao se confirmou possivel rejeicao dos ovinos pela torta nao tratada. Foi observado que os animais alimentados com dieta contendo torta de mamona autoclavada apresentaram desempenho superior aos que receberam torta nao tratada. Apesar dos animais alimentados com torta de mamona tratada com fosfato monobicalcico nao terem sido superiores aos alimentados com torta nao tratada, apresentaram ganho medio diario 27,3% maior, consumiram menos 10,5% de alimento para ganhar 1 kg e, para ganharem 12 kg, precisaram de 24 dias a menos. A terminacao de ovinos utilizando dietas contendo torta de mamona autoclavada apresenta resposta superior a terminacao desses animais alimentados com dietas contendo torta de mamona nao tratada ou destoxificada com ureia. Alem disso, animais terminados com dietas contendo torta destoxificada com fosfato monobicalcico ou calcario calcitico apresentam resposta intermediaria.