Cold treatment breaks dormancy but jeopardizes flower quality in Camellia japonica L.

Camellia japonica L. is an evergreen shrub whose cultivars are of great ornamental value. In autumn, after flower bud differentiation, dormancy is initiated. As in many other spring flowering woody ornamentals, winter low temperatures promote dormancy release of both flower and vegetative buds. However, warm spells during late autumn and winter can lead to unfulfilled chilling requirements leading to erratic and delayed flowering. We hypothesized that storing plants at no light and low temperature could favor dormancy breaking and lead to early and synchronized flowering in response to forcing conditions in C. japonica ‘Nuccio’s Pearl’. Plants with fully developed floral primordia were stored at dark, 7∘C, and RH > 90% for up to 8 weeks. To monitor endodormancy release during the storage, we evaluated the content of abscisic acid (ABA) in flower buds and the expression profiles of five putative genes related to dormancy and cold acclimation metabolism in leaves and flower buds. In addition, the expression of four anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway genes was profiled in flower buds to assess the effect of the treatment on flower pigment biosynthesis. At 0, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of cold treatment, 10 plants were transferred to the greenhouse and forced to flower. Forced plant flower qualities and growth were observed. The ABA content and the expression profiles of two dormancy-related genes (CjARP and CjDEH) suggested that dormancy breaking occurred after 6–8 weeks of cold treatment. Overall, plants treated for 6–8 weeks showed earlier vegetative sprouting, enhanced, and homogeneous flowering with reduced forcing time. Prolonged cold treatments also reduced flower size and longevity, anthocyanin content, and pigment biosynthesis-related gene transcripts. In conclusion, the cold treatment had a promotive effect on dormancy breaking but caused severe drawbacks on flower quality

Application of laser microdissection to identify the mycorrhizal fungi that establish arbuscules inside root cells.

Obligate symbiotic fungi that form arbuscular mycorrhizae (AMF; belonging to the Glomeromycota phylum) are some of the most important soil microorganisms. AMFs facilitate mineral nutrient uptake from the soil, in exchange for plant-assimilated carbon, and promote water-stress tolerance and resistance to certain diseases. AMFs colonize the root by producing inter- and intra-cellular hyphae. When the fungus penetrates the inner cortical cells, it produces a complex ramified structure called arbuscule, which is considered the preferential site for nutrient exchange. Direct DNA extraction from the whole root and sequencing of ribosomal gene regions are commonly carried out to investigate intraradical AMF communities. Nevertheless, this protocol cannot discriminate between the AMFs that actively produce arbuscules and those that do not. To solve this issue, the authors have characterized the AMF community of arbusculated cells (AC) through a laser microdissection (LMD) approach, combined with sequencing-based taxa identification. The results were then compared with the AMF community that was found from whole root DNA extraction. The AMF communities originating from the LMD samples and the whole root samples differed remarkably. Five taxa were involved in the production of arbuscules, while two taxa were retrieved inside the root but not in the AC. Unexpectedly, one taxon was found in the AC, but its detection was not possible when extracting from the whole root. Thus, the LMD technique can be considered a powerful tool to obtain more precise knowledge on the symbiotically active intraradical AMF community

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and their Value for Ecosystem Management

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) are root obligate symbionts of nearly all the plants living on Earth. They are considered as living fossils: there are evidences that date back to 460 million years ago their presence on our planet. Taxonomically, they belong to the Glomeromycota phylum. They are found in roots of 80% of plant species and give and get back benefits to their partners, as happens in all mutual symbiotic relationships. They build up a bridge between plant and soil, growing their mycelia both inside and outside plant roots. AMF provide the plant with water, soil mineral nutrients (mainly phosphorus and nitrogen), and pathogen protection. In exchange, photosynthetic compounds are transferred to the fungus. Besides physiological benefits to the host-plant, AMF play an important ecological role. They are important in soil structuring thanks to their thick extraradical hyphal network able to aggregate soil particles. They help plants establish in degraded ecosystems (e.g. desert areas and mine spoils) and positively affect phytoremediation. They can influence processes (i.e. soil carbon sequestration) related to climate change. Last but not least, their belowground presence and diversity can positively affect the aboveground plant biodiversity and productivity. These roles played by AMF for the ecosystem functioning lead to consider them as key soil organisms. Therefore, every AMF aspect is extensively studied: from biological features, through biogeography and biodiversity, to phylogeny. [...]JRC.H.5-Land Resources Managemen

