Genome-wide analysis of plastome sequence variation and development of plastidial CAPS markers in common potato and related <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum</Emphasis> species

The plastome sequence of the European cultivated potato, Solanum tuberosum subsp. tuberosum (tbr, GenBank accession no. DQ386163), was compared with that of S. bulbocastanum, a wild potato relative (blb, GenBank accession no. DQ347958), in order to characterize the degree and type of variability in different genomic regions, and develop molecular markers relevant to genetics, breeding and biotechnology of potato. One hundred forty-two and 251 PICs (Potentially Informative Characters) were found in coding and non-coding sequences (NCSs), respectively. Further, while variation in coding regions was almost exclusively due to nucleotide substitutions, 25% of PICs in NCSs of tbr and blb were due to indels, most of them mononucleotide or longer tandem repeats (micro and minisatellites). Four intergenic regions were selected for further analyses in other 16 tuber-bearing Solanum species. The rps16-trnQ ^UUG gene spacer was found to be the most variable, forty-six PICs in this region distinguishing 18 haplotypes. Analysis of haplotype relationships, based on variability in the four intergenic regions, confirmed that the most primitive species from Central America were the most distant to S. tuberosum. Finally, polymorphic sites in the same regions were used to develop a set of CAPS (Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequences) markers for species/cytoplasm identification in Solanum spp.     

Etude de la remanence du DDT sur legumes a la suite de l'application des traitements insecticides

Résumé On présente des données sur la persistence du DDT sur tomates, poivrons, et aubergines en plein champ, et sur tomates en serre, à la suite de l'application des traitements par concentrés émulsifiables. Dans le cas des tomates on a constaté que le dépôt résiduel est audessous de 1 ppm apres un intervalle de 11 jours depuis l'application du traitement en champ. En serre, et pour la même quantité de substance toxique, la persistence se maintient jusqu'à 36 jours.Le dépôt initial sur aubergines est plus élevé que dans le cas des tomates, atteignant jusqu'à 1 ppm. après environ 22 à 29 jours. Chez les poivrons, le résidu initial est très grand par rapport aux deux premières légumes et atteint 19 ppm. 22 Jours après le traitement celui-ci varie entre 0,8–1,3 ppm.Ensuite, on a étudié la dynamique de la répartition dans le temps de la substance toxique par unité de surface. Les résultats obtenus démontrent l'uniformité des traitements; la diminution de la quantité de substance toxique dans le temps est due autant au facteur croissance qu'aux conditions de climat.

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Summary The paper deals with data on the persistence of DDT on tomatoes, sweet peppers and eggplants in the field, and on tomatoes in the greenhouse, following the application of emulsions. It is shown that in tomatoes, residual deposits are below 1 ppm 11 days after treatments in the field. In the greenhouse, the persistence is long-lasting, attaining up to 36 days when the same amount of toxicant is applied.In eggplants, the initial deposit is higher than in tomatoes attaining about 1 ppm after 22–29 days. In sweet peppers, the initial amount of residue is very large as compared to the first two vegetables and attains 19 ppm; 22 days after the treatement it ranges between 0.8–1.3 ppm.Besides, the dynamics of toxicant distribution with time, per area unit was studied. The data obtained demonstrate the uniformity of the treatments, and that the diminution of the amount of toxicant with time is due to both the growth factor and the climate conditions.

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Zusammenfassung In diesem Beitrag werden Daten betreffs der Karenzzeit der DDT-Rückstände auf Tomaten, Paprika und Eierfrüchten nach Behandlung des Feldbestandes und auf Tomaten, die im Treibhaus mit DDT-Emulsionen behandelt wurden, wiedergegeben. Aus unseren Untersuchungen geht hervor, daß der Rückstandswert auf Tomaten 11 Tage nach der Behandlung des Feldbestandes weniger als 1 ppm beträgt. Im Treibhaus hingegen erstreckt sich die Karenzzeit (Verweildauer) bis auf 36 Tage unter Anwendung derselben Wirkstoffmenge.Auf den Eierfrüchten ist der anfängliche Rückstandswert größer als auf den Tomaten und erreicht nach ungefähr 22–29 Tagen Werte unter 1 ppm. Im Falle der Paprikaschoten sind die Rückstandswerte anfangs sehr hoch im Gegensatz zu den vorher genannten Gemüsesorten und zwar erreichen sie 19 ppm. Nach 22 Tagen verzeichnen wir hier Werte von 0,8–1,3 ppm.Anschließend verfolgten wir die Dynamik der Wirkstoffverbreitung im Verhältnis der Zeit zur Oberflächeneinheit.Die erzielten Ergebnisse deuten sowohl auf eine uniform durchgeführte Behandlungsweise hin als auch auf die Tatsache, daß der zeitliche Rückgang der Rückstandsmenge von Wachstum und Klimabedingungen abhängig ist.

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avec 4 figs.     

Prevalence and genetic characterization of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in cats from Italy

One hundred and eighty one cats living in central Italy were tested for the presence of Giardia and Cryptosporidium infection by IFAT test and specific PCRs. Overall eight (4.4%) samples were IFAT-positive for Giardia. All the IFAT-positive samples for Giardia scored positive for the PCRs, and three more samples IFAT-negative generated PCR products leading to a total 6.1% molecular positivity rate for Giardia. All the examined samples were negative for Cryptosporidium. Sequencing of samples molecularly positive to Giardia indicated that three cats harbored the zoonotic Giardia duodenalis Assemblage A, whereas all other positive animals were infected with the feline-specific G. duodenalis Assemblage F. Phylogenetic analysis carried out on the sequences obtained supported the clustering of the isolates within Assemblages A and F. The results here presented provide data on the occurrence of Giardia genotypes in cats living in close contact with humans highlighting the potential importance of this protozoan disease for the public health.     

Post-mortem recovery,in vitro maturation and fertilization of fallow deer (Dama dama,Linnaeus 1758) oocytes collected during reproductive and no reproductive season

Habitat degradation leads to small and fragmented populations, lower genetic variability and fertility overtime. Assisted reproductive techniques represent important tools to cope with the dramatic loss of biodiversity. Fallow deer (Dama dama), beyond its high commercial value and wide distribution, may represent the most suitable model to study endangered cervids. In this study, oocytes were recovered post-mortem from fallow deer during the breeding and no breeding seasons and were in vitro matured (IVM). The ability of cryopreserved thawed sperm samples recovered by electroejaculation from four adult males was tested by in vitro fertilization of IVM oocytes. The number of oocytes collected per ovary did significantly vary across seasons from 6.2 ± 0.92 during breeding season to 10.4 ± 1.26 during no breeding season (p = .006). Oocytes collected during the breeding season showed higher in vitro fertilization rate compared to the no breeding season (p = .045). However, no embryos reached the blastocyst stage. Semen samples obtained by electroejaculation were successfully cryopreserved, although the cryopreservation process negatively affected most kinetic parameters, mainly at 2 hr post-thawing. Moreover, the percentage of rapid spermatozoa significantly decreased between fresh samples and at 2 hr post-thawing, whereas the percentage of slow spermatozoa increased across the same period (p < .05). Our study provides the logistic steps for the application of assisted reproductive techniques in fallow deer and might be of great interest for genetic resource bank planning.     

Soil bacterial communities under slash and burn in Mozambique as revealed by a metataxonomic approach

The slash-and-burn system is a subsistence agronomical practice widespread in tropical areas worldwide. This system has been extensively studied,especially for its impacts on agronomical aspects and soil physicochemical properties; however, knowledge of soil microbial diversity under slash and bum is scarce. In this study, for the first time, soil bacterial diversity of three locations from Central Mozambique, where slash and burn has been practiced for different durations of the forest fallow p...     

The Performing Protein: Beyond Wheat Proteomics?

Substantial progress has been made in breaking down the complex pattern of proteins in wheat, and the constant improvement of “‐omics” approaches has allowed relating the abundance of selected wheat proteins to flour and semolina performance during processing. This strategy has provided some sound molecular basis for the work of geneticists, breeders, and growers. Along with an update on work in this area, this review is meant to highlight that performance‐relevant proteins may need specific structural features to carry out performance‐relevant functions during processing. In this frame, some of the approaches used to investigate structural features of wheat proteins are discussed, with a focus on water‐insoluble gluten proteins and on those approaches that allow minimal disturbance of the protein structure itself. Selected examples of the application of some of these approaches to the study of starting materials and of structural modifications that occur at various processing stages are presented. The effects of process‐induced modifications on the various interactions among macromolecules that govern the physical and sensory features of wheat‐based foods are also briefly discussed.     

The low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits of wheat gluten

Low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) are polymeric protein components of wheat endosperm and like all seed storage proteins, are digested to provide nutrients for the embryo during seed germination and seedling growth. Due to their structural characteristics, they exhibit features important for the technological properties of wheat flour. Their ability to form inter-molecular disulphide bonds with each other and/or with high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS), is important for the formation of the glutenin polymers, which are among the biggest macromolecules present in nature, and determine the processing properties of wheat dough. Explanation of the structural basis for these correlations continues to intrigue researchers and, while earlier emphasis had been on HMW-GS, considerable attention is now being focused on the LMW-GS.LMW-GS are a highly polymorphic protein complex, including proteins with gliadin-type sequences. Difficulty in separating single components, arising from the complexity of the group, has limited the characterisation of the individual proteins and the establishment of clear-cut relationships with quality parameters.Here we review results concerning different aspects of LMW-GS, including their structural characteristics, genetic control, and relationships with quality parameters. In addition, we emphasise the distinction between the components with sequences unique to the LMW-GS fraction and those behaving like glutenin subunits (incorporated into polymers), but with sequences corresponding to gliadins.     

Biochemical Characterization of Cassiopea andromeda (Forsskål, 1775), Another Red Sea Jellyfish in the Western Mediterranean Sea

Increasing frequency of native jellyfish proliferations and massive appearance of non-indigenous jellyfish species recently concur to impact Mediterranean coastal ecosystems and human activities at sea. Nonetheless, jellyfish biomass may represent an exploitable novel resource to coastal communities, with reference to its potential use in the pharmaceutical, nutritional, and nutraceutical Blue Growth sectors. The zooxanthellate jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda, Forsskål, 1775 (Cnidaria, Rhizostomeae) entered the Levant Sea through the Suez Canal and spread towards the Western Mediterranean to reach Malta, Tunisia, and recently also the Italian coasts. Here we report on the biochemical characterization and antioxidant activity of C. andromeda specimens with a discussion on their relative biological activities. The biochemical characterization of the aqueous (PBS) and hydroalcoholic (80% ethanol) soluble components of C. andromeda were performed for whole jellyfish, as well as separately for umbrella and oral arms. The insoluble components were hydrolyzed by sequential enzymatic digestion with pepsin and collagenase. The composition and antioxidant activity of the insoluble and enzymatically digestible fractions were not affected by the pre-extraction types, resulting into collagen- and non-collagen-derived peptides with antioxidant activity. Both soluble compounds and hydrolyzed fractions were characterized for the content of proteins, phenolic compounds, and lipids. The presence of compounds coming from the endosymbiont zooxanthellae was also detected. The notable yield and the considerable antioxidant activity detected make this species worthy of further study for its potential biotechnological sustainable exploitation.     

Characterization of Phaseolus vulgaris L. Landraces Cultivated in Central Italy

Eight Phaseolus vulgaris L. landraces cultivated on farm in marginal areas of Central Italy (Lazio region) were investigated in order to evaluate chemical composition of storage proteins and secondary metabolites fractions. The total protein content showed some differences among landraces; the maximum value was next to 30 g for 100 g of dry weight. The seed storage proteins were screened by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS/PAGE): seven landraces exhibited phaseolin patterns type S, one landrace showed a phaseolin pattern type T. A morphological analysis of cotyledon parenchyma performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed differences in size of starch granules. Moreover the polyphenolic composition was investigated using HPLC-APCI; from the methanol extracts a flavonoid, kaempferol, and a coumarin, 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin, were identified. To our knowledge, this is the first time that 5,7-dimethoxycoumarin has been reported in P. vulgaris seeds.