Efficiency of mannose-binding plant lectins in controlling a homopteran insect,the red cotton bug

Yield losses of different crops due to the attack of various classes of insects are a worldwide problem. Sucking type homopteran pests causing damage to many crop species are not controlled by commonly known insecticidal proteins, namely, Bacillus thuringiensis delta-endotoxin (Bt). This study describes the purification of mannose-binding lectins from three different monocotyledonous plants (Allium sativum, Colocasia esculenta, and Diffenbachia sequina) and their effects on a homopteran insect, the red cotton bug. All of them had a detrimental effect on the growth and development of the insect, where A. sativum bulb lectin showed the highest mortality of all, in particular. The same bulb lectin not only affected the growth and fecundity of the insect but also imparted drastic changes in the color, weight, and size, even on the second generation of the insects which have been reared on artificial diet supplemented with a sublethal dose of the lectin. Thus, this finding opens up a possibility of using this lectin as an important component in crop management.     

Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana), a neglected medical and condiment species with a relevant glucosinolate profile: a review

Armoracia rusticana (horseradish), a member of the Brassicaceae family, has been known since ancient times as a folk medicinal herb and as a plant of nutritional value and culinary interest. Currently horseradish is cultivated for its thick, fleshy and white roots which have a delicious intense pungency and for its tender leaves which are frequently used for salad mixed to other vegetables. The traditions to use horseradish plant for medicinal purpose are still applied in many countries. Horseradish is a rich source of a number of bioactive compounds such as glucosinolates (GLSs) and their breakdown products. Sinigrin is the dominant glucosinolate in both leaves and roots. Recent studies have shown that crude plant extracts have a complex profile of naturally occurring GLSs, with particular regard to sprouts. The increasing interest in these secondary metabolites, associated to the long and diffuse tradition of using horseradish in food preservation and as condiment in many parts of the world, is generating new applications of this plant in several agro-industrial and pharmaceutical sectors and is encouraging the use of its roots and leaves in functional food and medicine for human health. A bibliography review is discussed on ethnobotanical aspects and uses of this plant, as well as knowledge about its flavour compounds and GLS content and composition. This study summarizes also the updated information concerning the influence of the genotype and environment on GLS profile in horseradish.     

Genetic diversity assessments of brown rot pathogen Monilinia fructicola based on the six simple sequence repeat loci

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - Monilinia fructicola, causal agent of brown rot of stone fruits, is an economically important problem worldwide. Six of the sequence tagged microsatellite...     

Analysis of genetic relationship among Arbutus unedo L. genotypes using RAPD and SSR markers

The strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo L.) is an underutilized, drought tolerant, fire resistant species with a south western distribution in Europe, and with ecological and putative socio-economical impact in Portugal and Mediterranean countries. Our aim was to develop an appropriate set of molecular markers to enable genetic diversity to be assessed and to fingerprint Arbutus unedo genotypes for breeding and conservation purposes in Portugal. Twenty-seven trees from a broad geographic range were screened with 20 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD primers) and 11 microsatellite markers (SSR). The RAPDs generated 124 bands, 57.3% of which were polymorphic, with an expected heterozygosity of 27%. We cross-amplified 11 SSR primers developed for Vaccinium spp., and 5 were found to be polymorphic in A. unedo, with 75% of expected heterozygosity, a number of alleles of 11.6, a null allele frequency of 7.6% and a polymorphic information content of 71%. Although the SSRs were more polymorphic and informative than the RAPDs, both markers displayed high genetic variability with the gathered data. No geographic pattern was observed in the genetic variation distribution based on both marker systems, and the lack of correlation between genetic and geographical matrices was confirmed by Mantel tests. Likely, no correlation was found between pairwise SSR and RAPD band-sharing matrices. These results and their implications on A. unedo breeding and conservation programs are discussed.     

The Effects of the Decaffeination of Coffee Samples on Platelet Aggregation in Hyperlipidemic Rats

The effect of coffee on cardiovascular diseases is still controversial. It is known that the process of decaffeination may influence the chemical constitution and, therefore, the biological effects of coffee. This study thus evaluated the effects of decaffeination on the levels of total phenols and chlorogenic acids in Coffea arabica L. samples, as well as the effects of ingesting both integral and decaffeinated coffee on the lipid profile and hemostatic and hematological parameters in normal and hyperlipidemic rats. Samples of integral and decaffeinated lyophilized coffee (Coffea arabica L., planted in Brazil) were used for chemical analysis (total phenols, chlorogenic acid and caffeine contents). For the bioassays, coffee beverages were prepared with non-lyophilized samples (10 % w/v) and were filtered and administered to animals by gavage (7.2 mL/kg/day) over 30 days. On the 31st day after beginning the treatment with coffee beverages, hyperlipidemia was induced to the animals by administering Triton WR-1339 (300 mg/kg body weight). On day 32, blood was taken to determine the lipid profile, platelet aggregation, prothrombin time, partially activated thromboplastin time and hemogram. The contents of both phenolic compounds and chlorogenic acid in the integral coffee beverage were significantly lower than those in the decaffeinated coffee beverage. The animals treated with Triton WR-1339 presented a mixed hyperlipidemia. Although the decaffeination process caused a relative increase in total phenols and chlorogenic acids, the coffee drinks were unable to change the lipid profile or the hemostatic and hematological parameters in the studied animals.     

