Transgene inheritances and genetic similarities of near isogenic lines of genetically modified common beans

The objective of the present work was to determine the inheritance and stability of transgenes of a transgenic bean line expressing the genes rep-trap-ren from Bean golden mosaic virus and the bar gene. Crosses were done between the transgenic line and four commercial bean cultivars, followed by four backcrosses to the commercial cultivars. Progenies from each cross were evaluated for the presence of the transgenes by brushing the leaves with glufosinate ammonium and by polymerase chain reaction using specific oligonucleotides. Advanced generations were rub-inoculated with an isolate of Bean common mosaic necrosis virus (BCMNV). The transgenes were inherited consistently in a Mendelian pattern in the four crosses studied. The analyzed lines recovered close to 80% of the characteristics of the recurrent parent, as determined by the random amplified DNA markers used, besides maintaining important traits such as resistance to BCMNV. The presence of the transgene did not cause any detectable undesirable effect in the evaluated progenies.

Comunidade bacteriana como indicadora do efeito de feijoeiro geneticamente modificado sobre organismos não alvo

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do feijoeiro geneticamente modificado quanto à resistência ao Bean Golden Mosaic Vírus, BGMV (Olathe M1-4), sobre organismos não alvo. De um experimento implantado no campo, em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com dois tratamentos (Olathe Pinto e evento elite Olathe M1-4), dois períodos amostrais (estádio V4 e R6) e dez repetições, obtiveram-se células bacterianas cultivadas e não cultivadas da rizosfera e do solo não rizosférico, para as quais se procedeu à extração de DNA total. A região V6-V8 do 16S rDNA foi amplificada para a comunidade bacteriana total, e também realizou-se amplificação com iniciadores específicos para o subgrupo alfa (α) do filo Proteobacteria a partir de células não cultivadas. Foram obtidos dendrogramas comparativos entre a variedade Olathe Pinto (convencional) e o evento elite Olathe M1-4 (geneticamente modificado) utilizando-se o coeficiente de Jaccard e o método UPGMA (Unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic mean). Os agrupamentos obtidos dos perfis de 16S rDNA PCR-DGGE indicam alterações na comunidade bacteriana da rizosfera em função da transformação das plantas são mais notáveis nos perfis obtidos para alfa-proteobacteria. A origem das amostras e o estágio de desenvolvimento das plantas afetam a comunidade bacteriana.

Biology and morphometrics of the immature stages of Epinotia aporema on artificial diet

The objective of this work was to establish a life table for the immature stages of Epinotia aporema, as part of a wider investigation on its biological control. Insects were reared on an artificial diet at 25±1ºC and a 16:8 (light:dark) hour photoperiod. For the identification of larval instars for the study of pathogen-insect interactions under laboratory conditions, head capsule widths (HCWs) were also determined. The egg incubation period was 4.13±0.30 days, larval stage took 11.64±0.49 days, and the development time of the pupal phase was sex-dependent with 8.51±0.69 days for the females and 9.41±0.65 days for the males. Five larval instars were identified.

Phytogeographical origin of Madeiran common beans based on phaseolin patterns

The objective of this work was to determine the geographic origin of the Madeiran common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) gene pool. Phaseolin patterns of 50 accessions representing the diversity of common bean collected in Madeira, Portugal, and conserved in the ISOPlexis Germplasm Bank, were analysed using the Experion automated electrophoresis system, based on lab-on-a-chip technology. Five common bean standard varieties with typical phaseolin patterns were used to determine the phytogeographical origin of the Madeiran common bean accessions. Ninety two percent of the accessions exhibited a phaseolin pattern consistent with the one of common bean types belonging to the Andean gene pool, while the origin of the remaining 8% of the accessions was indistinguishable. The application of a similarity coefficient of 85%, based on Pearson correlations, increases the number of accessions with uncertain pattern. The analytical approach used permitted the determination of the origin of the common bean gene pool, which is Andean in 98% of the cases, and clustering of the observed variability among the Madeiran common beans.

Bioindicators of soil quality in coffee organic cultivation systems

The objective of this work was to assess the effect of different coffee organic cultivation systems on chemical and biological soil characteristics, in different seasons of the year. The following systems were evaluated: coffee intercropped with one (CJ1), two (CJ2) or three (CJ3) pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) alleys; coffee planted under full sun (CS); area planted with sweet pepper and snap bean in a conventional tillage system (AC); and secondary forest area (FFR). Row spacing in CJ1, CJ2, CJ3 and CS was 2.0x1.0, 2.8x1.0, 3.6x1.0, and 2.8x1.0 m, respectively. Soil samples were collected at 10-cm depth, during the four seasons of the year. The results were subjected to analysis of variance, principal component analysis, and redundancy analysis. There was an increase in edaphic macrofauna, soil basal respiration, and microbial quotient in the summer. Total macrofauna density was greater in CJ2 followed by CJ3, CS, CJ1, AC and FFR; Coleoptera, Formicidae, and Isoptera were the most abundant groups. There are no significant differences among the areas for soil basal respiration, and the metabolic quotient is higher in CJ1, CJ3, and FFR. Microbial biomass carbon and the contents of K, pH, Ca+Mg, and P show greater values in AC.

