Water management and land-use practices from the Iron-Age to the Roman period in Eastern Iberia

This study investigates water and land usage in the territory of La Carència, an Ibero-Roman city located near Turís (Valencia, Spain) in Eastern Iberia. The outstanding political importance of La Carència during the Iberian Iron-Age period is attested by its large size, the monumental character of its structures and on-site finds. Multidisciplinary and micro-regional landscape work at its territory documented significant differences between the Iberian and the Roman settlement patterns, which are attributed to the distinct agricultural production and water management systems of each period. While Iberian sites are more related to the agricultural exploitation of flat, dry land for which water sources, such as natural springs, were probably used, Roman sites seem to be associated with more productive soils that take advantage of flooding areas and the drainage of water accumulation zones. Such different agricultural preferences based on large-scale water management are documented for the first time in the Iberian Peninsula and they attest to the great potential of multidisciplinary landscape archaeology to address past land-use practices

Valoración de los residuos orgánicos como fuente de materia orgánica y nutrientes

La acepción normal de residuo es cualquier sustancia u objeto del cual su poseedor trata de desprenderse de la forma más rápida y económica posible. Sin embargo, en esta ponencia consideramos el término residuo no como algo destinado al abandonoo vertido, sino como sinónimo de materiales o subproductos biodegradables generados en una actividad determinada, susceptibles de ser aprovechados en Agricultura. Las actividades que generan bioresiduos son muy diversas. Así, en el sector agrario se producen distintos tipos de residuos: agrícolas, ganaderos, forestales, etc.; en las industrias agroalimentarias (oleícola, vitivinícola, hortofrutícola, arrocera, cárnica, etc.) se originan numerosos residuos sólidos y líquidos; y en el sector urbano también se generan, entre otros, residuos sólidos urbanos (RSU), residuos verdes, procedentes de los parques y jardines, así como lodos de depuradora, originados en el tratamiento de depuración de las aguas residuales

Valoración de harinas cárnicas como fertilizante orgánico

Dos harinas cárnicas con altos contenidos en materia orgánica, aminoácidos y elementos esenciales para las plantas, tales como nitrógeno y fósforo, con distintas propiedades y procedencias fueron aplicadas a un suelo de cultivo a cuatro dosis distintas (50, 100, 150, 200 kgN/ha) y se estudiaron los efectos en las propiedades del suelo y en la producción y contenido de nutrientes en lechuga y maíz. Además se estudió el efecto residual del material aplicado realizando un segundo cultivo de maíz en el mismo suelo. Entre otros cambios las harinas cárnicas aplicadas aumentaron la materia orgánica del suelo y ligeramente su salinidad. No se encontraron efectos negativos en el crecimiento de las hortalizas. De hecho el maíz tuvo una respuesta positiva llegando a obtenerse rendimiento relativos en la producción de hasta un 256% con respecto al tratamiento control (100%). También se encontraron efectos significativos en la extracción de nutrientes por los cultivos, dependiendo de la harina utilizada y de la dosis aplicada. Según los resultados obtenidos la aplicación de las harinas cárnicas en dosis adecuadas a los suelos de cultivo podría ser una buena alternativa para aprovechar el alto valor fertilizante de este residuo

The pathogenicity determinant of \u3ci\u3eCitrus tristeza virus\u3c/i\u3e causing the seedling yellows syndrome maps at the 3′-terminal region of the viral genome

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) (genus Closterovirus, family Closteroviridae) causes some of the more important viral diseases of citrus worldwide. The ability to map disease-inducing determinants of CTV is needed to develop better diagnostic and disease control procedures. A distinctive phenotype of some isolates of CTV is the ability to induce seedling yellows (SY) in sour orange, lemon and grapefruit seedlings. In Florida, the decline isolate of CTV, T36, induces SY, whereas a widely distributed mild isolate, T30, does not. To delimit the viral sequences associated with the SY syndrome, we created a number of T36/T30 hybrids by substituting T30 sequences into different regions of the 3′ half of the genome of an infectious cDNA of T36. Eleven T36/T30 hybrids replicated in Nicotiana benthamiana protoplasts. Five of these hybrids formed viable virions that were mechanically transmitted to Citrus macrophylla, a permissive host for CTV. All induced systemic infections, similar to that of the parental T36 clone. Tissues from these C. macrophylla source plants were then used to graft inoculate sour orange and grapefruit seedlings. Inoculation with three of the T30/T36 hybrid constructs induced SY symptoms identical to those of T36; however, two hybrids with T30 substitutions in the p23-3′ nontranslated region (NTR) (nucleotides 18 394–19 296) failed to induce SY. Sour orange seedlings infected with a recombinant non-SY p23-3′ NTR hybrid also remained symptomless when challenged with the parental virus (T36), demonstrating the potential feasibility of using engineered constructs of CTV to mitigate disease.mp

The pathogenicity determinant of \u3ci\u3eCitrus tristeza virus\u3c/i\u3e causing the seedling yellows syndrome maps at the 3′-terminal region of the viral genome

