Birth registration and child undernutrition in sub-Saharan Africa

The database comprises data on malnutrition and birth registration rates in 33 sub-Saharan African Countries as retrieved by DHS (http://www.dhsprogram.com) and MICS (http://www.childinfo.org/mics.html) reports. The study protocol includes detailed information on data selection and statistical analyses

Peering into the Mediterranean black box: Lactifluus rugatus ectomycorrhizas on Cistus

We describe the morpho-anatomical features of the ectomycorrhizas (ECMs) formed by Lactifluus rugatus on Cistus, a genus of about 20 species of woody shrubs typical of the Mediterranean maquis. The description of L. rugatus mycorrhizas on Cistus is the first ECM description of a species belonging to Lactifluus subgen. Pseudogymnocarpi. The ECM identity was verified through molecular tools. Anatomically, the characteristic of L. rugatus mycorrhiza is the presence of abundant, long "bottle-shaped" cystidia on mantle surface. Indeed, the overwhelming majority of milkcap mycorrhizas are acystidiate. This is the third Lactarius/Lactifluus mycorrhiza to have been described associated with Cistus, the others being Lactarius cistophilus and L. tesquorum. The phylogenetic distance between all these taxa is reflected by the diversity of the principal features of their ECMs, which share host-depending ECM features known for Cistus, but are otherwise distinguishable on the host roots. Comparison of Lactifluus rugatus ECM with those formed by L. vellereus and L. piperatus on Fagus reveals elevated intrageneric diversity of mycorrhizal structures. Such a diversity is supported by analysis of ITS sequences of relevant species within European Lactifluus species. Our study extends knowledge of Cistus mycorrhizal biology and confirms the informative value of mycorrhizal structures in understanding phylogenetic relationships in ECM fungi

Birth registration and child undernutrition in sub-saharan Africa

Objective: In many countries of the world millions of people are not registered at birth. However, in order to assess children’s nutritional status it is necessary to have an exact knowledge of their age. In the present paper we discuss the effects of insufficient or imprecise age data on estimates of undernutrition prevalence. Design: Birth registration rates and levels of stunting, underweight and wasting were retrieved from Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys and Demographic and Health Surveys of thirty-seven sub-Saharan African countries, considering the subdivision in wealth quintiles. The composition of the cross-sectional sample used for nutritional evaluation was analysed using a permutation test. Logistic regression was applied to analyse the relationship between birth registration and undernutrition. The 95 % probability intervals and Student’s t test were used to evaluate the effect of age bias and error. Results: Heterogeneous sampling designs were detected among countries, with different percentages of children selected for anthropometry. Further, registered children were slightly more represented within samples used for nutritional analysis than in the total sample. A negative relationship between birth registration and undernutrition was recognized, with registered children showing a better nutritional status than unregistered ones, even within each wealth quintile. The over- or underestimation of undernutrition in the case of systematic over- or underestimation of age, respectively, the latter being more probable, was quantified up to 28 %. Age imprecision was shown to slightly overestimate undernutrition. Conclusions: Selection bias towards registered children and underestimation of children’s age can lead to an underestimation of the prevalence of undernutrition

A Better Life. Practical guidance to help fight child malnutrition

The aim of this publication is to offer a simple and practical guide on the main - but simple - daily habits that may contribute to fight child malnutrition

Halimium as an ectomycorrhizal symbiont: new records and an appreciation of known fungal diversity

AbstractHalimium is a genus of Cistaceae, containing a small group of shrub species found in open vegetation types and in degraded forest patches throughout the western and central Mediterranean region. We recently described the morpho-anatomical features of the ectomycorrhizae formed by Scleroderma meridionale on Halimium halimifolium, but the mycorrhizal biology of this host plant genus is still largely unexplored. Here, we report new data on the ectomycorrhizal fungal symbionts of Halimium, based on the collection of sporocarps and ectomycorrhizal root tips in pure stands occurring in Sardinia, Italy. To obtain a broader view of Halimium mycorrhizal and ecological potential, we compiled a comprehensive and up-to-date checklist of fungal species reported to establish ectomycorrhizae on Halimium spp. on the basis of field observations, molecular approaches, and mycorrhiza synthesis. Our list comprises 154 records, corresponding to 102 fungal species and 35 genera, revealing a significant diversity of the Halimium ectomycorrhizal mycobiota. Key ectomycorrhizal genera like Russula, Lactarius/Lactifluus, Amanita, Inocybe, and Cortinarius account for more than half of all mycobionts. A large proportion of Halimium fungal species are shared with other host plants in various ecological settings, suggesting a critical role of common mycorrhizal networks in the function played by this shrub in various Mediterranean ecosystems

