Vineyard and Olive Orchard Management to Maintain Yield and Quality Under Abiotic Stress Conditions

Yield and quality of fruits are multifaceted traits involving various plant and fruit processes that, for a given genetic makeup, depend on environmental factors and agronomic practices. Crop yield has to meet the demand of a growing population, but crop quality is a challenging issue affected by consumer’s behavior and increasingly associated with food security. The projected climate scenario for South Mediterranean Europe predicts lower precipitation and higher temperatures that will negatively affect agricultural activity. A warmer and drier climate is expected to cause changes in crop yield and its quality. Higher temperatures affect photosynthesis, causing alterations in sugars, organic acids, flavonoid contents, firmness, and antioxidant activity. Reduced soil water availability will impact on the capacity of plants to accumulate biomass and when conjugated with warmer weather, it can trigger disorders like fruit sunburn further depressing crop yields. New cultivation techniques are necessary to produce sufficient food supplies to meet the basic nutrient requirements of the growing human population and support the agriculture economy. We focus on the production of olives and wine grapes, two of the most cultivated fruit crops of Southern Europe, which is certainly strongly affected by changing weather conditions. We review the recent developments on agronomic practices to counter or minimize the projected environmental changes, and we will report on our own experiences

Desenvolvimento e caracterização de modelos transgénicos em ratinho para a doença de Machado-Joseph

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciências da SaúdeSince the early 90’s a new class of inherited neurodegenerative diseases has been characterized, the polyglutamine (polyQ) expansion diseases. As the name indicates, the mutation underlying each of these disorders is an expansion of a CAG trinucleotide repeat that encodes a polyQ tract in the respective disease proteins. Although polyQ diseases present different clinical features and neuronal degeneration pattern, increasing evidences pointed out to important common features in the pathogenesis, in particular the abnormal protein conformation(s) promoted by polyQ expansion with the consequent accumulation in neuronal inclusions (NIs). Although the polyQ diseases are rare disorders individually, this group is composed by nine progressive and finally fatal disorders, which in general begin in adulthood and progress over 10 to 30 years, normally implicating the full time dedication to patient care by a member of the family. The economic and social impact of these neurodegenerative diseases has led several researchers worldwide to investigate the pathogenesis mechanism and therapeutic strategies for polyQ diseases. Animal models have proved to be an essential tool in this field due to their importance in the development of therapeutic trials but also for the performance of longitudinal studies of disease progression. In the present study, we generated several novel transgenic mouse models of a polyQ disease, Machado-Joseph disease (MJD), in order to study its pathogenic mechanism and perform therapeutic trials. We have obtained three MJD transgenic lines carrying the cDNA variant MJD1-1 with three different expanded CAG repeats tracts; 83, 94 and 135 CAGs, respectively. The transgenic mice with the lower CAG repeat tract (CMVMJD83) did not manifest the disease even at advanced ages, while the CMVMJD94 transgenic mice developed a mild motor phenotype even in hemizygous animals (in accordance with the autosomal dominant feature of MJD) and brain pathology in the CNS in the absence of NIs. Interestingly, the motor phenotype manifestation in CMVMJD94 mice was correlated with the length of the CAG repeat tract. With the increase of the polyQ tract to 135 glutamines in the human ataxin-3 protein (ATXN3) expressed by transgenic animals (CMVMJD135), we have successfully established a mouse model displaying several of the neurological symptoms of MJD that appear gradually in time, allowing the study of the disease progression. In addition, to further validate the therapeutic value of autophagy activation in MJD we have performed a pilot therapeutic trial, using lithium and the combination of lithium and temsirolimus; however, we could not find an amelioration of the MJD symptoms in our model CMVMJD135 at the doses of drugs used in this work.Desde o início dos anos noventa foi caracterizada uma nova classe de doenças neurodegenerativas hereditárias, as doenças de expansão de poliglutaminas (poliQ). Como o próprio nome indica, a mutação causadora da doença é a expansão de uma repetição de um trinucleótido de CAG que codifica um segmento de poliQ na proteína causadora da doença. Embora as doenças de poliQ apresentem diferenças clínicas e no padrão de neurodegenerescência, várias evidências apontam para a existência de características comuns na patogénese destas doenças, em particular a conformação anormal da proteína causada pela expansão de poliQ, que leva à sua acumulação em inclusões neuronais. Apesar das doenças de poliQ serem doenças raras no contexto individual, este grupo é constituído por nove doenças progressivas e fatais, com início na idade adulta e progredindo durante 10 a 30 anos, o que leva na maioria dos casos à necessidade de um membro da família prestar cuidados ao doente a tempo inteiro. O impacto sócio-económico destas doenças neurodegenerativas tem levado vários grupos de investigação pelo mundo inteiro a investigar o mecanismo patogénico assim como estratégias terapêuticas para as doenças de poliQ. Os modelos animais para as doenças de poliQ são uma ferramenta essencial no estudo destas doenças devido à sua enorme importância para o desenvolvimento de ensaios terapêuticos mas também para a realização de estudos longitudinais durante a progressão da doença. No presente estudo, foram gerados modelos transgénicos para uma doença de poliQ, a doença de Machado-Joseph (DMJ) de modo a serem estabelecidos como modelos da doença, para o estudo do seu mecanismo patogénico e para a realização de ensaios terapêuticos. Foi possível estabelecer três modelos da DMJ em ratinho contendo a variante MJD1-1 de cDNA com três diferentes segmentos expandidos de CAGs, com 83, 94 e 135 unidades, respectivamente. A linha transgénica com o menor tamanho de CAG (CMVMJD83) não manifestou a doença mesmo em idades avançadas, enquanto os ratinhos transgénicos CMVMJD94 apresentaram um fenótipo motor ligeiro, presente tanto nos ratinhos hemizigóticos como nos homozigóticos (em concordância com a transmissão autossómica dominante da doença), assim como patologia no sistema nervoso central, apesar da ausência de inclusões neuronais. De salientar que a manifestação do fenótipo motor na linha CMVMJD94 apresentava uma correlação com o tamanho do segmento de CAGs. Com o aumento do tracto de poliQ para 135 glutaminas na ataxina-3 humana (ATXN3) expressa nos ratinhos transgénicos (CMVMJD135) foi possível obter e estabelecer um modelo animal para a doença com mais sintomas neurológicos da DMJ que surgem de uma forma gradual ao longo da vida do animal, modelando a progressão da doença. De modo a validar a possível importância terapêutica da activação da autofagia na DMJ efectuámos um ensaio terapêutico piloto utilizando lítio e a combinação de lítio e temsirolimus; contudo, não observámos um melhoramento dos sintomas da DMJ no nosso modelo CMVMJD135 com as dosagens utilizadas neste trabalho.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - Bolsa de Doutoramento (SFRH/BD/15910/2005), projecto POCI/SAU-MMO/60412/2004, PTDC/SAU-GMG/64076/2006Ataxia MJD, US

Evolution of factors affecting mechanical olive harvesting

Harvest efficiency is defined as the percentage of fruits harvested by total production. The percentage of fruits harvested is less than 100% when working with trunk shakers to detach olives. It is important to increase the percentage of fruits harvested in order to increase farmer’s income. This objective can be achieved knowing the evolution of the main factors affecting fruit detachment. Fruit removal force (FRF), fruit weight (P) and the ratio between them are important for harvest efficiency. Field trials took place for two years (2013-2014) in Vilariça Valley, northeast Portugal in an olive orchard with ‘Cobrançosa Transmontana’ cultivar. It was adopted a mechanical harvesting system based on a trunk shaker to detach fruits, and an inverted umbrella to collect fruits. Elementary operation times were measured in seconds to evaluate work rates. FRF and P were measured in the ripening period, to evaluate their evolution. In this paper are presented the preliminary results of the ratio FRF (fruit removal force)/fruit weight evolution during the ripening period (P) and the results of the equipment work rate (trees h-1). The ratio FRF/P has predominantly descendant values in the weeks before harvest, from 140 to 80 as a result of a FRF downward variation from 4.9 to 2.94 N and an upward variation of P from 0.0294 to 0.0637 N. The FRF/P ratio stabilizes the decline in the last week of November just before harvesting, registering in some cases a slight increase in consequence of FRF increase higher than P increase (contrary to the tendency of previous weeks). Equipment work rate showed values between 40 and 57 trees h-1, confirming previous results.The authors want to thank to the Program PRODER Medida 4.1 Nº 44663 for the financial support, to the farmer of Quinta do Carrascal – Viaz and personnel involved in the field trials allowing to get data presented

Evolution of factors affecting mechanical olive harvesting

Harvest efficiency is defined as the percentage of fruits harvested by total production. The percentage of fruits harvested is less than 100% when working with trunk shakers to detach olives. It is important to increase the percentage of fruits harvested in order to increase farmer’s income. This objective can be achieved knowing the evolution of the main factors affecting fruit detachment. Fruit removal force (FRF), fruit weight (P) and the ratio between them are important for harvest efficiency. Field trials took place for two years (2013-2014) in Vilariça Valley, northeast Portugal in an olive orchard with ‘Cobrançosa Transmontana’ cultivar. It was adopted a mechanical harvesting system based on a trunk shaker to detach fruits, and an inverted umbrella to collect fruits. Elementary operation times were measured in seconds to evaluate work rates. FRF and P were measured in the ripening period, to evaluate their evolution. In this paper are presented the preliminary results of the ratio FRF (fruit removal force)/fruit weight evolution during the ripening period (P) and the results of the equipment work rate (trees h-1). The ratio FRF/P has predominantly descendant values in the weeks before harvest, from 140 to 80 as a result of a FRF downward variation from 4.9 to 2.94 N and an upward variation of P from 0.0294 to 0.0637 N. The FRF/P ratio stabilizes the decline in the last week of November just before harvesting, registering in some cases a slight increase in consequence of FRF increase higher than P increase (contrary to the tendency of previous weeks). Equipment work rate showed values between 40 and 57 trees h-1, confirming previous results.The authors want to thank to the Program PRODER Medida 4.1 Nº 44663 for the financial support, to the farmer of Quinta do Carrascal – Viaz and personnel involved in the field trials allowing to get data presented

Data used as an indicator of mechanical olive harvest season

When and how harvest olives are among the most important issues to improve quality and quantity to ensure the best net return to growers. Trunk shakers are commonly used in mechanical harvesting to detach olives. Field trials showed that with this equipment less than 100% of the production is detached, usually 70% to 90% (Michelakis, 2002).It is important to increase the percentage of fruits harvested, to reduce losses. To achieve this goal factors affecting mechanical olive harvesting must be known, to be used in the definition of harvest season. Some of these factors are the result of the orchard management, like tree shape, canopy density, pruning methods. Others depend on the cultivar, such as fruit removal force (FRF), fruit weight (P) and the ratio between them. FRF and P are considered decisive in the detachment process. Results of field trials carried out in the Northeast of Portugal with “Cobrançosa Transmontana” cultivar show the FRF, P and their ratio evolution in the ripening period. They have potential to become indicators of the mechanical olive harvest season