Winter pasture and cover crops and their effects on soil and summer grain crops

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of winter land use on the amount of residual straw, the physical soil properties and grain yields of maize, common bean and soybean summer crops cultivated in succession. The experiment was carried out in the North Plateau of Santa Catarina state, Brazil, from May 2006 to April 2010. Five strategies of land use in winter were evaluated: intercropping with black oat + ryegrass + vetch, without grazing and nitrogen (N) fertilization (intercropping cover); the same intercropping, with grazing and 100 kg ha-1 of N per year topdressing (pasture with N); the same intercropping, with grazing and without nitrogen fertilization (pasture without N); oilseed radish, without grazing and nitrogen fertilization (oilseed radish); and natural vegetation, without grazing and nitrogen fertilization (fallow). Intercropping cover produces a greater amount of biomass in the system and, consequently, a greater accumulation of total and particulate organic carbon on the surface soil layer. However, land use in winter does not significantly affect soil physical properties related to soil compaction, nor the grain yield of maize, soybean and common bean cultivated in succession.

Impact of unusual fatty acid synthesis on futile cycling through beta-oxidation and on gene expression in transgenic plants.

Arabidopsis expressing the castor bean (Ricinus communis) oleate 12-hydroxylase or the Crepis palaestina linoleate 12-epoxygenase in developing seeds typically accumulate low levels of ricinoleic acid and vernolic acid, respectively. We have examined the presence of a futile cycle of fatty acid degradation in developing seeds using the synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) from the intermediates of the peroxisomal beta-oxidation cycle. Both the quantity and monomer composition of the PHA synthesized in transgenic plants expressing the 12-epoxygenase and 12-hydroxylase in developing seeds revealed the presence of a futile cycle of degradation of the corresponding unusual fatty acids, indicating a limitation in their stable integration into lipids. The expression profile of nearly 200 genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and degradation has been analyzed through microarray. No significant changes in gene expression have been detected as a consequence of the activity of the 12-epoxygenase or the 12-hydroxylase in developing siliques. Similar results have also been obtained for transgenic plants expressing the Cuphea lanceolata caproyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterase and accumulating high amounts of caproic acid. Only in developing siliques of the tag1 mutant, deficient in the accumulation of triacylglycerols and shown to have a substantial futile cycling of fatty acids toward beta-oxidation, have some changes in gene expression been detected, notably the induction of the isocitrate lyase gene. These results indicate that analysis of peroxisomal PHA is a better indicator of the flux of fatty acid through beta-oxidation than the expression profile of genes involved in lipid metabolism.

Tectonomagmatic evolution of Western Amazonia: Geochemical characterization and zircon U-Pb geochronologic constraints from the Peruvian Eastern Cordilleran granitoids

The results of a coupled, in situ laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) U-Pb study on zircon and geochemical characterization of the Eastern Cordilleran intrusives of Peru reveal 1.15 Ga of intermittent magmatism along central Western Amazonia, the Earth's oldest active open continental margin. The eastern Peruvian batholiths are volumetrically dominated by plutonism related to the assembly and breakup of Pangea during the Paleozoic-Mesozoic transition. A Carboniferous-Permian (340-285 Ma) continental arc is identified along the regional orogenic strike from the Ecuadorian border (6 degrees S) to the inferred inboard extension of the Arequipa-Antofalla terrane in southern Peru (14 degrees S). Widespread crustal extension and thinning, which affected western Gondwana throughout the Permian and Triassic resulted in the intrusion of the late- to post-tectonic La Merced-San Ramon-type anatectites dated between 275 and 220 Ma, while the emplacement of the southern Cordillera de Carabaya peraluminous granitoids in the Late Triassic to Early Jurassic (220-190 Ma) represents, temporally and regionally, a separate tectonomagmatic event likely related to resuturing of the Arequipa-Antofalla block. Volcano-plutonic complexes and stocks associated with the onset of the present Andean cycle define a compositionally bimodal alkaline suite and cluster between 180 and 170 Ma. A volumetrically minor intrusive pulse of Oligocene age (ca. 30 Ma) is detected near the southwestern Cordilleran border with the Altiplano. Both post-Gondwanide (30-170 Ma), and Precambrian plutonism (691-1123 Ma) are restricted to isolated occurrences spatially comprising less than 15% of the Eastern Cordillera intrusives. Only one remnant of a Late Ordovician intrusive belt is recognized in the Cuzco batholith (446.5 +/- 9.7 Ma) indicating that the Famatinian arc system previously identified in Peru along the north-central Eastern Cordillera and the coastal Arequipa-Antofalla terrane also existed inboard of this parautochthonous crustal fragment. Hitherto unknown occurrences of late Mesoproterozoic and middle Neoproterozoic granitoids from the south-central cordilleran segment define magmatic events at 691 +/- 13 Ma, 751 +/- 8 Ma, 985 +/- 14 Ma, and 1071-1123 +/- 23 Ma that are broadly coeval with the Braziliano and Grenville-Sunsas orogenies, respectively. Our data suggest the existence of a continuous orogenic belt in excess of 3500 km along Western Amazonia during the formation of Rodinia, its ``early'' fragmentation prior to 690 Ma, and support a model of reaccretion of the Paracas-Arequipa-Antofalla terrane to western Gondwana in the Early Ordovician with subsequent detachment of the Paracas segment in form of the Mexican Oaxaquia microcontinent in Middle Ordovician. A tectonomagmatic model involving slab detachment, followed by underplating of cratonic margin by asthenospheric mantle is proposed for the genesis of the volumetrically dominant Late Paleozoic to early Mesozoic Peruvian Cordilleran batholiths.

