Genetic improvement for crossbreeding in table grape varieties

Genetic improvement by crossbreeding of table grape varieties was realized at the Istituto Sperimentale per la Viticoltura for the achievement of the following main targets: early species, seedless species, species with high content of fructose in grapes and, at the same time, a research concerning the hereditary transmission of these features. The results are the followings: Registration in the National Catalogue of the varieties of 4 new table grape varieties that are interesting for their ripening (IC. 199, LC. 218, IC. 120, IC. 213).Information concerning the heritability of earliness, average weight of grape and bunch for the varieties examined.Achievement of varieties that have a ratio between the two monosaccharides considerably tending towards fructose. This feature remains constant throughout the years

'Vitouska' is the progeny of 'Prosecco tondo' and 'Malvasia bianca lunga'

'Vitouska' is a minor white wine grape variety, cultivated in the Kars region and recently recovered and revaluated by local viticulturists. Its obscure origins, traditionally linked to this land, are now supported by the results obtained from the present research, which identified the two parents, 'Malvasia bianca lunga' alias 'Malvasia del Chianti' and 'Prosecco tondo'. The latter cultivar has an ancient and well-documented presence in the same growing region as 'Vitouska'. Molecular analyses have been performed with 37 nuclear microsatellite loci

‘Sangiovese’ and ‘Garganega’ are two key varieties of the Italian grapevine assortment evolution

Two synonymous cases have been found using a set of 11 SSR markers: ‘Garganega’ and ‘Grecanico dorato’; ‘Catarratto bianco comune’, ‘Catarratto bianco lucido’ and ‘Catarratto bianco extra lucido’. Molecular data at 36 SSR loci showed that ‘Sangiovese’ and ‘Garganega’ represent two key varieties in the Italian ampelographic assortment evolution, as they both have a first degree relationship with numerous wine varieties. ‘Sangiovese’ showed this link with ten varieties: ‘Foglia tonda’, ‘Frappato’, ‘Gaglioppo’, ‘Mantonicone’, ‘Morellino del Casentino’, ‘Morellino del Valdarno’, ‘Nerello mascalese’, ‘Susumaniello’, ‘Tuccanese di Turi’ and ‘Vernaccia nera del Valdarno’. Seven varieties resulted closely related to ‘Garganega’: ‘Trebbiano toscano’ alias ‘Ugni blanc’, ‘Albana’, ‘Empibotte’, ‘Malvasia bianca di Candia a sapore semplice’, ‘Marzemina bianca’, ‘Catarratto’ and ‘Greco del Pollino’. However, being ‘Sangiovese’ parents disputed and those of ‘Garganega’ still unknown, it was not possible to determine the univocal direction of the various crosses. Identification of the “missing” parents would allow these genealogical trees to be drawn up with greater precision.

Deepening inside the homonyms of 'Wildbacher' by means of SSR markers

Sixteen accessions of the grapevine cultivar 'Wildbacher' coming from different European repositories and from Styrian and Italian private vineyards were analysed by genetic fingerprinting with SSR markers. Five different molecular profiles were found, confirming that the name 'Wildbacher' is commonly used as a homonym. Several new genotypes could be linked to the previous list of the 'Wildbacher' family. In particular, in Italian commercial vineyards two main 'Wildbacher' varieties defined by A and B genetic profiles were found. They correspond to the two reference genotypes from Styria, 'Wildbacher Blau' ('Blauer Wildbacher)' and 'Wildbacher Spätblau'. In both countries 'Wildbacher Blau' represents the most spread and better performing type and it is earlier ripening compared to 'Wildbacher Spätblau'. They were morphologically and genetically very similar to each other and they shared at least one allele at each of the 11 SSR loci analyzed for cultivar identification. Three different other 'Wildbacher' genotypes from a German collection were identified as individual cultivars. While 'Rotblättriger' (genotype C) and 'Frühblau' from Germany (genotype D) showed some genetic similarity with A and B genotypes, E 'Wildbacher', coming from Hungary, proved to have a distinct genetic profile. Close relationship to the key variety (for the development of European diversity) 'Heunisch' is indicated by sharing one allele at all loci investigated so far. There exist some indications that the second parent is an extinct wild vine. Evaluation of morphological parameters resulted in some differences among all five genotypes.

