Performing Objects and Interpretive Techniques: Textual Rewriting and Other Methods to Raise a Set of Landscape Designs for a Rural Community

Based on the concept of ‘interpretive community’, it is possible to trace how humans can become interpreters (or decoders) of their own reality through, say, written excerpts and architectural works. This chapter is intended, therefore, to report on an interpretive-community workshop where students of three different disciplines (namely, Architecture, Sociology and English Studies) were assigned specific chapters of literary works with the goal of making a collective interpretation through a process of rewriting and restoring architecture. These projects allow students (or any participant, in fact) in their recognition of salient concepts that are not necessarily ascribed to a specific domain; for instance, the understanding of architecture not solely as a construction process, but as a mechanism intended to protect traces of life that are naturally perceived through narration and the use of metaphors

Environmental and geographical factors structure soil microbial diversity in New Caledonian ultramafic substrates: A metagenomic approach

Soil microorganisms play key roles in ecosystem functioning and are known to be influenced by biotic and abiotic factors, such as plant cover or edaphic parameters. New Caledonia, a biodiversity hotspot located in the southwest Pacific, is one-third covered by ultramafic substrates. These types of soils are notably characterised by low nutrient content and high heavy metal concentrations. Ultramafic outcrops harbour diverse vegetation types and remarkable plant diversity. In this study, we aimed to assess soil bacterial and fungal diversity in New Caledonian ultramafic substrates and to determine whether floristic composition, edaphic parameters and geographical factors affect this microbial diversity. Therefore, four plant formation types at two distinct sites were studied. These formations represent different stages in a potential chronosequence. Soil cores, according to a given sampling procedure, were collected to assess microbial diversity using a metagenomic approach, and to characterise the physico-chemical parameters. A botanical inventory was also performed. Our results indicated that microbial richness, composition and abundance were linked to the plant cover type and the dominant plant species. Furthermore, a large proportion of Ascomycota phylum (fungi), mostly in non-rainforest formations, and Planctomycetes phylum (bacteria) in all formations were observed. Interestingly, such patterns could be indicators of past disturbances that occurred on different time scales. Furthermore, the bacteria and fungi were influenced by diverse edaphic parameters as well as by the interplay between these two soil communities. Another striking finding was the existence of a site effect. Differences in microbial communities between geographical locations may be explained by dispersal limitation in the context of the biogeographical island theory. In conclusion, each plant formation at each site possesses is own microbial community resulting from multiple interactions between abiotic and biotic factors. (Résumé d'auteur

Plant-plant competition outcomes are modulated by plant effects on the soil bacterial community

Competition is a key process that determines plant community structure and dynamics, often mediated by nutrients and water availability. However, the role of soil microorganisms on plant competition, and the links between above- and belowground processes, are not well understood. Here we show that the effects of interspecific plant competition on plant performance are mediated by feedbacks between plants and soil bacterial communities. Each plant species selects a singular community of soil microorganisms in its rhizosphere with a specific species composition, abundance and activity. When two plant species interact, the resulting soil bacterial community matches that of the most competitive plant species, suggesting strong competitive interactions between soil bacterial communities as well. We propose a novel mechanism by which changes in belowground bacterial communities promoted by the most competitive plant species influence plant performance and competition outcome. These findings emphasise the strong links between plant and soil communities, paving the way to a better understanding of plant community dynamics and the effects of soil bacterial communities on ecosystem functioning and services

A gliclazide complex based on palladium towards Alzheimer's disease: promising protective activity against Aβ-induced toxicity in C. elegans

A new palladium coordination compound based on gliclazide with the chemical formula [Pd(glz)2] (where glz = gliclazide) has been synthesized and characterised. The structural characterization reveals that this material consists of mononuclear units formed by a Pd2+ ion coordinated to two molecules of the glz ligand, in which palladium ions exhibit a distorted plane-square coordination sphere. This novel material behaves like a good and selective inhibitor of butyrylcholinesterase, one of the most relevant therapeutic targets against Alzheimer’s disease. Analysis of the enzyme kinetics showed a mixed mode of inhibition, the title compound being capable of interacting with both the free enzyme and the enzyme–substrate complex. Finally, the palladium compound shows promising protective activity against Ab-induced toxicity in the Caenorhabditis elegans model, which has never been reported