The effect of 4-chlororesorcinol on the endogenous levels of IAA, ABA and oxidative enzymes in cuttings

Treatment of bean cuttings with 4-chlororesorcinol (4-CR), known to increase the number of roots and extend their distribution, prevented the accumulation of free indol-3-yl-acetic acid (IAA) in the hypocotyls within 24 h after cutting preparation. In mung bean there was no change in the distribution (upper half vs. 1 ower half of the hypocotyl) of IAA within the hypocotyl as a result of the treatment. In bean cuttings the treatment with 4-CR prevented the accumulation of IAA in the bottom of the cutting. Oxidation of IAA as a measure of IAA oxidase activity in bean was enhanced appreciably by 4-chlororesorcinol. The level of abscisic acid in mung bean, on the other hand, remained 3-4 fold higher than in the control, yet still about 50% lower than the zero time level. In untreated mung bean cuttings the activity of peroxidase increased after cutting preparation. In contrast, the activity of peroxidase in 4-Cr-treated cuttings was consistently lower. In order to relate to the effect of exogenously applied auxin the level of peroxidase was measured also in indol-3-yl-butyric acid-treated cuttings. The overall peroxidase activity in IBA-treated cuttings was not affected. However, when assaying for the different isozymes the drop in peroxidase activity was most evident in the inducible basic isoperoxidases both in 4-CR and IBA treatments. It appears that the exposure to 4-CR exerts an effect that is similar to that of exogenously applied auxin, affecting the activity of basic peroxidases and enhancing the oxidation of endogenous IAA, thus allowing the organization of the primordia.

Characterization of cowpea genotype resistance to Callosobruchus maculatus

The objective of this work was to characterize the resistance of 50 cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) genotypes to Callosobruchus maculatus. A completely randomized design with five replicates per treatment (genotype) was used. No-choice tests were performed using the 50 cowpea genotypes to evaluate the preference for oviposition and the development of the weevil. The genotypes IT85 F-2687, MN05-841 B-49, MNC99-508-1, MNC99-510-8, TVu 1593, Canapuzinho-1-2, and Sanzi Sambili show non-preference-type resistance (oviposition and feeding). IT81 D-1045 Ereto and IT81 D-1045 Enramador exhibit antibiosis against C. maculatus and descend from resistant genitors, which grants them potential to be used in future crossings to obtain cowpea varieties with higher levels of resistance.

Effect of neighborhood and plot size on experiments with multiple-harvest oleraceous crops

The objective of this work was to determine the efficiency of the Papadakis method on the quality evaluation of experiments with multiple-harvest oleraceous crops, and on the estimate of the covariate and the ideal plot size. Data from nine uniformity trials (five with bean pod, two with zucchini, and two with sweet pepper) and from one experiment with treatments (with sweet pepper) were used. Through the uniformity trials, the best way to calculate the covariate was defined and the optimal plot size was calculated. In the experiment with treatments, analyses of variance and covariance were performed, in which the covariate was calculated by the Papadakis method, and experimental precision was evaluated based on four statistics. The use of analysis of covariance with the covariate obtained by the Papadakis method increases the quality of experiments with multiple-harvest oleraceous crops and allows the use of smaller plot sizes. The best covariate is the one that considers a neighboring plot of each side of the reference plot.

