ReDivia - Repositorio Digital de l'Instit Valencià d'Investigacions Agràries
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Laser Microdissection: A High-Precision Approach to Isolate Specific Cell Types from Any Plant Species for Downstream Molecular Analyses
No full textPlants display a great diversity of particular cell types that obviously perform functions and regulations that are essential for successful growth and development, whether under optimal or adverse conditions. The functions performed by each of these particular cell types must be associated with specific transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolic profiles that cannot be disentangled by analyzing whole plant organs and tissues. Laser microdissection is a technique for the collection of specific cell types in plant organs and tissues comprising heterogeneous cell populations. It has been successfully used for physiological and molecular studies. Laser microdissection can be applied to any plant species as long as it is possible to reliably identify the cell types of interest. Here, we describe step by step, using citrus as a model plant, a fast, simple, easy to perform, and experimentally validated protocol to collect cells from the abscission zone, a specific tissue that is difficult to access and whose activity is important in the response of plants to adverse environmental conditions
Enhancing Mediterranean Agriculture: Towards a Sensor Based Decision Support Tool for Efficient Irrigation Management in Smallholder Orchards
No full textThe Mediterranean agriculture is currently facing various challenges resulting from population growth, need for nature conservation, efficient usage of resource and necessary resilience regarding climate change. The fact that smallholders play an important role in the agricultural community raises the question how they could adopt new efficient irrigations strategies and technologies. We present the concept of a decision support tool for irrigation management that aims to overcome obstacles in adapting new technologies for smallholders and provides irrigation recommendations for orange and olive orchards. The derived irrigation recommendations are either based on the FAO-56 approach, or on a soil water balance model relying on soil moisture data. The second is based on soil moisture sensors and here, we are addressing two crucial factors: (i) the assurance of good data quality, and (ii) the sitespecific threshold identification for soil moisture measurements, showing possible methods and occurring challenges
Effectiveness of alternative means for controlling pomegranate postharvest pathogens
No full textPomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivation in southern Italy has recently
gained increasing interest due to putative beneficial effects on human health. Both, in
the field and postharvest product losses, especially in organic fruit production,
represent the chief concern for this high-priced chain. Main postharvest pomegranate
diseases are caused by latent pathogens that infect pomegranates during blooming
stage (Coniella granati, Alternaria spp., Botrytis spp.), and secondarily by wound
pathogens (Penicillium spp., Talaromyces spp., and Aspergillus spp.) affecting fruit
during processing from harvest until the end of storage and shelf life. The aim of this
research was to test the in vitro effect of alternative control means already present on
the market, suitable for controlling pomegranate postharvest pathogens. Particularly,
the effectiveness of a red seaweeds extract, a plant protein hydrolysate, and a chitosan
solution were compared to fludioxonil (chemical control) and water (not treated
control) assessing the mean growth diameter reached by each fungal colony at the end
of the incubation. Chitosan behaved as the most effective substance in controlling all
postharvest pomegranate fungal pathogens. This work was conducted within the
framework of the PRIMA StopMedWaste project, which is funded by PRIMA, a program
supported by the European Union
Adición de análogos de antioxidantes presentes en el plasma seminal al medio de congelación de semen de conejo
Get PDFEn el plasma seminal, para mantener una función espermática óptima, coexisten en equilibrio tanto
especies reactivas al oxígeno (ERO) como antioxidantes. No obstante, durante la congelación del
semen, la excesiva generación de ERO puede provocar un desequilibrio del mecanismo de protección
y alterar los lípidos y/o proteínas de las membranas de los espermatozoides (Sanocka y Kurpisz, 2004).