A gliclazide complex based on palladium towards Alzheimer's disease: Promising protective activity against Aβ-induced toxicity in: C. elegans

A new palladium coordination compound based on gliclazide with the chemical formula [Pd(glz)2] (where glz = gliclazide) has been synthesized and characterised. The structural characterization reveals that this material consists of mononuclear units formed by a Pd2+ ion coordinated to two molecules of the glz ligand, in which palladium ions exhibit a distorted plane-square coordination sphere. This novel material behaves like a good and selective inhibitor of butyrylcholinesterase, one of the most relevant therapeutic targets against Alzheimer's disease. Analysis of the enzyme kinetics showed a mixed mode of inhibition, the title compound being capable of interacting with both the free enzyme and the enzyme-substrate complex. Finally, the palladium compound shows promising protective activity against Aβ-induced toxicity in the Caenorhabditis elegans model, which has never been reported.he authors gratefully acknowledge funding support from the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (PGC2018-102052-B-C21 and PID2020-116460RB-I00) and the Junta de Andalućıa (FQM-394 and FQM-134). The authors gratefully acknowledge the funding support of FEDER/Junta de Andalućıa Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento, Grant B-AGR-193-UGR18. O. L. and J. G. F. B. also thank Grant PID2020-116460RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/50110 0011033. S. R. acknowledge the Juan de la Cierva Fellowship (IJC2019-038894-I)

Caracterització, quantificació i persistència en plantació del fong ectomicorrízic comestible Lactarius deliciosus en sistemes de producció controlada

El projecte de tesi doctoral s'emmarca en la producció de plantes inoculades amb soques seleccionades del fong ectomicorrízic comestible Lactarius deliciosus i en el seguiment de la seva persistència un cop establert en camp. S'ha avaluat la capacitat colonitzadora de 25 soques de L. deliciosus en síntesi en cultiu pur amb Pinus pinaster. Els resultats han mostrat que les soques provades presenten diferent potencial colonitzador. La capacitat de formació de micorrizes s'ha relacionat de manera negativa amb el temps des de l'aïllament del cultiu i, de manera positiva, amb la capacitat de formació de rizomorfs. S'han posat a punt diferents tècniques moleculars per a la caracterització específica i intraespecífica de L. deliciosus i s'ha comprovat la seva efectivitat en la identificació en camp del fong en les fases críptiques de la simbiosi (micorriza i miceli extraradical present en el sòl). L'encebador LDITS2R, dissenyat a la regió ITS del rDNA de L. deliciosus, en combinació amb l'encebador universal ITS1 ha permès l'amplificació específica d'aquest fong mitjançant PCR a partir de DNA extret directament de mostres de camp. L'anàlisi single strain conformation polymorphisms (SSCP) dels productes específics amplificats ha permès distingir fins a nou patrons diferents entre les 18 soques de L. deliciosus analitzades que permeten la identificació intraespecífica de la soca seleccionada introduïda en camp. S'ha produït planta micorrizada amb L. deliciosus en hivernacle i s'ha posat a punt un sistema de quantificació individualitzada i no destructiva de la colonització radical inicial mitjançant l'anàlisi de fotografies digitals. La planta produïda s'ha establert en plantacions experimentals i s'ha avaluat la persistència del fong inoculat a diferents temps per recompte del percentatge de micorrizes i quantificació del miceli extraradical mitjançant PCR en temps real. S'ha conclòs que la persistència de les micorrizes i l'extensió del miceli en el sòl es veuen afectades per les condicions de la localitat d'establiment de la plantació i per la soca inoculada. En canvi, el nivell inicial de colonització no ha tingut un efecte significatiu, en les condicions assajades, en la persistència de L. deliciosus. Per últim, s'ha avaluat la persistència de L. deliciosus enfront a dues espècies de Rhizopogon potencialment competidores que poden desplaçar el fong introduït. S'ha detectat un efecte negatiu de R. roseolus en la persistència de L. deliciosus. Els resultats suggereixen que la competència entre aquests dos fongs té lloc a nivell del sistema radical per la colonització de les arrels lliures mentre que no s'ha detectat interacció negativa a nivell de miceli extraradical. La correlació entre el percentatge de micorrizes i la quantitat de miceli present en el sòl ha estat positiva per a les tres espècies estudiades. En conseqüència, la quantificació de miceli extraradical pot ser un bon indicador del grau de colonització radical de la planta i permetre un seguiment no destructiu del fong en camp.The main objective of the thesis project is the production of inoculated plants with selected strains of the edible ectomycorrhizal fungus Lactarius deliciosus and tracking its persistence once established in field plantations. The colonization ability of 25 strains of L. deliciosus has been evaluated in pure culture synthesis with Pinus pinaster. The results have shown differences in root colonization level of the evaluated strains. The formation of mycorrhizas has been negatively related to the age of the fungal culture and positively to the formation of rhizomorphs. Different molecular techniques have been optimized for specific and intraspecific characterization of L. deliciosus and evaluated for their effectivity in field identification of the fungus in the cryptic phases of the symbiosis (mycorrhizas and extraradical mycelium present in the soil). The design of the primer named LDITS2R in the ITS region of the rDNA of L. deliciosus combined with the universal primer ITS1 has allowed specific amplification of this fungus by PCR from DNA extracted from field samples. Single strain confromation polymorphisms (SSCP) analysis of the specific amplified products has provided nine different patterns among the 18 L. deliciosus analyzed strains which allowed for the intraspecific identification of the selected inoculated strain. Plants mycorrhizal with L. deliciosus have been produced in the nursery and initial radical colonization has been individually quantified in a non-destuctive way by analysis of digital photographs. Experimental plantations have been established with the inoculated plants. Fungal persistence has been evaluated at different times by determining the percentage of mycorrhizas and the production of extraradical soil mycelium by real time PCR. The site and the inoculated strain significantly affected the persistence of mycorrhizas and the extension of the extraradical soil mycelium whereas no effect of the initial colonization level was observed under the experimental conditions tested. Finally, the persistence of L. deliciosus against two Rhizopogon species identified as potential competitors has been evaluated. The presence of R. roseolus in the field site affected negatively the persistence of L. deliciosus. The results obtained suggest that competition between these two fungi takes place at the root system level for colonization of the available roots. No negative interaction between extraradical mycelia of both species was observed. Linear correlations between the percentage of mycorrhizas and soil mycelium biomass were significant and positive for the three fungal species studied. Consequently, the quantification of extraradical mycelium could be a good indicator of the root colonization level of the plant allowing for non-destructive tracking of the fungus in the field

Field persistence of the edible ectomycorrhizal fungus Lactarius deliciosus : effects of inoculation strain, initial colonization level, and site characteristics

Pinus pinea plants were inoculated with different strains of the edible ectomycorrhizal fungus Lactarius deliciosus. The inoculated plants were established in six experimental plantations in two sites located in the Mediterranean area to determine the effect of the initial colonization level and the inoculated strain on fungal persistence in the field. Ectomycorrhizal root colonization was determined at transplantation time and monitored at different times from uprooted plants. Extraradical soil mycelium biomass was determined from soil samples by TaqMan® real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results obtained indicate that the field site played a decisive role in the persistence of L. deliciosus after outplanting. The initial colonization level and the selection of the suitable strain were also significant factors but their effect on the persistence and spread of L. deliciosus was conditioned by the physical–chemical and biotic characteristics of the plantation soil and, possibly, by their influence in root growth. Molecular techniques based on real-time PCR allowed a precise quantification of extraradical mycelium of L. deliciosus in the field. The technique is promising for non-destructive assessment of fungal persistence since soil mycelium may be a good indicator of root colonization. However, the accuracy of the technique will ultimately depend on the development of appropriate soil sampling methods because of the high variability observed

Tracking mycorrhizas and extraradical mycelium of the edible fungus Lactarius deliciosus under field competition with Rhizopogon spp

The objective of this study is to evaluate the field persistence of the edible ectomycorrhizal fungus Lactarius deliciosus in competition with two ubiquitous soil fungi. Couples of plants inoculated with either L. deliciosus, Rhizopogon roseolus, or R. luteolus were transplanted, 10 cm apart, in two different sites at the following combinations: L. deliciosus–R. roseolus, L. deliciosus–R. luteolus, L. deliciosus–control (non-inoculated), control–R. roseolus, control–R. luteolus, and control–control. Eight months after transplantation, root colonization and extraradical soil mycelium for each fungal species were quantified. For mycelium quantification, soil cores equidistant to the two plants in each couple were taken, and total deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis was performed using specific primers and TaqMan® Minor groove binding (MGB) probes designed in the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer region of each fungal species. Field site significantly influenced persistence of both mycorrhizas and extraradical mycelium of L. deliciosus. Extraradical mycelium quantity was positively correlated with the final percentage of ectomycorrhizas for the three fungal species. Different competitive pressure between the two Rhizopogon species on L. deliciosus persistence was observed, with R. luteolus having no effect on L. deliciosus survival. Negative correlation between the final percentage of mycorrhizas of L. deliciosus and R. roseolus was observed. However, no relationship was determined between extraradical mycelia of both fungal species. The results obtained suggest that competition between L. deliciosus and R. roseolus takes place in the root system, for ectomycorrhiza formation in available roots, rather than in the extraradical phase

Effects of macro and micro-environmental factors on the species richness of terrestrial tardigrade assemblages in an Iberian mountain environment

Tardigrade communities are affected by micro and macro-environmental conditions but only micro-environmental variables, and altitudinal gradients have been studied. We review previous reports of altitudinal effects and evaluate the influence by interacting macro- (climate, soils, biome, and others) and micro-environmental (vegetation, moss and leaf litter) factors on tardigrade assemblages at the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range (Iberian Central System Mountains, Spain). Terrestrial tardigrade assemblages were sampled using standard cores to collect leaf litter and mosses growing on rocks. General Linear Models were used to examine relationships between Tardigrada species richness and abundance, and macro- and micro-environmental variables (altitude, habitat characteristics, local habitat structure and dominant leaf litter type, and two bioclimatic classifications). Variation partitioning techniques were used to separate the effects of altitude and habitat variation, and to quantify the independent influences of climate and soil, vegetation structure and dominant type of leaf litter. Altitude shows a unimodal relationship with tardigrade species richness, although its effect independent of habitat variation is negligible. The best predictors for species richness were bioclimatic classifications. Separate and combined effects of macro-environmental gradients (soil and climate), vegetation structure and leaf litter type are important determinants of richness. A model including both macro- and micro-environmental variables explained nearly 60% of tardigrade species richness in micro-scale plots. Abundance was significantly related only to soil composition and leaf litter type. Tardigrade abundance was not explained by macro-environmental gradients analysed here, despite a significant correlation between abundance and richness

Molecular identification of the edible ectomycorrhizal fungus Lactarius deliciosus in the symbiotic and extraradical mycelium stages

Specific rDNAITS amplifications, microsatellite-primedPCRand ITS-SSCP analysis were applied to identify and characterize pre-selected isolates of the edible ectomycorrhizal fungus Lactarius deliciosus in different stages of the life cycle. Sampling was performed from pure cultures, mycorrhizas and soil from experimental plots established with nursery-inoculated pine seedlings. A newly-designed reverse primer (LDITS2R) combined with the universal forward ITS1 allowed to perform specific amplifications of L. deliciosus from all the samples. Microsatellite-primed PCR using the (GTG)5 oligonucleotide as a primer showed clear polymorphisms among the different L. deliciosus isolates. The patterns of mycorrhiza samples showed additional bands corresponding to the plant DNA. Single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of the specific rDNA ITS fragment amplified from 18 L. deliciosus isolates showed nine clearly different patterns. Mycorrhiza and soil samples showed coincident patterns with their respective fungal isolates. Specific rDNA ITS amplifications had not been previously used for SSCP analysis of ectomycorrhizas and extraradical mycelium. This relatively simple and inexpensive technique allows tracking L. deliciosus isolates in different stages of the fungus development. Specific ITS-SSCP analysis is promising in studies of the persistence of inoculated L. deliciosus isolates and their competitiveness with native ectomycorrhizal fungi, especially at the extraradical mycelium stage