Physiological and growth responses of sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) plants subjected to short-term salinity stress

The gradual response of CAB-6P sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) plants to NaCl-induced salinity stress (60 mM NaCl) was investigated in a short-term hydroponic experiment, based on parameters relating to the growth, water relations, chlorophyll and mineral nutrition. The results showed that CAB-6P plants are very sensitive to salinity stress because their growth and leaf chlorophyll concentration were both affected negatively from the 3rd and 5th day, respectively, after incurring salinity stress. Since root growth was suppressed more severely than shoot growth, the shoot to root ratio was significantly increased under saline conditions. The concentrations of Na in leaves and stem of NaCl-treated plants were much lower than those measured in roots, suggesting Na exclusion mechanism from the shoot. The opposite trend was observed for Cl, indicating Cl inclusion mechanism to leaves. As regards the concentrations of Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, Fe, Zn and Mn, they were not changed in higher salinity conditions, apart from K, concentrations of which in leaves and roots were significantly increased and decreased, respectively (K translocation to leaves). Salinity further reduced K/Na ratio in root and stem as well as leaf water and osmotic potentials, whereas leaves of control and NaCl-treated plants presented similar turgor potential and K/Na ratio. These data add very important information to our knowledge about the physiological events occurring in sour cherry plants after even short-term exposure to salinity

The ontogeny of greater amberjack digestive and antioxidant defence systems under different rearing conditions: A histological and enzymatic approach

An overall synchronization of morphological and physiological ontogenetic events of the digestive and antioxidant defence systems occurred in greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) larvae reared under intensive (INT) or semi‐intensive (MES) conditions for 30 days. The first differentiations of the digestive channel took place at 3–4 days post‐hatch (dph) (3.6–3.7 mm). Differentiation of the endocrine and exocrine pancreas begun at 4–5 dph (4.0–4.1 mm), coinciding with a decrease in carbohydrase activity from egg to the onset of exogenous feeding and the maintenance of bile salt‐activated lipase and total alkaline proteases. The first gastric glands and pepsin activity were evident at 17–20 dph (5.5–6.2 mm) in both fish groups. The appearance of pyloric caeca had a 5‐day delay in the INT compared to the MES larvae (28 versus 23 dph). Antioxidant enzyme activities decreased progressively from 7 to 30 dph in both rearing conditions. However, GPx, SOD at 7 and 18 dph, and GST activities were higher in the INT larvae. Although both larval groups did not globally differ in somatic growth and maturation of digestive function, it seems that the antioxidant defence system of MES larvae had to face less oxidative assaults, which may be attributed to lower stressful and more stable culture conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Mutant KRAS promotes malignant pleural effusion formation

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is the lethal consequence of various human cancers metastatic to the pleural cavity. However, the mechanisms responsible for the development of MPE are still obscure. Here we show that mutant KRAS is important for MPE induction in mice. Pleural disseminated, mutant KRAS bearing tumour cells upregulate and systemically release chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) into the bloodstream to mobilize myeloid cells from the host bone marrow to the pleural space via the spleen. These cells promote MPE formation, as indicated by splenectomy and splenocyte restoration experiments. In addition, KRAS mutations are frequently detected in human MPE and cell lines isolated thereof, but are often lost during automated analyses, as indicated by manual versus automated examination of Sanger sequencing traces. Finally, the novel KRAS inhibitor deltarasin and a monoclonal antibody directed against CCL2 are equally effective against an experimental mouse model of MPE, a result that holds promise for future efficient therapies against the human condition

Safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose versus oral iron in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD: an analysis of the 1-year FIND-CKD trial.

Background: The evidence base regarding the safety of intravenous (IV) iron therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is incomplete and largely based on small studies of relatively short duration. Methods: FIND-CKD (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT00994318) was a 1-year, open-label, multicenter, prospective study of patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD, anemia and iron deficiency randomized (1:1:2) to IV ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), targeting higher (400-600 µg/L) or lower (100-200 µg/L) ferritin, or oral iron. A post hoc analysis of adverse event rates per 100 patient-years was performed to assess the safety of FCM versus oral iron over an extended period. Results: The safety population included 616 patients. The incidence of one or more adverse events was 91.0, 100.0 and 105.0 per 100 patient-years in the high ferritin FCM, low ferritin FCM and oral iron groups, respectively. The incidence of adverse events with a suspected relation to study drug was 15.9, 17.8 and 36.7 per 100 patient-years in the three groups; for serious adverse events, the incidence was 28.2, 27.9 and 24.3 per 100 patient-years. The incidence of cardiac disorders and infections was similar between groups. At least one ferritin level ≥800 µg/L occurred in 26.6% of high ferritin FCM patients, with no associated increase in adverse events. No patient with ferritin ≥800 µg/L discontinued the study drug due to adverse events. Estimated glomerular filtration rate remained the stable in all groups. Conclusions: These results further support the conclusion that correction of iron deficiency anemia with IV FCM is safe in patients with nondialysis-dependent CKD

Unpublished Mediterranean and Black Sea records of marine alien, cryptogenic, and neonative species

To enrich spatio-temporal information on the distribution of alien, cryptogenic, and neonative species in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea, a collective effort by 173 marine scientists was made to provide unpublished records and make them open access to the scientific community. Through this effort, we collected and harmonized a dataset of 12,649 records. It includes 247 taxa, of which 217 are Animalia, 25 Plantae and 5 Chromista, from 23 countries surrounding the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. Chordata was the most abundant taxonomic group, followed by Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Annelida. In terms of species records, Siganus luridus, Siganus rivulatus, Saurida lessepsianus, Pterois miles, Upeneus moluccensis, Charybdis (Archias) longicollis, and Caulerpa cylindracea were the most numerous. The temporal distribution of the records ranges from 1973 to 2022, with 44% of the records in 2020–2021. Lethrinus borbonicus is reported for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea, while Pomatoschistus quagga, Caulerpa cylindracea, Grateloupia turuturu, and Misophria pallida are first records for the Black Sea; Kapraunia schneideri is recorded for the second time in the Mediterranean and for the first time in Israel; Prionospio depauperata and Pseudonereis anomala are reported for the first time from the Sea of Marmara. Many first country records are also included, namely: Amathia verticillata (Montenegro), Ampithoe valida (Italy), Antithamnion amphigeneum (Greece), Clavelina oblonga (Tunisia and Slovenia), Dendostrea cf. folium (Syria), Epinephelus fasciatus (Tunisia), Ganonema farinosum (Montenegro), Macrorhynchia philippina (Tunisia), Marenzelleria neglecta (Romania), Paratapes textilis (Tunisia), and Botrylloides diegensis (Tunisia).peer-reviewe

Editorial: Mineral Nutrition of Fruit Trees

In the era of precision farming, the wise administration of water as well as the correct management of mineral nutrition is of outmost importance to reduce the agricultural inputs [...

Yield and fruit quality of two late-maturing Valencia orange tree varieties as affected by harvest date

Introduction. Since citrus fruits are non-climacteric, commercial harvest for a given variety can occur over a prolonged period in the same orchard. Delayed citrus harvest has previously been reported to influence fruit quality variables during the current season and to reduce the subsequent year’s yield. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of harvest date on tree yield and fruit quality of two late-maturing Valencia orange varieties during two successive years. Materials and methods. One hundred 9-year-old Campbell and Lue Gim Gong Valencia orange trees budded on Swingle citrumelo rootstock were used. Fruit sampling included fruit harvest at five monthly intervals (April-August) during 2003, and only one harvest date (20 June) during 2004. Results and discussion. Based on seasonal variation of various fruit quality variables during the five harvests conducted in 2003, the most stable fruit quality variables were fruit weight, number of seeds per fruit, rind thickness, juice content and soluble solids content. In general, both varieties produced fruit with similar internal quality characteristics. However, their mean fruit weight differed in 2004 (Lue Gim Gong had larger fruit than Campbell). Furthermore, the annual and cumulative yields of Lue Gim Gong Valencia orange trees over two years were significantly higher than those of Campbell orange trees. Finally, the yield per tree and fruit quality of both varieties in 2003 and 2004 were not affected significantly by the date of harvest during 2003

Evaluation of Feed Stimulants in Diets for Sea Bream (Sparus aurata)

Six isoprotein and isolipidic diets were formulated to investigate the effect of dietary additives on growth and feed efficiency of sea bream (Sparus aura- ta) fry fed a fishmeal-based diet for 80 days. The additives (protorsan, hydrolyzed fish protein, squid meal, krill meal, and betaine + inosine-5’- monophosphate) were added to the diets at the expense of fishmeal. The specific growth rates of the fish ranged from 2.17-2.18% per day for the pro- torsan and control groups to 2.42% per day for the group fed the squid addi- tive. Significant differences (p0.05) between treatments. The feed stimulating action of taurine was tested by observation. Pellets coated in a taurine solution were more actively consumed than control pellets during the morning feeding but consumption did not differ during the afternoon feeding

Organic Fertilization and Tree Orchards

Organic fertilization has been proposed as an alternative approach to supply nutrients for crops, in the frame of organic and sustainable agriculture, with the aim to decrease high inorganic fertilization rates, protect the environment and decrease production costs for farmers. Since different types of organic fertilizers, such as manures, olive mill wastewater (OMW), sewage sludge (SS), crushed pruning wastes, composts and cover crops, exist as soil amendments to improve soil fertility, enhance plant nutrition and sustain the productivity of tree crops, their role as biofertilizers has been fully analyzed under the most important published papers. In addition, the benefits and drawbacks of organic fertilization, in a comparative approach with inorganic fertilization, are presented and discussed. Within the most important advantages of organic fertilizers, the enhancement of beneficial soil microorganisms and the improvement in soil physical properties and fertility should be included, while their most important disadvantage is their inability to directly satisfy the prompt N nutritional needs of tree crops, due to slow N mineralization rates. Finally, some novel aspects on the interrelation among innovative organic fertilizers for tree crops, sustainable field management, crop productivity and fruit quality are also included in this review, under the light of the most important and recent research data existing in the literature, with the aim to provide recommendations and future directions for organic fertilizers by tree growers