La utilización de antioxidantes en los medios de congelación puede prevenir el estrés oxidativo y mejorar
las características seminales (Nishijima et al. 2021). Entre los principales antioxidantes presentes
en el semen podemos encontrar la enzima superóxido dismutasa (SOD) y la vitamina E (Kowalczyk,
2022). La SOD previene la formación de nuevos radicales libres, mientras que la vitamina E actúa capturando
los radicales libres que se forman para evitar las reacciones en cadena posteriores El objetivo
del presente trabajo es evaluar el efecto de la adición de análogos sintéticos de la vitamina E y la SOD
en el medio de congelación de semen de conejo, analizando diferentes parámetros seminales in vitro
y su capacidad fecundante in vivo
Developing perennial wildflower strips for use in Mediterranean orchard systems
Get PDFTo support sustainable food production and the delivery of ecosystem services through ecological intensification, wildflower strips have become a popular strategy. Despite their success in temperate orchard systems, they remain understudied in Mediterranean ecosystems, which poses a significant barrier to uptake. In order to further promote their adoption, seed mixes must be optimised for commercial orchard systems and for the Mediterranean climate. Plant species should be selected for their consistent performance, whilst the availability of resources for ecosystem service providers determines the quality of the wildflower strip. In this study, the suitability of 12 native perennial forbs and two tussock-forming grass species for wildflower strips in commercial Citrus orchards was assessed over a 3-year period. Distinct resources for natural enemies according to the different plant growth stages were used an indicator of wildflower strip quality. The wildflower strips were managed under two different cutting strategies: (I) standard management, in which wildflower strips were cut once annually in February, and (II) active management, in which wildflower strips were cut two additional times each year. The establishment and success of the sown species were compared. The influence of wildflower strips and their management on plant species richness, community structure, and the provision of resources was compared with a control treatment, in which alleyways were managed conventionally by cutting any naturally occurring vegetation to a height of ≤5 cm, four to five times annual. For the first time, the performance of native perennial plant species has been assessed in Mediterranean orchard systems and a seed mix developed for targeting pest regulation services. The wildflower strips were successful in increasing plant species richness and the available resources expected to support natural enemies. However, only wildflower strips managed with cutting once annually enhanced vegetation cover relative to the control, whilst extending the flowering period. This study therefore provides crucial tools for the further development of sustainable approaches to food production in Mediterranean orchard systems
Editorial: New insights into mechanisms of epigenetic modifiers in plant growth and development. Volume II
Get PDFAs we have learned, chromatin modifications, including histone modifications and DNA methylation, play a key role in plant development (Ng and Bird, 1999). However, accumulated evidence shows that, besides chromatin biochemical modifications, other epigenetic regulations such as chromatin architecture also function at a pivot point to regulate plant development (Zhang et al., 2021). In this Research Topic, five research papers describe multiple developmental facets mediated by different epigenetic mechanisms besides histone modifications. These manuscripts report experimental evidence or summarize recent advances in epigenetic regulations of some important developmental genes or development-related mechanisms. This Research Topic allows readers to learn of the latest advances in epigenetic regulations on seed germination, flowering time control, miRNA biogenesis and stability, secondary meristem maintenance as well as histone deacetylase 9 mediated day-length dependent hypocotyl cell elongation
Aggregation of organically managed fields promotes aphid parasitism in cereal crops under Mediterranean conditions
Get PDFContext: Maintaining a balance between semi-natural habitats and arable land is not always feasible for farmers. The promotion of biological control agents can be addressed through management at farm or field level, and/or by deploying lower intensity, biodiversity-friendly practices which can act either directly or indirectly through their effect of the plant community. Objectives: We studied the effects on cereal aphids and their parasitoids of agricultural management at field and landscape levels. We tested the effect of organic and conventional farming, and of the within field characteristics, on the cereal aphid-parasitoid community, across a gradient of organic farming aggregation and of percentage of arable land. Methods: In spring 2015, we sampled aphid populations in 30 cereal fields in five agricultural areas in Catalonia (Spain) with contrasting levels of organic farming aggregation. In each field, we also assessed weed and crop cover. As landscape variables, we calculated the Percentage of Agricultural Land (PAL) and the Percentage of Organically Managed Land (POML) in a 500-m buffer around each field. We sampled cereal tillers 3 m from the field edges and collected all aphids detected. In addition, we reared mummies (parasitized aphids) until they hatched. Results: Our results show that management at landscape level has significant effects on parasitism rates: a higher proportion of surrounding fields under organic management increased the amount of parasitism, as did less agricultural land cover. On the other hand, aphid populations were mainly affected by two in-field factors, namely, crop density and crop variety. Differences in weed communities did not seem to have any effects on either aphids or parasitoids. Conclusions: Rather than concentrating on the individual management of fields, a coordinated implementation of organic farming at landscape level would seem to be a much better strategy for improving the biological control of aphids
Postharvest Diseases of Pomegranate: Alternative Control Means and a Spiderweb Effect
Get PDFThe pomegranate is a fruit known since ancient times for its beneficial properties. It has recently aroused great interest in the industry and among consumers, leading to a significant increase in demand. Consequently, its cultivation has been boosted all over the world. The pomegranate crop suffers considerable yield losses, especially at the postharvest stage, because it is a “minor crop” with few permitted control means. To control latent (Alternaria spp., Botrytis spp., Coniella spp., Colletotrichum spp., and Cytospora spp.) and wound (Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., and Talaromyces spp.) fungal pathogens, different alternative compounds, previously evaluated in vitro, were tested in the field on pomegranate cv. Wonderful. A chitosan solution, a plant protein hydrolysate, and a red seaweed extract were compared with a chemical control treatment, all as preharvest (field application) and postharvest treatments and their combinations. At the end of the storage period, the incidence of stamen infections and external and internal rots, and the severity of internal decay were evaluated. Obtained data revealed that pre- and postharvest application of all substances reduced the epiphytic population on stamens. Preharvest applications of seaweed extract and plant hydrolysate were the most effective treatments to reduce the severity of internal pomegranate decays. Furthermore, the influence of spider (Cheiracanthium mildei) cocoons on the fruit calyx as a possible barrier against postharvest fungal pathogens was assessed in a ‘Mollar de Elche’ pomegranate organic orchard. Compared to no-cocoon fruit (control), the incidence of infected stamens and internal molds in those with spiderwebs was reduced by about 30%, and the mean severity of internal rots was halved. Spiderwebs analyzed via Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) disclosed a layered, unordered structure that did not allow for the passage of fungal spores due to its mean mesh size (1 to 20 µm ca). The aims of this research were (I) to evaluate alternative compounds useful to control postharvest pomegranate decays and (II) to evaluate the effectiveness of spiders in reducing postharvest fungal infections by analyzing related mechanisms of action. Alternative control means proposed in the present work and calyx spider colonization may be helpful to reduce postharvest pomegranate diseases, yield losses, and waste production in an integrated control strategy, satisfying organic agriculture and the planned goals of Zero Hunger Challenge launched by the United Nations
rCitrusBBC: a bacterial resource to mine for new agricultural probiotics for citrus
Get PDFA culture collection of 147 selected bacteria from the rhizospheric citrus microbiome is available at the Valencian Institute of Agricultural Research (València, Spain). The data include information on plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits published to date and the presence of PGP-related genes in the available genomes of the different bacterial species
Nutritional value of Spanish Camelina sativa co-products for pigs
Get PDFThis study evaluated and compared the digestible energy (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) and the coefficient of ileal standardized digestibility (CISD) of crude protein (CP) and amino acids (AA) in camelina expellers (CAE) and camelina meal (CAM) for growing pigs. In Exp. 1, thirty-six barrows Pietrain × (Landrace × Large White) of 61.8 ± 2.83 kg body weight were allotted to 6 diets, a basal corn-soybean meal diet and 5 diets in which a proportion of the corn and soybean meal in the basal diet was replaced by CAE (100, 200 or 300 g/kg) or CAM (100 or 200 g/kg). The experiment lasted 15 days and during the last 5 days the total amount of feces and urine were collected to calculate the energy metabolizability of diets. The CTTAD of energy and DE and ME concentration in CAE and CAM were calculated by the difference procedure as well as by the regression method. In Exp. 2, thirty-three barrows Pietrain × (Landrace × Large White) of 82.0 ± 2.57 kg body weight were allotted to three treatments, two cornstarch-based diets containing 350 g/kg CAE or 300 g/kg CAM as the sole source of CP and AA and a N-free diet. After 7 days of feeding, animals were euthanized and ileal digesta were sampled. The CISD of AA on CAE and CAM was determined using the direct method. Camelina meal had a greater concentration of CP and AA and a lower ether extract than CAE. The most abundant indispensable AA were arginine, leucine, valine, and lysine in both ingredients (26.3, 21.9, 19.1 and 16.2 g/kg dry matter (DM) in average, respectively). Camelina expellers contained 8.0 g/kg DM more soluble and 4.6 g/kg DM less insoluble fiber than CAM. The CTTAD of energy was 0.682 and 0.665 in CAE and CAM, respectively, when calculated using the difference method, and 0.665 and 0.655 in CAE and CAM, respectively, when estimated via the regression method. The DE and ME were on average greater (P < 0.05) for CAE compared with CAM both, using the difference or the regression method (DE, in average:14.3 MJ/kg DM and 13.1 MJ/kg DM, respectively and ME, in average: 14.1 MJ/kg DM and 12.9 MJ/kg DM, respectively). Between methods, no statistical differences were detected. The CISD of CP was greater (P < 0.05) in CAM compared with CAE (0.579 in CAE and 0.670 in CAM). The most digestible essential AA in both ingredients were methionine, arginine and histidine, with average digestibilities of 0.77, 0.75 and 0.83, respectively. The CISD of leucine and cysteine was greater in CAM compared with CAE (P < 0.05). In conclusion, CAE had greater energy value than CAM, whereas the digestibility of leucine and cysteine was less in CAE than in CAM, probably due to the greater concentration of soluble dietary fiber in CAE