Preliminary Study on the Activity of Phycobiliproteins against Botrytis cinerea

Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) are proteins of cyanobacteria and some algae such as rhodophytes. They have antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory activity at the human level, but there is a lack of knowledge on their antifungal activity against plant pathogens. We studied the activity of PBPs extracted from Arthrospira platensis and Hydropuntia cornea against Botrytis cinerea, one of the most important worldwide plant-pathogenic fungi. PBPs were characterized by using FT-IR and FT-Raman in order to investigate their structures. Their spectra differed in the relative composition in the amide bands, which were particularly strong in A. platensis. PBP activity was tested on tomato fruits against gray mold disease, fungal growth, and spore germination at different concentrations (0.3, 0.6, 1.2, 2.4, and 4.8 mg/mL). Both PBPs reduced fruit gray mold disease. A linear dose–response relationship was observed for both PBPs against disease incidence and H. cornea against disease severity. Pathogen mycelial growth and spore germination were reduced significantly by both PBPs. In conclusion, PBPs have the potential for being also considered as natural compounds for the control of fungal plant pathogens in sustainable agriculture.     

Equivalent effects of snake PLA2 neurotoxins and lysophospholipid-fatty acid mixtures

Snake presynaptic phospholipase A2 neurotoxins (SPANs) paralyze the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Upon intoxication, the NMJ enlarges and has a reduced content of synaptic vesicles, and primary neuronal cultures show synaptic swelling with surface exposure of the lumenal domain of the synaptic vesicle protein synaptotagmin I. Concomitantly, these neurotoxins induce exocytosis of neurotransmitters. We found that an equimolar mixture of lysophospholipids and fatty acids closely mimics all of the biological effects of SPANs. These results draw attention to the possible role of local lipid changes in synaptic vesicle release and provide new tools for the study of exocytosis.     

Radar soundings of the subsurface of Mars

The martian subsurface has been probed to kilometer depths by the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding instrument aboard the Mars Express orbiter. Signals penetrate the polar layered deposits, probably imaging the base of the deposits. Data from the northern lowlands of Chryse Planitia have revealed a shallowly buried quasi-circular structure about 250 kilometers in diameter that is interpreted to be an impact basin. In addition, a planar reflector associated with the basin structure may indicate the presence of a low-loss deposit that is more than 1 kilometer thick.     

Effect of commercial lignosulfonate-humate on Zea mays L. metabolism

Lignosulfonate-humate a and lignosulfonate-humate b, derived by an industrial process from lignin, were studied chemically and biologically, and their effects on maize metabolism compared with the responses induced by humic substances obtained from leonardite. Lignosulfonate-humate a and lignosulfonate-humate b elicited hormonelike activity and leonardite displayed giberellin properties. To improve our understanding of their biological action, lignosulfonate-humate a, lignosulfonate-humate b and leonardite were supplied to maize plants and their effect was studied on growth, nitrogen metabolism and photosynthesis. All products increased root and leaf growth. Glutamine-synthetase, glutamate-synthase enzyme activities and protein content were all increased. The treatments also increased chlorophyll content, glucose, fructose and rubisco enzyme activity, suggesting a positive role of lignosulfonate-humate a, lignosulfonate-humate b and leonardite in the photosynthetic process. In addition, an increase in phenol content was observed. In light of these results, being environmentally friendly products, lignosulfonate-humate a and lignosulfonate-humate b could be used to increase crop yield.     

Impaired control of IRES-mediated translation in X-linked dyskeratosis congenita

The DKC1 gene encodes a pseudouridine synthase that modifies ribosomal RNA (rRNA). DKC1 is mutated in people with X-linked dyskeratosis congenita (X-DC), a disease characterized by bone marrow failure, skin abnormalities, and increased susceptibility to cancer. How alterations in ribosome modification might lead to cancer and other features of the disease remains unknown. Using an unbiased proteomics strategy, we discovered a specific defect in IRES (internal ribosome entry site)-dependent translation in Dkc1(m) mice and in cells from X-DC patients. This defect results in impaired translation of messenger RNAs containing IRES elements, including those encoding the tumor suppressor p27(Kip1) and the antiapoptotic factors Bcl-xL and XIAP (X-linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein). Moreover, Dkc1(m) ribosomes were unable to direct translation from IRES elements present in viral messenger RNAs. These findings reveal a potential mechanism by which defective ribosome activity leads to disease and cancer.     

