Agronomic and commercial performance of four Spanish carob cultivars

The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) shows interesting prospects for some coastal Mediterranean growing areas and is widely used for industrial, agricultural, and ornamental purposes. It can be an alternative crop adapted to part-time farming and can also be used to regenerate vegetation in areas with a mild climate and erosion problems. Four Spanish carob cultivars were examined (Banya de Cabra, Duraio, Matalafera, and Rojal) to determine the one that performed the best for planting new orchards in northeastern Spain (Catalonia). The trees in this rain-fed trial (average rainfall of 500 mm) were planted in 1986 using seedling rootstocks that were budded in 1987. The trees were trained using the free-vase system and were spaced 8 x 9 m (138 trees/ha including 12% pollinators). The results showed that ‘Rojal’ was the earliest bearing cultivar. However, no significant differences were observed for cumulative pod production 18 years after budding. With respect to cumulative seed yield, ‘Duraio’ had the highest production (95 kg/tree). The lowest tree vigor (trunk cross-section) was observed in ‘Matalafera’. ‘Rojal’ trees produced the largest pods (average fruit weight of 18.9 g) and lowest seed content (11.8%), while ‘Banya de Cabra’ and ‘Duraio’ produced the smallest fruit (weighing 15.3 and 16.2 g, respectively) with the highest seed content (15.2% and 17.3%, respectively). Gum content, expressed as a percentage of the dry weight, was highest in ‘Duraio’ (56.9%) and was lowest in ‘Rojal’ (54.1%). Thus, in terms of kernel and pod production, ‘Duraio’ appeared to be the best-performing female cultivar for planting new carob orchards

Evaluation of detection methods for Virus, Viroids and Phytoplasmas affecting pear and apple

The RT-PCR technique for the detection of apple stem grooving virus (ASGV), apple stem pitting virus (ASPV), apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV), apple mosaic virus (ApMV) and pear blister canker viroid (PBCV) was evaluated for health control of fruit plants from nurseries. The technique was evaluated in purified RNA and crude extracts and also in phloem collected in autumn and from young spring shoots. The results obtained for phytoplasma detection with ribosomal and non-ribosomal primers are also presented.

Analysis of Pleistocene paleodrainage evolution in the Po Basin (Italy) by multivariate statistical techniques

In order to obtain a high-resolution Pleistocene stratigraphy, eleven continuouslycored boreholes, 100 to 220m deep were drilled in the northern part of the PoPlain by Regione Lombardia in the last five years. Quantitative provenanceanalysis (QPA, Weltje and von Eynatten, 2004) of Pleistocene sands was carriedout by using multivariate statistical analysis (principal component analysis, PCA,and similarity analysis) on an integrated data set, including high-resolution bulkpetrography and heavy-mineral analyses on Pleistocene sands and of 250 majorand minor modern rivers draining the southern flank of the Alps from West toEast (Garzanti et al, 2004; 2006). Prior to the onset of major Alpine glaciations,metamorphic and quartzofeldspathic detritus from the Western and Central Alpswas carried from the axial belt to the Po basin longitudinally parallel to theSouthAlpine belt by a trunk river (Vezzoli and Garzanti, 2008). This scenariorapidly changed during the marine isotope stage 22 (0.87 Ma), with the onset ofthe first major Pleistocene glaciation in the Alps (Muttoni et al, 2003). PCA andsimilarity analysis from core samples show that the longitudinal trunk river at thistime was shifted southward by the rapid southward and westward progradation oftransverse alluvial river systems fed from the Central and Southern Alps.Sediments were transported southward by braided river systems as well as glacialsediments transported by Alpine valley glaciers invaded the alluvial plain.Kew words: Detrital modes; Modern sands; Provenance; Principal ComponentsAnalysis; Similarity, Canberra Distance; palaeodrainage

Relació de la flexibilitat i la força en la prevenció de lesions

El futbol és un esport amb una elevada incidència de lesions. L’estudi pretén comprovar si l’augment de la flexibilitat i la força de les extremitats inferiors redueix aquesta incidència. S’ha dut a terme una recerca sobre les parts del sistema musculesqueletic més afectades per les lesions i els mecanismes corresponents en l’esport del futbol. L’equip juvenil “D” de l’A.E.C.Manlleu ha estat la població de l’estudi. S’ha dividit l’equip en un grup control i un grup d’intervenció, en el qual s’ha dut a terme un entrenament específic durant 3 mesos per tal d’augmentar la flexibilitat i la força de les extremitats inferiors i del tronc. A través de la realització del test Sit & Reach i de l’1RM en sentadeta s’ha comprovat si aquest augment ha estat efectiu i la relació amb el nombre de lesions.

Estudio de algunas características de las plantas en variedad de peral y su relación con la incidencia de la psila (Cacopsylla Pyri (L.) Hemiptera: Psyllidae)

Se estudian algunas de las características varietales del peral que pueden influir sobre la instalación y desarrollo de las poblaciones de Cacopsylla pyri (L.). El estudio se realizó en una finca de la Estación Experimental de Lleida en Gimenells, para las variedades Blanquilla y Conference. Los parámetros medidos en la planta fueron: el incremento del perímetro del tronco, la densidad de lamburdas, la superficie foliar, el contenido en clorofila, el contenido en agua y el grosor de la hoja. Para estimar la densidad de poblacion del insecto, se realizaron recuentos de los estados inmaduros de C. pyri en lamburdas durante el invierno y en brotes tiernos durante el periodo vegetativo en los años 2000 y 2001. Se han observado diferencias significativas entre las dos variedades en cuanto a las características de la planta estudiadas y la incidencia de C. pyri. La incidencia de la psila es mayor en la variedad Blanquilla, variedad más vigorosa, con mayor superficie foliar, hojas más delgadas y con menor contenido en clorofila que la variedad Conference.

