Influence of canopy fruit location on morphological, histochemical and biochemical changes in two oil olive cultivars

The influence of different irradiance conditions was evaluated under natural solar radiation by comparing well-exposed (in) and shaded fruit (out) in canopies of olive trees (Olea europaea L). Over a 2-year period, from 50 days after full bloom up to harvest time, “in” and “out” olive samples of two genotypes (“Frantoio Millennio” and “Coratina 5/19”) were periodically collected. Morphological, histochemical, and biochemical analysis were performed to study the changes on fruit morphometric traits, oil body accumulation, and b-glucosidase enzyme activity. Some parameters were modified by shading inside the canopy in which the proportion of incident photosynthetically active radiation intercepted by the crop was 47%. Shaded fruits developed at slow rate and were characterized by late darkgoing time, reduced size, with a tendency toward oblong shape. The rapid histochemical procedure proposed to estimate the oil body accumulation during fruit ripening showed that a reduced irradiance caused a decrease in oil body density. The canopy position influenced, in a different way, the b-glucosidase activity in relation to the fruit-ripening stage in both genotypes. These findings indicate that providing an adequate and uniform lighting of the olive canopy by careful choices of orchard management practices can be a key factor for several yield components

An integrated approach for increasing breeding efficiency in apple and peach in Europe

Despite the availability of whole genome sequences of apple and peach, there has been a considerable gap between genomics and breeding. To bridge the gap, the European Union funded the FruitBreedomics project (March 2011 to August 2015) involving 28 research institutes and private companies. Three complementary approaches were pursued: (i) tool and software development, (ii) deciphering genetic control of main horticultural traits taking into account allelic diversity and (iii) developing plant materials, tools and methodologies for breeders. Decisive breakthroughs were made including the making available of ready-to-go DNA diagnostic tests for Marker Assisted Breeding, development of new, dense SNP arrays in apple and peach, new phenotypic methods for some complex traits, software for gene/QTL discovery on breeding germplasm via Pedigree Based Analysis (PBA). This resulted in the discovery of highly predictive molecular markers for traits of horticultural interest via PBA and via Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS) on several European genebank collections. FruitBreedomics also developed pre-breeding plant materials in which multiple sources of resistance were pyramided and software that can support breeders in their selection activities. Through FruitBreedomics, significant progresses were made in the field of apple and peach breeding, genetics, genomics and bioinformatics of which advantage will be made by breeders, germplasm curators and scientists. A major part of the data collected during the project has been stored in the FruitBreedomics database and has been made available to the public. This review covers the scientific discoveries made in this major endeavour, and perspective in the apple and peach breeding and genomics in Europe and beyond

Red and blue netting alters leaf morphological and physiological characteristics in apple trees

There is little information about the role of red and blue light on leaf morphology and physiology in fruit trees, and more studies have been developed in herbaceous plants grown under controlled light conditions. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of red and blue screens on morpho-anatomy and gas exchange in apple leaves grown under ambient sunlight conditions. Apple trees cv. Fuji were covered by 40% red and blue nets, leaving trees with 20% white net as control. Light relations (photosynthetic photon flux density, PPFD; red to far-red light ratio, R/FR and blue to red light ratio, B/R), morpho-anatomical features of the leaf (palisade to spongy mesophyll ratio, P/S, and stomata density, SD) and leaf gas exchange (net photosynthesis rate, An; stomatal conductance, gs; transpiration rate, E; and intrinsic water use efficiency, IWUE) were evaluated. Red and blue nets reduced 27% PPFD, reducing by 20% SD and 25% P/S compared to control, but without negative effects on An and gs . Blue net increased gs 21%, leading to the highest E and lowest IWUE by increment of B/R light proportion. These findings demonstrate the potential use of red and blue nets for differential modulation of apple leaf gas exchange through sunlight management under field conditions

The Effects of Reactor Irradiation on the Thermoelectric Properties of Lead and Bismuth Tellurides

Commercially available specimens of polycrystalline nand p-type lead telluride and n- and p-type bismuth telluride were irradiated in the Engineering Test Reactor. Total integrated flux times of 1.5 x 10/sup 20/ neutrons/cm/sup 2/ (thermal) and 1.6 x 10/sup 19/ neutrons/cm/sup 2/ (fast, i.e., for neutrons having energies greater than 1 (Mev) were accumulated by the specimens during irradiation. The specimen temperature during irradiation was 60 plus or minus 20 deg C. The effects of the irradiation on the thermoelectrical properties of these materials were found to be due almost entirely to fast neutrons insofar as most of the damage is healed during heat treatment. Increases in the electrical resistivity for irradiated n type PbTe and Bi/sub 2/Te/sub 3/ were found to anneal at temperatures below 200 deg C. Measurements of the electrical resistivity and Seebeck coefficient as a function of temperature for irradiated and unirradiated samples cut from the same ingot are given for all materials except p type PbTe. For the latter sample only the measurements of the Seebeck coefficient are given. (auth

