Soil physicochemical properties associated with the yield and phytochemical composition of the edible halophyte Crithmum maritimum

There is growing interest in the consumption of halophytes due to their excellent nutritional profile and antioxidant properties, and because their cultivation offers viable alternatives in the face of irreversible global salinization of soils. Nevertheless, abiotic factors strongly influence their phytochemical composition, and little is known about how growing conditions can produce plants with the best nutritional and functional properties. Crithmum maritimum is an edible halophyte with antioxidant properties and considerable potential for sustainable agriculture in marginal environments. However, it is found naturally in contrasting habitats with a wide range of soil physicochemical properties and the extent to which edaphic factors can influence plant performance, accumulation of phytochemicals and their quality remains unknown. We investigated the influence of soil physicochemical properties (texture, pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content and mineral element concentrations) on growth and reproductive performance, nutritional traits, and the accumulation of specific metabolites in C. maritimum. Soil, leaf and seed samples were taken from eight C. maritimum populations located on the southern coasts of Spain and Portugal. We found greater vegetative growth and seed production in coarser, sandier soils with lower microelement concentrations. The nutritional traits of leaves varied, with soil organic matter and macronutrient content associated with reduced leaf Na, protein and phenolic (mainly flavonoid) concentrations, whereas soils with lower pH and Fe concentrations, and higher clay content yielded plants with lower leaf Zn concentration and greater accumulation of hydroxycinnamic acids. The nutritional value of the seed oil composition appeared to be enhanced in soils with coarser texture and lower microelement concentrations. The accumulation of specific phenolic compounds in the seed was influenced by a wide range of soil properties including texture, pH and some microelements. These findings from a wide range of natural populations will inform the commercial cultivation of C. maritimum, particularly in the economic exploitation of poorly utilized, saline soils

Nuevos datos de actividad tectónica durante el Pleistoceno Superior-Holoceno en el sector oriental de la plataforma continental del Golfo de Cádiz (SO de Iberia)

La realización de dos campañas de adquisición de datos geofísicos del suelo y subsuelo marino en el año 2010, mediante la utilización de técnicas acústicas de muy alta resolución, ha permitido ampliar el conocimiento de dos sectores de la plataforma continental española en el Golfo de Cádiz, comprendidos entre la desembocadura del río Guadalquivir y la Bahía de Cádiz, y entre Cádiz y Chiclana de la Frontera, respectivamente. En el primero se han localizado varias zonas de fracturas que se caracterizan en los perfiles de sísmica de muy alta resolución por fallas normales de alto ángulo y pequeño salto que desplaza claramente las unidades sedimentarias de edad Holoceno, se trata por tanto de fallas que se pueden considerar activas, si bien deben ser el reflejo en superficie de fallas profundas de mayor entidad. Mientras que en el segundo se ha analizado la morfología asociada a la actividad emergente de una estructura diapirica principal.Two oceanographic surveys have been carried out using very high resolution acoustic techniques in 2010. These surveys have allowed us to improve the knowledge of two sectors of the Spanish continental shelf in the Gulf of Cadiz: the first one, from the mouth of the Guadalquivir River to the Bay of Cadiz, and the second one, between Cadiz and Chiclana de la Frontera. In the first sector, we have located several fracture zones which are characterized in the seismic profiles as high angle normal faults of small vertical displacement. These faults displace clearly the Holocene sedimentary units. Therefore, these faults could be considered currently actives, although should be the surface expression of deeper and more significance faults. In the second sector, we have analyzed the associated morphology with the emerging activity of a main diapi

The 2022 South America report of The Lancet Countdown on health and climate change: trust the science. Now that we know, we must act

The health of South American populations is being severely impacted by increasing climate change-driven environmental changes. Exacerbated by increased social inequities and vulnerability, deforestation, land degradation, and global climate variabilities in sea temperature, can potentially lead to extreme weather and climate events, magnifying the negative effects of climate change on health. Understanding the direct and indirect exposure routes to climate hazards and the effects on health and wellbeing is critical to design successful and effective evidence-based adaptation and mitigation plans and policies. This report is part of the Lancet Countdown's broader efforts to develop expertise and understanding of the links between health and climate change at the regional level. The Lancet Countdown South America (LCSA), a newly launched chapter of the Lancet Countdown, is an independent, multidisciplinary academic collaboration dedicated to tracking the links between public health and climate change in South America (SA). This collaboration brings together 21 academic institutions and UN agencies with 28 researchers representing various disciplines. The data and results provided in this report for the 12 countries of the region,∗ explore in regional detail the results of the 2022 global Lancet Countdown report and provide the evidence to support targeted response strategies for decision-makers. Its findings and conclusions represent the consensus of experts across multiple fields, covering 25 indicators summarised below in four key messages

Dietary α‐Linolenic Acid, Marine ω‐3 Fatty Acids, and Mortality in a Population With High Fish Consumption: Findings From the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) Study

Background: Epidemiological evidence suggests a cardioprotective role of α‐linolenic acid (ALA), a plant‐derived ω‐3 fatty acid. It is unclear whether ALA is beneficial in a background of high marine ω‐3 fatty acids (long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) intake. In persons at high cardiovascular risk from Spain, a country in which fish consumption is customarily high, we investigated whether meeting the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids recommendation for dietary ALA (0.7% of total energy) at baseline was related to all‐cause and cardiovascular disease mortality. We also examined the effect of meeting the society's recommendation for long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (≥500 mg/day). Methods and Results: We longitudinally evaluated 7202 participants in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) trial. Multivariable‐adjusted Cox regression models were fitted to estimate hazard ratios. ALA intake correlated to walnut consumption (r=0.94). During a 5.9‐y follow‐up, 431 deaths occurred (104 cardiovascular disease, 55 coronary heart disease, 32 sudden cardiac death, 25 stroke). The hazard ratios for meeting ALA recommendation (n=1615, 22.4%) were 0.72 (95% CI 0.56–0.92) for all‐cause mortality and 0.95 (95% CI 0.58–1.57) for fatal cardiovascular disease. The hazard ratios for meeting the recommendation for long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n=5452, 75.7%) were 0.84 (95% CI 0.67–1.05) for all‐cause mortality, 0.61 (95% CI 0.39–0.96) for fatal cardiovascular disease, 0.54 (95% CI 0.29–0.99) for fatal coronary heart disease, and 0.49 (95% CI 0.22–1.01) for sudden cardiac death. The highest reduction in all‐cause mortality occurred in participants meeting both recommendations (hazard ratio 0.63 [95% CI 0.45–0.87]). Conclusions: In participants without prior cardiovascular disease and high fish consumption, dietary ALA, supplied mainly by walnuts and olive oil, relates inversely to all‐cause mortality, whereas protection from cardiac mortality is limited to fish‐derived long‐chain n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://www.Controlled-trials.com/. Unique identifier: ISRCTN35739639

Hibiscus Chlorotic Ringspot Virus Coat Protein Is Essential for Cell-to-Cell and Long-Distance Movement but Not for Viral RNA Replication

<div><p><i>Hibiscus chlorotic ringspot virus</i> (HCRSV) is a member of the genus <i>Carmovirus</i> in the family <i>Tombusviridae</i>. In order to study its coat protein (CP) functions on virus replication and movement in kenaf (<i>Hibiscus cannabinus</i> L.), two HCRSV mutants, designated as p2590 (A to G) in which the first start codon ATG was replaced with GTG and p2776 (C to G) in which proline 63 was replaced with alanine, were constructed. <i>In vitro</i> transcripts of p2590 (A to G) were able to replicate to a similar level as wild type without CP expression in kenaf protoplasts. However, its cell-to-cell movement was not detected in the inoculated kenaf cotyledons. Structurally the proline 63 in subunit C acts as a kink for β-annulus formation during virion assembly. Progeny of transcripts derived from p2776 (C to G) was able to move from cell-to-cell in inoculated cotyledons but its long-distance movement was not detected. Virions were not observed in partially purified mutant virus samples isolated from 2776 (C to G) inoculated cotyledons. Removal of the N-terminal 77 amino acids of HCRSV CP by trypsin digestion of purified wild type HCRSV virions resulted in only T = 1 empty virus-like particles. Taken together, HCRSV CP is dispensable for viral RNA replication but essential for cell-to-cell movement, and virion is required for the virus systemic movement. The proline 63 is crucial for HCRSV virion assembly in kenaf plants and the N-terminal 77 amino acids including the β-annulus domain is required in T = 3 assembly <i>in vitro</i>.</p></div

Translation of HCRSV CP and its mutants in wheat germ extract.

<p>(A) Schematic representation of HCRSV sgRNA2 mutants. p30 is an ORF encoding a putative 30 kDa protein. Mutant 2590 (A to G)-ACG/ACA represents two individual sgRNA2 mutations at ACG or ACA, respectively. The TCG in mutant 2590 (A to G) before the second in-frame ATG of CP was substituted with Kozak sequence ACG or ACA. ΔN (1–67) represents HCRSV sgRNA2 with an N-terminal deletion of CP amino acids between the first and the second ATG of the CP gene ORF and the dotted line represents the deleted nucleotides. (B & C) <i>In vitro</i> translation of HCRSV sgRNA2 and its mutants. The PCR products of the sgRNA2 of HCRSV and its mutants were used for <i>in vitro</i> transcription, followed by <i>in vitro</i> translation and the products were labeled with biotinylated lysine.</p

HCRSV viral RNA and CP accumulation in inoculated kenaf cotyledons.

<p><i>In vitro</i> transcripts (0.5 µg for each cotyledon) were inoculated onto kenaf cotyledons and the inoculated cotyledons were collected at different time points. (A) Northern blot analysis of viral RNA. Total RNA (5 µg each) extracted from cotyledons at 1, 2 and 3 days post inoculation (dpi), respectively, was used for viral RNA detection. (B) Western blot analysis of viral CP. Total protein extracted from cotyledons at 4 dpi was used for HCRSV CP detection by western blot. (C) Observation for local lesions in inoculated kenaf cotyledons at 4 dpi.</p

HCRSV virion assembly in inoculated kenaf cotyledons at 5 dpi.

<p>(A) Observation of virions under transmission electron microscope. Virus particles from inoculated cotyledons at 5 dpi were partially purified and negatively stained with 2% uranyl acetate. Partially purified virions were only obtained in HCRSV wt extract, regardless of using Tris pH 7.3 (top two panels) or sodium acetate pH 5.2 (bottom two panels) in sucrose cushion and resuspension buffer. Arrow heads point to virions. Each bar represents 100 nm. (B) Western blot analysis of HCRSV CP from the same extracts with or without dilution.</p

Oligonucleotides used in this study.

a<p>Upper case, upper case with underlined and lower case refer to HCRSV cDNA nucleotides, mutated HCRSV cDNA nucleotides and added sequences (T7 promoter or restriction enzyme sites), respectively.</p>b<p>Numbers correspond to HCRSV nucleotide positions.</p><p>Oligonucleotides used in this study.</p