Implementación de una herramienta de gestión de cambios dentro del ERP eSengoⓇ, e introducción al ERP eSengoⓇ y al framework SherpaBeansⓇ

Esta memoria trata sobre la implementación de un gestor de peticiones de cambio, basado en los estándares definidos por ITIL. Este gestor se implementa dentro del ERP eSengo, desarrollado por Isencia S.L. También se hace una breve explicación sobre los submódulos que han sido necesarios y los estados de flujo de ejecución del gestor. Además se explican características sobre el ERP eSengo y sobre la plataforma basada en Java Beans, SherpaBeans, también desarrollada por Isencia, a parte de enumerar las tecnologías que esta plataforma utiliza.

Geografías familiares bajo la dictadura franquista: exilio, clandestinidad, prisión

Este texto ahonda en las geografías políticas, sociales y familiares de Aurèlia Pijoan, la primera mujer que, médico de profesión, ha accedido a un cargo de representación municipal en Lleida. Casada con Luis Pérez García-Lago –secretario general del PSUC y la UGT en la Lleida de los años trenta y posteriormente máximo responsable del partido en el exilio mejicano-, continuó su compromiso a través de la Unión de Mujeres Españolas de México de la que llegó a convertirse en secretaria general. El artículo pretende, a la vez que reflexionar sobre el diálogo que se establece entre recuerdo y olvido, hacer visible la historia de los sin historia a partir de un centro de gravedad concreto, puesto que los itinerarios personales y familiares de Aurèlia Pijoan permiten recorrer las diversas caras del universo represivo franquista: exilio,clandestinidad y prisión.

Desarrollo larvario y número de estadios larvarios de "Pseudaletia unipuncta" alimentada con dos variedades de maíz y dos dietas semisintéticas

Pseudaletia ( Mythimna) unipuncta (Haworth) es una plaga defoliadora del maíz presente año tras año en la Cuenca del Ebro, que realiza en el maíz daños esporádicos pero a veces devastadores. La implantación creciente de maíz resistente a taladros ha producido, en la zona del presente estudio, la disminución casi total de los daños debidos a los taladros Sesamia nonagrioides (Lefebvre) y Ostrinia nubilalis (Hübner). Sin embargo, no se sabe aún cómo el incremento de maíz transgénico puede afectar a las poblaciones de P. unipuncta. Actualmente no hay datos sobre biología o parámetros del desarrollo de la especie en la Península Ibérica necesarios para evaluar los posibles efectos de las nuevas variedades utilizadas. Para ello es necesario primero establecer un método de cría adecuado y posteriormente iniciar los estudios sobre la biología de la misma. En el presente trabajo se planteó conocer diferentes parámetros del desarrollo larvario de poblaciones locales de P. unipuncta alimentada sobre hoja de maíz (variedades Tietar y PR33P66) y sobre dos dietas semisintéticas, una a base de alubias. Phaseolus vulgaris, y otra a base de maíz, Zea maya. Los resultados mostraron que las larvas desarrolladas en dieta a base de alubias sufrieron menor mortalidad, que las desarrolladas con planta o sobre la otra dieta, además el peso de las pupas resultantes fue mayor y presentaron menos malformaciones. En cuanto al numero de estadios larvarios, la mayoría pupó tras seis mudas larvarias, necesitando, las de dieta de maíz, estadios larvarios adicionales. Estos resultados indican que la dieta a base de alubias es la más adecuada para posteriores trabajos con esta especie.

Secondary metabolismin in Annonaceae: potencial source of drugs

Several species of Annona (Annonaceae) are used in traditional Mexican medicine by their anti-anxiety, anticonvulsant and tranquilizing properties. It has been reported that the alkaloids isolated from some species of the Annona have affinity to serotonergic 5-HT1A receptors and modulate dopaminergic transmission, which is involved in depressive disorders. In this review it is showed the results of the antidepressant-like effect of an alkaloid extract from the aerial parts of Annona cherimola (TA) in mice. The antidepressant-like effect was evaluated in the forced swimming test. To elucidate a possible mechanism of action, experiments of synergism with antidepressant drugs, such as imipramine (IMI), clomipramine (CLIMI), and fluoxetine (FLX), were carried out. The neurotransmitter content (DA: dopamine, 5HT: serotonin and its metabolites, HVA: homovanillic acid and 5HIAA:5-hydroxyindoleacetic) in the whole brain of mice were also determined by HPLC method. The results showed that repeated treatment with TA produced antidepressant-like effects in mice. This effect was not related to an increase in locomotor activity. Administration of TA facilitated the antidepressant effect of IMI and CLIMI as well as increased the turnover of DA and 5-HT. The alkaloids: 1,2-dimethoxy-5, 6.6 to 7-tetrahydro-4H-dibenzoquinoline-3,8,9,10-tetraol, anonaine, liriodenine, and nornuciferine were the main constituents of TA.