Total asymmetric synthesis of long-chain, branched carbohydrates and of an aza-C-disaccharide

Michael addition of (-)-(1S,5R,6R,7S)-6,7-bis(methoxymethoxy)-2,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]-octan- 3-one lithium enolate to (+)-(1R,4S,5S,6S)-5-benzeneselenyl-6-chloro-3-methylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2 .2.1]heptan-2-one gives a single adduct with highstereoselectivity. it was converted into a derivative of beta-D-(1-->3)-C-linked 1,5-dideoxy-1,5-imino-lyxopyranoside of alpha-D-mannofuranurono-6,1-lactone and other long-chain, branched sugars

Origin and taxonomic status of the Palearctic population of the stem borer Sesamia nonagrioides (Lefebvre) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The major pest of maize in Mediterranean Europe, the stem borer Sesamia nonagrioides (Lefebvre) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has a fragmented distribution, north and south of the Sahara. The present study aimed: (1) to clarify the uncertain taxonomic status of the Palearctic and sub-Saharan populations which were first considered as different species and later on as subspecies (Sesamia nonagrioides nonagrioides and Sesamia nonagrioides botanephaga) and (2) to investigate the origin of the Palearctic population which extends from Spain to Iran, outside what is considered typical for this mainly tropical genus. We reconstructed the evolutionary history of both populations using one nuclear and two mitochondrial genes. The sub-Saharan taxon was fragmented in two isolated populations (West and East) whose mitochondrial genes were distant by 2.3%. The Palearctic population was included in the East African clade and its genes were close or identical to those of a population from Central Ethiopia, where the species was discovered for the first time. Similarly, in Africa, the alleles of the nuclear gene were distributed mainly in two West and East clades, whereas some Palearctic alleles belonged to the West clade. The Palearctic population originated therefore from East and West Africa and is the progeny of the cross between these two African populations. The main species concepts were in agreement, leading to the conclusion that the three populations are still conspecific. In the surveyed regions, the species therefore does not include two subspecies but three isolated populations. The Palearctic population suffered from severe bottlenecks that resulted in the fixation of one East African mitochondrial genome and the large reduction in its genetic diversity compared to the African populations. The data suggest that natural colonization of the Palearctic region was more plausible than human introduction. The allelic distribution of the Palearctic population was similar to that of species that survived the last glaciation. It is concluded that the African populations expanded during the last interglacial, crossed the Sahara and mixed in North Africa where fixation of the East mitochondrial genome occurred. The species then colonized Europe westward through only one eastern entrance. The coalescent-based estimate of the time to the ancestor of the Palearctic population was 108 000 years, which is consistent with this scenario

Palmprotect,an European applied research action devoted to palm borer pests

Palm Protect is an EU-funded program (2012-14) entitled: “Strategies for eradication and containment of invasive palm borers, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus and Paysandisia archon. The project aims at throwing light on aspects of the pest biology in Europe, which are unknown and preclude efficient control, validating new and reliable methods for detection and control, and implementing them into strategies for eradication of the palm borers both at the points of entry in the EU and in the infested areas. The project also aims at providing with an economic analysis to value palm services and management options and to disseminate the findings to the stakeholders. Palm Protect associates 12 research organisations, 1 SME, UK, France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Spain, Israel and Egypt. It is based on 6 actions: Management, Biology, Detection, Control, Economics and Dissemination. France contributes by INRA (Versailles et Sophia Antipolis) and CIRAD, which are particularly involved to provide new fundamentals about adult mobility, semiochemicals and parasitoids. The results will make it possible to improve European regulation and its efficacy from a consolidated scientific background in compliance with the standards in force for pest controlPalm Protect est un programme financé par l’UE (2012-14) intitulé ‘Stratégies pour l'éradication et le confinement des ravageurs invasifs des palmiers P. archon et R. ferrugineus’. Il a pour objectifs d’éclairer les éléments inconnus de la biologie en Europe de ces espèces qui limitent l’efficacité de la lutte, de valider des méthodes et des stratégies fiables et nouvelles pour leur détection, leur gestion et leur éradication tant aux points d’entrée que dans les zones contaminées. Palm Protect diffusera le fruit de ces travaux à tous les acteurs de la filière ‘palmiers’. Le programme associe 12 organismes de recherche, une PME, le Royaume-Uni, l’Espagne, la France, la Grèce, l’Italie, la Slovénie, Israël et L’Egypte. Il comprend 6 actions : Coordination, Biologie, Détection et surveillance, Lutte, Economie et Diffusion des acquis. La France contribue par l'INRA (Versailles et Sophia Antipolis) et le CIRAD, et s’implique fortement dans l’acquisition de connaissances nouvelles sur le déplacement des adultes, les médiateurs chimiques et les parasitoïdes. Les résultats serviront de base pour améliorer la réglementation européenne et son efficacité à partir de données scientifiques en application des règles générales en vigueur pour le contrôle des bio-agresseur