Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León

As doenças fúngicas superficiais são uma preocupação significativa para a saúde pública, particularmente em regiões tropicais e subtropicais, onde as condições climáticas favoráveis promovem o seu desenvolvimento. O tratamento convencional com antifúngicos sintéticos pode causar efeitos adversos, resistência microbiana e custos elevados, reforçando a necessidade de alternativas terapêuticas naturais. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o perfil fitoquímico de extratos etanólicos e metanólicos das folhas e raízes de Datura metel. Testes qualitativos das classes de metabólitos secundários foram realizados utilizando reações químicas específicas com reagentes de reconhecimento, em duplicata. O rendimento da extração variou de acordo com o solvente e a parte da planta, com valores de 54% (MeOH) e 49,1% (EtOH) nas folhas, e 52,17% (MeOH) e 49,15% (EtOH) nas raízes. Nos testes fitoquímicos, os alcaloides foram detetados apenas no extrato etanólico das folhas; os flavonoides foram negativos nas folhas e positivos nas raízes; as saponinas foram positivas em todos os extratos, enquanto os taninos foram positivos nos extratos etanólicos e metanólicos das folhas e no extrato metanólico das raízes, sendo negativos no extrato etanólico das raízes. Conclui-se que as folhas e raízes de Datura metel contêm alcaloides, flavonoides, saponinas e taninos, compostos potencialmente associados às propriedades terapêuticas relatadas pela população local.

Climate change, declining soil quality, and the overreliance on synthetic agrochemicals have intensified the need to develop more sustainable agricultural strategies that support crop productivity while enhancing resilience. In this context, biostimulants have emerged as a promising tool to improve nutrient utilization in plants. However, it is needed to confirm if these products can effectively stimulate plant growth and enhance nutrient availability under field conditions. The objective of this work was to test the effect of the bacteria Methylobacterium symbioticum as a biostimulant on the yield and N uptake of maize ( Zea mays L.) under various N fertilizer rates, and to assess whether optical sensors and metabolic indicators of plant performance (i.e. photosynthetic pigments, tocopherols and amino acids) were affected by its application. Two field experiments were conducted in consecutive years in Central Spain, where maize that received different amounts of N fertilizer was inoculated or not with M. symbioticum . The yield and N uptake were determined at harvest for each treatment combination and repetition. Additionally, measurements with optical sensors (Dualex® and spectroradiometer) were taken at three growth stages. Leaf samples taken at eight unfolded leaves and flowering were analyzed for amino acids concentration, while pigment and tocopherol concentrations were analyzed at flowering. Treating maize with M. symbioticum increased both yield and crop N uptake when N fertilizer was not applied; no differences were observed when N fertilizer was applied. On average, the inoculated non-fertilized treatment achieved 59 % of the yield obtained in the well- fertilized, whereas the non-inoculated achieved 43 %. The yield increase was accompanied by a higher crop N uptake. This positive response of inoculated plants was not detected by measuring chlorophyll concentration with the optical sensors or with biochemical determination of total chlorophyll a+b concentration. However, leaves from plants inoculated with M. symbioticum exhibited higher light reflectance in the near-infrared (NIR) region, lower chlorophyll a/b ratio and increased total free amino acid content (particularly tryptophan, proline, and GABA). Overall, the presence of M. symbioticum enhanced indicators associated with plant performance that improved agronomic crop response under strong N-limited conditions. • M. symbioticum tested as biostimulant to boost maize yield and nitrogen uptake. • Field trials showed yield gains without fertilizer when maize was inoculated. • Whith fertilizer no difference in yield or N uptake observed when maize was inoculated. • Optical sensors did not detect increase in leaf chorophyll from M. symbioticum treatments. • Inoculated plants showed higher reflectance in the near infrared and amino acid content.

El presente estudio se centra en caracterizar las plantas aromáticas y medicinales (PAM) de Castilla y León (España). Estas especies poseen un alto valor ecológico y etnobotánico, por lo que su estudio resulta fundamental para su conservación. Los datos aquí presentados sientan bases para futuras investigaciones acerca de la diversidad, la conservación de estas especies y sus hábitats. En primer lugar, se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica acerca de las condiciones edafoclimáticas de especies relevantes presentes en la Península Ibérica, elaborándose fichas específicas para cada una. Luego se seleccionaron 15 de esas especies, de especial importancia para Castilla y León, y se generaron mapas de zonas idóneas para el crecimiento de cada una utilizando la herramienta QGIS. Finalmente, se recolectó material vegetal de las especies seleccionadas para estudiar las diferentes formas de reproducción. Esta investigación contribuye al uso sostenible de especies poco estudiadas en cuanto a su composición nutricional, distribución regional y estrategias reproductivas. La información generada se presenta en los conjuntos de datos en el repositorio Zenodo.

BackgroundStreptococcus dysgalactiae is the main cause of neonatal polyarthritis in sheep and is also an important agent in ovine mastitis. However, the main sources of contamination by this pathogen have not been studied in depth.Case presentationA polyarthritis outbreak in 2-3-day-old lambs with an incidence rate of approximately 40%, was reported in a sheep farm focused on sheep’s milk and lamb’s meat. The problem persisted over three consecutive lambing cycles. The pathogen was identified as S. dysgalactiae by 16 S rRNA sequencing of joint fluid. Its genome was isolated and sequenced as S. dysgalactiae MLST 454. The main antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors were determined. The water supply, milking system, and pasteurisation efficiency were tested by standard plate count methods as well as 16 S rRNA sequencing techniques. High levels of contamination were found in the milking system and colostrum, with the presence of Streptococcus spp. and S. dysgalactiae. The implementation of enhanced pasteurization and more rigorous decontamination of the milking system were sufficient to control the problem on the farm.ConclusionsThis study reveals the role of the milking system contamination in facilitating the spread of bacteria, such as S. dysgalactiae and provides evidence for the existence of an oral pathway of infection via colostrum.

Abstract Background: Streptococcus dysgalactiae is the main cause of neonatal polyarthritis in sheep and is also an important agent in ovine mastitis. However, the main sources of contamination by this pathogen have not been studied in depth. Case Presentation: A polyarthritis outbreak in 2-3-day-old lambs with an incidence rate of 40% was reported in a sheep farm focused on sheep’s milk and lamb’s meat. The problem persisted over three consecutive lambing cycles. The pathogen was identified as S. dysgalactiae by 16S rRNA sequencing of joint fluid. Its genome was isolated and sequenced as S. dysgalactiae MLST 454. The main antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors were determined. The water supply, milking system, and pasteurisation efficiency were tested by standard plate count methods as well as 16S rRNA sequencing techniques. High levels of contamination were found in the milking system and colostrum, with the presence of Streptococcus spp. and S. dysgalactiae. The implementation of enhanced pasteurization and more rigorous decontamination of the milking system were sufficient to eliminate the problem on the farm. Conclusions: This study reveals the role of the milking system contamination in facilitating the spread of bacteria, such as S. dysgalactiae and provides evidence for the existence of an oral pathway of infection via colostrum.

The content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a traditional Spanish smoked sausage known as ‘Botillo del Bierzo’ was analysed. The determination and quantification of PAH4 (the sum of benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[b]-fluoranthene and chrysene) in the smoked sausage were performed using GC–MS. The results showed that smoking ‘Botillo del Bierzo’ for 24 h contributes very little to the increase in PAH levels in the product, with no significant differences (p < 0.05). The paprika used in the production of botillo also contributes to PAH content, depending on the paprika’s production process (smoked, low-smoked, mixed paprika (smoked + unsmoked or low-smoked + unsmoked), and unsmoked), with significant differences among them (p < 0.05). Using paprika with a lower PAH content (unsmoked or mixed) enables the production of ‘Botillo del Bierzo’, in accordance with Protected Geographical Indication specifications, with a lower PAH content while maintaining the organoleptic characteristics provided by the paprika. The contamination levels detected in ‘Botillo del Bierzo’ do not pose a risk to consumer health, as the benzo[a]pyrene and PAH4 values are well below the regulatory limits of 5 μg/kg and 30 μg/kg, respectively.

The effects of edible coatings on the quality of organic apple cv. ‘Golden delicious’ during storage were investigated. Following harvest, the fruits were treated by dipping in various coatings: Nutropit® (14% CaO), Nutropit®+Xedabio (soybean lecithin-based (E322), 0.8%), Bioxeda (an eugenol-based product containing clove oil, 0.8%), Nutropit®+Bioxeda, and Semperfresh (SemperfreshTM, a sucrose-ester based coating, 1%). Organically grown apple cv. ‘Golden delicious’ treated with edible oil-based coatings Xedabio or Bioxeda, combined with Nutropit®, improved postharvest longevity as they effectively delayed color changes in the fruit, and reduced weight loss, shriveling, superficial scald, and rot incidence. Additionally, the combined treatments minimized synthetic pesticide input in the apple agroecosystem, resulting in fruit with zero residues—a critical factor in organic apple production—while maintaining high consumer acceptance.

Nutraceuticals obtained from sprouted wheat and oat grains and processing by-products (bran and hull, respectively) naturally containing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds were evaluated. The objective of this study was the development of a cereal-based nutraceutical formula combining extracts from sprouts and by-products and the exploration for potential synergetic effects in their bioactive properties. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities, glycemic index, phytic acid, and β-glucan of individual wheat bran hydrolysate (EH-WB), sprouted wheat (SW), oat hull hydrolysate (EH-OH), sprouted oat (SO), and combined ingredients (CI 1, CI 2, and CI3) were used to tailor an optimal nutraceutical formula. The three blend ingredients (CI 1, CI2, and CI3) were formulated at different ratios (EH-WB:SW:EH-OH:SO; 1:1:1:1, 2:1:2:1, and 1:2:1:2, w:w:w:w, respectively). The resulting mixtures showed total phenol (TPs) content ranging from 412.93 to 2556.66 µmol GAE 100 g-1 and antioxidant capacity values from 808.14 to 22,152.54 µmol TE 100 g-1 (ORAC) and 1914.05 to 7261.32 µmol TE 100 g-1 (ABTS•+), with Fe3+ reducing ability from 734. 02 to 8674.51 mmol reduced Fe 100 g-1 (FRAP) for the individual ingredients produced from EH-WB and EH-OH, where high antioxidant activity was observed. However, the anti-inflammatory results exhibited an interesting behavior, with a potentially synergistic effect of the individual ingredients. This effect was observed in CI2 and CI3, resulting in a higher ability to inhibit IL-6 and TNF-α than expected based on the anti-inflammatory values of their individual ingredients. Similar to the antioxidant properties, oat-based ingredients significantly contributed more to the anti-inflammatory properties of the overall mixture. This contribution is likely associated with the β-glucans and avenanthramides present in oats. To ensure the bioaccessibility of these ingredients, further studies including simulated digestion protocols would be necessary. The ingredient formulated with a 2:1 hydrolysate-to-sprout ratio was the most effective combination, reaching higher biological characteristics.