Biochemical and genetic implications of the slow ripening phenotype in peach fruit

The peach [Prunus persica L. (Batsch)] slow ripening (SR) trait is a mutation preventing the normal fruit ripening process. It is determined by a single Mendelian gene (Sr/sr) located on linkage group 4, where only homozygous individuals for a recessive allele (sr) show the SR phenotype and are generally discarded from breeding programs. Ripening-related traits such as fruit weight, firmness loss, ethylene production, ACO activity, sugars and organic acids composition, malondialdehyde, antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content were evaluated in a segregating population for the SR trait during two consecutive harvest seasons and at different maturity stages. Although there is no commercial value for the slow ripening (srsr) individuals, our results demonstrate that a heterozygous combination involving sr and another allele at this locus (Sr2) showed interesting traits including a longer harvest window and improved postharvest behaviour if harvested at the appropriate maturity (IAD ≥ 2). All these traits seem to be linked to a delayed ripening behaviour mediated, in turn, by a lower ethylene production capacity and an altered sugar (mainly sucrose) and organic acid accumulation/utilisation on-tree. The selection of this allelic combination could be an easy and efficient strategy to obtain new peach cultivars with potentially improved shelf life.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Phenotypic diversity and relationships of fruit quality traits in peach and nectarine [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] breeding progenies

The definitive version is available at: http://www.springerlink.com/content/102881/Agronomic and fruit quality traits were evaluated and compared for three consecutive years on 1,111 seedlings coming from 15 peach and nectarine breeding crosses, grown under a Mediterranean climate. Significant differences among and within the different progenies were found for most of the traits analyzed. The breeding population segregated for several Mendelian characters such as peach or nectarine fruit, round or flat fruit, yellow or white flesh and freestone or clingstone. In addition, aborting fruit and flat fruit trees were found in our progeny, and our data seem to support multi-allelic control of both flat shape and aborting fruit. The variation within the progenies of some traits such as blooming and harvesting date, yield, fruit weight and SSC was continuous, suggesting a polygenic inheritance. Relationships between qualitative pomological traits and these agronomic and fruit quality parameters were also found. Valuable correlations among agronomic and fruit quality parameters were found, although coefficients of variation depending on the progeny should be considered. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) revealed several relationships among quality traits in the evaluated progenies. Based on this evaluation, 26 outstanding genotypes were pre-selected from the initial breeding population for further studies.This study was supported by the Spanish MICINN (Ministry of Science and Innovation) grants AGL-2005-05533 and AGL-2008-00283, and the Regional Government of Aragón (A44). C.M. Cantín was supported by a FPU fellowship from Spanish MICINN.Peer reviewe

Bone Morphogenetic Protein and its Option as an Alveolar Cleft Treatment

Indexación: Scopus; Scielo.Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) is an endogenous protein that has shown significant effects in the promotion of bone formation. BMP also has been described in the reconstruction of traumatic and pathological bone defects, including alveolar cleft, alveolar ridge augmentation, maxillary sinus elevation, and applications in post-extraction alveolus graft, and peri-implant surgery among others. Despite the advantages associated with the use of BMP, currently is applied in combination with collagen matrices, which has certain properties such as low mechanical resistance and a high burst initial release that diminish its effectiveness in bone formation. In this context, the development of novel systems with greater mechanical resistance and prolonged release of BMP, that lead to chemotaxis of mesenchymal cells, following by its differentiation to osteoblasts represents a major challenge that holds outstanding clinical potential for the stimulation of bone formation. In this paper, we describe the use of BMP for the reconstruction of alveolar clefts, and its advantages being administrated in polymeric microparticles as sustain release system with promising applications in the stimulation of bone formation.http://ref.scielo.org/ps5w6

A mechanistic protrusive-based model for 3D cell migration

Cell migration is essential for a variety of biological processes, such as embryogenesis, wound healing, and the immune response. After more than a century of research—mainly on flat surfaces—, there are still many unknowns about cell motility. In particular, regarding how cells migrate within 3D matrices, which more accurately replicate in vivo conditions. We present a novel in silico model of 3D mesenchymal cell migration regulated by the chemical and mechanical profile of the surrounding environment. This in silico model considers cell’s adhesive and nuclear phenotypes, the effects of the steric hindrance of the matrix, and cells ability to degradate the ECM. These factors are crucial when investigating the increasing difficulty that migrating cells find to squeeze their nuclei through dense matrices, which may act as physical barriers. Our results agree with previous in vitro observations where fibroblasts cultured in collagen-based hydrogels did not durotax toward regions with higher collagen concentrations. Instead, they exhibited an adurotactic behavior, following a more random trajectory. Overall, cell’s migratory response in 3D domains depends on its phenotype, and the properties of the surrounding environment, that is, 3D cell motion is strongly dependent on the context

APLICACIÓN DE ACEITES ESENCIALES EN MANZANA (MALUS DOMESTICA) COMO AGENTES DE BIOCONTROL POSTCOSECHA

La manzana (Malus x domestica) es un fruto de pepita de gran importancia en cuanto a superficie productiva en España, el cual también tiene relevancia en la cesta de la compra de la población española. Aunque su valor nutricional es claro, su consumo ha disminuido notablemente durante los últimos 30 años entre la población española a pesar de la gran producción nacional. Factores que pueden afectar al precio y la calidad del fruto provienen tanto de las etapas precosecha como postcosecha. Entre los factores bióticos alterantes de la calidad, los hongos son de gran importancia, ya que se manifiestan fundamentalmente durante el transporte y almacenamiento. Para evitar pérdidas causadas por daños de podredumbres fúngicas, comúnmente se hace uso de fungicidas de síntesis química. Sin embargo, a causa de sus efectos nocivos para el medio ambiente y la salud humana, estos productos químicos están siendo sustituidos gradualmente. Una alternativa para ellos pueden ser los aceites esenciales (AEs) de plantas aromáticas.El objetivo de este Trabajo Fin de Máster (TFM) fue la búsqueda de AEs de plantas aromáticas provenientes de Aragón como alternativa a los fungicidas de origen químico. Para alcanzar este objetivo se desarrolló una parte de ensayos in vitro y otra in vivo, en las cuales se trabajó con AEs de Mentha rotundifolia, Origanum virens, Salvia officinalis y Valeriana officinalis, para los que se evaluó su capacidad antifúngica frente a los hongos Monilinia fructicola, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria alternata, Rhizopus stolonifer y Penicillium expansum.Los métodos utilizados durante la parte in vitro consistieron en la difusión de AEs en disco, la dilución de AEs en Agar Dextrosa Patata (PDA), dilución de AEs Caldo de Patata Dextrosa (PBD), medición de la actividad volátil y generación de esporas en Agar Dicloran Rosa de Bengala Cloranfenicol (DRBD). La parte in vivo consistió en la evaluación de las infecciones provocadas por los cinco hongos en manzana protegidas con los AEs testados.De la parte in vitro de este TFM se concluyó que un 10% de concentración de los AEs es excesivo, aunque S. officinalis presentó aun así un efecto nulo. Se concluyó también que las concentraciones fungicidas ideales del resto de AEs se encontraba entre 0,25 y 1%. En la parte in vivo se aplicaron los AEs a una concentración de 0,5% y 5%. Los resultados mostraron que M. fructicola presentaba un crecimiento anómalamente disminuido. Por otro lado, el AE de M. rotundifolia y O. virens al 5% demostraron ser una posible alternativa a los fungicidas químicos contra P. expansum y contra B. cinerea respectivamente. Mientras A. alternata mostró ser susceptible a M. rotundifolia, pero no de forma concluyente. R. stolonifer demostró ser muy resistente a los tratamientos.<br /

Mosquito Magnet ® traps as a potential means of monitoring blackflies of medical and veterinary importance

Mosquito Magnet® traps, deployed in widespread parts of England as part of nationwide mosquito surveillance projects, also caught blackflies. As many as 1242 blackflies were caught in a trapping session lasting 4 days. Principal among the species caught were Simulium equinum, Simulium lineatum and Simulium ornatum s.l. As S. ornatum s.l. is a vector that transmits Onchocerca linealis to cattle and S. equinum is responsible for dermatitis ('sweet itch') in cattle and horses, it is suggested that Mosquito Magnet® traps could be used to monitor and partially control these pests, as well as nuisance anthropophilic blackflies such as Simulium posticatum that can cause simuliidosis in southern England

Fine mapping of the peach pollen sterility gene (Ps/ps) and detection of markers for marker-assisted selection

In peach, pollen sterility, expressed as absence of pollen in the anthers, segregates as an undesired trait in breeding programs. Pollen fertility screening in progenies is not a common practice mainly because it does not affect fruit set since cross-pollination is frequent. It is also a time-consuming activity that coincides with the busy pollination season. Segregation for this trait could be avoided by using molecular markers to identify appropriate parents or male sterile plants for early culling in progenies expected to segregate, thus increasing breeding efficiency. In peach, pollen sterility is determined by a recessive allele in homozygosis of the major gene, Ps/ps, located on chromosome 6. In this work, using a conventional mapping approach combined with bulked segregant analysis using resequencing data, we fine mapped Ps to a region of almost 160 kb and developed molecular markers for marker-assisted breeding. These markers were validated in plant materials from three peach breeding programs, including progenies, advanced selections, and cultivars, allowing us to determine that the frequency of the ps allele is high (0.23) and also to infer the genotypes of a large collection of cultivars and advanced breeding lines.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Creación de un panel de catadores entrenados para la caracterización sensorial de manzana

Hoy en día, la selección de nuevos alimentos agroalimentarios se basa cada vez más en la calidad del producto; y los eslabones de la cadena agroalimentaria se deben centrar en el consumidor como factor primordial. Para ello, el análisis sensorial es una herramienta esencial para la evaluación de la calidad del fruto que permite la obtención de información compleja a partir de jueces entrenados. Por este motivo, este trabajo se basa en la creación de un panel entrenado para la caracterización sensorial de manzana, pasando por cada una de las fases que conlleva este entrenamiento: la fase de reclutamiento, donde se buscan participantes voluntarios para la formación del panel; la fase de selección, en la que se decidirá qué candidatos van a pasar a formar parte del panel; la fase de entrenamiento, en la que los panelistas son entrenados en los diferentes aspectos del análisis sensorial general y concretamente en el análisis sensorial de manzana; y por último la sincronización del panel, con el fin de conseguir resultados consensuados y coherentes como panel de catadores entrenado de manzana.<br /

Fine mapping of the peach pollen sterility gene (Ps/ps) and detection of markers for marker-assisted selection

Altres ajuts: CERCA Programme/Generalitat de CatalunyaIn peach, pollen sterility, expressed as absence of pollen in the anthers, segregates as an undesired trait in breeding programs. Pollen fertility screening in progenies is not a common practice mainly because it does not affect fruit set since cross-pollination is frequent. It is also a time-consuming activity that coincides with the busy pollination season. Segregation for this trait could be avoided by using molecular markers to identify appropriate parents or male sterile plants for early culling in progenies expected to segregate, thus increasing breeding efficiency. In peach, pollen sterility is determined by a recessive allele in homozygosis of the major gene, Ps/ps, located on chromosome 6. In this work, using a conventional mapping approach combined with bulked segregant analysis using resequencing data, we fine mapped Ps to a region of almost 160 kb and developed molecular markers for marker-assisted breeding. These markers were validated in plant materials from three peach breeding programs, including progenies, advanced selections and cultivars, allowing us to determine that the frequency of the ps allele is high (0.23) and also to infer the genotypes of a large collection of cultivars and advanced breeding lines

USO DE ACEITES ESENCIALES PARA LA CONSERVACIÓN POSTCOSECHA DE FRUTA DE PEPITA

La manzana es una de las frutas de mayor producción y consumo en España. Tras su recolección, se producen grandes pérdidas económicas debido a la acción de diferentes hongos como Monilinia fructicola, Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria alternata, Rhizopus stolonifer y Penicilliumexpansum. El empleo de técnicas alternativas a la aplicación de fungicidas tradicionales es necesario en la actualidad, evitando efectos negativos sobre el medio ambiente y el rechazo por parte del consumidor.Para ello, en este trabajo se propone la utilización de aceites esenciales (AEs) de las especies Origanum virens, Salvia officinalis, Valeriana officinalis y Mentha rotundifolia, junto con sus hidrolatos, un subproducto obtenido de las destilaciones de los AEs que está constituidoprincipalmente por compuestos hidrosolubles, y algunos de los compuestos activos presentes en estos AEs (Linalool, Timol, β-pineno, Acetato de bornilo, Canfeno y Carvacrol).Los métodos empleados para su aplicación fueron la difusión de AEs en disco, la dilución de AEs e hidrolatos en Agar Dextrosa Patata (PDA), dilución de AEs e hidrolatos en Caldo de Patata Dextrosa (PBD), actividad volátil, generación de esporas en Agar Dicloran Rosa de BengalaCloranfenicol (DRBD), y difusión de compuestos activos en PDA.El método de difusión de AEs en PDA, junto con el de difusión de los compuestos activos en PDA, fueron los que proporcionaron los mejores niveles de inhibición del crecimiento. En el primer caso, todos los AEs tuvieron gran eficacia contra los microorganismos, con excepción de S.officinalis que solo género inhibición frente a M. fructicola. En el caso de difusión de compuestos activos en PDA, los compuestos que presentaron una mayor capacidad antifúngica de forma general fueron linalool, timol y carvacrol, dando lugar a inhibiciones totales en el crecimiento detodos los hongos, teniendo en cuenta las diferentes concentraciones aplicadas.<br /