RESUMEN

The genus Beaucarnea (Asparagaceae) has economic value as an ornamental plant but also has ecological importance. Nonetheless, habitat, physiological traits and growth parameters of this genus remain largely unknown. We characterized the environmental ranges of Beaucarnea inermis, B. gracilis and B. pliabilis; and screened for the presence of physiological adaptations to drought (biomass allocation, presence of crassulacean acid metabolism [CAM] and its effect on plant water use). We performed experiments in 3- and 5-year-old nursery-grown plants of the three species, measured dry mass accumulation in leaves/stems/roots and screened for CAM using gas exchange, titratable acidity and δ13 C. We performed a second experiment on the water and light use responses of B. pliabilis under drought treatment. We found that B. gracilis was limited to xerophytic scrubs (precipitation >400 mm yr-1 ), while B. pliabilis and B. inermis (precipitation >500 and 700 mm year-1 , respectively) inhabited dry forests. Beaucarnea gracilis had the lowest dry mass and allocation to leaves, while B. inermis showed the opposite pattern. Only B. pliabilis exhibited small but significant acid fluctuations, characterized as weak CAM, along with high proline content. Acid concentration contributed in 2.7% of the daily carbon during the wet season but represented most of the carbon in the dry season, under closed stomata and had an important contribution to osmolality. Thus, CAM is described for the first time in the genus Beaucarnea, but was only present in one of three species, warranting exploration of this metabolism in the remaining species of this genus.

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In northern Mexico, the distilled spirit sotol with a denomination of origin is made from species of Dasylirion. The configuration of the volatile metabolites produced during the spontaneous fermentation of Dasylirion sp. must is insufficiently understood. In this study, the aim was to investigate the composition of the microbial consortia, describe the variation of volatile metabolites, and relate such profiles with their particular flavor attributes during the fermentation of sotol (Dasylirion sp.) must. Ascomycota was the phylum of most strains identified with 75% of total abundance. The genus of fermenting yeasts constituted of 101 Pichia strains and 13 Saccharomyces strains. A total of 57 volatile metabolites were identified and grouped into ten classes. The first stage of fermentation was composed of diesel, green, fruity, and cheesy attributes due to butyl 2-methylpropanoate, octan-1-ol, ethyl octanoate, and butanal, respectively, followed by a variation to pungent and sweet descriptors due to 3-methylbutan-1-ol and butyl 2-methylpropanoate. The final stage was described by floral, ethereal-winey, and vinegar attributes related to ethyl ethanimidate, 2-methylpropan-1-ol, and 2-hydroxyacetic acid. Our results improve the knowledge of the variations of volatile metabolites during the fermentation of sotol must and their contribution to its distinctive flavor.

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A compactação dos pré-estômagos é um transtorno digestivo resultante da ingestão de forragem de baixa qualidade, rico em lignina e com baixos níveis de energia e proteína digerível, associada ou não a restrição hídrica. O acúmulo de vegetais ricos em fibras indigeríveis pode levar também a formação de fitobezoares, causando transtornos digestivos e obstruções intestinais. Objetivou-se com este trabalho descrever os aspectos epidemiológicos e as alterações clínico-patológicas de um surto de alterações digestórias em bovinos alimentados com Agave sisalana. O rebanho acometido era formado por 22 animais adultos, criados de forma semiextensiva, que, devido a escassez de forragem, receberam no cocho, quase que exclusivamente, durante dois meses, o caule do A. sisalana cortado manualmente. Seis vacas apresentaram diminuição do apetite, distensão abdominal, redução dos períodos de ruminação e da produção de fezes. Um animal foi encaminhado ao Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande. O diagnóstico presuntivo de compactação ruminal e obstrução intestinal foi dado pela epidemiologia, sinais clínicos e análise de fluido ruminal. Na necropsia observou-se rúmen, retículo e omaso repletos, com conteúdo fibroso e ressecado constituído por fibras de A. sisalana. No abomaso observou-se a presença de conteúdo pastoso e esverdeado a acastanhado. Em todos os pré-estômagos e no abomaso havia fitobezoares, que mediam entre 4 e 12 cm de diâmetro. No duodeno um fitobezoar obstruía parcialmente a luz do órgão, com a porção anterior repleta de conteúdo e a posterior vazia. Conclui-se que a alimentação com caules de A. sisalana por longos períodos causa compactação de pre-estômagos e formação de fitobezoares.(AU)

