Long-term effects of zero pruning on Grenache vines under drought conditions

Under drought conditions the influence of zero pruning (ZP) and hand pruning (HP) on yield, total soluble solids (degrees Brix), sugar production, dry matter production and total leaf area development of Grenache vines (Vitis vinifera L.) was assessed from 1988 to 1996. ZP was superior to HP for yield, sugar production and dry matter production. Total soluble solids were occasionally reduced by ZP. These effects of ZP can be explained by the larger total leaf area. These results are specifically important with regard to low-yield viticulture with a severely limited total leaf area

Reducing the Sugar and pH of the Grape (Vitis vinifera L. cvs. ‘Grenache’ and ‘Tempranillo’) Through a Single Shoot Trimming

Many vineyards all over the world can easily produce high potential alcohol levels, but the importanceof the sugar content in berries has been changing over the past few years. The objective of this work wasto reduce the sugar and pH of the grapes, delay berry ripening by decreasing the ratio between the leafarea and yield, perform an intense trimming treatment after berry set and establish the consequences forgrapevine productivity in the following year. Severe shoot trimming was done over a three-year period(2010 to 2012). Phenological, vegetative and productive parameters were examined. The date of véraisonwas delayed by about 20 days. On the same harvesting date, the trim treatment had lower soluble solids(12% to 15 % reduction), lower pH (0.1 to 0.3) and a lower total anthocyanin content (10% reduction). Thetrim effect was also reflected in berry weight; as a consequence, bunch size and yield were also reduced byaround 10%. If the trim treatment does not reduce the leaf area to fruit ratio below 0.50 m2/kg, there is nonegative impact on vine capacity in the next year

Reducing the sugar and pH of the grape (vitis vinifera l. Cvs. 'Grenache' and 'tempranillo') through a single shoot trimming

Many vineyards all over the world can easily produce high potential alcohol levels, but the importance of the sugar content in berries has been changing over the past few years. The objective of this work was to reduce the sugar and pH of the grapes, delay berry ripening by decreasing the ratio between the leaf area and yield, perform an intense trimming treatment after berry set and establish the consequences for grapevine productivity in the following year. Severe shoot trimming was done over a three-year period (2010 to 2012). Phenological, vegetative and productive parameters were examined. The date of véraison was delayed by about 20 days. On the same harvesting date, the trim treatment had lower soluble solids (12% to 15 % reduction), lower pH (0.1 to 0.3) and a lower total anthocyanin content (10% reduction). The trim effect was also reflected in berry weight; as a consequence, bunch size and yield were also reduced by around 10%. If the trim treatment does not reduce the leaf area to fruit ratio below 0.50 m 2/kg, there is no negative impact on vine capacity in the next year.Peer Reviewe

Estimation of grape quality in vineyards using a new viticultural index

Crop yield, total leaf area, canopy surface area and other vineyard parameters were determined on different 'Tempranillo' and 'Grenache' (Vitis vinifera L.) vineyards situated in Rioja appellation (Spain). All parameters were determined during three years. Grape vineyard assessment was performed by Vitur scoresheet, proposed by TARDAGUILA and MARTINEZ DE TODA (2005). The main chemical composition parameters of grape pulp and skin were also determined. The correlations between the viticultural variables and the chemical composition variables of the grapes were also analysed. The parameter that displayed the best correlation with grape phenolic composition was the CSA/Y/ShL parameter, referred to as the Toda Index. This index could be used to estimate the phenolic composition of grapes. It also presented the best correlations with grape quality, estimated using the Vitur score-sheet. These results suggest that, for winegrape vineyard assessment, Vitur score-sheet (necessarily subjective) may be replaced with the new Toda index (faster and objective). The main advantage of this new parameter is that it is easy to determine and is completely objective, unlike visual estimation which offers a high degree of subjectivity.

Leaf area reduction by trimming, a growing technique to restore the anthocyanins: Sugars ratio decoupled by the warming climate

The aim of this work is the evaluation of the leaf area reduction by trimming, as a growing technique to restore the anthocyanins: sugars ratio decoupled by the warming climate. A 3-year period (2010-2012) severe shoot trimming treatment was done after berryset (berry diameter 3-4 mm) and the veraison date was delayed around 20 days. The grapes were picked at the same level of soluble solids in all the treatments. However, for every year, the trim treatment significatively increased the total anthocyanin content between 8 % and 21 % compared to control. Therefore, delaying the berry ripening process trough the decrease of the leaf area to fruit ratio, could partially restore the anthocyanins: sugars ratio disrupted by elevated temperatures. Although it is necessary to study other trimmings intensities as well as other times of intervention, the shoot trimming treatment could be a very simple technique to delay berry ripening and compensate the effects of climate warming.Peer Reviewe

Leaf area reduction by trimming, a growing technique to restore the anthocyanins : sugars ratio decoupled by the warming climate

The aim of this work is the evaluation of the leaf area reduction by trimming, as a growing technique to restore the anthocyanins : sugars ratio decoupled by the warming climate. A 3-year period (2010-2012) severe shoot trimming treatment was done after berryset (berry diameter 3-4 mm) and the veraison date was delayed around 20 days. The grapes were picked at the same level of soluble solids in all the treatments. However, for every year, the trim treatment significatively increased the total anthocyanin content between 8 % and 21 % compared to control. Therefore, delaying the berry ripening process trough the decrease of the leaf area to fruit ratio, could partially restore the anthocyanins : sugars ratio disrupted by elevated temperatures. Although it is necessary to study other trimmings intensities as well as other times of intervention, the shoot trimming treatment could be a very simple technique to delay berry ripening and compensate the effects of climate warming.

Human Health Risk Assessment For Arsenic: A Critical Review

Millions of people are exposed to arsenic resulting in a range of health implications.This paper provides an up-to-date review of the different sources of arsenic (water, soil and food), indicators of human exposure (biomarker assessment of hair, nail, urine and blood), epidemiological and toxicological studies on carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health outcomes, and risk assessment approaches. The review demonstrates a need for more work evaluating the risks of different arsenic species such as; arsenate, arsenite monomethylarsonic acid, monomethylarsonous acid, dimethylarsinic acid and dimethylarsinous acid as well as a need to better integrate the different exposure sources in risk assessments

Subclonal diversification of primary breast cancer revealed by multiregion sequencing.

The sequencing of cancer genomes may enable tailoring of therapeutics to the underlying biological abnormalities driving a particular patient's tumor. However, sequencing-based strategies rely heavily on representative sampling of tumors. To understand the subclonal structure of primary breast cancer, we applied whole-genome and targeted sequencing to multiple samples from each of 50 patients' tumors (303 samples in total). The extent of subclonal diversification varied among cases and followed spatial patterns. No strict temporal order was evident, with point mutations and rearrangements affecting the most common breast cancer genes, including PIK3CA, TP53, PTEN, BRCA2 and MYC, occurring early in some tumors and late in others. In 13 out of 50 cancers, potentially targetable mutations were subclonal. Landmarks of disease progression, such as resistance to chemotherapy and the acquisition of invasive or metastatic potential, arose within detectable subclones of antecedent lesions. These findings highlight the importance of including analyses of subclonal structure and tumor evolution in clinical trials of primary breast cancer

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset