ABSTRACT This research evaluated the nutritional, nutraceutical, antimicrobial, as well as the growing promoter effect of Moringa oleifera (MOR) leaves flour in fodders for fattening Japanese quails. The antimicrobial activity was measured using the method of Kirby-Bauer. A completely random design with 4x2 factorial arrangement was used, fodders included 0, 7, 14, and 21% of MOR, with and without Virginiamycin (100 ppm), during 35 d of fattening, 480 one-day old unsexed quails were used, each treatment had 5 replicates with 12 quails/cage. MOR inhibited the growth of bacteria gram (+) and gram (-). The inclusion of MOR in the period from 1 to 14 d inhibited the weight gain (p<0.001), increased feed conversion (p<0.001), without affecting the feed intake; however, in the period of 15 to 35 d MOR did not affect weight gain and the feed intake; the hematological and biochemical profile were within the normal range for quails. The inclusion of MOR decreased (p≤0.001) cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations. Levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transferase (ALT), and creatinine decreased (p≤0.001) when the amount of substitution of MOR was 21%. The carcass weight and its yield with MOR up to 14% were similar (p<0.001). The results of this experiment showed that flour from leaves of Moringa oleifera is a viable alternative to be included up to 14% in commercial diets of birds offering an option for AGP replacement without compromising the health of the animal and therefore its productivity.

Wild pepper (Capsicum annuum L. var. glabriusculum) is a valuable genetic resource for food and agriculture. The patterns of variation of 12 morphological traits of 17 populations of wild pepper collected across a latitudinal and climate gradients in northwestern Mexico were analyzed in a uniform greenhouse experiment. The morphological traits data were axamined by univariate and multivarite analysis. The relationship between phenotypic variation and latitude of population origen was tested using linear regression analysis. We found high variation within and among populations for most of the measured traits. Populations were clearly differentiated by univariate analysis of variance and principal component analysis. Because plants grew in a uniform environment, these results indicate that the differences among the populations were due to genetic differences among them. Plant height, number of fruits, fruit weight, number of seeds per fruit, number of seeds per plant showed a clinal pattern of variation across latitudinal gradients. Plants from northern populations were shorter, produced more fruits, fruits were heavier, more seeds per fruit and more seeds per plant than plants from southern populations. The variation pattern observed in these traits suggests adaptation to local climate conditions. The variation of the other traits (stem diameter, leaf length and width, number of branches, fruit length and width and seed weight) was not significantly related to latitude de origin. It is possible that the observed differentiation in these traits was the result of different regimens of selection (and nonclinal) in each population, or a consequence of genetic drift.

El chile silvestre (Capsicum annuum L. var. glabriusculum) es un valioso recurso genético para la agricultura y la alimentación. Los patrones de variación de 12 caracteres morfo-demográficos de 17 poblaciones de chile silvestre colectadas a lo largo de un gradiente latitudinal y climático en el noroeste de México fueron analizados en condiciones uniformes de invernadero. Los datos de dichas características se examinaron con análisis univariados y multivariados. La relación entre la variación fenotípica y la latitud de origen de las poblaciones se probó mediante análisis de regresión lineal. Se encontró elevada variación dentro y entre las poblaciones en todas las características medidas. Los análisis de varianza univariados y de componentes principales diferenciaron claramente a las poblaciones. Debido a que las plantas crecieron en un ambiente uniforme, estos resultados indican que las diferencias entre las poblaciones se deben a diferencias genéticas entre ellas. Las características altura de la planta, número de frutos, peso del fruto, número de semillas por fruto y número de semillas por planta mostraron un patrón de variación clinal a lo largo del gradiente latitudinal. Las plantas de las poblaciones del norte del gradiente fueron de menor altura, produjeron más frutos, frutos de mayor peso, más semillas por fruto y más semillas por planta que las plantas de las poblaciones del sur. El patrón de variación observado en estas características sugiere adaptación a las condiciones climáticas locales. La variación de las demás características (diámetro del tallo, largo y ancho de la hoja, número de ramas, largo y ancho del fruto y peso de la semilla) no se relacionó significativamente con la latitud de origen. Es posible que la diferenciación observada en estas características sea un resultado de regímenes de selección diferentes (y no clinales) en cada población, o una consecuencia de la deriva génica.