Las instituciones de educación superior frente a las desigualdades y violencias de género. Reflexiones a partir del caso de la Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata

Las Universidades, como otros espacios de educación superior, no están libres de las dinámicas que ocurren en toda la sociedad en torno a la discriminación y las violencias de género. En Argentina, existe un marco normativo que insta a todas las instituciones a tomar medidas para erradicar las violencias incluso aquellas que produce y reproduce el propio Estado en su accionar. Desde 2015, el movimiento feminista en las universidades fue motorizando e implementando protocolos y líneas de acción. La Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata también cuenta con un Protocolo de Actuación. A casi dos años de su implementación en este artículo analizamos las características de las problemáticas abordadas en este camino y realizamos una evaluación crítica del desempeño, así como su impacto institucional. Finalmente reflexionamos en torno a las líneas a seguir para continuar construyendo una universidad libre de violencia sexista

One year of FBG-based thermo-hygrometers in operation in the CMS experiment at CERN

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Gonadal Function in Male Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer Treated With Sunitinib

Background/aim: Single-agent tyrosine kinase inhibitors are still prescribed as first-line treatment to a relevant subgroup of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). These agents are known to cause disfunction of many endocrine glands (e.g., thyroid). In this two-step trial, we aimed to assess gonadal function among male patients with mRCC treated with sunitinib. Patients and methods: We enrolled a first cross-sectional cohort of pre-treated (>6 months) patients and a subsequent cohort of treatment-naïve patients who were prospectively followed-up. All patients were screened for hypogonadism and received a Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) questionnaire at study entry and after 6 months of therapy. Patients who were candidates for testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) also received a FACT-G questionnaire at baseline and 3 months after supplementation. Results: Among the 30 enrolled patients, the prevalence of hypogonadism was found to be higher in those receiving sunitinib for a longer period (27.3% at baseline, 41.7% in the first 6 months, and 68.4% after 9 months of therapy). The testosterone level of patients correlated with quality of life (R=0.32). A total of six patients received TRT, with a significant improvement in their global quality of life after the first 3 months of treatment. Conclusion: An increasing prevalence of hypogonadism was seen among male patients who received long-term treatment with sunitinib. TRT was associated with relevant improvements in quality of life. These findings corroborate similar published observations and encourage the assessment of gonadal function in male patients with mRCC under treatment with sunitinib

Higher education institutions against gender inequalities and violence: reflections from the case of the National University of Mar del Plata

Las Universidades, como otros espacios de educación superior, no están libres de las dinámicas que ocurren en toda la sociedad en torno a la discriminación y las violencias de género. En Argentina, existe un marco normativo que insta a todas las instituciones a tomar medidas para erradicar las violencias incluso aquellas que produce y reproduce el propio Estado en su accionar. Desde 2015, el movimiento feminista en las universidades fue motorizando e implementando protocolos y líneas de acción. La Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata también cuenta con un Protocolo de Actuación. A casi dos años de su implementación en este artículo analizamos las características de las problemáticas abordadas en este camino y realizamos una evaluación crítica del desempeño, así como su impacto institucional. Finalmente reflexionamos en torno a las líneas a seguir para continuar construyendo una universidad libre de violencia sexista.Universities, like other higher education institutions, are not free from the dynamics that occur throughout society around discrimination and gender violence. In Argentina, there is a regulatory framework that urges all institutions to take actions to eradicate violence, even those produced and reproduced by the State itself. Since 2015, the feminist movement in universities has been driving and implementing protocols and lines of action. The National University of Mar del Plata also has an Action Protocol. Almost two years after its implementation, in this article we analyze the characteristics of the problems addressed in this path and make a critical evaluation of its performance, as well as its institutional impact. Finally we reflect on the lines to follow to continue building a university free of sexist violence.Fil: Torricella, Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Instituto de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales; ArgentinaFil: Berruti, María Belén. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Psicología; ArgentinaFil: Filippi Villar, Julieta Marcela. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Psicología; Argentin