Accumulation pattern of total nonstructural carbohydrate in strawberry runner plants and its influence on plant growth and fruit production

The pattern of total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) accumulation in strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) nursery runner plants, cv. eCamarosaf, was determined for three growing seasons. Plant growth and fruit production patterns were also evaluated. The experiments were carried out on plants propagated in high latitude (41‹50' N) and high elevation (1292 m) nurseries in Siskiyou County, California. Plants were sampled beginning in late summer through early autumn and analyzed for dry mass (DM) and TNC. Plants from different digging dates were established in growth chambers (GC) at UC Davis or fruit evaluation plots in Irvine, California. In the nursery, TNC concentration in storage tissues increased steadily from the second week of September to the third week of October, and crown and root TNC concentration was positively correlated with the accumulation of chilling units (hours .7.2‹C). The root TNC concentration consistently increased from 6 to 10% DM from mid-September to the first week of October. Transplant growth and fruiting pattern were affected by digging date. Overall, the roots were more sensitive to chilling in terms of TNC accumulation, than the crowns. Therefore, roots would be the appropriate organ for assessing TNC status and potential digging dates of strawberry nursery runner plants early in the fall.Key words: Transplant, carbohydrate, chilling, growth analysis

Semi-Classical Description of Antiproton Capture on Atomic Helium

A semi-classical, many-body atomic model incorporating a momentum-dependent Heisenberg core to stabilize atomic electrons is used to study antiproton capture on Helium. Details of the antiproton collisions leading to eventual capture are presented, including the energy and angular momentum states of incident antiprotons which result in capture via single or double electron ionization, i.e. into [He$^{++}\,\bar p$ or He$^{+}\,\bar p$], and the distribution of energy and angular momentum states following the Auger cascade. These final states are discussed in light of recently reported, anomalously long-lived antiproton states observed in liquid He.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figures may be obtained from authors, Revte

Diversity of Drosophilidae parasitoids in organic raspberry crops in Tafí del Valle (Tucumán), Argentina

Se estudió la diversidad de dípteros drosofílidos y parasitoides asociados, en cultivos orgánicos de frambuesa en Tafí del Valle (Tucumán, Argentina). Frutos próximos a madurez fueron cosechados periódicamente, colocados en bandejas plásticas cubiertas con tela voile y mantenidos 15-20 días a ≈25°C y 60-70% de HR. Además, con aspirador entomológico se colectaron muestras de insectos en frambuesas adheridas a las plantas. De los puparios obtenidos, emergieron machos y hembras de Drosophila spp. y parasitoides de los géneros Ganaspis y Dieucoila (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea, Figitidae, Ganaspini), también encontrados en las colectas. Ganaspis está citado como parasitoide del género Drosophila pero Dieucoila carece de registro de hospedador. Las identificaciones a nivel de especie están en progreso.The diversity of Drosophilidae and associated parasitoids were studied in organic raspberry crops in Tafí del Valle (Tucumán, Argentina). Fruits were harvested periodically near maturity, placed in plastic trays covered with voile cloth and held 15-20 days at H»25°C and 60- 70% RH. Additionally, insect samples were collected with an entomological aspirator, from berries attached to plants. Drosophila spp. females and males emerged from the puparia obtained, as well as parasitoids of the genera Ganaspis and Dieucoila (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea, Figitidae, Ganaspini), which were also found in the samples collected with the aspirator. Ganaspis is cited as a parasitoid of the genus Drosophila but Dieucoila lacks host registration. Specieslevel identifications are in progress.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MuseoComisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la provincia de Buenos Aire

Diversity of Drosophilidae parasitoids in organic raspberry crops in Tafí del Valle (Tucumán), Argentina

