Effects of salinity on potassium absorption and expression of K+transporter genes at different concentrations of potassium in Grape (Vitis vinifera L.)

Grapevine is classified as a moderately sensitive plant to salinity. Hydroponically three grape genotypes (Vitis vinifera L.) were treated with different concentrations of KCl (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1, 5, 10 mM KCl) and NaCl (0, 25, 50,100 mM NaCl). Cl- and Na+ contents were significantly increased in different plant organs of all the genotypes under salinity. In this study, sensitive ('GhezelUzum'), tolerant ('Gharashani') and semi-resistant ('Chawga') grape genotypes were selected based on screening experiments under salinity. 'Gharashani' accumulated higher Na+ and Cl- in roots compared to the sensitive one. 'Chawga' accumulated high K+ similar to Na+ in root and shoot even at high salinity. Km calculation for K+ and Na+ uptake in root and shoot of 'Chawga' showed that K+ and Na+ compete to enter the plant through roots. Two KUP/KT/HAK-type potassium transporters are expressed highly in the grapevine during stress. VvK1.1 could play a major role in K+ loading into grape tissues. The expression of VvKUP1 and VvKUP2 transporters and VvK1.1 channel in roots of 'Chawga' genotype increased significantly (P < 0.05) at different KCl concentrations under salinity stress. Our results showed a significant difference between tolerant and sensitive genotypes and highlighted a strong relationship between the accumulation of specific transcripts and the degree of salinity tolerance

Short term response of grapevine grown hydroponically to salinity: Mineral composition and growth parameters

The response of hydroponically grown four ownrooted table grape (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars ('Red Rishbaba', 'Red Sahebi', 'Dastarchin' and 'Red Sultana') to different salt concentrations (0, 25, 50 and 100 mM NaCl) was studied under greenhouse condition. Growth parameters, total chlorophyll (a+b) and proline contents were determined in leaves and roots. Cl-, Na+, K+ and NO3 - concentrations were measured in lamina, petiole, stem and root. Shoot growth, total dry weight, total leaf chlorophyll (a+b), NO3 --N and K+ contents were significantly reduced (P≤0.05) under NaCl stress, whereas proline, Cl- and Na+ accumulation increased significantly with increasing salinity. 'Red Rishbaba' and 'Red Sahebi' showed a less decrease in total leaf chlorophyll, K+ and NO3 - contents, while proline accumulation in these cultivars was higher than that of 'Dastarchin' and 'Red Sultana'. Also, shoots of 'Red Sahebi' and 'Red Rishbaba' accumulated lower Cl- and Na+ than other cultivars. In conclusion, the overall results showed that 'Red Rishbaba' and 'Red Sahebi' were more tolerant than 'Dastarchin' and 'Red Sultana'.

Ameliorative effects of salicylic acid on mineral concentrations in roots and leaves of two grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars under salt stress

Salicylic acid (SA) acts as an endogenous signal molecule, synchronizing plant responses under abiotic stress and a component of tolerance in plants. The current study investigates the effects of SA on mineral nutrient concentrations in two grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cultivars, 'Qarah Shani' and 'Thompson Seedless' under NaCl stress. Grapevine rooted cuttings were planted in pots, containing a mixture of perlite and cocopeat (1:1 v/v) and placed in an open hydroponic system. Plants were exposed to five levels of salinity 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 mM NaCl and four levels of SA 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg∙L-1. Results indicated that foliar spray with SA improved nutrient uptake by grape roots. Plant’s leaves and roots Na+ and Cl- contents increased significantly, and NO- 3-N, K+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+, Fe2+ and also K+/Na+ selectivity ratios decreased in both cultivars in response to salt treatments. Application of SA significantly reduced Na+ and Cl- accumulation in leaves and roots in both cultivars and it increased NO3-N, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Zn2+ and Fe2+ contents under NaCl stress. Therefore, SA could mitigate the detrimental effects of salinity on accumulation of harmful ions and improve the absorption of essential and beneficial elements in grapevine under salinity.

The Effects of Dietary Polyphenols on Circulating Cardiovascular Disease Biomarkers and Iron Status:A Systematic Review

The prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is rising worldwide, remaining the major cause of death in developed countries. Polyphenols have been shown to have cardioprotective properties; however, their impact on iron bioavailability and potential impact on other aspects of health is unclear. A systematic review was undertaken to evaluate the current status of the relationship between habitual polyphenol consumption, iron status, and circulating biomarkers of CVD. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2009 guidelines, searches were performed across 5 electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL) to identify randomized controlled trials which investigated the effects of polyphenol consumption on inflammatory markers, serum lipid profile, and iron absorption and bioavailability. In total, 1174 records were identified, with only 7 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The selected studies involved 133 participants and used a variety of foods and supplements, including olive oil and cherries, rich in polyphenols including hydroxytyrosol, quercetin, and resveratrol, as well as catechin enriched drinks. The duration of the studies ranged from between 56 and 145 days, with total polyphenolic content of the food items and supplements ranging from 45 to 1015 mg (per 100 g). Polyphenols did not appear to interfere with iron status, and most studies reported improvements in inflammatory markers and lipid profile. While these results are promising, the limited number of studies and considerable heterogeneity across the interventions support the need for more extensive trials assessing the relationship between polyphenol intake, iron bioavailability, and CVD risk

Iron therapy substantially restores qEEG maturational lag among iron-deficient anemic infants

Objective: To use quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) to assess the impact of iron-deficiency anemia on central nervous system maturation in the first year of life. Method: Twenty-five infants (3–12 months old) presenting ferropenic anemia (IDA) and 25 healthy controls (CTL1), matched by age/gender with the former, were studied in two stages. Electroencephalogram during spontaneous sleep was recorded from all participants; the fast Fourier transform was calculated to obtain absolute power (AP) and relative power (RP) qEEG measures. In the first stage, a qEEG comparison between CTL1 and IDA was performed. Second stage consisted in comparing qEEG of the IDA infants before and after supplementation with iron (IDA-IS group), and comparing qEEG of the IDA-IS group with another control age-matched group (CTL2). Non-parametric multivariate permutation tests (NPT) were applied to assess differences between CTL1 and IDA groups, as well as IDA vs. IDA-IS, and IDA-IS vs. CTL2. Results: More power in slow frequency bands and less power in fast frequency bands in 64% of IDA babies were observed. NPT evinced higher alpha AP and RP (P < 0.001), less theta AP, and less delta and theta RP in CTL1 than in IDA. After iron-restoration therapy, alpha AP and RP increased while theta AP and theta and delta RP decreased, reaching almost normal values. Discussion: This work reveals CNS developmental delay through the study of qEEG (less rapid and more slow frequencies) which recovered significantly with iron supplementation. It is concluded that IDA constitutes a high risk factor for a lag of CNS maturation.CONACYT-Project No. CO1/40257-A1

Reducing anemia prevalence in Afghanistan: socioeconomic correlates and the particular role of agricultural assets

This research aims to examine the socio-economic correlates of anemia in women, and potential sources of iron in household diets in Afghanistan. It also examines whether ownership of agricultural (particularly livestock) assets and their use in food production has a role in alleviating anaemia, especially where local markets may be inadequate. We analyse data from the 2010/11 Afghanistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, estimating a logistic regression to examine how anemia status of women is associated with socio-economic covariates. A key result found is that sheep ownership has a protective effect in reducing anemia (prevalence odds ratio of sheep ownership on anemia of 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.73–0.94) after controlling for wealth and other covariates. This association is found to be robust to alternative model specifications. Given the central role of red meat in heme iron provision and absorption of non-heme iron, we hypothesise that sheep ownership promotes mutton consumption from own-production in a setting where market-sourced provision of nutritious food is a challenge. We then use the 2011/12 National Risk and Vulnerability Assessment household data to understand the Afghan diet from the perspective of dietary iron provision, and to understand interactions between own-production, market sourcing and mutton consumption. Sheep ownership is found to increase the likelihood that a household consumed mutton (odds ratio of 1.27, 95% CI: 1.15–1.42), the number of days in the week that mutton was consumed (prevalence rate ratio of 1.24. 95% CI: 1.12–1.37) and the quantity of mutton consumed (7 grams/person/week). In the subsample of mutton consumers, households sourcing mutton mostly from own production consumed mutton 1.5 days more frequently on average than households relying on market purchase, resulting in 100 grams per person per week higher mutton intake. Thus this analysis lends support to the notion that the linkage between sheep ownership and anemia risk is at least partly due to consumption arising from own-production in the presence of market incompleteness