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) (genus Closterovirus, family Closteroviridae) causes some of the more important viral diseases of citrus worldwide. The ability to map disease-inducing determinants of CTV is needed to develop better diagnostic and disease control procedures. A distinctive phenotype of some isolates of CTV is the ability to induce seedling yellows (SY) in sour orange, lemon and grapefruit seedlings. In Florida, the decline isolate of CTV, T36, induces SY, whereas a widely distributed mild isolate, T30, does not. To delimit the viral sequences associated with the SY syndrome, we created a number of T36/T30 hybrids by substituting T30 sequences into different regions of the 3′ half of the genome of an infectious cDNA of T36. Eleven T36/T30 hybrids replicated in Nicotiana benthamiana protoplasts. Five of these hybrids formed viable virions that were mechanically transmitted to Citrus macrophylla, a permissive host for CTV. All induced systemic infections, similar to that of the parental T36 clone. Tissues from these C. macrophylla source plants were then used to graft inoculate sour orange and grapefruit seedlings. Inoculation with three of the T30/T36 hybrid constructs induced SY symptoms identical to those of T36; however, two hybrids with T30 substitutions in the p23-3′ nontranslated region (NTR) (nucleotides 18 394–19 296) failed to induce SY. Sour orange seedlings infected with a recombinant non-SY p23-3′ NTR hybrid also remained symptomless when challenged with the parental virus (T36), demonstrating the potential feasibility of using engineered constructs of CTV to mitigate disease.mp

Optimizing sweet potato production: insights into the interplay of plant sanitation, virus influence, and cooking techniques for enhanced crop quality and food security

This study investigates the impact of sweet potato plant sanitation on the yield and external and internal quality root storage exploring the nutritional content affected by various cooking methods (raw, boiled, and oven-cooked). The presence of viruses, and concretely of the sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV), in sweet potato propagation material is shown to significantly reduce yield and modify storage root quality. Notably, the research reveals a substantial improvement in crop yield and external quality, reinforcing the efficacy of plant sanitation methods, specifically apical meristem culture, in preserving the overall productivity of sweet potato crops. Furthermore, the investigation identifies a noteworthy decrease in starch content, suggesting a dynamic interaction between plant sanitation and starch metabolism in response to viral diseases. The study also delves into the alteration of mineral absorption patterns, shedding light on how plant sanitation influences the uptake of essential minerals in sweet potato storage roots. While the health status of the plants only slightly affected magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn) accumulation, indicating a potential resilience of mineral balance under virus-infected conditions. Moreover, the research identifies significant modifications in antioxidant levels, emphasizing the role of plant sanitation in enhancing the nutritional quality of sweet potatoes. Heat-treated storage roots, subjected to various cooking methods such as boiling and oven-cooking, exhibit notable differences in internal quality parameters. These differences include increased concentrations of total soluble solids (SS) and heightened levels of antioxidant compounds, particularly phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The observed increase in antioxidant capacity underscores the potential health-promoting benefits associated with plant sanitation practices. Overall, the study underscores the critical importance of plant sanitation in enhancing sweet potato production sustainability, contributing to food security, and supporting local agricultural economies. The results emphasize the need for further research to optimize plant sanitation methods and promote their widespread adoption globally, providing valuable insights into the complex relationships in food quality

The pathogenicity determinant of Citrus tristeza virus causing the seedling yellows syndrome maps at the 3'-terminal region of the viral genome

Citrus tristeza virus (CTV) (genus Closterovirus, family Closteroviridae) causes some of the more important viral diseases of citrus worldwide. The ability to map disease‐inducing determinants of CTV is needed to develop better diagnostic and disease control procedures. A distinctive phenotype of some isolates of CTV is the ability to induce seedling yellows (SY) in sour orange, lemon and grapefruit seedlings. In Florida, the decline isolate of CTV, T36, induces SY, whereas a widely distributed mild isolate, T30, does not. To delimit the viral sequences associated with the SY syndrome, we created a number of T36/T30 hybrids by substituting T30 sequences into different regions of the 3′ half of the genome of an infectious cDNA of T36. Eleven T36/T30 hybrids replicated in Nicotiana benthamiana protoplasts. Five of these hybrids formed viable virions that were mechanically transmitted to Citrus macrophylla, a permissive host for CTV. All induced systemic infections, similar to that of the parental T36 clone. Tissues from these C. macrophylla source plants were then used to graft inoculate sour orange and grapefruit seedlings. Inoculation with three of the T30/T36 hybrid constructs induced SY symptoms identical to those of T36; however, two hybrids with T30 substitutions in the p23‐3′ nontranslated region (NTR) (nucleotides 18 394–19 296) failed to induce SY. Sour orange seedlings infected with a recombinant non‐SY p23‐3′ NTR hybrid also remained symptomless when challenged with the parental virus (T36), demonstrating the potential feasibility of using engineered constructs of CTV to mitigate disease