Olives mechanical harvesting trunk shaker based - costs update

Resultados de capacidade de trabalho (árvores/hora) e custos de utilização (por kg azeitona colhida) obtidos em trabalho de campo realizado em Portugal ao longo de mais de cinco anos em olivais com 150 árvores por hectare (em média) foram publicados por Almeida et al (2001) e Almeida et al (2007). Dois sistemas de colheita foram utilizados, ambos com o mesmo vibrador de tronco. No sistema I a azeitona destacada foi recolhida em lonas movimentadas manualmente. No sistema II a azeitona destacada foi recolhida num apara-frutos mecânico. A capacidade de trabalho média do sistema I é de 57 árvores por hora e do sistema II é de 40 árvores por hora. Os resultados mostram que o tempo gasto no deslocamento entre árvores é importante para o valor da capacidade de trabalho. Com o sistema baseado em recolha manual foram obtidos melhores resultados de capacidade de trabalho, mas os custos de utilização do sistema baseado no apara-frutos mecânico foram mais favoráveis. Dependendo do número de árvores vibradas por hora, para o sistema I os custos médios atuais são de 0,36 € a 0,12 € por kg de azeitona colhida e para o sistema II os custos médios atuais são de 0,36 € a 0,11 € por kg de azeitona colhida. Mais de uma década após a publicação dos primeiros resultados, os preços dos equipamentos, da mão-de-obra e de outros fatores, são substancialmente diferentes, assim como o valor da azeitona. Uma atualização de custos é apresentada e analisadas as consequências para os referidos sistemas de colheita mecânica. O acréscimo de custos neste período de tempo é de 49%.Results ofwork rates (trees/hour) and costs (per kg of olives harvested) from field trials performed in Portugal over more than tive years in olive orchards averaging 150 trees per hectare, was published by Almeida, A. et al (2001) and Almeida, A. et al (2007). Olives were harvested using two han/esting systems, both with the same trunk shaker, but in system l olives detached were collected by canvas manually moved and in system II olives detached were collected with an inverted umbrella. The average working rate of system l is 57 trees per hour. The average working rate of system l is 40 trees per hour. Results showed that the time spent in the displacement between trees is very important for the work rate value. Labour based manual collecting was found to reach the higher working rates, whereas in terms of costs the inverted umbrella scored best results. According on the number of trees harvested per year, the actual médium costs for system l are 0,36 to 0,12 per kg of olives harvested and the actual médium costs for system II are 0,36 to 0,11 per kg of olives harvested. More than one decade after the publication of first results, equipment and labour costs are substantial different as well as olive production value. Costs are updated and analyzed the consequences for referred olive mechanical harvesting systems. The costs increase in this period of time is 49%.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Motor and behavioural abnormalities associated with persistent spontaneous epilepsy in the fvb/n mouse strain

The FVB/N mouse strain (Mus musculus) is often used for generation of transgenic animals. However, it has also been the object of several studies in epilepsy research due to its increased susceptibility to develop spontaneous and induced seizures and its sensitivity to seizure-triggered neuronal death. We aimed to analyse behavioural changes observed in FVB/N mice that had seizure episodes throughout life. For this, we assessed the behaviour profile of 52-week old FVB/N animals displaying repeated spontaneous seizures, using the SHIRPA protocol. These epileptic mice also displayed a marked gait ataxia and decreased locomotor and exploratory activity. Moreover, these animals weighed less than control mice, and displayed increased signs of aggression and vocalization behaviours. Analysis of the data by clusters showed that in the epileptic mice there were significant deficits in the SHIRPA “spinocerebellar function”, “neuropsychiatric function” and “muscle and lower motor neuron function” scores, suggesting extensive brain damage caused by repeated experience of seizures.Anabela Silva Fernandes is the recipient of a scholarship from FCT (SFRH/BD/15910/2005)

