Melon (Cucumis melo L.) genetic maps were compiled by the International Cucurbit Genomics Initiative (ICuGI) before the release of the melon genome. However, due to the use of different marker sets, ...the position of ICuGI markers in the genome remained unknown, complicating the integration of previous genetic mapping studies in the genome. We looked for the genome position of 870 simple sequence repeat and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from the ICuGI map, locating 836 of them in the melon pseudochromosomes v3.5.1, and integrating them with previously available SNPs to reach a total of 1850 markers mapped in the genome sequence. The number of markers per scaffold ranged from 1 to 105, with an average of 13, thus improving on the previous studies in melon. Twenty-three of the markers mapped on virtual chromosome “0”, twelve of them being included in the ICuGI map, which could assist in the anchoring of some unanchored contigs and scaffolds. Genetic and physical distance comparison showed a good collinearity between them, confirming the quality of the ICuGI map. A higher recombination rate was also usually found at the ends of the chromosomes, whereas a drastic reduction was observed in the putative pericentromeric regions. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) previously located in the ICuGI map were also anchored in the genome. This work offers the opportunity to supplement the genetic maps available up to now with the genomic resources resulting from the melon genome sequencing to facilitate comparative mapping in melon between past and new studies, and to overcome some of the current limitations in QTL gene identification.
•The effects of soil type, drip irrigation and soil tillage on wild cherry timber production were evaluated; soil water content and spontaneous vegetation were complementary monitored.•Soils ...characterized by sandy-loam texture and low water retention capacity were showed to be unsuitable for this type of plantation.•Soil tillage did not show a significant effect on timber production.•A reduction of 10 years in the rotation length is expected as a consequence of drip irrigation.•Further investigations are required to test the temporal persistency of the studied effects and other expected benefits when this plantation is managed in a more sustainable way.
Over the last decade high-quality timber plantations have increased in Europe because of the constant high market price of timber and economical incentives from the EU. These latter are mainly due to timber plantations’ role in CO2 capture. Noble wood plantations have also been established in Mediterranean areas, but many of them suffer from low growth rates due to deficient plantation management and/or non-optimal environmental conditions. Furthermore, little information exists about soil and water management in these plantations and how different soil characteristics may affect management results. In this study, a trial was established in a pure wild cherry plantation under Mediterranean conditions. The trial evaluated the effects that soil type (low soil quality versus good performance for woody crops), soil management (soil tillage versus no tillage), irrigation regime (drip irrigation versus no irrigation) and their interactions may have on wood production. Soil water content and the spontaneous vegetation that appeared in the alleys of the no-tillage treatments were also measured.
The results showed that sandy-clay-loam soil with a water-holding capacity of 101.5±5.2mm had 65% more wood volume increase during the study period than sandy-loam soil with a water-holding capacity of 37.9±8.0mm. Conventional tillage or zero tillage with the presence of spontaneous vegetation did not differ significantly in wood volume increment, regardless of the type of soil. Although soil water content was significantly increased by tillage in sandy-loam soil, this effect was not enough to increase tree wood volume. On the other hand, the application of drip irrigation did increase wood production by up to 50%. Therefore, 10 years less on the plantation's rotation length can be anticipated when applying irrigation: from 40 to 30 years (sandy–clay–loam soil) and from 56 to 46 years (sandy-loam soil).
In conclusion, deep soil characterization of the site is essential before deciding whether to develop a plantation of this type in areas under soil water content limitations caused by deficient soil structure and texture. In addition, our results show important savings can be made by reducing soil tillage, as less tillage leads to greater ground cover and biodiversity. Further investigations are required to examine how long-lasting the effects are and what other benefits can be expected when this type of plantation is managed in a more sustainable way.
Background
The objective of this study was to identify molecular alterations in the human blood serum related to bipolar disorder, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and ...chemometrics.
Methods
Metabolomic profiling, employing
1
H-NMR,
1
H-NMR T
2
-edited, and 2D-NMR spectroscopy and chemometrics of human blood serum samples from patients with bipolar disorder (
n
= 26) compared with healthy volunteers (
n
= 50) was performed.
Results
The investigated groups presented distinct metabolic profiles, in which the main differential metabolites found in the serum sample of bipolar disorder patients compared with those from controls were lipids, lipid metabolism-related molecules (choline,
myo
-inositol), and some amino acids (
N
-acetyl-
l
-phenyl alanine,
N
-acetyl-
l
-aspartyl-
l
-glutamic acid,
l
-glutamine). In addition, amygdalin, α-ketoglutaric acid, and lipoamide, among other compounds, were also present or were significantly altered in the serum of bipolar disorder patients. The data presented herein suggest that some of these metabolites differentially distributed between the groups studied may be directly related to the bipolar disorder pathophysiology.
Conclusions
The strategy employed here showed significant potential for exploring pathophysiological features and molecular pathways involved in bipolar disorder. Thus, our findings may contribute to pave the way for future studies aiming at identifying important potential biomarkers for bipolar disorder diagnosis or progression follow-up.
Resistance to Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in the exotic melon accession PI 161375, cultivar “Sonwang Charmi” (SC) had previously been described as oligogenic, recessive and quantitative, with a major ...QTL residing in linkage group XII (LGXII). We have used a collection of near isogenic lines (NILs) with introgressions of SC into the genome of the susceptible accession Piel de Sapo (PS) to further characterise this resistance. Infection of NILs carrying introgressions on LGXII showed that only NIL SC12-1 was resistant to CMV strains P9 and P104.82, but not to strains M6 and TL. Further mapping of this region showed that the resistance, named cmv1 maps in an area of 2.2 cM, between markers CMN61_44 and CMN21_55. Moreover, cmv1 confers total resistance to strains P9 and P104.82, indicating that in these cases it is not quantitative and that cmv1 is sufficient to confer full resistance to these CMV strains. Candidate gene mapping of ten translation initiation factors in the melon genome failed to find any of them in the interval between markers CMN61_44 and CMN21_55. All these results suggest that the resistance to CMV present in SC is oligogenic, where different loci confer resistance to different CMV strains, but not necessarily quantitative, since at least one of these genes (cmv1) confers total resistance, similar to that of the parental SC, and does not need the contribution of other loci.
A set of near-isogenic lines (NILs) of melon (Cucumis melo L.) was used to test the relationship between the climacteric pattern and postharvest disorders at harvest and after 30 days at 8°C. The ...NILs contained different chromosome introgressions in the linkage group III from the non-climacteric exotic Korean accession PI 161375 transferred into the genetic background of the non-climacteric Spanish cultivar 'Piel de Sapo' (PS). A quantitative trait locus (QTL) in this linkage group induced climacteric behavior in eight NILs accompanied by a peak of ethylene production and fruit dehiscence to different degrees. The cultivar 'Nicolás' and one NIL showed a non-climacteric pattern of respiration rate and ethylene production. The climacteric NILs were used to test the relationship between this pattern and postharvest disorders. The reference climacteric lines 'Fado' and 'Védrantais' were more sensitive to CI and associated Cladosporium rot than the NILs or PS. In general, a more intense climacteric behavior was accompanied by fruit dehiscence, and higher total losses and greater skin scald after storage, than in PS. A higher incidence of chilling injury (CI) in the climacteric NILs was found compared with the non-climacteric ones, although with exceptions (one NIL for CI in the form of scald; the same NIL and one more for pitting). The climacteric onset and netting scald were not related, and CI in the form of skin spots was only found in climacteric NILs and was positively correlated with the maximum peak of ethylene production. Some climacteric NILs did not follow the rule of a higher susceptibility to other disorders and decay after storage compared with PS, such as for example in fruit over-ripening (detected externally or internally), Cladosporium rot at the peduncle and Alternaria rot. Mealiness was independent of climacteric behavior. Three climacteric NILs obtained better flavor scores after storage than PS, although the maximum peak of ethylene production was positively correlated with off-flavor. Genotypic correlation between disorder data and the physiological data of climacteric fruit revealed positive (flavor index) or negative postharvest consequences (skin injuries, rots or off-flavors). At least one QTL can be assigned to most of the quality traits analyzed.
•Both granite and limestone increased the porosity after the heating process.•Granite: Nanorestore and NanoEstel yielded similar reduction of porosity and resistance to salt cycles.•Limestone: ...Nanorestore® yielded lower effectiveness due lower penetration.•NanoEstel® yielded higher decay after salt cycles in the limestone due to lower compatibility.
This paper shows a study on the consolidation effectiveness of nano-silica and nano-lime-based consolidants (i.e. Nano Estel®and Nanorestore®, respectively), both available on the market, on two stones with different mineralogy and texture (i.e. two micas granite and Lioz limestone) previously subjected to 500 °C during 24 h with a rapid cooling by water jet simulating the real practice in a fire. The consolidation effectiveness was determined through the evaluation of hydro-physical properties (i.e. open porosity, apparent density, water absorption by capillarity and water absorption at atmospheric pressure), the determination of P-wave velocity (compressional wave velocity) and the study of their side-effects by using stereomicroscopy, colour spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Durability of the consolidants was determined by measuring their resistance to salt crystallization cycles and the subsequent surfaces were evaluated by open porosity measurements, stereomicroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Results showed, as expected, that both granite and limestone samples increased their porosity after the heating process. In the case of granite stone, both products yielded similar reduction of the porosity and similar resistance to salt crystallization cycles. In case of limestone, nanolime samples yielded lower effectiveness in terms of dry matter, porosity and water absorption by capillary coefficient, which is attributed to the low penetration of Nanorestore® particles in the fine pore structure of this stone. Ethyl silicate treated samples presented higher levels of decay after crystallization cycles in the limestone samples, which could be attributed to the difficulty to bond silicate materials to fine porous calcite-based substrates.
The consistency of quantitative trait locus (QTL) effects among genetic backgrounds is a key factor for introgressing QTLs from initial mapping experiments into applied breeding programs. We have ...selected four QTLs (fs6.4, fw4.3, fw4.4 and fw8.1) involved in melon fruit morphology that had previously been detected in a collection of introgression lines derived from the cross between a Spanish cultivar, “Piel de Sapo,” and the Korean accession PI161375 (Songwan Charmi). Introgression lines harboring these QTLs were crossed with an array of melon inbred lines representative of the most important cultivar types. Hybrids of the introgression and inbred lines, with the appropriate controls, were evaluated in replicated agronomic trials. The effects of the QTLs were consistent among the different genetic backgrounds, demonstrating the utility of these QTLs for applied breeding programs in modifying melon fruit morphology. Three QTLs, fw4.4, fs6.4 and fs12.1 were subjected to further study in order to map them more accurately by substitution mapping using a new set of introgression lines with recombination events within the QTL chromosome region. The position of the QTLs was narrowed down to 36-5 cM, depending on the QTL. The results presented in the current study set the basis for the use of these QTLs in applied breeding programs and for the molecular characterization of the genes underlying them.
We have used swift heavy-ion beam based lithography to create patterned bio-functional surfaces on rutile TiO2 single crystals. The applied lithography method generates a permanent and well defined ...periodic structure of micrometre sized square holes having nanostructured TiO2 surfaces, presenting different physical and chemical properties compared to the surrounding rutile single crystal surface. On the patterned substrates selective binding of oligonucleotides molecules is possible at the surfaces of the holes. This immobilisation process is only being controlled by UV light exposure. The patterned transparent substrates are compatible with fluorescence detection techniques, are mechanically robust, have a high tolerance to extreme chemical and temperature environments, and apparently do not degrade after ten cycles of use. These qualities make the patterned TiO2 substrates useful for potential biosensor applications.
The three genomes of cucumber show different modes of transmission, nuclear DNA bi-parentally, plastid DNA maternally, and mitochondrial DNA paternally. The mosaic (MSC) phenotype of cucumber is ...associated with mitochondrial DNA rearrangements and is a valuable tool for studying mitochondrial transmission. A nuclear locus (Psm) has been identified in cucumber that controls sorting of paternally transmitted mitochondrial DNA. Comparative sequencing and mapping of cucumber and melon revealed extensive synteny on the recombinational and sequence levels near Psm and placed this locus on linkage group R of cucumber and G10 of melon. However, the cucumber genomic region near Psm was surprisingly monomorphic with an average of one SNP every 25 kb, requiring that a family from a more diverse cross is produced for fine mapping and eventual cloning of Psm. The cucumber ortholog of Arabidopsis mismatch repair (MSH1) was cloned and it segregated independently of Psm, revealing that this candidate gene is not Psm.
Factors associated with chronic heart failure (CHF) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have received little attention. Recent data on the use of hydroxychloroquine in the treatment ...of SARS-CoV-2 infection have cast doubt on its cardiac safety. The factors associated with CHF, including therapy with antimalarials, were analyzed in a large multicenter SLE cohort.
Cross-sectional study including all patients with SLE (ACR-1997 criteria) included in the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Register (RELESSER), based on historically gathered data. Patients with CHF prior to diagnosis of SLE were excluded. A multivariable analysis exploring factors associated with CHF was conducted.
The study population comprised 117 patients with SLE (ACR-97 criteria) and CHF and 3,506 SLE controls. Ninety percent were women. Patients with CHF were older and presented greater SLE severity, organ damage, and mortality than those without CHF. The multivariable model revealed the factors associated with CHF to be ischemic heart disease (7.96 4.01–15.48, p < 0.0001), cardiac arrhythmia (7.38 4.00–13.42, p < 0.0001), pulmonary hypertension (3.71 1.84–7.25, p < 0.0002), valvulopathy (6.33 3.41–11.62, p < 0.0001), non-cardiovascular damage (1.29 1.16–1.44, p < 0.000) and calcium/vitamin D treatment (5.29 2.07–16.86, p = 0.0015). Female sex (0.46 0.25–0.88, p = 0.0147) and antimalarials (0.28 0.17–0.45, p < 0.000) proved to be protective factors.
Patients with SLE and CHF experience more severe SLE. Treatment with antimalarials appears to confer a cardioprotective effect.
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