Indigestion due to compaction of the ruminal content is a digestive disorder resulting from low-quality forage intake, rich in lignin and with low levels of energy and digestible protein, with or without water restriction. The accumulation of plant residues rich in indigestible fibers can also lead to formation of phytobezoars, causing digestive disorders and intestinal obstructions. The objective of this paper was to describe the epidemiology and the clinical and pathological changes of an outbreak of indigestion and other digestive disorders in cattle fed Agave sisalana. The affected herd consisted of 22 adult cattle reared in a semi-extensive system, which ingested almost exclusively stalks of A. sisalana manually cut for two months. Six cows showed decreased appetite and rumination, abdominal distension, and reduced production of dried feces. One animal was referred to the Veterinary Hospital. The presumptive diagnosis of indigestion was made by the epidemiologic data, clinical signs, and laboratory evaluation. At necropsy, the rumen, reticulum and omasum were filled with fibrous and dried A. sisalana content. A viscous, greenish brownish content was present in the abomasum. Numerous phytobezoars were found in the pre-stomachs and abomasum measuring 4-12cm in diameter. One phytobezoar was partially obstructing the duodenum, with the cranial part of the organ filled with intestinal content, and the caudal portion was empty. It is concluded that the administration of A. sisalana stalks for long periods may cause indigestion due to ruminal compaction and formation of phytobezoars.(AU)

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RESUMEN

A compactação dos pré-estômagos é um transtorno digestivo resultante da ingestão de forragem de baixa qualidade, rico em lignina e com baixos níveis de energia e proteína digerível, associada ou não a restrição hídrica. O acúmulo de vegetais ricos em fibras indigeríveis pode levar também a formação de fitobezoares, causando transtornos digestivos e obstruções intestinais. Objetivou-se com este trabalho descrever os aspectos epidemiológicos e as alterações clínico-patológicas de um surto de alterações digestórias em bovinos alimentados com Agave sisalana. O rebanho acometido era formado por 22 animais adultos, criados de forma semiextensiva, que, devido a escassez de forragem, receberam no cocho, quase que exclusivamente, durante dois meses, o caule do A. sisalana cortado manualmente. Seis vacas apresentaram diminuição do apetite, distensão abdominal, redução dos períodos de ruminação e da produção de fezes. Um animal foi encaminhado ao Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande. O diagnóstico presuntivo de compactação ruminal e obstrução intestinal foi dado pela epidemiologia, sinais clínicos e análise de fluido ruminal. Na necropsia observou-se rúmen, retículo e omaso repletos, com conteúdo fibroso e ressecado constituído por fibras de A. sisalana. No abomaso observou-se a presença de conteúdo pastoso e esverdeado a acastanhado. Em todos os pré-estômagos e no abomaso havia fitobezoares, que mediam entre 4 e 12 cm de diâmetro. No duodeno um fitobezoar obstruía parcialmente a luz do órgão, com a porção anterior repleta de conteúdo e a posterior vazia. Conclui-se que a alimentação com caules de A. sisalana por longos períodos causa compactação de pre-estômagos e formação de fitobezoares.(AU)

Indigestion due to compaction of the ruminal content is a digestive disorder resulting from low-quality forage intake, rich in lignin and with low levels of energy and digestible protein, with or without water restriction. The accumulation of plant residues rich in indigestible fibers can also lead to formation of phytobezoars, causing digestive disorders and intestinal obstructions. The objective of this paper was to describe the epidemiology and the clinical and pathological changes of an outbreak of indigestion and other digestive disorders in cattle fed Agave sisalana. The affected herd consisted of 22 adult cattle reared in a semi-extensive system, which ingested almost exclusively stalks of A. sisalana manually cut for two months. Six cows showed decreased appetite and rumination, abdominal distension, and reduced production of dried feces. One animal was referred to the Veterinary Hospital. The presumptive diagnosis of indigestion was made by the epidemiologic data, clinical signs, and laboratory evaluation. At necropsy, the rumen, reticulum and omasum were filled with fibrous and dried A. sisalana content. A viscous, greenish brownish content was present in the abomasum. Numerous phytobezoars were found in the pre-stomachs and abomasum measuring 4-12cm in diameter. One phytobezoar was partially obstructing the duodenum, with the cranial part of the organ filled with intestinal content, and the caudal portion was empty. It is concluded that the administration of A. sisalana stalks for long periods may cause indigestion due to ruminal compaction and formation of phytobezoars.(AU)

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