Morphological variation of the labellum of Vanilla planifolia Andrews (Orchidaceae) in Oaxaca, Mexico

Infraspecific variation has transcendental ecological consequences for species adaptation to new niches. Estimating levels of variation is key for understanding the life history of a species, as well as for designing strategies for use and conservation. For this reason, the objective of this study was to characterize infra-specific morphological variation of the labellum of V. planifolia, of 122 flowers from 28 specimens from the state of Oaxaca and two specimens from Veracruz, Mexico. The labellum of each flower was dissected and analyzed by morphometry. Sixty variables were obtained and grouped into basal, middle and apical regions. An analysis of variance was performed considering the collections and the origin of each individual as sources of variation. Principal components and cluster analyses were also conducted. Differences in the 60 variables analyzed were highly significant among the collections. Among environments, 18 variables showed significant differences, which were situated in the lateral and middle lobes of the labellum. Thus, these structures were considered susceptible to environmental changes. The remaining 42 variables situated in the basal and middle regions of the labellum, which were fused to the edges of the floral column were not significantly different among environments. With the first three principal components, the model explained 73% of the total variation studied. Morphological variation of the flower labellum was represented by four morphotypes distributed in three environments. Highlights The evaluation of vanilla flowers wild does not allow to have the same number of treatments or repetitions, for the inaccessibility of the species. Morphometric analysis of the labellum revealed infra-specific variation in the germplasm of Vanilla planifolia. The features of the basal and middle regions of the labellum are the most informative in distinguishing the variation between vanilla specimens.Infraspecific variation has transcendental ecological consequences for species adaptation to new niches. Estimating levels of variation is key for understanding the life history of a species, as well as for designing strategies for use and conservation. For this reason, the objective of this study was to characterize infra-specific morphological variation of the labellum of V. planifolia, of 122 flowers from 28 specimens from the state of Oaxaca and two specimens from Veracruz, Mexico. The labellum of each flower was dissected and analyzed by morphometry. Sixty variables were obtained and grouped into basal, middle and apical regions. An analysis of variance was performed considering the collections and the origin of each individual as sources of variation. Principal components and cluster analyses were also conducted. Differences in the 60 variables analyzed were highly significant among the collections. Among environments, 18 variables showed significant differences, which were situated in the lateral and middle lobes of the labellum. Thus, these structures were considered susceptible to environmental changes. The remaining 42 variables situated in the basal and middle regions of the labellum, which were fused to the edges of the floral column were not significantly different among environments. With the first three principal components, the model explained 73% of the total variation studied. Morphological variation of the flower labellum was represented by four morphotypes distributed in three environments. Highlights The evaluation of vanilla flowers wild does not allow to have the same number of treatments or repetitions, for the inaccessibility of the species. Morphometric analysis of the labellum revealed infra-specific variation in the germplasm of Vanilla planifolia. The features of the basal and middle regions of the labellum are the most informative in distinguishing the variation between vanilla specimens

Efecto del beneficiado tradicional de Vanilla planifolia en los fitoquímicos de frutos de Vanilla pompona Schiede

Objective: To evaluate the effect of two Mexican traditional curing process of Vanilla planifolia in the concentration of total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoids (TFLAV), total saponins (TSAP) and total triterpenes (TTRIT) in fruits of V. pompona from tree localities. . Design/methodology/approach: Fruit maturity of 31 weeks were subjected to two curing processes (C1 and C2). The phytochemicals in green fruits (GF) and cured fruits (CF) were quantified by spectrophotometric methods. The data were analyzed under a completely randomized design, with an analysis of variance and under a mean comparison by Tukey (?=0.05). Results: The concentration of phytochemicals in the fruits of V. pompona was reduced by the curing process. The effect was more noticeable in the TPC and the TSAP, since in the CF of the three localities and of both curing process, the content decreased significantly. The concentration of TFLAV (1.255 and 1.238 g?100 g-1) and TTRI (9.583 and 8.536 g?100 g-1) showed no variation by the C2 process, since they had a similar concentration in the GF and CF respectively. The CF of C2 conserved a higher concentration of the four phytochemicals evaluated. Limitations on study/implications: The two traditional curing process used for fruits of V. pompona, negatively affected the concentration of phytochemicals. Findings/conclusions: The concentration of TPC and TSAP in the cured fruits of Cazuelas (B1), Morelos (B1) and Puntilla Aldama (B2) was markedly reduced in comparison with that of the GF. The C2 process with sun-killed had a minor effect in decreasing phytochemicals in the CF.Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de dos procesos de beneficiado tradicional mexicano de Vanilla planifolia Schiede en la concentración de compuestos fenólicos totales (CFT), flavonoides totales (FLAVT), saponinas totales (SAPT) y triterpenos totales (TRIT) en frutos de Vanilla pompona de tres localidades de la zona tropical en México. Diseño/metodología/aproximación: Frutos de 31 semanas de madurez se sometieron a dos procesos de beneficiado (B1 y B2). Los fitoquímicos en los frutos verdes (FV) y frutos beneficiados (FB) se cuantificaron por métodos espectrofotométricos. Los datos se analizaron bajo un diseño completamente al azar, con un análisis de varianza y bajo una comparación de medias por Tukey (?=0.05). Resultados: La concentración de fitoquímicos en los frutos de V. pompona se redujo por el proceso de beneficiado. El efecto fue más notable en los CFT y las SAPT, ya que en los FB de las tres localidades y de ambos beneficiados, el contenido disminuyó significativamente. La concentración de FLAVT (1.255 y 1.238 g?100 g-1) y de TRIT (9.583 y 8.536 g?100 g-1) no mostró variación por el proceso del B2, pues tuvieron una concentración similar en los FV y FB respectivamente. Los FB del B2 conservaron una concentración mayor de los cuatro fitoquímicos evaluados. Limitaciones del estudio/implicaciones: Los dos beneficiados tradicionales utilizados en frutos de V. pompona, afectaron negativamente la concentración de fitoquímicos. Hallazgos/conclusiones: La concentración de CFT y SAPT en los frutos curados de Cazuelas (B1), Morelos (B1) y Puntilla Aldama (B2) se redujo marcadamente en comparación con la de los FV. El proceso del B2 con matado al sol tuvo un efecto menor en disminuir los fitoquímicos en los FB

Extinction risk of Mesoamerican crop wild relatives

Ensuring food security is one of the world's most critical issues as agricultural systems are already being impacted by global change. Crop wild relatives (CWR)—wild plants related to crops—possess genetic variability that can help adapt agriculture to a changing environment and sustainably increase crop yields to meet the food security challenge. Here we report the results of an extinction risk assessment of 224 wild relatives of some of the world's most important crops (i.e. chilli pepper, maize, common bean, avocado, cotton, potato, squash, vanilla and husk tomato) in Mesoamerica—an area of global significance as a centre of crop origin, domestication and of high CWR diversity. We show that 35% of the selected CWR taxa are threatened with extinction according to The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List demonstrates that these valuable genetic resources are under high anthropogenic threat. The dominant threat processes are land use change for agriculture and farming, invasive and other problematic species (e.g. pests, genetically modified organisms) and use of biological resources, including overcollection and logging. The most significant drivers of extinction relate to smallholder agriculture—given its high incidence and ongoing shifts from traditional agriculture to modern practices (e.g. use of herbicides)—smallholder ranching and housing and urban development and introduced genetic material. There is an urgent need to increase knowledge and research around different aspects of CWR. Policies that support in situ and ex situ conservation of CWR and promote sustainable agriculture are pivotal to secure these resources for the benefit of current and future generations

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium report, data summary of 50 countries for 2010-2015: Device-associated module

•We report INICC device-associated module data of 50 countries from 2010-2015.•We collected prospective data from 861,284 patients in 703 ICUs for 3,506,562 days.•DA-HAI rates and bacterial resistance were higher in the INICC ICUs than in CDC-NHSN's.•Device utilization ratio in the INICC ICUs was similar to CDC-NHSN's. Background: We report the results of International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2010-December 2015 in 703 intensive care units (ICUs) in Latin America, Europe, Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific. Methods: During the 6-year study period, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care-associated infection (DA-HAI), we collected prospective data from 861,284 patients hospitalized in INICC hospital ICUs for an aggregate of 3,506,562 days. Results: Although device use in INICC ICUs was similar to that reported from CDC-NHSN ICUs, DA-HAI rates were higher in the INICC ICUs: in the INICC medical-surgical ICUs, the pooled rate of central line-associated bloodstream infection, 4.1 per 1,000 central line-days, was nearly 5-fold higher than the 0.8 per 1,000 central line-days reported from comparable US ICUs, the overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was also higher, 13.1 versus 0.9 per 1,000 ventilator-days, as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection, 5.07 versus 1.7 per 1,000 catheter-days. From blood cultures samples, frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas isolates to amikacin (29.87% vs 10%) and to imipenem (44.3% vs 26.1%), and of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (73.2% vs 28.8%) and to imipenem (43.27% vs 12.8%) were also higher in the INICC ICUs compared with CDC-NHSN ICUs. Conclusions: Although DA-HAIs in INICC ICU patients continue to be higher than the rates reported in CDC-NSHN ICUs representing the developed world, we have observed a significant trend toward the reduction of DA-HAI rates in INICC ICUs as shown in each international report. It is INICC's main goal to continue facilitating education, training, and basic and cost-effective tools and resources, such as standardized forms and an online platform, to tackle this problem effectively and systematically