Relación Cacopsylla pyri (L.) (Homoptera: Psyllidae) - Peral. Influencia de la variedad

Se estudian algunas de las características morfológicas y fisiológicas de diferentes variedades de peral que pueden influir sobre la instalación y desarrollo de las poblaciones de Cacopsylla pyri. Se realizaron recuentos de puesta, ninfas, adultos y enemigos naturales de C. pyri en lamburdas y posteriormente en hojas de brotes del año en una colección de selección de variedades de peral de la "Estació Experimental de Lleida". El año 1997 se muestrearon 40 variedades. Los resultados obtenidos pusieron de manifiesto que existian diferencias significativas debidas a la variedad en los niveles de ocupación por el fitófago. Las variedades se agruparon en 3 categorias en función de la presencia de psylla: elevada, media y baja. De las plantadas los años 1994 y 1995 se muestrearon las 16 variedades correspondientes a los grupos anteriores. Las características de la planta estudiadas fueron: altura, diámetro del tronco, peso de la madera de poda, contenido en clorofila, macro y micronutrientes. Se han observado diferencias significativas entre las distintas variedades en las características de la planta estudiadas, relacionadas con las diferencias en los niveles de ocupación.

Caracterización del comportamiento agroforestal de doce genotipos de nogal (Juglans sp.) en dos localidades de Cataluña

El comportamiento agroforestal de 10 genotipos de J. regia y dos híbridos comerciales de Juglans, Ng23xRa y Mj209xRa, se ha evaluado desde 1995 a 2000 en dos localidades: Massanes (Girona) y Prades (Tarragona). Se establecen tres grupos de genotipos diferenciados de acuerdo a su tasa de crecimiento en altura: 1) crecimiento medio superior a 60 cm/año, que corresponde a los dos híbridos; 2) crecimiento medio de unos 50 cm/año, que corresponde a las progenies de J. regia con brotaciones anteriores al 20 de abril; y 3) crecimiento medio inferior a los 40 cm/año, que corresponde a los genotipos de J. regia con brotación posterior al 20 de abril. La evolución de las progenies en altura y diámetro está significativamente ligada a la localidad. El orden en la clasificación de las progenies por su crecimiento, en altura y en grosor, es prácticamente idéntico en ambas localidades. El diámetro a 2,50 m, al sexto período vegetativo, presenta una dependencia significativa de localidad y genotipo: en Massanes se alcanza un mayor crecimiento que en Prades y el diámetro a 2,50 m de los híbridos es el doble que el del mejor J. regia. La dominancia y la rectitud dependen de los genotipos. Sólo dos J. regia tienen una aptitud forestal aceptable, concretamente dos genotipos italianos, «Bleggiana» y «Boschi Maria Grazia». Los híbridos Ng23xRa y Mj209xRa presentan un mejor comportamiento agroforestal que los genotipos de J. regia estudiados: menor mortalidad en plantación, superiores crecimientos primario y secundario y buena dominancia apical y rectitud.

The UlaG protein familly defines novel structural and functional motifs grafted on an ancient RNase fold

Background: Bacterial populations are highly successful at colonizing new habitats and adapting to changing environmental conditions, partly due to their capacity to evolve novel virulence and metabolic pathways in response to stress conditions and to shuffle them by horizontal gene transfer (HGT). A common theme in the evolution of new functions consists of gene duplication followed by functional divergence. UlaG, a unique manganese-dependent metallo-b-lactamase (MBL) enzyme involved in L-ascorbate metabolism by commensal and symbiotic enterobacteria, provides a model for the study of the emergence of new catalytic activities from the modification of an ancient fold. Furthermore, UlaG is the founding member of the so-called UlaG-like (UlaGL) protein family, a recently established and poorly characterized family comprising divalent (and perhaps trivalent)metal-binding MBLs that catalyze transformations on phosphorylated sugars and nucleotides. Results: Here we combined protein structure-guided and sequence-only molecular phylogenetic analyses to dissect the molecular evolution of UlaG and to study its phylogenomic distribution, its relatedness with present-day UlaGL protein sequences and functional conservation. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that UlaGL sequences are present in Bacteria and Archaea, with bona fide orthologs found mainly in mammalian and plant-associated Gramnegative and Gram-positive bacteria. The incongruence between the UlaGL tree and known species trees indicates exchange by HGT and suggests that the UlaGL-encoding genes provided a growth advantage under changing conditions. Our search for more distantly related protein sequences aided by structural homology has uncovered that UlaGL sequences have a common evolutionary origin with present-day RNA processing and metabolizing MBL enzymes widespread in Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya. This observation suggests an ancient origin for the UlaGL family within the broader trunk of the MBL superfamily by duplication, neofunctionalization and fixation. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the forerunner of UlaG was present as an RNA metabolizing enzyme in the last common ancestor, and that the modern descendants of that ancestral gene have a wide phylogenetic distribution and functional roles. We propose that the UlaGL family evolved new metabolic roles among bacterial and possibly archeal phyla in the setting of a close association with metazoans, such as in the mammalian gastrointestinal tract or in animal and plant pathogens, as well as in environmental settings. Accordingly, the major evolutionary forces shaping the UlaGL family include vertical inheritance and lineage-specific duplication and acquisition of novel metabolic functions, followed by HGT and numerous lineage-specific gene loss events.