Clones Identification and Genetic Characterization of Garnacha Grapevine by Means of Different PCR-Derived Marker Systems

This study uses PCR-derived marker systems to investigate the extent and distribution of genetic variability of 53 Garnacha accessions coming from Italy, France and Spain. The samples studied include 28 Italian accessions (named Tocai rosso in Vicenza area; Alicante in Sicily and Elba island; Gamay perugino in Perugia province; Cannonau in Sardinia), 19 Spanish accessions of different types (named Garnacha tinta, Garnacha blanca, Garnacha peluda, Garnacha roja, Garnacha erguida, Garnacha roya) and 6 French accessions (named Grenache and Grenache noir). In order to verify the varietal identity of the samples, analyses based on 14 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci were performed. The presence of an additional allele at ISV3 locus (151 bp) was found in four Tocai rosso accessions and in a Sardinian Cannonau clone, that are, incidentally, chimeras. In addition to microsatellite analysis, intravarietal variability study was performed using AFLP, SAMPL and M-AFLP molecular markers. AFLPs could discriminate among several Garnacha samples; SAMPLs allowed distinguishing few genotypes on the basis of their geographic origin, whereas M-AFLPs revealed plant-specific markers, differentiating all accessions. Italian samples showed the greatest variability among themselves, especially on the basis of their different provenance, while Spanish samples were the most similar, in spite of their morphological diversity

OTUB1 Overexpression in Mesangial Cells Is a Novel Regulator in the Pathogenesis of Glomerulonephritis through the Decrease of DCN Level

BACKGROUND: OTUB1 is a member of OTUs (Ovarian-tumor-domain-containing proteases), a deubiquitinating enzymes family (DUBs), which was shown as a proteasome-associated DUB to be involved in the proteins Ub-dependent degradation. It has been reported that OTUB1 was expressed in kidney tissue. But its concrete cellular location and function in the kidney remain unclear. Decorin (DCN) in mesangial cells (MC) is considered to be a potentially important factor for antagonizing glomerulonephritides, and its degradation is mediated by ubiquitination. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of OTUB1 expression in MC and its relationship with DCN during glomerulonephritis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot, we demonstrated that OTUB1 mRNA and protein were constitutively expressed in cultured rat MC and found to be upregulated by the stimulation of IL-1β or ATS. OTUB1 overexpression was detected in the mesangial area of glomeruli in some immunocomplex mediated nephritides such as IgA nephropathy, acute diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis and lupus nephritis by immunohistochemistry. The immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that OTUB1 interacted with DCN. The overexpression of OTUB1 enhanced the ubiquitination and degradation of DCN in MC. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: These data showed the inflammatory injury could up-regulate OTUB1 expression in MC, which might attribute the promoting effect of OTUB1 on glomerulonephritides to the decrease of DCN level

Body mass index and dental caries in children and adolescents : a systematic review of literature published 2004 to 2011

The objectiveThe authors undertook an updated systematic review of the relationship between body mass index and dental caries in children and adolescents.MethodThe authors searched Medline, ISI, Cochrane, Scopus, Global Health and CINAHL databases and conducted lateral searches from reference lists for papers published from 2004 to 2011, inclusive. All empirical papers that tested associations between body mass index and dental caries in child and adolescent populations (aged 0 to 18 years) were included.ResultsDental caries is associated with both high and low body mass index.ConclusionA non-linear association between body mass index and dental caries may account for inconsistent findings in previous research. We recommend future research investigate the nature of the association between body mass index and dental caries in samples that include a full range of body mass index scores, and explore how factors such as socioeconomic status mediate the association between body mass index and dental caries.<br /