Riscos e benefícios

Os suplementos alimentares para emagrecer são um apelo irresistível para quem procura uma forma de perder peso “sem sacrifícios” e “sem esforço”. Com efeito, estamos perante um mercado sazonal em expansão em que a menção “natural” parece tranquilizar os consumidores esquecendo que a eficácia e segurança destes produtos necessita ser avaliada. Nesse contexto, o presente estudo teve como objetivo efetuar a caraterização dos consumidores de suplementos alimentares para emagrecer, da zona centro de Portugal, avaliar o seu grau de satisfação com os produtos e ainda o possível risco que envolve o consumo destes produtos sobretudo quando ingeridos concomitantemente com medicamentos. Recorreu-se a um questionário anónimo, confidencial e de preenchimento voluntário, distribuído em farmácias, parafarmácias e dietéticas e/ou ervanárias maioritariamente do concelho de Viseu e Figueira da Foz. A recolha dos dados decorreu entre os meses de abril e julho de 2014. E tinha como critérios de inclusão ser maior de 18 anos, ambos os sexos e saber ler e escrever. Acorreram 304 indivíduos. A análise dos dados foi feita recorrendo a testes estatísticos adequados a cada caso. O presente estudo ao caracterizar o perfil de consumidores de suplementos alimentares encontrou uma população, maioritariamente feminina (88,5%) com grau de instrução elevado, secundário e superior, nas faixas etária dos 25-44 anos (59,4%), casados ou em união de facto. Apresentavam excesso de peso e obesidade (54%), sem hábitos de prática de exercício físico e com alimentação desequilibrada. Estes preferem adquirir os suplementos alimentares para emagrecer nas farmácias embora a decisão de consumir estes produtos seja pessoal (32,7%). Para aconselhamento preferem o farmacêutico (17,6%) e apenas 4,2% recorrem ao médico. Revelaram ainda consumir estes produtos por um período de tempo limitado, entre 1-3 meses e estarem satisfeitos com os resultados obtidos após o consumo de suplementos alimentares (63,1%). Constituindo os efeitos secundários dos suplementos alimentares uma preocupação legítima verificamos que a maioria dos inquiridos (93,3%) não refere qualquer efeito indesejável, os restantes indivíduos que revelaram aparecimento de ações indesejáveis disseram ter-se dirigido ao farmacêutico para reportar a situação. As patologias com maior prevalência entre os consumidores foram doenças endócrinas, nutricionais e metabólicas, seguida das perturbações mentais e comportamentais e por fim as doenças cardiovasculares a que correspondem os principais grupos terapêuticos encontrados: psicofármacos, medicamentos usados em patologias do sistema endócrino e antihipertensores. Cerca de 25,8% dos inquiridos que consumiam suplementos alimentares para emagrecer utilizavam concomitantemente estes fármacos. A análise dos cinco suplementos alimentares para emagrecer maioritariamente consumidos pela amostra (57,8%) evidenciou a existência de possíveis interações com os grupos de fármacos mais utilizados. Os resultados obtidos mostram por um lado, a necessidade de esclarecer o conceito de que nem tudo o que é natural é inócuo e por outro lado, ressaltam a importância no ato de venda do aconselhamento individual, adaptado a cada consumidor (com ou sem medicação), por um profissional de saúde com conhecimentos no âmbito da gestão e fisiologia de peso corporal e conhecimento sólido sobre a eficácia e segurança destes suplementos.ABSTRACT: Dietary supplements for weight loss are an irresistible appeal to those who are looking for a way to lose weight without sacrifice and easily. This growing market were the label of natural product seems to reassure consumers. Nevertheless, efficacy and safety of those supplements for weight loss need to be evaluated. The main objective of the present study was to characterize the consumers habits regarding the use of dietary supplements for weight loss and to assess their level of satisfaction with those products in a population from central Portugal. Moreover, we also want to evaluate the putative risk involving the consumption of dietary supplements for weight loss especially when taken concurrently with prescription medication. The questionnaire used was anonymous, confidential and voluntary fill. It was distributed in pharmacies, drug stores and health food stores, mostly in the municipalityof Viseu and Figueira da Foz. Data collection took place between the months of April and July 2014. The inclusion criteria were: to be over 18 years-old, both sexes and knowing to read and write. In total there were 304 respondents. The collected data was analyzed using statistical tests appropriate to each case. The present study characterized the profile of consumers of dietary supplements. We found a mostly women (88.5%) with high level of education (secondary and higher education), with 25-44 years-old (59.4%) married or in cohabitacion. Moreover consumers were mostly overweight and obese (54%) without exercise habits and with unbalanced diet. They also prefer to purchase dietary supplements for weight loss in pharmacies even though the decision to consume these products was personal (32.7%). For counseling the use and choice of dietary supplements for weight loss they prefer the pharmacist (17.6%) and only 4.2% the doctor. The respondents revealed that they consume those products for a short period of time (1-3 months) and were satisfied with the results obtained after the consumption of dietary supplements (63.1%). As side effects of dietary supplement are a natural concern, we found that the majority of respondents (93.3%) did not report any undesirable effect, and there maining individuals who revealed an appearance of undesirable effects reported it to a pharmacist. The higher prevalent pathologies among consumers were endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases, followed by mental and behavioural disorders and cardiovascular diseases. The main therapeutic groups found were: psychoactive drugs, drugs used in endocrine system disorders and antihypertensive medication. 25.8% of respondents who consume dietary supplements for weight loss take drugs from one or more of those therapeutic groups. The analysis of the five dietary supplements for weight loss mostly consumed by the sample (57.8%) showed the existence of possible interactions with commonly used therapeutic groups. The obtained results herein suggest on the one hand, the importance of clarifying the meaning of natural explaining that it does not correspond to innocuous. Moreover results emphasize the importance of individual counseling, for people who are considering using weight loss supplements (with or without prescription medication) by a health care provider expert in the management of body weight physiology and with solid knowledge about the potential benefits and risks of these products

Mutational analysis of MSX1 and PAX9 genes in Portuguese families with maxillary lateral incisor agenesis

The observation that certain patterns of tooth agenesis occur more frequently in individuals of the same family may suggest the existence of predisposing genetic factors. The aim of this study was to search for mutations in the PAX9 and MSX1 genes and to investigate their potential association with the maxillary lateral incisor agenesis (MLIA) phenotype in 12 Portuguese families, a total of 52 individuals, 12 probands and 40 relatives (eight of which had MLIA). Twenty-three of the subjects were male and 29 female with an age range of 10-75 years. The control group comprised random DNA samples of 91 Portuguese individuals. Nucleotide alterations were not detected in the coding regions of the MSX1 gene, analysed by single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing; in the PAX9 gene, a polymorphism was found that led to transition of G718 to C, implying a change of alanine 240 for proline. However, the differences in the frequencies of the PAX9 gene polymorphism between the probands (67 per cent) and the control population (56 per cent carrying the c allele) were not statistically significant as determined by chi-square test, and the polymorphism did not clearly segregate with the trait in the families. Aggregating the available data, there does not seem to exist a clear association between the alanine 240 for proline variant in the PAX9 gene and the MLIA phenotype. Further studies are required to clarify the basic genetics of MLIA.The authors would like to thank the families who participated in this study. We are grateful to Pedro Seada for technical support. TP was the recipient of a scholarship from Instituto Superior de Ciencias da Saude Norte/CESPU for her PhD and AS-F is the recipient of a scholarship from FCT (SFRH/BD/15910/2005)

Rega deficitária em olivais de Tras-os-Montes: apresentação de um projecto em fase de instalação

A gestão da rega no Vale da Vilariça (Trás-os-Montes, Portugal), onde a água é escassa, terá de economizar recursos, reduzir impactos e maximizar a produtividade. A adoção da rega deficitária (RD - rega abaixo das necessidades totais de água da cultura), pode concorrer para esses propósitos. Com o projeto, pretende-se avaliar a resposta do olival a diferentes estratégias de rega deficitária, em produtividade, qualidade do azeite e impactos ambientais da atividade.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio