The relative effects of upwelling and river flow on the phytoplankton diversity patterns in the ria of A Coruña (NW Spain)

Phytoplankton species assemblages in estuaries are connected to those in rivers and marine environments by local hydrodynamics leading to a continuous flow of taxa. This study revealed differential effects of upwelling and river flow on phytoplankton communities observed in 2011 along a salinity gradient from a river reservoir connected to the sea through a ria-marine bay system in A Coruña (NW Spain, 43° 16-21’ N, 8° 16-22’ W). With 130 phytoplankton taxa identified, the assemblages were dominated in general by diatoms, particularly abundant in the bay and in the estuary, but also by chlorophycea and cyanobacteria in the reservoir. Considering the entire seasonal cycle, the local assemblages were mainly characterized by changes in cryptophytes and diatoms, small dinoflagellates and some freshwater chlorophycea. Salinity, nitrate, and organic matter variables, were the main environmental factors related to the changes in the phytoplankton communities through the system, while phosphate and nitrite were also important for local communities in the estuary and the bay, respectively. The corresponding local phytoplankton assemblages showed moderate levels of connectivity. The estuarine community shared a variable number of taxa with the adjacent zones, depending on the relative strength of upwelling (major influence from the bay) and river flow (major influence of the reservoir) but had on average 35% of unique taxa. Consequently, local and zonal diversity patterns varied seasonally and were not simply related to the salinity gradient driven by the river flow.ANILE (CTM2009-08396 and CTM2010-08804-E), FIOME (CTM2011-28792-C02-01-MAR), and MEFIO (CTM2011-28792-C02-02-MAR) of the Plan Nacional de I+D+i (Spain), and RADIALES of the Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO, Spain).Versión del editor2,01

Hydrogen peroxide formation in cacao tissues infected by the hemibiotrophic fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)In plant pathogen interaction, the hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) may play a dual role: its accumulation inhibits the growth of biotrophic pathogens, while it could help the infection/colonization process of plant by necrotrophic pathogens. One of the possible pathways of H(2)O(2) production involves oxalic acid (Oxa) degradation by apoplastic oxalate oxidase. Here, we analyzed the production of H(2)O(2), the presence of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals and the content of Oxa and ascorbic acid (Asa) the main precursor of Oxa in plants in susceptible and resistant cacao (Theobroma cacao L) infected by the hemibiotrophic fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa. We also quantified the transcript level of ascorbate peroxidase (Apx), germin-like oxalate oxidase (Gip) and dehydroascorbate reductase (Dhar) by RT-qPCR. We report that the CaOx crystal amount and the H(2)O(2) levels in the two varieties present distinct temporal and genotype-dependent patterns. Susceptible variety accumulated more CaOx crystals than the resistant one, and the dissolution of these crystals occurred in the early infection steps and in the final stage of the disease in the resistant and the susceptible variety, respectively. High expression of the Glp and accumulation of Oxa were observed in the resistant variety. The content of Asa increased in the inoculated susceptible variety, but remained constant in the resistant one. The susceptible variety presented reduced Dhar expression. The role of H(2)O(2) and its formation from Oxa via Apx and Glp in resistant and susceptible variety infected by M. perniciosa were discussed. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.498917922Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP) [01.07.0074-00]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa da Bahia (FAPESB) [1431080017116]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos (FINEP) [01.07.0074-00]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa da Bahia (FAPESB) [1431080017116

Involvement of calcium oxalate degradation during programmed cell death in Theobroma cacao tissues triggered by the hemibiotrophic fungus Moniliophthora pemiciosa

Moniliophthora perniciosa, the causal agent of witches' broom disease of Theobroma cacao, significantly affected cacao production in South America and Caribbean countries. Host colonization by the pathogen exhibits a concerted succession of symptoms, starting with hypertrophic growth and "broom" formation, followed by tissue degeneration and death. To understand mechanisms of host susceptibility, we investigated fungal development during a compatible interaction with a susceptible genotype. Microscopic analysis revealed the initial fungal biotrophic intercellular growth, followed by intracellular growth associated with the presence of an increasing number of host apoptotic nuclei and calcium oxalate crystals, with subsequent accumulation of hydrogen peroxide and cell death. Active oxalate degradation and its possible source of origin were detected in infected tissues. Together, these processes may increase the availability of nutrients for the fungal mycelia and may contribute to the disease cycle in this plant-fungal hemibiotrophic interaction. Based on the histological and gene expression data, a novel role for calcium oxalate in disease susceptibility is proposed. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.173210611

Violência conjugal: vivências expressas em discursos masculinos Violencia entre cónyuges: experiencias expresas en discursos masculinos Conjugal violence: experiences expressed in male discourses

Tendo como objeto a vivência de violência na relação conjugal, este estudo descritivo, de abordagem quali-quantitativa, teve como objetivo identificar a violência conjugal no discurso masculino. A população foi composta por 50 homens residentes na comunidade do Calafate, em San Martin, bairro localizado em Salvador/Ba. Para coleta de dados, utilizou-se entrevista com formulário semi-estruturado. A amostra caracterizou-se por homens, na faixa etária entre 20 a 40 anos (74,0%); convivendo conjugalmente (98,0%). Com relação à violência conjugal, o índice encontrado foi de 80%. Quanto às formas de violência, destacam-se a violência emocional e a violência física.<br>Teniendo como objeto la experiencia de violencia en la relación entre cónyuges, este estudio descriptivo, de abordaje cuali-cuantitativo, tuvo como objetivo identificar la violencia entre cónyuges en los discursos masculinos. La población fue compuesta por 50 hombres residentes en la comunidad del Calafate, en San Martin, barrio ubicado en Salvador/Ba. Para colecta de los datos, se utilizó entrevista con formulario semi-estructurado. La muestra se caracterizó por hombres de edad de 20 a 40 años (74,0%), viviendo con la pareja (98,0%0). Con relación a violencia entre cónyuges, el índice encontrado fue de 80,0%. Cuanto a las formas de violencia, se destacan la violencia emocional y la violencia física.<br>Aiming the research of violence experiences in conjugal relation, this descriptive study, of qualitative and quantitative approach, aimed to identify conjugal violence in male discourse. Population was composed of 50 men residing in Calafate community, San Martin, a quarter in Salvador/Ba. In order to collect data, one utilized the interview with semi-structured formulary. Sample was caracterized by men between 20 and 40 years old (74%) cohabiting. Concerning to conjugal violence, we found an 80% index. Relating to the forms of violence, we've distinguished emotional and physical violence