Evaluate the effects of i) dehulling of lupine seed on chemical composition and apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and ii) soybean meal substitution by dehulled lupine seed in broiler diets with enzymes on productive performance, size of digestive organs and welfare-related variables. Experiment 1, chemical composition and AME were determined in whole and dehulled lupine seed. Experiment 2, two hundred eighty-eight one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were used. The experimental diets were maize-soybean meal (MS), MS with enzymes (MSE) and maize-dehulled lupine seed with enzymes (MLE). Diets were assigned to the experimental units under a completely randomized design (eight replicates per diet). The body weight (BW) gain, feed intake, feed conversion, digestive organ weights, gait score, latency to lie down and valgus/varus angulation were evaluated. The dehulling process increased protein (25.0% to 31.1%), AME (5.9 to 8.8 MJ/kg) and amino acid contents. The BW gain of broilers fed the MLE diet was similar (p>0.05) to that of those fed the MS diet, but lower than that of those fed the MSE diet. Feed intake of broilers fed the MLE diet was higher (p0.05) to those fed the MSE diet. Feed conversion of broilers fed the MLE diet was 8.0% and 8.7% higher (p<0.05) than that of those fed the MS and MSE diets, respectively. Broilers fed the MLE diet had the highest (p<0.05) relative proventriculus and gizzard weights, but had poor welfare-related variables. It is possible to substitute soybean meal by dehulled lupine seed with enzymes in broiler diets, obtaining similar BW gains in broilers fed the MLE and MS diets; however, a higher feed intake is required. Additionally, the MLE diet reduced welfare-related variables.

The Annonaceae fruits weevil (Optatus palmaris) causes high losses to the soursop production in Mexico. Damage occurs when larvae and adults feed on the fruits; however, there is limited research about control strategies against this pest. However, pheromones provide a high potential management scheme for this curculio. Thus, this research characterized the behavior and volatile production of O. palmaris in response to their feeding habits. Olfactometry assays established preference by weevils to volatiles produced by feeding males and soursop. The behavior observed suggests the presence of an aggregation pheromone and a kairomone. Subsequently, insect volatiles sampled by solid-phase microextraction and dynamic headspace detected a unique compound on feeding males increased especially when feeding. Feeding-starvation experiments showed an averaged fifteen-fold increase in the concentration of a monoterpenoid on males feeding on soursop, and a decrease of the release of this compound males stop feeding. GC-MS analysis of volatiles identified this compound as α-terpineol. Further olfactometry assays using α-terpineol and soursop, demonstrated that this combination is double attractive to Annonaceae weevils than only soursop volatiles. The results showed a complementation effect between α-terpineol and soursop volatiles. Thus, α-terpineol is the aggregation pheromone of O. palmaris, and its concentration is enhanced by host-plant volatiles.

Durante la etapa productiva del cultivo de Capsicum annuum var. Poblano se emiten compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COVs) atractivos para el picudo del chile (Anthonomus eugenii Cano). Este insecto se alimenta principalmente de botones florales, flores y frutos en desarrollo, en consecuencia ocasiona pérdidas parciales o totales del cultivo. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar una mezcla sintética con capacidad de atracción para adultos de A. eugenii basada en análisis preliminares de los COVs de botones florales (BF), flores (FL), y frutos (FR). Los órganos frescos, extractos por aireación dinámica y de mezclas sintéticas fueron evaluados mediante bioensayos de olfatometría tipo “Y”. Los adultos de A. eugenii utilizados en los bioensayos fueron de 10 a 20 días de edad. La evaluación de los tratamientos de BF, FL, y FR de órganos frescos y sus extractos dio como resultado que las hembras y machos responden positivamente a ellos. De las mezclas sintéticas el tratamiento 10 (Mezcla 3) fue el único al que respondieron ambos sexos con el 68.75% en machos y 63.75% en hembras. Esta mezcla estuvo compuesta de (Z)-β-ocimeno (92.6%), (Z)-3-hexenil acetato (2.6%), 2-isobutil-3-metoxipirazina (3.2%), y terpinoleno (1.6%). Estos compuestos pueden ser una buena base para desarrollar un atrayente sintético para la captura de adultos de A. eugenii.

Comadia redtenbacheri (Hammerschmidt, 1847) is an insect highly regarded for its commercial and nutritional value. Adult fluctuation in a plantation of Agave salmiana Otto ex Salm-Dyck was determined using ultraviolet light traps. Trapped adults were counted weekly during three periods (December 2013 to December 2014, December 2014 to December 2015, and December 2015 to June 2016), and temperature and relative humidity were recorded. Adult population was present 157 days on average, from December to May, with peak capture on day 83. The average sex ratio of females to males was 1:14. Average environmental conditions that favoured the highest capture in the three periods were 17.8º C and 47.1% relative humidity. Knowledge of the period of adult presence and the influence of temperature and relative humidity are important for management and conservation of the insect population by farmers and gatherers.

Measurement is the comparison of a quantity against a certain standard. Measurements conducted in chemistry are usually compared against certified reference material (CRM). When a laboratory makes proper measurements, the results obtained have a low level of uncertainty; they are reliable, traceable in accordance with the International System of Units, and comparable to those made in any laboratory in the world. The purpose of this article was to determine the performance of the analytical measurements carried out by Mexico's soil and plant analysis laboratories through a proficiency testing program. The materials used for this program came from three sample batches of corn leaves, which were certified by Centro Nacional de Metrologìa of Mexico (CENAM). The critical mean quadratic error (MQEc) was used as the evaluation criterion. Although the percentage of acceptable results reported by laboratories has risen only slightly as a consequence of the proficiency testing program, it is worth mentioning that laboratory managers in Mexico are becoming more aware of the importance of quality control and the use of CRM.

Soursop possesses the largest fruit size of the Annona genus. However, this species is threatened by the Annonaceae fruit weevil (Optatus palmaris), which can cause the destruction of whole soursop fruits. Recently, the potential of semiochemicals for the management of this insect is highlighted, and its aggregation pheromone has been elucidated. This pheromone works well only when mixed with soursop volatiles. Thus, the aim of this research was to determine specific kairomone components to potentiate the aggregation pheromone of this Annonaceae fruit weevil. This task was carried out via volatilome analysis of soursop fruits, which was correlated with the biological activity of the identified volatiles. The GC–MS analysis of aroma collections of mature soursop fruits and flowers, determined using multivariate data analysis, confirmed a volatile differentiation between these organs. The volatile variation between fruits and flowers was reflected in weevils’ preference for mature fruits instead of flowers. Moreover, weevils’ response to soursop fruits increased with more mature fruits. This was correlated with volatile changes throughout the phenological stages of soursop fruits. The two volatiles most correlated with weevils’ attraction were benzothiazole and (E)-β-caryophyllene. These volatiles only evoked a response when mixed and potentiated the attraction of the aggregation pheromone. Thus, these two volatiles are active kairomone components with the potential for being used in combination with the aggregation pheromone of Annonaceae fruit weevils in field trials.