A generic model of interactions between FSPM, foliar pathogens and microclimate

International audienceA framework was defined to model the interactions between FSPM, foliar fungal pathogens and microclimate, with the concern of interoperability of the components and extensibility. The framework was applied on two existing models of pathosystems (powdery mildew on grapevine and septoria on wheat) to make them more modular and extensible. It will facilitate the design of new disease models on FSPMs

Nitrogen Concentration Estimation in Tomato Leaves by VIS-NIR Non-Destructive Spectroscopy

Nitrogen concentration in plants is normally determined by expensive and time consuming chemical analyses. As an alternative, chlorophyll meter readings and N-NO3 concentration determination in petiole sap were proposed, but these assays are not always satisfactory. Spectral reflectance values of tomato leaves obtained by visible-near infrared spectrophotometry are reported to be a powerful tool for the diagnosis of plant nutritional status. The aim of the study was to evaluate the possibility and the accuracy of the estimation of tomato leaf nitrogen concentration performed through a rapid, portable and non-destructive system, in comparison with chemical standard analyses, chlorophyll meter readings and N-NO3 concentration in petiole sap. Mean reflectance leaf values were compared to each reference chemical value by partial least squares chemometric multivariate methods. The correlation between predicted values from spectral reflectance analysis and the observed chemical values showed in the independent test highly significant correlation coefficient (r = 0.94). The utilization of the proposed system, increasing efficiency, allows better knowledge of nutritional status of tomato plants, with more detailed and sharp information and on wider areas. More detailed information both in space and time is an essential tool to increase and stabilize crop quality levels and to optimize the nutrient use efficiency

cDNA cloning and functional expression of the α-d-galactose-binding lectin frutalin in escherichia coli

cDNA clones encoding frutalin, the α-d-galactose-binding lectin expressed in breadfruit seeds (Artocarpus incisa), were isolated and sequenced. The deduced amino acid sequences indicated that frutalin may be encoded by a family of genes. The NCBI database searches revealed that the frutalin sequence is highly homologous with jacalin and mornigaG sequences. Frutalin cDNA was re-amplified and cloned into the commercial expression vector pET-25b(+) for frutalin production in Escherichia coli. An experimental factorial design was employed to maximise the soluble expression of the recombinant lectin. The results indicated that temperature, time of induction, concentration of IPTG and the interaction between the concentration of IPTG and the time of induction had the most significant effects on the soluble expression level of recombinant frutalin. The optimal culture conditions were as follows: induction with 1 mM IPTG at 22°C for 20 h, yielding 16 mg/l of soluble recombinant frutalin. SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis revealed that recombinant frutalin was successfully expressed by bacteria with the expected molecular weight (17 kDa). These analyses also showed that recombinant frutalin was mainly produced as insoluble protein. Recombinant frutalin produced by bacteria revealed agglutination properties and carbohydrate-binding specificity similar to the native breadfruit lectin.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Mise au point d'un outil de modulation intra-parcellaire de la fertilisation azotée du blé d'hiver basé sur la télédétection et un modèle de culture

Dir. de thèse: B. Mary, M. Guérif *INRA Centre d'Avignon, Documentation, Site Agroparc 84914 Avignon Cedex9 Diffusion du document : INRA Centre d'Avignon, Documentation, Site Agroparc 84914 Avignon Cedex9 Diplôme : Dr. Ing

Principle of facilitation applied to the ecological restoration of degraded mining sites : follow-up of ectomycorrhizal communities during plants succession assisted by Acacia spirorbis

Acacia spirorbis est une espèce endémique de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, capable de former des symbioses avec des microorganismes du sol, notamment des ectomycorhizes et de se développer sur une très large variété de sols. Afin de tester les capacités de cette espèce à permettre d’initier un processus de restauration écologique des écosystèmes dégradés par l’exploitation minière, un essai en pépinière et trois essais sur le terrain ont été mis en place. Ces essais ont permis de mettre en évidence la capacité d’A. spirorbis à jouer, grâce à la facilitation, un rôle de plante nurse pour des espèces cibles de la restauration écologique comme des espèces du genre Tristaniopsis. Ainsi, nous avons tout d’abord décrit la diversité des champignons ectomycorhiziens associés avec A. spirorbis puis, nous avons constatés leur capacité à s’associer sur le terrain aux Tristaniopsis grâce à la présence initiale d’A. spirorbis. Les capacités d’A. spirorbis à faciliter l’implantation d’autres espèces en améliorant leur survie, leur croissance et en leur permettant de disposer de partenaires fongiques ectomycorhiziens diversifiés sont décrites. Ces résultats on conduit à proposer un itinéraire technique de restauration écologique des maquis miniers dégradés, itinéraire fondés sur la facilitation entre espèce utilisant A. spirorbis comme plante nurse.Acacia spirorbis is an endemic species of New Caledonia, capable of forming symbiosis with soil micro-organisms, including ectomycorrhizae and developing on a very wide variety of soils. In order to test the capacities of this species to initiate a process of ecological restoration of ecosystems degraded by mining activities, a nursery trial and three field trials were setted up. These trials highlight the ability of A. spirorbis to play, through facilitation, a nurse plant role for target species of the genus Tristaniopsis in the frame of ecological restoration processes. Thus, we first described the diversity of the ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with A. spirorbis and then we described their ability to associate in the field with Tristaniopsis thanks to the initial presence of A. spirorbis. The capacities of A. spirorbis to facilitate the implantation of other target species by improving their survival, growth and allowing them to access to a diversified range of ectomycorrhizal fungal partners are described. These results led to propose a technical itinerary for ecological restoration of degraded mining maquis, an itinerary based on facilitation between species using A. spirorbis as a nurse plant

