Phenotypic diversity among local Spanish and foreign peach and nectarine [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] accessions

Phenotypic data for tree and fruit characteristics was collected over three consecutive years from a germplasm collection of 94 peach and nectarine accessions representing both traditional Spanish as well as foreign cultivars with widespread global plantings. All accessions were grown at the Experimental Station of Aula Dei located in the Ebro Valley (Northern Spain, Zaragoza) under a Mediterranean climate. Tree traits evaluated included bloom and harvest date, vigor, yield, yield efficiency and flower and leaf characteristics. Fruit traits included fresh weight, firmness, soluble solids, titratable acidity, levels of individual soluble sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose and sorbitol), vitamin C, total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, relative antioxidant capacity and ripening index. Extensive variability was observed for most qualitative and quantitative traits with significant correlations identified between many traits. While the traditional Spanish accessions demonstrated good adaptability to the northern Spain evaluation site, opportunities for continued improvement in tree and fruit quality traits were demonstrated by an extensive phenotypic variability within the germplasm collection.     

Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Central Nervous System and Peripheral Organs of Stramonita haemastoma: Protein Distribution and Gene Expression in Response to Thermal Stress

Nitric oxide (NO) is generated via the oxidation of l-arginine by the enzyme NO synthase (NOS) both in vertebrates and invertebrates. Three NOS isoforms, nNOS, iNOS and eNOS, are known in vertebrates, whereas a single NOS isoform is usually expressed in invertebrates, sharing structural and functional characteristics with nNOS or iNOS depending on the species. The present paper is focused on the constitutive Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent nNOS recently sequenced by our group in the neogastropod Stramonita haemastoma (ShNOS). In this paper we provide new data on cellular distribution of ShNOS in the CNS (pedal ganglion) and peripheral organs (osphradium, tentacle, eye and foot) obtained by WB, IF, CM and NADPHd. Results demonstrated that NOS-like proteins are widely expressed in sensory receptor elements, neurons and epithelial cells. The detailed study of NOS distribution in peripheral and central neurons suggested that NOS is both intracellular and presynaptically located. Present findings confirm that NO may have a key role in the central neuronal circuits of gastropods and in sensory perception. The physiological relevance of NOS enzymes in the same organs was suggested by thermal stress experiments demonstrating that the constitutive expression of ShNOS is modulated in a time- and organ-dependent manner in response to environmental stressors.     

Genetic characterization of central Mediterranean stocks of the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) using mitochondrial and nuclear markers,and conservation implications

1. that the north Adriatic, the Tunisian continental shelf, the waters around Malta and the Italian Ionian Sea represent important areas for the conservation of rookeries in Greece, Libya and Turkey, respectively;
2. that waters off the Italian peninsula and the islands of Lampedusa and Malta are mainly inhabited by individuals of Mediterranean origin, with a major contribution from the nearest and largest colonies, while Atlantic turtles are restricted to the western areas;
3. that specific migratory routes exist from rookeries to foraging grounds;
4. a poor bi‐parental genetic structuring, which suggests a high male‐mediated gene flow in the Mediterranean;
5. mixing of small turtles in waters distant from natal rookeries, and recovery of structuring for large‐sized individuals; and
6. that uncommon mtDNA haplotypes are more powerful markers than microsatellite alleles in assessing an individual's origin, owing to their higher geographic specificity.

Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nitrogenous and phosphorus excretions in juvenile silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) exposed to different water hardness, humic acid, and pH levels

This study examined ammonia, urea, creatinine, protein, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphorus (P) excretion at different water hardness, humic acid, or pH levels in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) juveniles. The fish were exposed to different levels of water hardness (4, 24, 50, or 100 mg L^?1 CaCO₃), humic acid (0, 2.5, or 5.0 mg L^?1), or pH (5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, or 9.0) for 10 days. The overall measured nitrogen excretions were 88.1 % (244–423 μmol kg^?1 h^?1) for ammonia, 10.9 % (30–52 μmol kg^?1 h^?1) for creatinine, 0.02 % (0.05–0.08 μmol kg^?1 h^?1) for protein, 0.001 % (0.002–0.004 μmol kg^?1 h^?1) for urea, 0.5 % (0.64–3.6 μmol kg^?1 h^?1) for nitrite, and 0.5 % (0.0–6.9 μmol kg^?1 h^?1) for nitrate, and these proportions were not affected by water hardness or humic acid levels. The overall P excretion in R. quelen was 0.14–2.97 μmol kg^?1 h^?1. Ammonia excretion in R. quelen usually was significantly higher in the first 12 h after feeding, and no clear effect of water hardness, humic acid levels, and pH on this daily pattern of ammonia excretion could be observed. Water hardness only affected the ammonia and P excretion of R. quelen juveniles in the initial and fifth days after transfer, respectively. The exposure of this species to humic acid increased ammonia excretion after 10 days of exposure but did not affect P excretion. An increase in pH decreased ammonia and increased creatinine excretion but did not change P excretion in R. quelen. Therefore, when there is any change on humic acid levels or pH in the culture of this species, nitrogenous compounds must be monitored because their excretion rates are variable. On the other hand, P excretion rates determined in the present study are applicable to a wide range of fish culture conditions.     