Se estudió la diversidad de dípteros drosofílidos y parasitoides asociados, en cultivos orgánicos de frambuesa en Tafí del Valle (Tucumán, Argentina). Frutos próximos a madurez fueron cosechados periódicamente, colocados en bandejas plásticas cubiertas con tela voile y mantenidos 15-20 días a ≈25°C y 60-70% de HR. Además, con aspirador entomológico se colectaron muestras de insectos en frambuesas adheridas a las plantas. De los puparios obtenidos, emergieron machos y hembras de Drosophila spp. y parasitoides de los géneros Ganaspis y Dieucoila (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea, Figitidae, Ganaspini), también encontrados en las colectas. Ganaspis está citado como parasitoide del género Drosophila pero Dieucoila carece de registro de hospedador. Las identificaciones a nivel de especie están en progreso.The diversity of Drosophilidae and associated parasitoids were studied in organic raspberry crops in Tafí del Valle (Tucumán, Argentina). Fruits were harvested periodically near maturity, placed in plastic trays covered with voile cloth and held 15-20 days at H»25°C and 60- 70% RH. Additionally, insect samples were collected with an entomological aspirator, from berries attached to plants. Drosophila spp. females and males emerged from the puparia obtained, as well as parasitoids of the genera Ganaspis and Dieucoila (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea, Figitidae, Ganaspini), which were also found in the samples collected with the aspirator. Ganaspis is cited as a parasitoid of the genus Drosophila but Dieucoila lacks host registration. Specieslevel identifications are in progress.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MuseoComisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la provincia de Buenos Aire

Caracterización morfológica, cultural y molecular de aislamientos de Macrophomina phaseolina

Trabajo presentado en la XI Reunión Nacional Científico-Técnica de Biología de Suelos, 25 al 27 de Octubre de 2017, Corrientes (Argentina)Este estudio permitió caracterizar morfológica, cultural y molecularmente los aislamientos evaluados. Las diferencias obtenidas en los parámetros analizados reafirman la gran variabilidad existente en las características y comportamiento de los diferentes aislamientos de este patógeno. Dicha variabilidad dificulta su clasificación en subespecies o razas fisiológicas.Fil: Viejobueno, Josefina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Aguirre, Constanza Maria. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Baino, Olga M. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Kirschbaum, Daniel Santiago. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Zamora, Martin Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - Tucumán. Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Salazar, Sergio Miguel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Famaillá; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentin

Diversity of Drosophilidae parasitoids in organic raspberry crops in Tafí del Valle (Tucumán), Argentina

Se estudió la diversidad de dípteros drosofílidos y parasitoides asociados, en cultivos orgánicos de frambuesa en Tafí del Valle (Tucumán, Argentina). Frutos próximos a madurez fueron cosechados periódicamente, colocados en bandejas plásticas cubiertas con tela voile y mantenidos 15-20 días a ≈25°C y 60-70% de HR. Además, con aspirador entomológico se colectaron muestras de insectos en frambuesas adheridas a las plantas. De los puparios obtenidos, emergieron machos y hembras de Drosophila spp. y parasitoides de los géneros Ganaspis y Dieucoila (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea, Figitidae, Ganaspini), también encontrados en las colectas. Ganaspis está citado como parasitoide del género Drosophila pero Dieucoila carece de registro de hospedador. Las identificaciones a nivel de especie están en progreso.The diversity of Drosophilidae and associated parasitoids were studied in organic raspberry crops in Tafí del Valle (Tucumán, Argentina). Fruits were harvested periodically near maturity, placed in plastic trays covered with voile cloth and held 15-20 days at H»25°C and 60- 70% RH. Additionally, insect samples were collected with an entomological aspirator, from berries attached to plants. Drosophila spp. females and males emerged from the puparia obtained, as well as parasitoids of the genera Ganaspis and Dieucoila (Hymenoptera, Cynipoidea, Figitidae, Ganaspini), which were also found in the samples collected with the aspirator. Ganaspis is cited as a parasitoid of the genus Drosophila but Dieucoila lacks host registration. Specieslevel identifications are in progress.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y MuseoComisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la provincia de Buenos Aire

Is Cortisol Excretion Independent of Menstrual Cycle Day? A Longitudinal Evaluation of First Morning Urinary Specimens

Background Cortisol is frequently used as a marker of physiologic stress levels. Using cortisol for that purpose, however, requires a thorough understanding of its normal longitudinal variability. The current understanding of longitudinal variability of basal cortisol secretion in women is very limited. It is often assumed, for example, that basal cortisol profiles do not vary across the menstrual cycle. This is a critical assumption: if cortisol were to follow a time dependent pattern during the menstrual cycle, then ignoring this cyclic variation could lead to erroneous imputation of physiologic stress. Yet, the assumption that basal cortisol levels are stable across the menstrual cycle rests on partial and contradictory evidence. Here we conduct a thorough test of that assumption using data collected for up to a year from 25 women living in rural Guatemala. Methodology We apply a linear mixed model to describe longitudinal first morning urinary cortisol profiles, accounting for differences in both mean and standard deviation of cortisol among women. To that aim we evaluate the fit of two alternative models. The first model assumes that cortisol does not vary with menstrual cycle day. The second assumes that cortisol mean varies across the menstrual cycle. Menstrual cycles are aligned on ovulation day (day 0). Follicular days are assigned negative numbers and luteal days positive numbers. When we compared Models 1 and 2 restricting our analysis to days between −14 (follicular) and day 14 (luteal) then day of the menstrual cycle did not emerge as a predictor of urinary cortisol levels (p-value >0.05). Yet, when we extended our analyses beyond that central 28-day-period then day of the menstrual cycle become a statistically significant predictor of cortisol levels. Significance The observed trend suggests that studies including cycling women should account for day dependent variation in cortisol in cycles with long follicular and luteal phases

Comparison of yoga versus stretching for chronic low back pain: protocol for the Yoga Exercise Self-care (YES) trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Back pain, one of the most prevalent conditions afflicting American adults, is the leading reason for using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies. Yoga is an increasingly popular "mind-body" CAM therapy often used for relieving back pain and several small studies have found yoga effective for this condition. This study will assess whether yoga is effective for treating chronic low back pain compared with self care and exercise and will explore the mechanisms responsible for any observed benefits.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>A total of 210 participants with low back pain lasting at least 3 months will be recruited from primary care clinics of a large healthcare system based in Seattle. They will be randomized in a 2:2:1 ratio to receive 12 weekly yoga classes, 12 weekly conventional therapeutic exercise classes of comparable physical exertion, or a self-care book. Interviewers masked to participants' treatment group will assess outcomes at baseline and 6, 12 and 26 weeks after randomization. Primary outcomes will be back-related dysfunction and symptom bothersomeness. In addition, data will be collected on physical measurements (e.g., flexion) at baseline and 12 weeks and saliva samples will be obtained at baseline, 6 and 12 weeks. Information will be collected on specific physical, psychological, and physiological factors to allow exploration of possible mechanisms of action through which yoga could relieve back pain and dysfunction. The effectiveness of yoga will be assessed using analysis of covariance (using general estimating equations - GEE) within an intention-to-treat context. If yoga is found effective, further analyses will explore whether yoga's benefits are attributable to physical, psychological and/or physiological factors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study will provide the clearest evidence to date about the value of yoga as a therapeutic option for treating chronic back pain, and if the results are positive, will help focus future, more in-depth, research on the most promising potential mechanisms of action identified by this study.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>This trial is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, with the ID number of <it>NCT00447668</it>.</p

Offspring Hormones Reflect the Maternal Prenatal Social Environment: Potential for Foetal Programming?

Females of many species adaptively program their offspring to predictable environmental conditions, a process that is often mediated by hormones. Laboratory studies have shown, for instance, that social density affects levels of maternal cortisol and testosterone, leading to fitness-relevant changes in offspring physiology and behaviour. However, the effects of social density remain poorly understood in natural populations due to the difficulty of disentangling confounding influences such as climatic variation and food availability. Colonially breeding marine mammals offer a unique opportunity to study maternal effects in response to variable colony densities under similar ecological conditions. We therefore quantified maternal and offspring hormone levels in 84 Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) from two closely neighbouring colonies of contrasting density. Hair samples were used as they integrate hormone levels over several weeks or months and therefore represent in utero conditions during foetal development. We found significantly higher levels of cortisol and testosterone (both P < 0.001) in mothers from the high density colony, reflecting a more stressful and competitive environment. In addition, offspring testosterone showed a significant positive correlation with maternal cortisol (P < 0.05). Although further work is needed to elucidate the potential consequences for offspring fitness, these findings raise the intriguing possibility that adaptive foetal programming might occur in fur seals in response to the maternal social environment. They also lend support to the idea that hormonally mediated maternal effects may depend more strongly on the maternal regulation of androgen rather than cortisol levels