Surgical treatment of depressed scar: A simple technique

Scar formation is a process consequent to the healing of soft tissues after a trauma. However, abnormal or disturbed collagen production can cause anomalies of the cutaneous surface and textural irregularities. In the presence of a depressed scar in deep tissue, we began to use a new simple technique. In the presence of adherent scars, a small incision is performed so that an undermining scissor can enter inside. The entire cicatricial area is undermined on a subcutaneous plane which, by separating the deep scar from the superficial one, completely frees it from the present adhesions so that the existing depression is totally eliminated. In order to avoid the recreation of relapses, stitches formed in a U-shape are made in Nylon or Monocril 2-3/0 are made with a large needle and are placed close together so that a wide aversion is achieved at the margins of the scar and a deep wound closure is obtained by adhering to the undermined tissue. These stitches will then be removed about 2 weeks later. © Ivyspring International Publisher

Clinical case-study describing the use of skin-perichondrium-cartilage graft from the auricular concha to cover large defects of the nose

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The composite graft from the conchal cartilage is a graft that is often used, especially in surgery on the nose, due to its capacity to resolve problems of cover and tissue deficit, arising from the removal of neoplasms or as the result of trauma, burns or following over-aggressive rhinoplasty. We have started to use skin-perichondrium-cartilage graft from the ear to cover large areas of the nose with very satisfying results as well as we describe in the reported clinical case.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The operation consisted of reconstruction of the cartilaginous nasal septum, which had previously been removed, using two vestibular labial mucosa flaps to reconstruct the mucosa, and cartilage from the ear conch for the cartilaginous septum. After this, the skin edges of the fistula were turned to recreate the inner lining of the nose and form a vascular base of wide area to accept the composite graft. The case concerns a female 74-year old patient who had undergone several oncological surgery for a relapsing basal cell carcinoma on the dorsum of the nose. The operation consisted of reconstruction of the cartilaginous nasal septum using two vestibular labial mucosa flaps to reconstruct the mucosa, and cartilage from the ear conch for the cartilaginous septum.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The perichondrial cutaneous graft has shown in this surgical case very favorable peculiarities that make it usable even in facial plastic surgery.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We believe that the positive experience that we achieved in the use of composite grafts for the reconstruction of large areas of the nose could be interesting for others surgeons.</p

Quantifying crop pollinator-dependence and pollination deficits: the effects of experimental scale on yield and quality assessments

Many crops are known to be dependent on biotic pollination, but knowledge gaps remain regarding the extent of this dependence, how it varies between crop varieties, and the implications of biotic pollination for crop quality. Data is also lacking on the prevalence and extent of pollination deficits and the ability of the surrounding pollinator community to provide pollination services. Robust and standardised methodologies are crucial for pollination studies. However, there has been only limited research into the critical question of the appropriate scale to apply these methods. Here, we use a commercially important UK apple Malus domestica variety (Gala) to address the questions of pollinator-dependence and pollination deficits, quality benefits arising from pollination, and the implications of conducting pollination experiments at three different scales: the inflorescence, the branch, and the whole plant. We found that Gala apple production was highly dependent on biotic pollination: overall, pollinator exclusion reduced fruit set at harvest to 55% of open pollination levels, whilst supplementary pollination led to fruit set of 167%. However, significant differences were found between the inflorescence, branch, and tree experiments; with increasing scale of observation leading to a lower measure of pollinator-dependence and pollination deficit. At the inflorescence scale, fruit set at harvest was just 13% of normal levels following pollinator exclusion, whilst at the branch and tree scales it was 75% and 79% of normal levels respectively. Supplementary pollination led to fruit set of 218%, 172%, and 117% of normal rates at the inflorescence, branch, and tree scales respectively. Apple seed set was also significantly affected by pollination treatment and the extent of this effect also depended on experimental scale. These differences due to experimental scale are likely a combination of methodological, biological and crop management factors. Seed numbers were shown to be a very good indicator of a number of fruit quality parameters, with greater seed numbers resulting in greater production of Class 1 (i.e. top commercial value) fruit. It is recommended that to measure pollinator-dependence and pollination deficits, experiments are conducted at the largest scale practicable and that treatment effects are monitored until harvest to more accurately reflect final yield outcomes. For apples, growers are recommended to record seed number as part of their fruit quality monitoring programmes to give a rapid and easy to measure indication of potential pollination deficit