A comparative analysis between recreational and artisanal fisheries in a Mediterranean coastal area

The biological impact and the social characteristics of different artisanal (professional) and recreational fishing techniques on the marine resources of a coastal Mediterranean area were compared. Data were from artisanal and recreational surveys carried out between 2006 and 2010. Competition between recreational (particularly spear fishing) and artisanal fishers for the natural resources is important as 52% of the 98 species surveyed were caught by both types of fishers. A total of 87 species were caught by all artisanal fishing gears together (of which 84% were retained and 16% discarded). Recreational fishing caught 58 species of which none was systematically discarded. The two fishing techniques that raise major environmental concerns are spear fishing (very selective in terms of species and/or sizes and high intrinsic vulnerability of catches) and trammel netting (highest number of species discarded and highest number of species endangered). Important challenges from the social standpoint were found that need to be taken into account in the management of coastal fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea including: progressive disappearance of the artisanal fisheries, ageing of the artisanal fisher populations and decline in the number of fishing gears used by artisanal fishers.     

Intramuscular vaccination of Atlantic lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus L.) induces inflammatory reactions and local immunoglobulin M production at the vaccine administration site

Atlantic lumpfish were vaccinated by intramuscular (im) or intraperitoneal (ip) injection with a multivalent oil‐based vaccine, while control fish were injected with phosphate‐buffered saline. Four lumpfish per group were sampled for skin/muscle and head kidney tissue at 0, 2, 7, 21 and 42 days post‐immunization (dpi) for histopathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Gene expressions of secretory IgM, membrane‐bound IgM, IgD, TCRα, CD3ε and MHC class IIβ were studied in tissues by using qPCR. Im. vaccinated fish showed vaccine‐induced inflammation with formation of granulomas and increasing number of eosinophilic granulocyte‐like cells over time. On IHC sections, we observed diffuse intercellular staining of secretory IgM at the injection site at 2 dpi, while IgM + cells appeared in small numbers at 21 and 42 dpi. Skin/muscle samples from im. vaccinated fish demonstrated an increase in gene expression of IgM mRNA (secretory and membrane‐bound) at 21 and 42 dpi and small changes for other genes. Our results indicated that im. vaccination of lumpfish induced local IgM production at the vaccine injection site, with no apparent proliferation of IgM + cells. Eosinophilic granulocyte‐like cells appeared shortly after im. injection and increased in numbers as the inflammation progressed.     

Spectrofluorometric determination and thin layer chromatographic identification of tyramine in wine.

A method is described for determining tyramine in wine by sand column extraction in an alkaline medium with anhydrous sodium sulfate. Tyramine is identified and quantitated by spectrofluorometry after the final extract is reacted with alpha-nitroso-beta-naphthol; identity is confirmed by thin layer chromatography. The average recovery was 98.93%. The method is applied to samples of 3 different wines obtained throughout the vinification process. Tyramine, which was not present in the must, appears in considerable quantities 15 days after the vinification process has begun.     

Pericardial mesothelioma in a dog: long-term survival after pericardiectomy in combination with chemotherapy

A six-year-old male crossbred dog was presented with clinical signs of right-sided heart failure. Echocardiography demonstrated a pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade, while pericardiocentesis and cytology did not reveal any evidence of malignancy. Pericardial drainage was performed twice over a period of three months to resolve haemodynamic impairment before a subtotal pericardiectomy was performed. Biopsy of parietal and visceral pericardium confirmed the diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma. Intrathoracic cisplatin combined with intravenous doxorubicin were administered, although neutropenia, mild azotaemia and alopecia were noted as adverse reactions to these drugs. Intravenous cisplatin was repeated 45 days later after the signs of nephrotoxicity had resolved. The dog was still free of disease after 27 months. Intrathoracic chemotherapy after pericardiectomy and early diagnosis are recommended to improve prognosis, having achieved long-term survival in the present case.