4629 research outputs found
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Towards an attract-and-reward strategy: evaluating nectar resources and HIPVs under laboratory conditions to enhance Aphelinus mali parasitism activity, a key parasitoid of Eriosoma lanigerum
No full textThe attract-and-reward strategy involves attracting natural enemies using volatile compounds or insectary plants and rewarding them with refuge and food sources. Plants with accessible nectar and early bloom together with herbivore-induced plant volatiles, such as phenylacetaldehyde (Pal) and methyl salicylate (MeSA), could enhance populations of Aphelinus mali Haldeman (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a main parasitoid of Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann) (Hemiptera: Aphididae).The authors thank Aleix Teruel i Subirats and Pilar Hernández for their support in conducting these studies. This research work was funded by the grants PID2019-107030RB-C21 and PID2022-139988OB-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and, by ERDF/EU. LGMB is a beneficiary of the grant PRE2020-092229 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and, by ‘ESF Investing in your future.’ All IRTA authors were also funded by the CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
‘Divina’: A New Almond Cultivar Characterized by High Nutritional Value, Self-fertility, Late Blooming, and High Productivity
No full textDivina is a new almond [Prunus dulcis
(Mill) D.A. Webb] cultivar from the almond
breeding program of Institut de Recerca
i Tecnologia Agroaliment aries (IRTA; Catalonia, Spain). This cultivar is characterized by its hard-shelled nut, late blooming
time, and high productivity. ‘Divina’ is selffertile and exhibits excellent horticultural performance and chemical composition. Its kernel
is attractive with a medium size (1.2 g), comparable to ‘Marcona’ and ‘Nonpareil’. Additionally, ‘Divina’ stands out for its high fat content,
oil stability, and kernel firmness.The IRTA almond breeding program has been funded by several Projects from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (RTA2017-00084-00-00, PID2020-114648RR-C31, PDC2021-121639-100, PID2024-159314OB-C22), and CERCA Program Generalitat of Catalonia.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Transfer versus co-production: Knowledge as ‘MEANS’ to sustainability as an ‘END’
No full textThis study examines the relationship between sustainability performance and knowledge, as well as between innovation transfer and coproduction.
It moves away from evaluating processes to exploring impact by investigating how explicit and tacit knowledge archetypes are associated
with sustainability performance in the agri-food sector. Applying the knowledge-based theory and the Shannon index, we rely on a
database from 2013 to 2020 of two case studies selected from a Spanish research institution. At the institutional level, the results postulate
that knowledge and innovation transfer tends to have a higher diversity index, mainly driven by explicit knowledge archetype. Tacit type of
knowledge in both transfer and co-production mechanisms predominately relies on engagement parameters. At the case study level, as an educational
toolkit, the first case study prioritizes engagement that is, transferring and transmitting knowledge to a higher number of participants—
tacit knowledge transfer. As an innovative technique, the second case study prioritizes diversity that is, transferring and transmitting knowledge
through various channels—explicit knowledge transfer. Regarding sustainability performance, the findings demonstrate that both explicit and
tacit knowledge are associated with health and capacity building pillars in the first case study through the transfer mechanism. However, in the
second one, tacit knowledge is mainly associated with economic and socioterritorial pillars through transfer and co-production mechanisms.
This study sheds light on the micro level of knowledge, proposing an approach for researchers and practitioners to categorize knowledge in different
proxies and evaluate their performance.This study was funded by the Institute of Agri-food Research and Technology (IRTA). The authors gratefully acknowledged this support.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Orchard characteristics, landscape factors, and management strategies influencing the spread of apple proliferation: epidemiological insights from cider orchards in Northern Spain
No full textApple proliferation (AP) is one of the most severe diseases affecting apple trees in Europe, yet its epidemiology remains poorly documented in Spain. The spread of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’ may be influenced by insect vectors, landscape, and crop managements. To evaluate these factors, a regional-scale survey was conducted in Asturias (northwest Atlantic Spain), confirming the widespread presence of AP. Orchard age emerged as a key determinant of AP incidence and severity, while cultivar susceptibility also played a role, with ‘Regona’ exhibiting a higher infection rate than the set of six Protected Designation of Origin cultivars assessed in the study. Coniferous plantations were identified as a major driver of AP spread, increasing the likelihood of remigrant psyllids returning to nearby orchards. However, contrary to expectations, no clear relationship was observed between the area dedicated to apple cultivation and AP incidence. Late-winter mineral oil applications effectively reduced AP incidence, likely by repelling psyllids and deterring oviposition. Notably, smaller orchards, which applied fewer insecticides, exhibited higher AP incidence and severity, highlighting the need to reduce vector pressure through improved management. Rootstock selection significantly influenced AP dynamics, with M7 potentially contributing to increased disease incidence, particularly in high-density plantings. An integrated management strategy that accounts for landscape characteristics, vector control, crop management, and orchard design is essential to mitigating AP spread and ensuring the long-term sustainability of apple production.Financial support for this research was provided by Project RTA2013-00097–00-00 (INIA, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and FEDER).info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Insect visitors of green fruits of Annona senegalensis Pers. (Annonaceae) and their potential role in the plant fruiting
No full textAnnona senegalensis is a multipurpose wild shrub mainly used for food and traditional medicine by local people in tropical African. During its fruiting period, especially at the green fruit stage, this plant harbors an important community of insects such as various ant species (Formicidae) and the planthopper Hilda undata Walker (Tettigometridae). This study aimed at understanding the role of ants on Annona senegalensis during the fruiting period. Insect visitors of green fruits of Annona senegalensis were collected randomly on 30 green fruits from 30 plants per site, at four sites across the Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian climatic zones of Burkina Faso, from June to July 2020. The behavior of insects was observed in the field. HPLC analyses of sugar profiles of the extrafloral nectar of green fruits, ants and Hilda undata were carried out in the laboratory to determine whether ants were feeding on green fruit nectar and Hilda undata honeydew. Ants were the most recorded visiting insect group, representing up to 95% of the insects observed on the fruit and the most frequently encountered species were Trichomyrmex abyssinicus Forel, Crematogaster sp., Messor galla Mayr, Brachyponera sennaarensis Mayr and the planthopper Hilda undata. Coleoptera, Diptera, Hemiptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera were recorded. Behavioural observations and HPLC analyses showed that ants consumed extrafloral nectar of green fruits and the Hilda undata honeydew. Ants protect the green fruits and Hilda undata from pests. This study is the first report highlighting mutualistic interactions between Annona senegalensis, ants and Hilda undata.The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Effects of soil nutrient enrichment on trophic interactions between herbivorous insects and foliage spiders in Patagonian forests
No full textThe addition of nutrients to soil can induce changes through “bottom-up” effects in soil–plant–animal interactions, impacting higher levels in food chains. Changes in foliar nutrient content may influence diets of herbivorous insects, subsequently altering their feeding rates and abundance. Spiders established in foliage rely on these insects for sustenance; therefore, fluctuations in the abundance of herbivorous insect communities ultimately determine the population dynamics of their spider predators. We established a long-term field experiment to investigate the effects of nutrient addition of N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus), K (potassium) and their combinations on plant–arthropod interactions. We carried out sampling in 32 plots under different nutrient addition treatments, where we captured herbivorous insects and spiders on Nothofagus antarctica plants, the most abundant plant species in the Patagonian scrubland. Our results showed that foliar nutrient concentrations had cascading effects throughout the forest food chain. Herbivorous insects (Diptera, Coleoptera, Hemiptera and Lepidoptera orders) exhibited a positive response to the increased foliar phosphorus content, resulting in higher population densities. In addition, we found a strong positive relationship between herbivorous insect abundance and spider abundance. Our findings indicate that variations in the availability of soil nutrients play a crucial role in defining the structure of predator–prey interactions in forest ecosystems.Funding for the research performed here was provided by Agencia Nacional de Promoción “Científica y Tecnológica” (FONCYT, PICT-2018-00941 and PICT-2019-0393), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET, PIP 2020), Universidad Nacional de Río Negro (UNRN-PI 40-B-892) and “Proyecto Conciencia” directed by L. Garibaldi (https://www.proyectoconciencia.org/). N. Pérez-Méndez is supported by a Spanish “Ramon y Cajal” fellowship (RYC-2021-033599-I). G. Pompozzi financed part of this research by the grant “PIBAA N828720210100535CO” provided by CONICET. Lucía C. Martínez has a doctoral fellowship granted by CONICET.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
Deciphering host–pathogen dynamics in Mytilus galloprovincialis: immune responses to multiple infections with bacterial isolates from bivalve mortality outbreaks
No full textBivalve aquaculture is facing several challenges due to disease outbreaks, that are often multifactorial and polymicrobial. Increasing evidence shows that initial infection by primary pathogens, or exposure to environmental stressors, can disrupt the host-associated microbiota, creating a favorable environment for opportunistic pathogens. In adult bivalves, the outcome of bacterial infection depends on the capacity of the immune system to fight potential pathogens. Although immune responses to individual bacteria are well documented, data on polymicrobial infections remain scarce.