Do methods for predicting paleohabitats apply for mountain and insular fossil bovids?

A variety of methods have been developed to use bovid postcranial elements in the functional morphology approach to paleohabitat prediction. This study represents a first attempt at testing morphometric methods based on astragalus and phalanges on extant mountain‐dwelling bovids and insular fossil bovids from Sardinia assigned to the so‐called ‘Nesogoral group’, already regarded as close to the Caprini tribe. We intended to answer the questions whether a classic four‐habitats model could be successfully applied to extant mountain‐dwelling bovids, and whether results obtained could support the hypothesis of a radiative evolution for the Sardinian bovids. Results obtained, on the one hand, highlighted some inadequacies of the method if not applied to African bovids; on the other hand, they stressed the difficulties of discriminating habitat preferences of Sardinian taxa only based on biometry of astragalus and phalanges. Nonetheless, statistical habitat predictions suggest the contemporaneous presence in Sardinia of bovids having about the same size, but inhabiting different environments, giving support to the hypothesis that Sardinian representatives of the genus Nesogoral originated from a still unknown ancestor by an adaptive radiation evolutionary process.     

Grouping protocol in shelters

Dog population dynamics in shelters often requires the grouping of individuals, and changes to the composition of those groups. We developed a protocol to maximize the positive effects and reduce the negative effects associated with grouping dogs. Twenty-three neutered dogs that had to be grouped participated in the study. Fifteen were adult females, 7 were adult males, and 1 was a juvenile female. The protocol was divided into phases that allowed the use of environmental enrichment (occupational, social, nutritional, and sensorial) and behavioral modification (systematic desensitization and counter-conditioning). There were no fights involving bites during the formation of groups. In 5 (18.5%) of formed pairs, we observed unidirectional manifestations of aggression that did not involve physical contact. Three pairs (10%) could not be formed because we saw bidirectional aggression manifestation involving physical contact but no bites. The proposed protocol is a viable alternative to improve grouping of dogs in the context of shelters. The protocol also has the potential to promote wellness, enhance production of desirable behaviors, and decrease the presence of behavioral problems.     

Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation of micropropagated fruit trees

Micropropagated plantlets of OH x F 51 and GF 677, respectively pear (Pyrus communis L.) and peach (Prunus persica x Prunus amygdalus) clonal rootstocks were inoculated during an early weaning stage of acclimatization with Glomus sp. Both rootstocks were well colonized, although the infection of OH x F 51 spread more slowly. At the end of initial vegetative growth, mycorrhizal plants of both rootstocks showed a three-fold increase in shoot length over control plants. Mycorrhizal plants also had longer internode and greater fresh mass. The root/shoot ratio was especially altered by arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation in OH x F 51 plants, which showed a greater increase in shoot rather than in root biomass. The growth-promoting ability of endomycorrhizal fungus persisted throughout the experimental period: Glomus sp. induced a greater development of both rootstocks in the second growing year, after overwintering. Colonization of micropropagated plants by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus appears to alter the carbohydrate status in stems and roots. Mycorrhizal plants always had a higher content of total soluble sugar, although there were no differences in soluble carbohydrate concentration between inoculated and uninoculated plants. Starch accumulation was found only in mycorrhizal plants of the peach rootstock.     

Biocompatibility of the Biopolymer Cyanoflan for Applications in Skin Wound Healing

There is a great demand for the development of novel wound dressings to overcome the time and costs of wound care performed by a vast number of clinicians, especially in the current overburdened healthcare systems. In this study, Cyanoflan, a biopolymer secreted by a marine unicellular cyanobacterium, was evaluated as a potential biomaterial for wound healing. Cyanoflan effects on cell viability, apoptosis, and migration were assessed in vitro, while the effect on tissue regeneration and biosafety was evaluated in healthy Wistar rats. The cell viability and apoptosis of fibroblasts and endothelial cells was not influenced by the treatment with different concentrations of Cyanoflan, as observed by flow cytometry. Moreover, the presence of Cyanoflan did not affect cell motility and migratory capacity, nor did it induce reactive oxygen species production, even revealing an antioxidant behavior regarding the endothelial cells. Furthermore, the skin wound healing in vivo assay demonstrated that Cyanoflan perfectly adapted to the wound bed without inducing systemic or local oxidative or inflammatory reaction. Altogether, these results suggest that Cyanoflan is a promising biopolymer for the development of innovative applications to overcome the many challenges that still exist in skin wound healing.