Response to Cummins and Finaret (2019)

We thank Joseph Cummins and Amelia Finaret for their interest in our article (Comandini et al., 2019) and their insightful comments, which allowed us to further discuss the issue of age imprecision in nutritional studies. In this response, we aim to stress some points that interfere with the analysis of the three major concerns highlighted by the authors

Restinga ectomycorrhizae: a work in progress [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is one of the most biodiverse terrestrial ecoregions of the world. Among its constituents, restinga vegetation makes a particular case, acting as a buffer zone between the oceans and the forest. Covering some 80% of Brazilian coastline (over 7,300 km in length), restinga is a harsh environment where plants and fungi interact in complex ways that just now are beginning to be unveiled. Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis, in particular, plays a so far ungauged and likely underestimated role. We recently described the morpho-anatomical and molecular features of the ectomycorrhizae formed by several basidiomycetous mycobionts on the host plant Guapira opposita, but the mycorrhizal biology of restinga is still largely unexplored. Here, we report new data on the ectomycorrhizal fungal symbionts of G. opposita, based on the collection of sporomata and ectomycorrhizal root tips in restinga stands occurring in southern Brazil. Methods: To obtain a broader view of restinga mycorrhizal and ecological potential, we compiled a comprehensive and up-to-date checklist of fungal species reported or supposed to establish ectomycorrhizae on restinga-inhabiting host plants, mainly on the basis of field observations. Results: Our list comprises some 726 records, 74 of which correspond to putative ectomycorrhizal taxa specifically associated with restinga. These include several members of Boletaceae, Amanita, Tomentella/Thelephora, Russula/Lactifluus, and Clavulina, as well as hypogeous fungi, like the recently described Longistriata flava. Conclusions: Our survey reveals a significant diversity of the restinga ectomycorrhizal mycobiota, indicating the importance of this symbiosis for the ecological functioning of a unique yet poorly known and threatened ecosystem

Cytokinin oxidase: new insight into enzyme properties

The cytokinin group of plant hormones plays an essential role in the regulation of plant growth and differentiation, including the release of lateral buds from apical dominance and the delay of senescence [1] and [2]. Moreover, increasing evidence supports the hypothesis that cytokinins interact with auxins at multiple levels in a complex manner to control various physiological and developmental responses3. However, in spite of their fundamental role, our understanding of the molecular mode of action of cytokinins and of their metabolism remains rather rudimentary. In particular, the enzymes involved in the control of the cytokinin cell cycle have been poorly characterized

Cytokinin oxidase strikes again

Research into the enzymes involved in several aspects of cytokinin metabolism (including storage and catabolic pathways) is undergoing an unprecedented period of success. We recently reported1 on new findings concerning the biochemical and molecular properties of cytokinin oxidase (CKO), a poorly characterized, but crucial enzyme, which irreversibly inactivates cytokinins. Although CKO has been classified as a copper-containing amine oxidase1, clear evidence is now emerging that argues against this classification [2], [3] and [4]. In particular, as previously described1, there is evidence that CKO from wheat is an FAD-containing flavoprotein (P. Galuszka et al., unpublished), and recent advances have further extended this finding [3] and [4]

Together, but not for ever: ectomycorrhizal symbiosis is an unstable affair

Ectomycorrhizal symbiosis continues to pose a number of intriguing and so far partially unanswered questions. These concern not only general aspects of mycorrhizal physiology, host specificity, or the impact of ectomycorrhizas on forest ecosystems, but also the evolutionary ecology of the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis itself and the reasons why it has evolved