Influence of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Lifestyles of Health Sciences University Students in Spain: A Longitudinal Study

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted daily activities worldwide. University students may have experienced substantial changes in daily living as a result of restrictions on university attendance. The return to normalcy may take a long time, and understanding the influence that shifts in daily routines have had on the lifestyles of university students may inform approaches to support overall well-being. We analyzed changes in the lifestyles of students enrolled at a health sciences university during the COVID-19 pandemic. This longitudinal study took place at the Faculty of Medicine and Nursing in the University of the Basque Country in Spain, and the final sample consisted of 113 nursing students, 109 medical students, and 45 physiotherapy students. Our results demonstrate changes in lifestyles of university students during the pandemic. MedDiet adherence scores and the percentage of students with high adherence increased during the pandemic. This increase was due to the increased consumption of vegetables and nuts. In terms of physical activity, the practice of moderate and intense physical activity was maintained. These results provide important information for both public health authorities and educational institutions to guide strategies to maintain the well-being of students and enhance opportunities for young adults to lead a healthy lifestyle.This research was funded by the Official College of Nursing of Gipuzkoa (COEGI), grant number S0040/2020

There and back again: historical perspective and future directions for Vaccinium breeding and research studies

The genus Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) contains a wide diversity of culturally and economically important berry crop species. Consumer demand and scientific research in blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) have increased worldwide over the crops' relatively short domestication history (~100 years). Other species, including bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), and ohelo berry (Vaccinium reticulatum) are largely still harvested from the wild but with crop improvement efforts underway. Here, we present a review article on these Vaccinium berry crops on topics that span taxonomy to genetics and genomics to breeding. We highlight the accomplishments made thus far for each of these crops, along their journey from the wild, and propose research areas and questions that will require investments by the community over the coming decades to guide future crop improvement efforts. New tools and resources are needed to underpin the development of superior cultivars that are not only more resilient to various environmental stresses and higher yielding, but also produce fruit that continue to meet a variety of consumer preferences, including fruit quality and health related trait

Groundcover Management Systems Comparisons In Apple And Avocado Orchards

Groundcover management systems (GMSs) are essential in fruit production to achieve and sustain orchard productivity over long-term production cycles. The present dissertation compiles four studies evaluating the effects of GMSs on the long-term performance and nutrient dynamics of an apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) orchard, and on tree growth and production, erosion rates, and root system development of a hillside avocado (Persea americana Mill.) orchard. Four GMSs-pre-emergence herbicides, post-emergence herbicide, a sod cover crop, and bark mulch-were evaluated in the apple orchard. Over 16 years were no consistent long-term trends in fruit yields among GMSs, and long-term responses of trees to groundcover vegetation indicated that trees respond adaptively to compensate for surface vegetation competition. Two Nitrogen (N) budgets were developed for each GMS based on N inputs, internal cycling, and outputs, with and without applied N fertilizer. More than 60% of internal N fluxes were comprised of soil mineralization and recycling groundcover biomass; and harvested fruit represented 70% of N outputs from the system during both years. During the year with N fertilizer, N losses approached 4 and 22% through surface runoff and subsurface leaching, respectively. During the year without N fertilizer, the surface runoff N losses were twice the subsurface leaching N losses in all GMSs. We evaluated three GMSs in a steep hillside avocado orchard in Chile-Bare soil (BS), a vegetation strip (VS), and a groundcover (GC) covering the entire surface of the plots. Three years after tree establishment, trees in the BS plots were significantly bigger and produced more fruit than trees in the VS and GC treatments, but soil physical properties had deteriorated in the BS compared to the other treatments. Runoff volumes, soil erosion, and nutrient losses were consistently higher in the BS than VS and CG treatments. Trees in BS plots had more shallow and thicker roots than in VS and GC. Lifespans of roots in the BS and VS plots were 61% and 47% greater than in the GC plots, respectively. More root production was observed in the non-bearing year than in the bearing year, in all the GMS treatments