Principe de facilitation appliqué à la restauration écologique de sites miniers dégradés : suivi des communautés ectomycorhiziennes au cours de successions végétales assistée par Acacia spirorbis

Acacia spirorbis is an endemic species of New Caledonia, capable of forming symbiosis with soil micro-organisms, including ectomycorrhizae and developing on a very wide variety of soils. In order to test the capacities of this species to initiate a process of ecological restoration of ecosystems degraded by mining activities, a nursery trial and three field trials were setted up. These trials highlight the ability of A. spirorbis to play, through facilitation, a nurse plant role for target species of the genus Tristaniopsis in the frame of ecological restoration processes. Thus, we first described the diversity of the ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with A. spirorbis and then we described their ability to associate in the field with Tristaniopsis thanks to the initial presence of A. spirorbis. The capacities of A. spirorbis to facilitate the implantation of other target species by improving their survival, growth and allowing them to access to a diversified range of ectomycorrhizal fungal partners are described. These results led to propose a technical itinerary for ecological restoration of degraded mining maquis, an itinerary based on facilitation between species using A. spirorbis as a nurse plant.Acacia spirorbis est une espèce endémique de la Nouvelle-Calédonie, capable de former des symbioses avec des microorganismes du sol, notamment des ectomycorhizes et de se développer sur une très large variété de sols. Afin de tester les capacités de cette espèce à permettre d’initier un processus de restauration écologique des écosystèmes dégradés par l’exploitation minière, un essai en pépinière et trois essais sur le terrain ont été mis en place. Ces essais ont permis de mettre en évidence la capacité d’A. spirorbis à jouer, grâce à la facilitation, un rôle de plante nurse pour des espèces cibles de la restauration écologique comme des espèces du genre Tristaniopsis. Ainsi, nous avons tout d’abord décrit la diversité des champignons ectomycorhiziens associés avec A. spirorbis puis, nous avons constatés leur capacité à s’associer sur le terrain aux Tristaniopsis grâce à la présence initiale d’A. spirorbis. Les capacités d’A. spirorbis à faciliter l’implantation d’autres espèces en améliorant leur survie, leur croissance et en leur permettant de disposer de partenaires fongiques ectomycorhiziens diversifiés sont décrites. Ces résultats on conduit à proposer un itinéraire technique de restauration écologique des maquis miniers dégradés, itinéraire fondés sur la facilitation entre espèce utilisant A. spirorbis comme plante nurse

Common Ground, Frames and Slots: Understanding Doctors Interacting with a Virtual Patient

International audienc

Une tombe du Premier Âge du Fer au lieu-dit Saint-Antoine à Castelnau-de-Guers (Hérault)

H. Houles and T. Janin. — A protohistoric cremation tomb in the Saint Antoine site at Castelnau de Guers (Hérault), Revue Archéologique de Narbonnaise, t. 25, 1992, p. 433-442. After systematic prospectings in the low valley of the Hérault, north of Agde the protohistoric cremation tomb of Saint Antoine was discovered. It proved to be an isolated monument. The excavation allowed to bring to the fore a funerary structure combining a cover (tumulus) and a grave shedding many precious objects. The ossuary was an Etruscan amphora and was placed in a deep loculus. It contained the remains of a young man. The objects found are : ceramic vases (not turned on the lathe), a dish of grey ceramic (monochromatic) and imported vases (Etruscan bucchero nero canthares and an Italian Corinthian dish). The metallic objects are mainly bronze jewels, a simpulum as well as a bronze equipment (spear, javelin and knives). The fact that these objects are linked with a young man brings the question of the social status of some young men ; and another question is brought up by the isolated position of the tomb ; therefore, in the end what is the signification of this type of monument ? Objects allow to date back the tomb to the middle of the 6th century B.C..Découverte lors de prospections systématiques dans la basse vallée de l'Hérault au Nord d'Agde, la tombe proto- historique à incinération de Saint-Antoine s'est avérée être une sépulture isolée. La fouille a permis de mettre au jour une structure funéraire composée d'une couverture (tumulus ?) et d'une fosse contenant un riche mobilier d'accompagnement. L'ossuaire constitué d'une amphore étrusque était placé dans un loculus profond. Il contenait les restes d'un jeune adolescent. Le mobilier d'accompagnement se compose de vases en céramique non tournée, d'une coupe en céramique grise monochrome et de vases importés (canthares en bucchero new étrusques, coupe italo-corinthienne). Le mobilier métallique comprend des objets de parure en bronze, un simpulum ainsi qu'un équipement «guerrier» (lance, javelot, couteaux...). Son association avec un individu jeune soulève le problème du statut social de certains adolescents et le caractère isolé de la sépulture pose à nouveau la question de la signification de ce type d'ensemble. Le mobilier permet de dater la tombe du milieu du VIe s. av. n.è.Houles Noël, Janin Thierry. Une tombe du Premier Âge du Fer au lieu-dit Saint-Antoine à Castelnau-de-Guers (Hérault). In: Revue archéologique de Narbonnaise, tome 25, 1992. pp. 433-441