Analysis of the olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae transcriptome and phylogenetic classification of the major detoxification gene families

he olive fruit fly Bactrocera oleae has a unique ability to cope with olive flesh, and is the most destructive pest of olives worldwide. Its control has been largely based on the use of chemical insecticides, however, the selection of insecticide resistance against several insecticides has evolved. The study of detoxification mechanisms, which allow the olive fruit fly to defend against insecticides, and/or phytotoxins possibly present in the mesocarp, has been hampered by the lack of genomic information in this species. In the NCBI database less than 1,000 nucleotide sequences have been deposited, with less than 10 detoxification gene homologues in total. We used 454 pyrosequencing to produce, for the first time, a large transcriptome dataset for B. oleae. A total of 482,790 reads were assembled into 14,204 contigs. More than 60% of those contigs (8,630) were larger than 500 base pairs, and almost half of them matched with genes of the order of the Diptera. Analysis of the Gene Ontology (GO) distribution of unique contigs, suggests that, compared to other insects, the assembly is broadly representative for the B. oleae transcriptome. Furthermore, the transcriptome was found to contain 55 P450, 43 GST-, 15 CCE- and 18 ABC transporter-genes. Several of those detoxification genes, may putatively be involved in the ability of the olive fruit fly to deal with xenobiotics, such as plant phytotoxins and insecticides. In summary, our study has generated new data and genomic resources, which will substantially facilitate molecular studies in B. oleae, including elucidation of detoxification mechanisms of xenobiotic, as well as other important aspects of olive fruit fly biology

Effects of Salinity on Tagetes Growth, Physiology, and Shelf Life of Edible Flowers Stored in Passive Modified Atmosphere Packaging or Treated With Ethanol

Irrigation with saline water causes significant crop yield loss. However, short-term saline application might cause less negative effects on yield yet at the same time improve quality aspects of edible products. Tagetes (Tagetes patula L.) plants were subjected to salinity (0, 50, and 100 mM NaCl) and harvested flowers were stored up to 14 days in passive modified atmosphere packaging (with or without ethanol application). Salinity of 100 mM NaCl decreased plant biomass and plant size (i.e., height) and had a negative effect on physiological processes such as stomatal closure and chlorophylls content decrease. Salinity increased flower polyphenols, antioxidant activities, and total carotenoids but decreased anthocyanins, and greater impacts were found at salinity of 100 mM NaCl, providing higher antioxidant value of the edible flowers. Short-term saline exposure of tagetes plants activated metabolic processes and as a result there was an accumulation of minerals such as N, P, Na, and Zn on edible flowers. During storage, salinity maintained but ethanol application increased the flower CO2 production. Ethanol application decreased the decay of flowers subjected to 100 mM NaCl. Flower weight losses and marketability accelerated at salinity of 100 mM NaCl after 14 days of storage. Tagetes flowers demonstrated induction in both non-enzymatic (i.e., proline content) and enzymatic mechanisms (catalase) to overcome stress caused by salinity during harvest stage and/or ethanol at storage. Our results have shown that short-term exposure to salinity and/or ethanol is able to achieve higher carotenoids and anthocyanins levels and these compounds can be considered as a new source of nutraceuticals

Magnesium and manganese induced changes on chemical, nutritional, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the pansy and Viola edible flowers

composition was determined using standard methods. Free sugars, fatty acids, organic acids, tocopherols, and phenolic compounds were analyzed using various HPLC and GC devises. The extract’s antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory activity were assessed. The results indicated that Mg enrichment negatively affected plant growth and mineral accumulation but improved photosynthetic performance. The edible flowers contained significant amounts of protein, low levels of fat, and varying sugar contents, such as glucose and fructose. Various fatty acids and phenolic compounds were identified, with different concentrations depending on the treatment. The flowers exhibited antioxidant potential, antimicrobial activity, cytotoxic effects, and antiinflammatory properties. The correlations between the investigated parameters not only expand knowledge on Mg and Mn interaction but also catalyze significant advancements in sustainable agriculture and food health, fostering a healthier and more conscious future.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/ 2020) and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020). L. Barros, Ricardo C. Calhelha, S. A. Heleno and T. C. Finimundy thank the national funding by FCT through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for her contract, while M. Carocho thanks FCT through the individual scientific employment program-contract (CEECIND/00831/2018). I. Oliveira thanks FCT for her PhD grant (BD/06017/2020).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The effects of biostimulants, biofertilizers and water-stress on nutritional value and chemical composition of two spinach genotypes (Spinacia oleracea L.)

In the present study, the e ect of biostimulants application on the nutritional quality and bioactive properties of spinach cultivated in protected environment under water stress conditions was evaluated. For this purpose, four commercially available biostimulant products (Megafol (MEG), Aminovert (AM), Veramin Ca (V), Twin Antistress (TA), and two spinach genotypes (Fuji F1 and Viroflay) were tested under two irrigation regimes (normal irrigation (W+), and water-holding (W–). Fat and carbohydrates content was favored by water stress when Megafol (MEGW+) and Veramin (VW+) were applied on Fuji plants, while calorific value was also increased by MEGW+ treatment. In contrast, protein and ash content increased when AMW– and TAW+ were applied on Viroflay plants. Ra nose and glucose were the most abundant sugars, followed by sucrose and fructose, with the highest contents recorded for Fuji plants when AMW+ (fructose, glucose and total carbohydrates), CW– (sucrose), and TAW– (ra nose) treatments were applied. Regarding organic acids, oxalic and malic acid which had the highest contents for the TAW– (Viroflay plants) and AMW– (Fuji plants) treatments, respectively. - and -tocopherol were the only isoforms detected with MEGW– and VW– inducing the biosynthesis of -tocopherol, while AMW+ increased -tocopherol content in Fuji plants. The main fatty acids were -linolenic and linoleic acids which were detected in the highest amounts in AMW–, AMW+, and TAW+ the former and in AMW–, VW–, and CW+ the latter. Regarding phenolic compounds content, peak 12 (5,30,40-Trihydroxy-3-methoxy-6:7-methylenedioxyflavone-40-glucuronide) was the most abundant compound, especially in Viroflay plants under normal irrigation and no biostimulants added (CW–). The antioxidant and cytotoxic activity of the tested samples did not show promising results when compared with the positive controls, while a variable antibacterial activity was recorded depending on the tested biostimulant, irrigation regime and genotype. In conclusion, a variable e ect of the tested biostimulants and irrigation regimes was observed on bioactive properties and chemical composition of both spinach genotypes which highlights the need for further research in order to make profound conclusions regarding the positive effects of biostimulants under water stress conditions.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) and FEDER under Programme PT2020 for financial support to CIMO (UID/AGR/00690/2019); national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for M.I.D., R.C.C. and L.B.; C.P. contract though the celebration of program-contract foreseen in No. 4, 5 and 6 of article 23º of Decree-Law No. 57/2016, of 29th August, amended by Law No. 57/2017, of 19th July; to FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal programme for financial support through the project 0377_Iberphenol_6_E and TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Narrativas dos profissionais dos ensinos pré-escolar e primeiro ciclo face às crianças com necessidades educativas especiais: o outro lado da história

[Resumo] As debilidades na formação dos educadores e professores quanto as NEE sao uma importante variável influenciadora na e para a construção de urna equidade educativa. Registe-se a afirmação proferida na Declaras;ao de Salamanca: "a preparação adequada de todo o pessoal educativo é o factor chave na promosção das escolas inclusivas." Toma-se imprescindível conhecermos as formas de pensar, de actuar, a diversidade de sentimentos e estratégias que os profissionais poderao demonstrar como resultado de lidarem com uma criança com NEE, para que possamos melhor compreender e interpretar a direcs;ao para a construção de um diálogo efectivo de parceria educacional. Pretende-se, assim, através de urna metodologia qualitativa - análise de narrativas - o desenvolvimento de um programa de forma<;ao que promova desenvolvimento de atitudes positivas face a escola inclusiva, a aquisis;ao de novas competencias de ensino, que permita aos profissionais serem mais responsivos as necessidades educativas das criança

Comparison between different extraction methods in the recovery of bioactive molecules from Melissa officinalis L. under sustainable cultivation: chemical and bioactive characterization

