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Optimizing rapeseed (Brassica napus L. var.oleifera) yield, nutritional profile, andfunctional traits: dominant role of seasonalconditions and fertilization strategy overcultivar effects
No full textBACKGROUND: Rapeseed (Brassica napus L. var. oleifera) is a globally significant vegetable oilseed crop. Its seeds are sources ofoil and protein for industrial applications and food. This study shows how rapeseed cultivar, and environmental and fertiliza-tion conditions influence the agronomic parameters, fatty acid composition, and polyphenol content of rapeseed.RESULTS: Seasonality was the factor affecting grain yield the most, with variations attributed to sowing dates, rainfall patterns, andtemperature trends. In 2020/21, earlier sowing (6 October) and higher precipitation during flowering (56 mm in April), resulted in agrain yield of 2.16 Mg ha−1, whereas delayed sowing (21 October), reduced rainfall (−52% in April), and higher temperature (+4.2 °Cduring vegetative growth) in 2022/23 caused a 79% yield decline. Higher nitrogen rates (140 and 190 kg N ha−1) increased the drybiomass at flowering and the grain yield at harvest, with intermediate rates (110 kg N ha−1), achieving comparable results to higherrates by optimizing timing, particularly in pre-sowing and early spring. Nitrogen fertilization also significantly impacted fatty acidcomposition and accumulation of polyphenols, with higher nitrogen rates related to increased levels of specific fatty acids. Phenoliccompounds analysis revealed significant fluctuations depending on the year, with anthocyanins, flavanols, and flavonols being themost susceptible. In 2020/21, anthocyanins were the most abundant polyphenols, whereas in 2022/23, the highest levels wereobserved for fatty acids, specifically ⊍-linolenic acid (10.9%) and eicosenoic acid (1.17%).CONCLUSION: The results highlight the importance of strategic planning, environmental monitoring, and targeted nitrogen fertilizationin optimizing rapeseed yield and quality under a changing climate, providing valuable insights for sustainable rapeseed cultivation.This work was made possible through financial support provided by the Department of Agriculture of the Government of Catalonia, within the framework of the project Plans per a la millora de la fertilització agrària a les Comarques Gironines, el Vallès i Osona. The authors wish to thank Ivet Caballé and Judit Vallverdú for their contribution to the field and laboratory work, as well as the field staff at the IRTA – Mas Badia Experimental Station for their valuable support.
This study was supported by the PhD in Agro-Food System (Agrisystem) and by Portus project funded by Romeo and Enrica Invernizzi Foundation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Soil fungal network complexity and functional roles differ between black truffle plantations and forests
No full textBlack truffle (Tuber melanosporum Vittad.), a valued edible fungus, has been thoroughly studied for its ability to modify soil conditions and influence microbial communities in its environment as it dominates the space. While direct associations of black truffle with microbial guilds offer insights into its competitiveness, the role of these interactions in ecosystem functions remain unclear. This study aims to assess the patterns of soil fungal community within the black truffle brûlés across different producing systems (managed plantations vs wild forests) and seasons (autumn vs spring), to determine the role of T. melanosporum in the structure of the fungal networks, and to identify the contribution of main fungal guilds to soil functioning in these systems. To address this, network analysis was employed to construct the fungal co-occurrence networks in the brûlés of black truffle plantations and wild production areas in forests. Black truffle plantations showed greater fungal homogeneity, network complexity and links compared to forests, indicating enhanced stability, possibly due to reduced plant diversity and uniform conditions, while seasonality did not affect the fungal network structure. Despite its abundancein the brûlés, T. melanosporum was not a hub species in neither truffle-producing systems and exhibited few interactions, mainly with saprotrophs and plant pathogens. Saprotrophic fungi, with partial contributions from ectomycorrhizal and plant pathogen guilds, were the key contributors to carbon and nutrient cycling in both systems. These results improve our understanding of the ecology, biodiversity and functioning of black truffle-dominated soils that could enable more effective management strategies in black truffle plantations.This research has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and University (MCIU) through the projects TUBERSYSTEMS (grant no. RTI2018-093907-B-C21/22) and TUBERLINKS (grant no. PID2022-136478OB-C31). This research is part of the thesis of the first author, Vasiliki Barou, who was enrolled in the program of Plant Biology and Biotechnology of Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and holded a pre-doctoral fellowship awarded by MCIU (grant no. PRE2019-091338).
The article processing charges for this open-access publication were covered by the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Kaolinite and calcite foliar treatments induce physiological changes in cherry tree leaves
No full textFoliar particle treatments can improve plant stress tolerance, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear to
date. In this study, the effect of supplying calcite and kaolinite was evaluated by treating leaves of field-grown
cherry trees (Prunus avium var. Sweetheart) and evaluating their effects. Leaves were dipped in 5, 10 or 15% (w/
v) calcite and kaolinite suspensions of similar particle size. Stomatal conductance (Gs), leaf temperature (Tleaf)
and chlorophyll fluorescence were regularly monitored, while leaf mineral elements were determined at the end
of the experimental period. The surface features, wettability and surface free energy of adaxial and abaxial leaf
surfaces were characterised. Foliar kaolinite treatments increased tissue aluminium (Al) and silicon (Si) con centrations, with minor calcium (Ca) increments associated with calcite application. In addition, mineral particle
supply changed the leaf concentration of other elements, such as potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S),
boron (B), iron (Fe) or manganese (Mn). Chlorophyll fluorescence was not affected by the treatments, but short term effects on Gs and Tleaf lasting only for few days after foliar application, were recorded. The supply of particle
suspensions with surfactant, led to higher Gs values, while Tleaf generally decreased only for few days after foliar
application. It is concluded that foliar particle treatments may trigger beneficial physiological changes after
being exposed to transient stress situations, but further investigations are required for improving their
effectiveness.This work was supported by TED2021-130830B-C42 which was financed by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR funds.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Avançament de resultats de les varietats de blat de moro de cicle llarg per a gra
No full textinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Point-of-need visual test for the detection of γ-glutamyltransferase in calf serum
No full textAdequate colostrum intake is critical for the passive transfer of immunity in calves, and serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT; EC 2.3.2.2) is a potential indicator. However, conventional assays for its detection require laboratory facilities, limiting their use in the field. Herein, a simple visual test has been developed for the semi-quantitative determination of serum GGT using immobilized reagents on paper supports. The enzyme substrate, drop volume, and membrane type were optimized, with γ-L-glutamyl-3-carboxy-4-nitroanilide, 10 µL drop volume, and a binder-free microfiber glass membrane providing the best performance. The visual test showed a limit of semi-quantification (LOSQ) of 39 U/L, while digital analysis slightly improved the sensitivity. When applied to calf serum samples, the test reliably reflected GGT evolution: negligible at birth, peak activity at 2 days (corresponding to colostrum intake), declining by day 14, and further decreasing at day 18. The visual test showed strong agreement with the conventional enzyme assay (κ = 0.94), correctly estimating 26 out of 31 samples (84 %), and digital analysis of the membranes correlated even more closely (R = 0.9924). This point-of-need (PON) device offers a rapid, low-cost, and practical tool for on-farm monitoring of colostrum intake, supporting early detection of failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) and improved calf health management.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Producción y parámetros de las nuevas variedades comerciales de colza de invierno
No full textDurante las campañas 2022-23, 2023-24 y 2024-25 en el marco
de la red del Grupo para la Evaluación de Nuevas Variedades
de Cultivos Extensivos en España (Genvce), se han realizado 22
ensayos para la evaluación de nuevas variedades de colza de
invierno validados agronómica y estadísticamente. De éstos,
siete se han sembrado en la campaña 2022-2023, nueve en la
de 2023-2024 y seis en la de la presente campaña.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Plant Domestication Alters the Nutritional Content of Guttation Droplets with Multi-Trophic Consequences
No full textDomestication often alters plant traits, leading to cascading effects on ecological interactions, particularly in tri-trophic relationships among plants, herbivores, and their natural enemies. While recent studies have investigated the influence of domestication on plant-derived food sources, its effect on guttation—a nutrient-rich exudate produced by many plants—remains unexplored. In this study, we examined the effects of guttation droplets from wild and cultivated highbush blueberries on the fitness (longevity and fecundity) and feeding preferences of three insect species from different trophic guilds: an herbivore (Drosophila suzukii), a parasitoid (Trichopria drosophilae), and a predator (Chrysoperla carnea). Additionally, we analyzed and compared the size and nutritional composition—specifically, total sugar and protein content—of guttation droplets between wild and cultivated blueberry plants. Our results indicated that guttation from wild plants enhanced the longevity of all three insect species, often surpassing that of cultivated plants and diets containing only sugar or sugar plus protein. In choice assays, all three insect species consistently preferred guttation from wild plants over that from cultivated ones. Although the guttation droplets from cultivated plants were larger, those from wild plants contained higher concentrations of sugars (six times more) and proteins (five times more), which likely contributed to the insects’ enhanced fitness and preference for wild plant guttation. These findings indicate that domestication has reduced the ecological functionality of guttation in blueberries by potentially influencing tri-trophic interactions. Understanding how domestication affects plant-derived food sources like guttation could have important implications for the conservation of natural enemies in agricultural landscapes.The study was supported by New Jersey Blueberry Research Council and by the Hatch project NJ08550.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
In Vitro Efficacy of Albendazole Against the Metacestode Parvitaenia cochlearii (Cestoda), a Parasite of the Pacific Fat Sleeper (Dormitator latifrons)
No full textCestode infestations in cultured fish have resulted in significant economic problems associated with international trade. Pharmacological treatments containing albendazole (ABZ) represent a promising alternative for controlling these infestations. This study evaluated the in vitro efficacy of ABZ against the metacestode Parvitaenia cochlearii, a parasite of the Pacific fat sleeper (Dormitator latifrons), by exposing the parasites to different concentrations (200, 600, 800, and 1000 mg/L). The median lethal concentration (LC50) was determined at 10 and 15 min of exposure. Results showed that ABZ was 100% effective in killing P. cochlearii, achieving complete mortality at 15 min with a concentration of 600 mg/L, and at 30 min with 200 mg/L. The LC50 value decreased over time, with 618.91 mg/L at 10 min and 260.32 mg/L at 15 min, indicating a cumulative effect of ABZ on metacestode tissues. In conclusion, ABZ is an effective treatment against cestode infestations, and further evaluation under experimental and commercial scales is recommended to establish control protocols in aquaculture systems.We thank Milena Sornoza Alcivar and Andrea Carranza Macias for their help with the work in the laboratory. This research was partially funded by the Instituto Superior Tecnológico Luis Arboleda Martínez through two research projects: “Diversidad de parásitos metazoarios en peces marinos de importancia económica y potencial acuícola en Ecuador (ISTLAM-CI-PI-003-2019)” and “Parásitos metazoarios en peces: implicaciones y control en la interacción patógeno-hospedero (ISTLAM-OCS-RES.2023-288)". We would like to thank to the Universidad Técnica de Manabí for the economic support to the project “Aspectos biológicos del chame Dormitator latifrons en ambientes naturales y de producción”. We are also grateful to Centro de Sanidad Acuícola and SAISA research group from Departamento de Acuicultura, Pesca y Recursos Naturales Renovables; and to the producer who owns the aquaculture farm, for allowing us to collect the organisms.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Cuantificación automatizada basada en píxeles del genoma del circovirus porcino 2 en tejidos incrustados en parafina fijados en formalina mediante hibridación in situ
No full textLa detección del circovirus porcino 2 (PCV2) en tejidos linfoides es esencial para fines diagnósticos e investigadores. La hibridación in situ (ISH) permite la localización de genomas virales en secciones de tejido, pero tradicionalmente se evalúa visualmente, lo que puede introducir subjetividad.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
The association of environmentally sustainable healthy dietary patterns and risk of neurological and psychiatric disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 cohorts
No full textPurpose
The current burden of neurological and psychiatric disorders is a major issue in public health. We aimed to explore how adherence to healthy diets with low environmental impact (HDLE)—Mediterranean, EAT-Lancet and Healthy Provegetarian diets—are associated with neurological and psychiatric outcomes (depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and dementia) in prospective cohort studies of adults.
Methods
We systematically searched four databases until March 2025. Pooled risk ratios (pRRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) along with prediction intervals (PIs) were estimated. Our meta-analyses compared the incidence of mental outcomes between individuals with the highest vs. lowest (reference category = 1) adherence to HDLE. The certainty of evidence was assessed with the GRADE framework.
Results
This systematic review included 39 articles involving 472,125 adults (mean age 63y,52% female) from 28 unique cohorts with a mean follow-up of 10y. The highest (vs. the lowest) adherence to HDLE was associated with a lower risk of depression (pRR: 0.80; 95%CI:0.75–0.85; PI:0.68–0.93; k = 12/n = 333,218), cognitive impairment (pRR:0.66; 95%CI:0.60–0.72; PI:0.57–0.76; k = 5; n = 27,338), and dementia (pRR: 0.87; 95%CI:0.76–0.99; PI:0.63–1.20; k = 11/n = 235,863). A meta-analysis for incident anxiety was not conducted due to the scarcity of studies (k = 2). Certainty of evidence was rated as low for depression and very low for cognitive impairment and dementia.
Conclusion
A higher adherence to HDLE was associated with a lower risk of depression (20%), cognitive impairment (34%) and dementia (13%).RFR postdoctoral contract is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and co-financed by the European Social Fund+ (JDC2023-050585-I, MCIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033). VDG was supported by grant from the National Agency for Research and Innovation, Uruguay (POS_EXT_2023 _1_175630). AJM is immediate past Secretary for the International Society for Nutritional Psychiatry Research (unpaid) and is funded through the NHMRC supported CREDIT CRE, the Centre for Research Excellence for the Development of Innovative Therapies. UF acknowledges support from the grant CEX2023-0001290-S funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, and support from the Generalitat de Catalunya through the CERCA Program. UF also acknowledges support from Daniel y Nina Carasso Foundation, through the Daniel Carasso postdoctoral fellowship. The funders played no role in the study design, data collection or analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio