Biological characterization of Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus from Spain

Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV; family Geminiviridae, genus Begomovirus) is an emerging virus in horticulture crops in Asia, and has recently been introduced in Spain, Tunisia and Italy. No betasatellite DNA was detected in infected tomato and zucchini squash samples from Spain, and agroinoculated viral DNA‐A and DNA‐B were sufficient to reproduce symptoms in plants of both crop species. Infected tomato and zucchini squash plants also served as inoculum sources for efficient transmission either mechanically or using Bemisia tabaci whiteflies. Cucumber, melon, watermelon, zucchini squash, tomato, eggplant and pepper, but not common bean, were readily infected using viruliferous whiteflies and expressed symptoms 8–15 days post‐inoculation. New full‐length sequences from zucchini squash and tomato indicated a high genetic homogeneity (>99% sequence identity) in the ToLCNDV populations in Spain, pointing to a single recent introduction event.     

Intrafollicular paraoxonase 1 activity and the steroidogenic potential of the first post‐partum dominant follicle in dairy cows

Cows experiencing high levels of inflammation and specific metabolic conditions tend to have slower follicular growth and lower serum and follicular concentrations of oestradiol (E2). Paraoxonase1 (PON1) activity decreases during inflammatory processes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum and intrafollicular (FF) PON1 activity and the serum and intrafollicular levels of E2 and progesterone (P4), as well as the mRNA expression of genes related to steroidogenesis, metabolism and inflammation in the first post‐partum dominant follicle of Holstein cows. No correlation was found between PON1 activity, the expression of the analysed genes and levels of follicular E2 and P4, except for a negative correlation between serum E2 and follicular PO1 activity. Also, no correlation was found between serum and follicular PON1 during the first post‐partum follicular wave.     

Inheritance of plant height in the dwarf mutant 'Enana' of safflower

The dwarf safflower mutant ‘Enana’ has been developed from the cultivar ‘Rancho’ by chemical mutagenesis. The objective of the present research was to study the inheritance of plant height in crosses between ‘Enana’ and ‘Rancho’. Plants of both lines were reciprocally crossed and the F₁, F₂ and F₃ generations were obtained. The evaluation of plant height in the F₂ generation suggested the presence of a single locus controlling this trait. This was confirmed after the evaluation of 164 F_2:3 lines, which revealed an F₂ segregation fitting a 1:2:1 (dwarf: intermediate: standard) ratio. The locus was designated D^w. As the mutated allele was partly dominant over the wild‐type allele, the proposed genotype for ‘Rancho’ was d^w d^w, whereas that for ‘Enana’ was D^w D^w. Furthermore, a partial cytoplasmic effect on plant height was detected, with the heterozygote D^w d^w being about 6 cm taller when ‘Rancho’ was used as female.     

Use of dehydrated waste grape skins as a natural additive for producing rosé wines: study of extraction conditions and evolution

Dehydrated waste grape skins from the juice industry were used as an additive to produce rosé wines. Maceration time, particle size, dosage, alcoholic content, and maceration temperature were first studied in model wine solutions using two different dehydrated waste grape skins. Full factorial experimental designs together with Factor Analysis and Multifactor ANOVA allowed for the evaluation of each parameter according to the composition of color and phenolic and aroma compounds. Higher maceration time favored the extraction of anthocyanins; phenolic compound release was influenced by dosage independent from other factors studied. Rosé wines were produced by direct addition of dehydrated waste grape skins, according to selected parameters in two different white wines, achieving characteristics equivalent to commercial rosé wines. After three months of storage, rosé wine composition was stable.     

Inheritance of high oleic acid content in safflower

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) oil with high oleic acid content (>75%) has a great value for both food and non-food uses. The trait has been reported to be environmentally stable and controlled by recessive alleles at one single gene Ol, even though the influence of modifying genes has been suggested. Additionally, germplasm with higher oleic acid content (>85%) has been reported. The objective of the present research was to study the inheritance of high oleic acid content in genetic sources with both levels of high oleic acid content (>75 and >85%, respectively). A genetic study was conducted by crossing the nuclear male-sterile line CL1 (18% oleic acid) and the high oleic acid lines CR-6 (80%) and CR-9 (87%). The evaluation of the F₁ and F₂ seed generations of the crosses CL1 × CR-6 and CL1 × CR-9 indicated that in both cases the high oleic acid trait was controlled by partially recessive alleles at a single locus. The observation of F₂, F₃, and F₄ segregants with high oleic acid phenotype but lower oleic acid levels than the parents revealed the presence of modifying genes affecting the trait. Crosses between the two high oleic acid lines produced no transgressive segregation other than that caused by the mentioned modifying genes, suggesting that the high oleic acid lines CR-6 and CR-9 share the same alleles at the Ol locus. Differences for oleic acid content between both lines were hypothesized to be produced by the accumulation of genes with a minor effect on the trait.     

Metallic CsI at pressures of up to 220 gigapascals

Direct electrical transport measurements in a diamond anvil cell provide evidence for the metallization of cesium iodide (CsI) at a pressure of 115 gigapascals. A drop in the temperature dependence of the resistance was found at pressures above 180 gigapascals, indicating that the CsI was superconductive. The superconductivity changed under the influence of a magnetic field to a lower critical temperature and disappeared above 0.3 tesla. The highest critical temperature at which superconductivity was observed was 2 kelvin, and the critical temperature decreased with increasing pressure.     

Transgressive segregation for reduced glucosinolate content in Brassica carinata A. Braun

Successful commercial utilization of the meal by‐product of Brassica oilseed crops requires the cultivation of cultivars with low glucosinolate (GSL) content in the seeds; however, such cultivars are not yet available in Brassica carinata. The objective of the present research was to search for transgressive segregants with further‐reduced GSL content in the progeny of crosses involving four B. carinata lines with reduced GSL content (90 compared with 120 μmol/g seed in standard germplasm). The four lines were crossed following a diallel design and F₂ phenotypes (F₃ seed bulked) were analysed for GSL content. F₂ phenotypes with a transgressive GSL content lower than the parents were identified in all crosses involving the line S2–1241, suggesting that this line carries alleles for reduced GSL content not present in the other lines. F_{3 : 4} lines from transgressive F₂ phenotypes were evaluated for 2 years, which resulted in the selection of an F_{3 : 4} line with an average GSL content of 58 and 46 μmol/g seed, respectively compared with 84 and 62 μmol/g seed, respectively in S2–1241.     

Novel variation for the tocopherol profile in a sunflower created by mutagenesis and recombination

α‐Tocopherol is the main tocopherol in sunflower seeds (>90%). Because it exerts a weak antioxidant action in vitro, its partial replacement by other tocopherols is an important breeding objective in this crop. The objective of this research was to develop novel tocopherol profiles in sunflower through mutagenesis and genetic recombination. Seeds of four ‘Peredovik’ accessions were used for chemical mutagenesis with ethyl methane sulfonate (EMS). Single‐seed screening in the M₂ generation resulted in two M₂ seeds, derived from different M₁ plants, with increased γ‐tocopherol contents of 19.2% and 96.7%, respectively. M₃ progeny from the M₂ seed with the 96.7% content bred true for high c‐tocopherol content, containing more than 90%γ‐tocopherol. M₃ progeny from the M₂ seed with only 19.2%γ‐tocopherol segregated in a range from 0 to 84.6%. Selection for high c‐tocopherol content produced an M_4:5 line, designated IAST‐1, with a stable high concentration of γ‐tocopherol. Crosses between IAST‐1 and T589, with an increased b‐tocopherol content, produced F₂ segregants with trans‐gressive levels of up to 77%β‐tocopherol or up to 68% d‐tocopherol. Both novel tocopherol profiles were confirmed in the F₃ generation.     

Regional habitat conservation priorities for the American crocodile

The American crocodile is widely distributed in coastal and lowland wetlands in the northern Neotropics. As a result of commercial skin hunting in the 20th century, populations were greatly diminished, but in many areas have initiated a period of recovery since hunting and trade controls were enacted in the 1980s and 1990s. While a great deal of attention has been devoted to regulated commercial use as a management strategy for recovering crocodilian populations, these approaches are limited in their efficacy to deal with issues of habitat loss and fragmentation. Because habitat limitations are expected to be the most critical issue for crocodile conservation in the 21st century, there is an unfulfilled need for alternative strategies that prioritize habitat conservation. Here, we present results of an international effort to identify and prioritize the most critical habitats for this wide ranging species. We quantified information of a group of American crocodile experts and classified 69 areas in eight distinct crocodile bioregions as Crocodile Conservation Units (CCU), the most important areas for the conservation of this species. The relative importance of the CCUs in each bioregion was quantified using an algorithm that weighted factors that the experts considered to be most important for the long term conservation of viable populations of crocodiles. This effort is the initial step in the development of a regional conservation plan for the American crocodile. We identified two bioregions in particular where the creation of protected areas should be given a high priority, the Dry Pacific South America (northern Peru and southern Ecuador) and the Northwest and Central Pacific Mexico.