Mytilus spp. is generally considered resistant to bacterial challenge; however, increasing reports of mortality events have emerged across Europe more recently. In this study, we examined the immune response of Mytilus galloprovincialis to infection with two bacterial strains isolated from an oyster mortality event in the Ebro Delta (Spain): Vibrio aestuarianus 106 (Va) and Malaciobacter marinus R1 (Mm). The effects of Va alone on early larval development and on in vitro responses of hemocytes from adult mussels were first evaluated. Both in vivo/in vitro and in vivo/in vivo cross-infections were then performed to determine whether prior exposure to either isolate could influence immune responses to subsequent challenge with the other. The results demonstrate that first infection with Va weakened mussel immune defences, thus favoring the subsequent opportunistic behaviour of Mm.
These data indicate that the simple multiple infection approach used in Mytilus could be effectively applied to other, more susceptible bivalve species. These findings can help decipher the interaction dynamics between potential bacterial pathogens within bivalve hosts and predicting the risk of disease.Project funded under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), Mission 4 Component 2 Investment 1.4 - Call for tender No. 3138 of December 16, 2021, rectified by Decree n.3175 of December 18, 2021 of Italian Ministry of University and Research funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU; Award Number: Project code CN_00000033, Concession Decree No. 1034 of June 17, 2022 adopted by the Italian Ministry of University and Research, CUP D33C22000960007, Project title “National Biodiversity Future Center - NBFC”. Faiz Ur Rahman fellowship funded by Marie Skł odowska-Curie Grant No. 713679.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
El cigró, una alternativa de cultiu per a producció ecológica
No full textinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Towards a unified nomenclature for diseases associated with porcine circovirus infections
No full textinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio
From genomes to hologenomes: integrating host and microbiome data for complex trait prediction in livestock and aquaculture
No full textOver recent decades, global livestock and aquaculture systems have significantly increased protein production, largely driven by advancements in nutrition, health management, and selective breeding programs. The integration of genomic data, particularly dense SNP panels, into animal breeding has revolutionized trait prediction, enabling more accurate estimation of breeding values for complex traits such as growth, carcass yield, and disease resistance in animal farming. Currently, animal production faces new challenges, including production efficiency, environmental impact, and emerging and re-emerging diseases. There is broad evidence that variation in host-associated microbiomes is associated with host phenotypic diversity, allowing to predict complex traits in livestock and aquaculture. Additionally, the integration of host genomic and microbial metagenomic data has demonstrated potential to improve prediction accuracy for complex traits, accelerating the rate of genetic gain. These findings have led to the development of new concepts, including microbiability (the proportion of phenotypic variance explained by the microbiome) and holobiability (the joint contribution of host and microbial variance). This review discusses recent advances in incorporating microbiome information as an additional variation source into genomic selection methods, with applications for complex trait prediction in livestock and aquaculture, providing upcoming challenges and opportunities. We highlight the challenges of modeling host–microbiome interactions, the potential of intermediate and functional traits, and considerations when designing holobiont-driven breeding schemes. Integrating these dimensions into breeding programs requires methodological innovations in data collection, modeling, and computation. Advances in high-throughput sequencing, artificial intelligence, and multi-omics facilitate the analysis of both genomic and metagenomic datasets, and support targeted microbiome interventions, including microbiome engineering, diet modulation via prebiotics or probiotics, and microbiome breeding to select holobionts with improved performance for complex traits. Thus, transitioning from genomes to hologenomes and incorporating microbiome data into breeding programs represents a key step toward more precise, efficient, and sustainable animal breeding.The author(s) declared that financial support was received for this work and/or its publication. LV is funded by doctoral scholarship 21202088 from the National Research Agency of Chile (ANID). YRC is recipient of a Ramón y Cajal post-doctoral fellowship (RYC2019-027244-I) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. BJMB is grateful for the support of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (https://doi.org/10.37807/GBMF10001), the National Institutes of Health (award P01GM125576), the Mercator Foundation, and the International Partnership for Advancing Microbiome-informed Aquaculture (IPAMA).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio