RESUMO O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver ensaios de PCR e combinação de reações e validação de loci SSR de tetranucleotídeos para tilápias, visando minimizar o impacto de inferências errôneas de alelos na determinação dos genótipos deste tipo de marcador. Os microssatélites contendo repetições de tetranucleotídeos foram obtidos da versão 2.1 do genoma de tilápia, evitando a escolha de locus no mesmo grupo de ligação. Primers foram desenhados para diferentes tamanhos de fragmentos e fluorescências adicionadas a cada locus. Um total de 10 loci foram amplificados em separado e em combinações e carregados conjuntamente em um único painel em sequenciador capilar. Os alelos foram amplificados sem stutter e facilmente interpretados. Amplificações de PCR de DNA extraído de amostras repetidas e genotipagem em diferentes rodadas de PCR foram utilizadas para inferência de erros de assinalamento de alelos. O painel obtido neste estudo está sendo empregado na análise de parentesco e correção de pedigree em um programa de melhoramento genético desta espécie.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to develop PCR assays, reaction combinations, and validation of tetranucleotide SSR loci for tilapia, to minimize the impact of erroneous allele inferences on genotype determination of this marker. Microsatellites containing tetranucleotide repeats were obtained from tilapia genome, version 2.1, avoiding loci in the same linking group. Primers were designed for different fragment sizes, and fluorescence added to each locus. A total of 10 loci were amplified, separately and in combination, and loaded into a single capillary sequencer panel. Alleles were amplified without stutters and easily interpreted. PCR amplifications of DNA repeatedly extracted from samples, and genotyping at different PCR rounds were performed to infer allele signaling errors. The panel obtained in this study is currently used in kinship analyses and pedigree corrections in a tilapia breeding program.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to quantify linear and angular morphological measurements of male and female horses participating in the Freio de Ouro competition. This study represents the first scientific evaluation of the biometrics of the Criollo breed, providing essential information for the evaluation of the development of the breed and supporting objective selection. We examined linear and angular measurements of 634 Criollo horses participating in the Freio de Ouro competition in 2011 and 2012, including height, chest circumference, cannon bone circumference, body length, metatarsus length, croup length, chest width, head length, dorsal neck length, throat circumference, and angles of the croup, scapula, and hock. Statistical analysis showed that males had a greater average cannon bone circumference (19.76 cm) than females (18.95 cm) and a greater throat circumference (77.66 cm for males and 73.30 cm for females). None of the other traits evaluated differed between genders. The average height (141.73 cm for males and 141.41 cm for females) was close to the minimum requirement for the breed standard. Subjective observations suggesting that animals of this breed are decreasing in size were not confirmed in this study, as the height and other evaluated measures did not differ between competing horses less or more than seven years of age. Although these measurements in isolation do not indicate the qualities of individual animals, they serve as valuable auxiliary elements for selection work, showing breed tendencies and providing objective data to support technical decisions of judges regarding conformation.

ABSTRACT This study used path analysis to establish the direct, indirect, and total effects of body linear and angular measurements on subjective morphological scores of the 247 Criollo horses that participated in their most important performance event, Freio de Ouro, in 2012. Freio de Ouro is the only event of the Criollo breed that considers morphology. Measurements of wither height, thoracic girth, cannon bone girth, body length, metatarsus length, croup length, shoulder width, head length, neck length, and upper neck girth, and the angles of rump, shoulder, and hock were taken. These morphometric measurements collectively explained 83% of the variation in morphological score. The measurements with the greatest total effects on score were neck length (correlation coefficient = 0.2300), upper neck girth (0.2100), angle of rump (–0.1600), thoracic girth (0.1400), shoulder width (0.1400), body length (0.1100), croup length (0.1100), shoulder angle (–0.1100), and metatarsus length (0.1000). These results mean that these variables have the highest association with morphological evaluation by referees. This is the first scientific study of the correlation of morphological measurements with judge evaluation in Criollo horses.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a diversidade genética de um estoque de Salminus brasiliensis utilizado em programas de repovoamento do rio Paranapanema, por meio do marcador RAPD. Dez reprodutores (cinco machos e cinco fêmeas) e sua progênie (40 larvas e 40 alevinos) foram analisados. Os oito iniciadores analisados produziram 96 fragmentos, dos quais 81,2% foram polimórficos. Houve diferença significativa na frequência de 32 dos 96 fragmentos, com a presença de um fragmento exclusivo nos alevinos. O índice de Shannon, a percentagem de fragmentos polimórficos e a distância e a identidade genética mostraram menor divergência genética entre os reprodutores e as larvas, além de diminuição da variabilidade nos alevinos. A divergência genética foi menor nos alevinos em comparação às larvas e aos reprodutores. A análise de variância molecular mostrou que a maior parte da variação está dentro de cada grupo (90,05%) e não entre os grupos (9,95%). O estoque de reprodutores apresenta alta variabilidade genética e houve diferenciação genética entre a fase de larva e alevino.

The objective of this work was to estimate by RAPD markers the genetic diversity of a Salminus brasiliensis lot used in stock enhancement programs in the Paranapanema River, Paraná, Brazil. Ten broodstocks (five males and five females) and their progeny (40 larvae and 40 fingerlings) were analyzed. Eight analyzed primers produced 96 fragments, of which 81.2% were polymorphic. There was significant difference in the frequency of 32 out of the 96 fragments, with the presence of an exclusive fragment in the fingerlings. The Shannon index, the percentage of polymorphic fragments, and the genetic distance and identity showed less genetic divergence between broodstocks and larvae, besides a decrease of genetic variability in the fingerlings. Genetic divergence was lower in the fingerlings in comparison to the larvae and broodstocks. The molecular variance results showed that most of the genetic variation is within (90.05%) and not between groups (9.95%). The broodstock lot has high genetic variability, and genetic differences were observed between the larval and fingerling stages.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a diversidade genética e a contribuição parental de Piaractus mesopotamicus na produção de descendência no sistema seminatural de reprodução. Vinte peixes parentais (onze machos e nove fêmeas) e o total de 100 larvas foram avaliados por meio do marcador microssátelite. Os parentais e a progênie tiveram trinta e um alelos e heterozigosidade de 0,550 e 0,563, respectivamente. As fêmeas foram fertilizadas por dois até seis machos enquanto machos fertilizaram três até cinco fêmeas. A contribuição de fêmeas e machos para a descendência seja 66,6 e 58,0%, respectivamente. Tais resultados não indicam diminuição da variabilidade genética na progênie e os parentais apresentaram paternidade múltipla e razoável contribuição à produção de descendência.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity and the parental contribution of Piaractus mesopotamicus in the production of offspring in the semi-natural system of reproduction. Twenty parental fishes (eleven males and nine females) and the total of 100 larvae were evaluated by microsatellite marker. The parents and offspring had thirty-one alleles and heterozygosity of 0.550 and 0.563, respectively. The females were fertilised by two up to six males while the males fertilised three up to five females. The contribution of the females and males to the offspring were 66.6 and 58%, respectively. Such results indicated no loss in the genetic variability in the offspring, and the parents had multiple paternity and reasonable contribution to the offspring production.

O experimento foi conduzido na Estação Experimental da Embrapa, Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, entre março de 2005 e fevereiro de 2006. O objetivo foi avaliar o comportamento materno-filial e o temperamento de ovelhas e cordeiros e relacioná-los com a sobrevivência dos cordeiros. Foram utilizadas 47 ovelhas da raça Corriedale, com peso médio de 52,1kg, e 45 ovelhas da raça Ideal, com peso médio de 49,5kg, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado. O temperamento foi avaliado por meio dos testes: escore de comportamento materno (ECM), tempo de fuga, tipo de marcha e distância de fuga. As ovelhas da raça Corriedale apresentaram maiores valores no teste tipo de marcha que as ovelhas da raça Ideal. Os cordeiros da raça Corriedale eram os mais pesados e tinham maior índice de sobrevivência, quando comparados com os da raça Ideal. A raça não afetou o escore de comportamento materno. Ovelhas reativas (ECM=1), que fogem e não retornam aos seus cordeiros, se isolaram menos do rebanho antes do parto, protegeram menos suas crias, desmamaram-nas mais cedo e tiveram menor peso em relação às não-reativas. A reatividade das ovelhas prejudicou o cuidado materno com os cordeiros e essa característica deve ser considerada pelo setor produtivo.

The trial was conducted at the Experimental Station of Embrapa, Bagé, RS, from March 2005 to February 2006, and aimed to evaluate the maternal behavior and temperament of ewes and their lambs and related them with lamb's survival. Forty-seven Corriedale ewes with mean body weight of 52.1kg and 45 Pollwarth ewes with mean body weight of 49.5kg were used, according to a completely randomized design. Temperament was evaluated through maternal behaviour score (MBS), flight time test (score and quantitative) and flight distance. Corriedale ewes presented larger values for flight time score than Pollwarth ewes. Corriedale lambs were heavier and a greater number survived than Pollwarth lambs. Sheep breed did not affect maternal score. Ewes considered reactive (MBS=1, those who run away and did not come back to stay with their lamb) seek less isolation from the herd at parturition, protected less their lambs, weaned them earlier and lighter than less reactive ewes. Reactivity decreased maternal care of ewes with its lambs, and this characteristic might be considered by productive systems.