The mtDNA legacy of the Levantine early Upper Palaeolithic in Africa

Sequencing of 81 entire human mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) belonging to haplogroups M1 and U6 reveals that these predominantly North African clades arose in southwestern Asia and moved together to Africa about 40,000 to 45,000 years ago. Their arrival temporally overlaps with the event(s) that led to the peopling of Europe by modern humans and was most likely the result of the same change in climate conditions that allowed humans to enter the Levant, opening the way to the colonization of both Europe and North Africa. Thus, the early Upper Palaeolithic population(s) carrying M1 and U6 did not return to Africa along the southern coastal route of the "out of Africa" exit, but from the Mediterranean area; and the North African Dabban and European Aurignacian industries derived from a common Levantine source.     

TRAP molecular markers as a system for saturation of the genetic map of durum wheat

Target region amplification polymorphism (TRAP) is a relatively new PCR-based technique that detects large numbers of loci in a single reaction without extensive pre-PCR processing of samples. The aim of this study was to integrate TRAP markers in an EST-derived SSR linkage map of a RIL mapping population from the cross of the durum wheat cultivars Ciccio and Svevo, for a more general purpose of establishing a high-throughput system for genetic map saturation. Primer combinations producing PCR products with at least 4–5 polymorphic bands were selected and analyzed across the mapping population. The PCR reactions produced a total of 2,881 fragments with an average of 52 peaks per reaction. A total of 142 new TRAP markers were mapped and found to be randomly distributed in the genome. The total length of the map was 2,043.0 cM, with an average chromosome length of 145.9 cM. Homoeologous group one had the highest number of TRAP markers (38 loci) and the longest map length (407.9 cM) for a total of 87 markers, while the homoeologous group five had the lowest TRAP marker number (5 loci) and the shortest map length (232.5 cM). The distribution of markers among the seven homoeologous groups was random. The results indicate that TRAP is highly efficient in genetic mapping, generating a large number of markers scattered across the genome. This closes many existing gaps in marker coverage and may join otherwise separate linkage groups.     

Saline water and MSW compost: Effects on yield of maize crop and soil responses

A field experiment was carried out in Southern Italy from 2007 to 2010 adopting a two-year rotation of tomato and maize. In this paper, the results of maize cultivation were reported, with the aim to investigate the effects of different water qualities and fertilizers on yield and soil properties. The following treatments were compared: mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer and irrigation with fresh water (FWF); mineral N fertilizer and irrigation with saline water (SWF); Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) compost and irrigation with fresh water (FWC); MSW compost and irrigation with saline water (SWC). These treatments were compared with an unfertilized control and irrigation with fresh-water (FW0) and an unfertilized control and irrigation with saline water (SW0). At harvest, yield, grain moisture content, dry matter, grain protein, starch, fat content and soil characteristics were determined. The treatments with compost increased the average grain yield of the 11% compared to mineral fertilizer treatments. Furthermore, the grain yield in SWC increased of the 19% respect to average of SWF and SW0, indicating that MSW compost applied as amendment mitigated the adversely effects of saline water. Compost application significantly increased the Total Organic Carbon (TOC). In particular, the FWC and SWC treatments showed an average increase of the 25% compared to the mean TOC value of FWF and SWF. Moreover, at the end of the experiment, electrical conductivity decreased in SWC treatment respect to the SWF (?21%).     

PREVIOUS CROPS AND ORGANIC FERTILIZERS IN LETTUCE: EFFECTS ON YIELDS AND SOIL PROPERTIES

The use of organic amendments in agriculture could sustain crop production and preserve the agroecosystem, due to their importance in the conservation of organic matter in soil. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of differing organic fertilizers and of previous crops on lettuce growth, nutritional status and yields. The effects on soil characteristics were further investigated. The research was carried out during two years (2006 and 2007) at Metaponto (MT) in southern Italy, on lettuce crops cultivated after eggplant and melon to avoid their continuous cropping. The effects of application of a mineral fertilizer (MF), and of three treatments with organic fertilizers (commercial stable manure - OM; anaerobic digestate based on wine distillery wastewater - AD; composted municipal solid organic wastes coming from the separate collection - MSW) were studied. Head average weight, leaf area index, nitrate content and SPAD readings during the cropping cycles did not show significant differences among fertilizer treatments. On the contrary, marketable yield and head average weight at the harvest presented significantly different among the three organic fertilizers. The average marketable yield and head average weight of organic fertilizers experimental (AD and MSW treatments) decreased of 16 and 17%, respectively, compared to OM treatment. The previous melon crop influenced positively all analyzed parameters of the lettuce compared with previous eggplant crop. The previous melon crop reached the highest marketable yield with an increase of 59% compared with previous eggplant crop. Compared to the mineral fertilizer, the organic ones significantly increased the extracted fraction of soil organic carbon (6.9, 10.7 and 14.9% for OM, AD and MSW, respectively), without significant changes for the humic and fulvic content.