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Interactions between Frankliniella occidentalis (Insecta; Thysanoptera; Thripidae) damages and eleven pepper crop varieties’ photosynthetic pigmentations

M. ELIMEM1*

S. BEN OTHMEN2

E. LIMEM-SELLEMI3

B. ALMOHANDES-DRIDI2

B. CHERMITI2

 

1 High School of Agriculture of Mograne (ESAM), Mograne, Zaghouane, University of Tunis, Tunisia

2 High Agronomic Institute of Chott-Mariem (ISA-CM), University of Sousse (UoS), 4042, Chott-Mariem, Sousse, Tunisia

3 General Directorate of Agricultural Protection, Ministry of Agriculture of Water Resources and Fisheries, 30, Alain Savary Street, 1002-Tunis le Belvedere, Tunisia

 

Abstract – Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande (1895) (Thysanoptera ; Thripidae) is a polyphagous thrips species that may attack several plant species belonging to many botanical families. This study showed that pigmentation rates measured using a spectrophotometer of uninfected fruits and leaves showed that the varieties Jebli, Zumurut and PP1 are the richest in Chlorophylls (Ca and Cb), Carotenoids and Xanthophylls (C+X). These same varieties presented the highest damage degrees in fruits and leaves proving thus that the richest plant organs in pigmentations are more likely to be attacked by thrips. On the other hand, a decrease in pigmentations rates was observed in slightly and severely attacked plant organs when compared with intact ones. Generally, pigmentations rates in uninfected organs did not show significant differences with slightly attacked ones as for leaves and fruits. In fact, the maximum decrease in slightly infected leaves pigmentation amounts was observed especially for Carotenoids and Xanthophylls with 17.47%. Regarding fruits, the sucked chlorophylls amounts in slightly damaged fruits ranked between 0.55 and 24.37%. However, severely attacked organs showed a great reduction in pigmentations levels with significant differences when compared with uninfected organs.

Keywords: Chlorophylls, Xanthophylls, Carotenoids, pollen, phenological parameters.

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Effect of a commercial prebiotic « AVIATOR®» on zootechnical performances, caecal microflora and meat quality of broilers

Effet d’un prébiotique commercial « AVIATOR®» sur les performances zootechniques, la composition de la microflore caecale et la qualité de la viande des poulets de chair

 

A. ASKRI1

N. FITOUHI1

A. RAACH-MOUJAHED1

M. S. ABBASSI2

Z. MAALAOUI3

H. DEBBABI1*

 

1 Département des Ressources Animales, Halieutiques et Technologie Agroalimentaire, Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie, Université de Carthage, 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisie

2 Institut de Recherche Vétérinaire de Tunis, Université de Tunis El Manar, Rue Djebel El Akhdhar, 1006 Tunis, Tunisie

3 Arm & Hammer, Animal Nutrition, North Africa, Tunis, Tunisie

 

Abstract – The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of prebiotic (Saccharomyces cerevisiae extracts) marketed under the name « AVIATOR®» as a growth factor in poultry farming. The work methodology consisted to incorporate in the feed ration, devoid of growth factor, 0,1g/kg of prebiotic « AVIATOR®» which was the dose recommended by the manufacturer. A total of one hundred twenty male chicks strain Arbor acres were allocated in two groups which are grown in cages for 42 days (6 chicks / cage). They received the same basal diet (T), or complemented with prebiotic (A). Throughout the trial period the growth performances are measured and the « caecas » are collected the day 10, 30 and the day of slaughter (day 42). The meat quality was also studied. The addition of the prebiotic led to a significant reduction of animal mortality (P<0,0001), whereas no significant effect was observed in the growth performances. Interestingly microbiological analysis showed a modulation of caecal microflora by the addition of the prebiotic, in particular the growth of endogenous Bifidobacteria which are perceived as beneficial to animal health. Concerning the meat quality, results did not reveal any difference in pH and CIE L*a*b* color between the control and experimental groups (P>0,05). However, a discriminative sensory analysis revealed a change in the sensory quality of the meat from the experimental group. In conclusion, results showed that the prebiotic « AVIATOR®» with the dose of 0.1g/kg may be promising to ameliorate growth performances by reducing animal mortality.

Keywords: prebiotic, mortality, Bifidobacteria, sensory analysis, poultry farming.

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Copyright

This article is published under license to Journal of New Sciences. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

CC BY 4.0