Melissa officinalis L., from the Lamiaceae family, is one of the most important medicinal and aromatic plants with potential in the market. With the passing of time, the use of medicinal plants in the treatment of some illness has gone from the simplest forms of local treatment to the industrial manufacture of phytotherapics. In addition to their medicinal effect, they can also be used in the form of infusions and decoctions and in various food preparations. In this sense, the objective of this work was to compare three different extraction methods: infusion (100% water), maceration (80:20 ethanol: water v:v) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) under previous optimized extraction conditions (33.0 +- 3.2 min, 371.7 +- 19.3Wand 39.9 +- 1.4% ethanol), in plants grown under sustainable cultivation under full irrigation in June. The parameters studied included bioactive evaluation by antioxidant (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances—TBARS), cytotoxicity (sulforhodamine B) and anti-inflammatory (RAWcells) assays. The composition of phenolic compounds and organic acids was also studied by GC-MS and HPLC-DAD, respectively. According to the obtained results, eight phenolic compounds were identified and quantified, being rosmarinic acid the main one for the three extraction methods (infusion: 107.1 +- 0.9 mg/g extract; maceration: 155.7 +- 0.3 mg/g extract; UAE: 118.7 0.6 mg/g extract). For Lithospermic acid A isomer (25.25 +- 0.01 mg/g) and Hydroxylsalvianolic E (111.70 +- 2.20 mg/g), the UAE revealed the lowest content of individual polyphenols, whereas maceration recorded the highest extractability. On the other hand, the content of six of the eight polyphenols detected for the ultrasound-assisted extraction was similar to the infusion and maceration methods. In terms of antioxidant activity, the infusions showed the highest capacity (3.00 +- 0.14 +-g/mL), followed by maceration (5.33 +- 0.30 +-g/mL) and UAE (12 +- 0.15 +-g/mL). The highest anti-inflammatory activity was verified for the infusion (244 +- 11 +-g/mL), followed by UAE (305 +- 9 +-g/mL), with no activity recorded for the maceration extract (>400 +-g/mL). The antitumor properties were evaluated in five cell lines, with the best results being recorded for infusion, except AGS (24 +- 1 +-g/mL) whereThe authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020). L. Barros and M.I. Dias thank the national funding by FCT through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for her contract, while M. Carocho and S. Heleno thank FCT through the indiviual scientific employment program-contracts (CEECIND/00831/2018 and CEECIND/03040/2017). I. Oliveira thanks FCT for her PhD grant (BD/06017/2020). To FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal programme for financial support through the project TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P; to ERDF through the Regional Operational ProgramNorth 2020, within the scope of Project GreenHealth— Norte-01-0145-FEDER-000042.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Essential Oil Composition and Bioactive Properties of Lemon Balm Aerial Parts as Affected by Cropping System and Irrigation Regime

The ongoing climate crisis necessitates the sustainable use of natural resources and the adoption of environmentally friendly agronomic practices. Deficit irrigation is an ecofriendly technique that allows for the improvement in the water use efficiency of crops. On the other hand, medicinal and aromatic crops, which usually have an innate tolerance to harsh conditions, are suitable candidates for cultivation under low-input cropping systems. In the present study, Melissa officinalis plants were cultivated under conventional and organic cropping systems, while in each system two irrigation regimes (full irrigation or deficit irrigation) were tested. The aerial parts of the plants were evaluated in terms of growth and physiological parameters, chemical composition, antioxidant activity, essential oil yield and essential oil composition. Our results indicate that prolonged water stress after two deficit irrigation cycles had detrimental effects on the plant growth and biomass production, whereas it significantly increased the essential oil yield, regardless of the cropping system (organic or conventional cultivation). The recorded physiological parameters are in agreement with morphological features, especially the stomatal conductance, which was significantly reduced under deficit irrigation for both cultivation systems, revealing that the growth inhibition was the result of stomatal closure and carbon dioxide deprivation. Deficit irrigation and organic cultivation also increased total phenol and total flavonoid content, especially in the second harvest, thus resulting in higher antioxidant activity assayed by the FRAP method. In contrast, DPPH and ABTS methods did not show any differences among the tested treatments in the second harvest, which suggests that other bioactive compounds are also involved in the overall antioxidant mechanism of lemon balm plants, as indicated by the increased ascorbic acid content. Regarding the essential oil composition, the major detected compounds were geranial and neral and, although they were both increased under the organic cropping in the first harvest, the same trend was not observed in the second harvest. Finally, a variable effect of cropping system and irrigation regime on minerals content was recorded. In conclusion, deficit irrigation is an ecofriendly practice that could be applied in conventional and organic cropping systems of lemon balm crops, aiming to reduce irrigation water consumption and compensate for reduced herb yields with increased essential oil yield and polyphenol content