Root Growth Patterns in Cranberries

Abstract. Understanding root growth dynamics in cranberry vines can help growers adjust and target production practices (e.g., irrigation, fertilization, agrochemical applications, disease control, etc.) to period of active root growth, thus increasing production efficiency and reducing environmental impacts. The main objective of this study was to characterize cranberry root growth dynamics and root morphological traits, and develop a root phenology model to increase production efficiency and sustainability. A total of sixteen minirhizotron root observation tubes were constructed and installed in an angled position (30°) in the root zones of selected beds of ‘Stevens’ and ‘GH1’ at a farm in the Tomah, Wisconsin area during the fall of 2014. Root images were recorded from April 2015 to January 2016, and from April 2016 to November 2016. Root image analysis was performed using WinRhizo Tron analysis software (Regent Instruments, Quebec, Canada) and JMP statistical analysis software. During 2015 and 2016, new root production began during bloom time, and continued until after harvest. The highest rate of root production happened during and after harvest, which corresponds to the cessation of vegetative growth on the above ground portion of the plants. Root activity and production extends past harvest into mid-late fall, which might suggest that more attention should be paid to soil moisture levels during fall given that roots are still up taking water and nutrients. Over 90% of new roots observed were located in the first 4 inches (10 cm) of soil, which could be related to irrigation management in the marsh where the study was located. Note: The presentation is not available to download

Episode 11 (Season 3) Apple Crop Load Management Techniques: What's Killing My Kale?

Runtime 43:55In this episode, Annie interviews Dr. Amaya Atucha at University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension about the complexities of apple crop load management, also known as fruit thinning. This is a good episode for beginning apple growers, or experienced growers who would like to revisit and improve their fruit thinning strategies

Root Growth Phenology, Anatomy, and Morphology among root orders in Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.

Understanding mechanisms controlling plant growth is essential to maintain and increase productivity in managed ecosystems. However, the lack of information on below ground growth compared to above ground growth limits our ability to adjust crop management practices under changing climate. This study examines seasonal fine-root growth and its spatial distribution through the soil profile across the growing season, and the anatomical and morphological traits of roots according to their branching order in Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait. Root production followed a unimodal curve, with one marked flush of root growth starting at bloom, with a peak at the end of fruit maturation. Root vertical distribution concentrated in the upper 5 cm of soil depth, accounting for over 50% of new roots produced during the study. Root anatomy and morphology was related to root function, as the first three root orders had intact cortex and epidermis and high mycorrhizal colonization indicative of absorptive function, while orders 5th and higher had secondary development and presence of a cambium cork layer indicative of translocation. Our study highlights the importance of examining timing of root growth and root traits by root order and its implications for the timing of fertilization and other practices in managed ecosystems.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Exploring Cranberry Cold Hardiness Using Differential Thermal Analysis

Abstract: To date, cranberry terminal bud cold hardiness has been assessed by controlled freezing tests where levels of damage are evaluated from tissue samples exposed to a range of predetermined sub-freezing temperatures. As in many woody plant buds, freezing stress damage in cranberry is variable across different structures of the bud, often making evaluation challenging. The buds of many woody plant species survive freezing stress by the mechanism of supercooling, the maintenance of water in the liquid state in specific tissues to temperatures below 0°C. The eventual freezing of this supercooled water is lethal to the tissue. The exotherm released from this phase change of water is detectable by the technique of differential thermal analysis (DTA). As part of a larger study on cranberry bud cold hardiness changes concurrent with the plant’s transitions into and out of endodormancy, our initial objective has been to assess the supercooling capability of cranberry buds and the applicability of DTA to quantify this phenomenon. The study was conducted with samples of ‘Stevens’ and ‘HyRed’ collected weekly from two farms in central Wisconsin from ice-off until bud swell in early 2017. Eleven DTA tests were run in custom-built equipment, with controlled freezing tests also performed on the last four sample dates. Low temperature exotherms (LTEs) were detected, supporting the hypothesis that cranberry bud tissue supercools. However, the observed number of LTEs was lower than expected, being detected in only 20 to 40% of the total number of buds tested on a given date (n = 90 to 100). Based on these results, LT10, LT50, and LT90 values were calculated. Over the course of the sampling period, the range of LT50 values remained stable (from -11.3 to -7.3 °C in ‘HyRed’ and from -12.7 to -5.8 °C in ‘Stevens’ ) and did not fluctuate in response to changes in air temperature or the observed variations in leaf pigments. This is in contrast with the results of our controlled freezing tests and those of Workmaster et al. (2006) where LT50 values by showed important shifts from tight bud to bud swell. We are considering technical and physiological explanations for the reduced number of LTEs. Despite efforts to maximize equipment sensitivity, technical challenges may remain. Alternatively, changes in water relations of many woody plant buds occur in response to both endodormancy and prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures. These changes are known to involve the mobilization of water from primordia to other organs, such as bud scales, increasing the ability of primordia to supercool, a process known as extraorgan freezing. Additionally, anatomical observations support this freezing stress survival hypothesis in cranberry buds. This poster is not available for downloading