Spring barley grain quality changes in conventional and organic growing conditions

While breeding for organic farming it is necessary to identify the most appropriate growing conditions in which to perform the selection process. Soil fertility, crop management, yield level and other factors may vary very much between each organic farm, and between organic farms and research institutions where the selection is usually performed. Since plant breeding requires considerable input of resources and the market for organic varieties is limited, it is essential to find the most appropriate selection conditions that will provide acceptable varieties for organic farms. Spring barley breeding lines selected from two cross combinations (Primus/Idumeja and Anni/Dziugiai) at two distinctive organic and two conventional locations were used in the study. The organic location 1 was situated in a research field of the plant breeding institute (with green manure as fertilizer), the organic location 2 included an organic farmer’s field (with stable manure as fertilizer), the conventional location 1 was located in a barley breeding field (with medium level of mineral fertilizer input) and the conventional location 2 in a seed production field of the institute (with high mineral fertilizer input). Selection of the breeding lines was done under the respective growing conditions starting from F3 generation. Most appropriate lines for growing in organic farming were selected at all 4 environments. Selected breeding lines were evaluated in F5 (n=20-23 per cross combination, without replications) and F6 generations (n=10 per cross combination, 3 replications). Correlations between barley traits and the environments and cross combinations will be compared in the presentation. The analysis of the correlation between grain yield and observed plant traits of F5 lines indicated that tendencies between the lines obtained from both cross combinations as well as between the environments were dissimilar in most of the cases. Soil shading (evaluated at early stem elongation stage) correlated positively with grain yield in all cases; the correlation was always significant for lines from the cross Primus/Idumeja, but only at the conventional location 2 for Anni/Dziugiai lines (p<0.05). A significant positive correlation between grain yield and plant development speed at tillering stage as well as between yield and plant height at the beginning of stem elongation was found for Primus/Idumeja lines at both organic locations and at the conventional location 1 (p<0.05). Plant height before harvest did not correlate significantly with yield under organic conditions which is in contradiction with some other studies. There was a tendency for planophyle growth habit to correlate positively with yield under organic and conventional conditions for lines from both cross combinations. The analysis of correlation of the F6 lines will be included in the presentation. This study was performed with financial support of EEA grant EEZ08AP-27and European Social Fund co-financed project 2009/0218/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/09/APIA/VIAA/099

Comparison of interconnections between barley breeding material traits under organic and conventional growing conditions

While breeding for organic farming it is necessary to identify the most appropriate growing conditions in which to perform the selection process. Soil fertility, crop management, yield level and other factors may vary very much between each organic farm, and between organic farms and research institutions where the selection is usually performed. Since plant breeding requires considerable input of resources and the market for organic varieties is limited, it is essential to find the most appropriate selection conditions that will provide acceptable varieties for organic farms. Spring barley breeding lines selected from two cross combinations (Primus/Idumeja and Anni/Dziugiai) at two distinctive organic and two conventional locations were used in the study. The organic location 1 was situated in a research field of the plant breeding institute (with green manure as fertilizer), the organic location 2 included an organic farmer’s field (with stable manure as fertilizer), the conventional location 1 was located in a barley breeding field (with medium level of mineral fertilizer input) and the conventional location 2 in a seed production field of the institute (with high mineral fertilizer input). Selection of the breeding lines was done under the respective growing conditions starting from F3 generation. Most appropriate lines for growing in organic farming were selected at all 4 environments. Selected breeding lines were evaluated in F5 (n=20-23 per cross combination, without replications) and F6 generations (n=10 per cross combination, 3 replications). Correlations between barley traits and the environments and cross combinations will be compared in the presentation. The analysis of the correlation between grain yield and observed plant traits of F5 lines indicated that tendencies between the lines obtained from both cross combinations as well as between the environments were dissimilar in most of the cases. Soil shading (evaluated at early stem elongation stage) correlated positively with grain yield in all cases; the correlation was always significant for lines from the cross Primus/Idumeja, but only at the conventional location 2 for Anni/Dziugiai lines (p<0.05). A significant positive correlation between grain yield and plant development speed at tillering stage as well as between yield and plant height at the beginning of stem elongation was found for Primus/Idumeja lines at both organic locations and at the conventional location 1 (p<0.05). Plant height before harvest did not correlate significantly with yield under organic conditions which is in contradiction with some other studies. There was a tendency for planophyle growth habit to correlate positively with yield under organic and conventional conditions for lines from both cross combinations. The analysis of correlation of the F6 lines will be included in the presentation. This study was performed with financial support of EEA grant EEZ08AP-27and European Social Fund co-financed project 2009/0218/1DP/1.1.1.2.0/09/APIA/VIAA/099

Potato breeding in the Netherlands: successful collaboration between farmers and commercial breeders.

Access and benefit sharing of plant genetic resources is a crucial but very complex, political and legalistic matter. Does the formal system work for family farmers? As we see in this special issue of Farming Matters, co-produced with Bioversity International, it poses many challenges and Farmers' Rights are rarely implemented in national law. At the same time, farmers around the world are leading successful initiatives for access and benefit sharing. In this special issue of Farming Matters also an article of the Bioimpuls potato breeding project was included: In the Netherlands a new PPB initiative called BioImpuls emerged in 2010, which engages organic potato farmers in a search to develop late blight-resistant vari-eties for the organic sector.

Cross-Feeding among Probiotic Bacterial Strains on Prebiotic Inulin Involves the Extracellular exo-Inulinase of Lactobacillus paracasei Strain W20

Probiotic gut bacteria employ specific metabolic pathways to degrade dietary carbohydrates beyond the capabilities of their human host. Here, we report how individual commercial probiotic strains degrade prebiotic (inulin type) fructans. First, a structural analysis of commercial fructose oligosaccharide-inulin samples was performed. These beta-(2-1)-fructans differ in termination by either glucose (GF) or fructose (FF) residues, with a broad variation in the degrees of polymerization (DPs). The growth of individual probiotic bacteria on short-chain inulin (sc-inulin) (Frutafit CLR), a beta-(2-1)-fructan (DP 2 to DP 40), was studied. Lactobacillus salivarius W57 and other bacteria grew relatively poorly on sc-inulin, with only fractions of DP 3 and DP 5 utilized, reflecting uptake via specific transport systems followed by intracellular metabolism. Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei W20 completely used all sc-inulin components, employing an extracellular exo-inulinase enzyme (glycoside hydrolase family GH32 [LpGH32], also found in other strains of this species); the purified enzyme converted high-DP compounds into fructose, sucrose, 1-kestose, and F2 (inulobiose). The cocultivation of L. salivarius W57 and L. paracasei W20 on sc-inulin resulted in cross-feeding of the former by the latter, supported by this extracellular exo-inulinase. The extent of cross-feeding depended on the type of fructan, i.e., the GF type (clearly stimulating) versus the FF type (relatively low stimulus), and on fructan chain length, since relatively low-DP beta-(2-1)-fructans contain a relatively high content of GF-type molecules, thus resulting in higher concentrations of GF- type DP 2 to DP 3 degradation products. The results provide an example of how in vivo cross-feeding on prebiotic beta-(2-1)-fructans may occur among probiotic lactobacilli. IMPORTANCE The human gut microbial community is associated strongly with host physiology and human diseases. This observation has prompted research on pre- and probiotics, two concepts enabling specific changes in the composition of the human gut microbiome that result in beneficial effects for the host. Here, we show how fructooligosaccharide-inulin prebiotics are fermented by commercial probiotic bacterial strains involving specific sets of enzymes and transporters. Cross-feeding strains such as Lactobacillus paracasei W20 may thus act as keystone strains in the degradation of prebiotic inulin in the human gut, and this strain-exo-inulinase combination may be used in commercial Lactobacillus-inulin synbiotics

Nieuwe wegen voor de veredeling van gewassen voor kleine markten : sleutelelementen voor vruchtbare samenwerking in de keten

Voor het veredelingsbedrijfsleven is het nog beperkte biologische areaal een belangrijke bottleneck om te investeren in biologische selectie. Vanuit de biologische sector is er behoefte aan het vinden van innovatieve vormen van financiering of organisatie van veredeling om de vicieuze cirkel te doorbreken. Er zijn een aantal sleutelelementen geïdentificeerd die belangrijk zijn voor het succesvol opzetten van dergelijke initiatieven: erkenning van een probleem binnen de gehele keten, de complexiteit van de keten en haar geschiedenis, planteigenschappen, en ondersteuning voor ontwikkeling van nieuwe vormen van samenwerking. Mogelijke verbeterpunten qua organisatie zijn aanpassing van bestaande veredelingsstrategieën en betere afstemming tussen ketenpartners op Europees niveau. Dit laatste punt kan ook perspectief bieden op het gebied van financiering. Qua communicatie zijn kortere lijnen tussen telers en veredelaars belangrijk

Urinary Properdin and sC5b-9 Are Independently Associated With Increased Risk for Graft Failure in Renal Transplant Recipients

The pathophysiology of late kidney-allograft failure remains complex and poorly understood. Activation of filtered or locally produced complement may contribute to the progression of renal failure through tubular C5b-9 formation. This study aimed to determine urinary properdin and sC5b-9 excretion and assess their association with long-term outcome in renal transplant recipients (RTR). Methods: We measured urinary properdin and soluble C5b-9 in a well-defined cross-sectional cohort of RTR. Urinary specimens were taken from a morning urine portion, and properdin and sC5b-9 were measured using an enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to investigate prospective associations with death-censored graft failure. Results: We included 639 stable RTR at a median [interquartile range] 5.3 (1.8-12.2) years after transplantation. Urinary properdin and sC5b-9 excretion were detectable in 161 (27%) and 102 (17%) RTR, respectively, with a median properdin level of 27.6 (8.6-68.1) ng/mL and a median sC5b-9 level of 5.1 (2.8-12.8) ng/mL. In multivariable-adjusted Cox regression analyses, including adjustment for proteinuria, urinary properdin (HR, 1.12; 95% CI 1.02-1.28; P = 0.008) and sC5b-9 excretion (HR, 1.34; 95% CI 1.10-1.63; P = 0.003) were associated with an increased risk of graft failure. If both urinary properdin and sC5b-9 were detectable, the risk of graft failure was further increased (HR, 3.12; 95% CI 1.69-5.77; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings point toward a potential role for urinary complement activation in the pathogenesis of chronic allograft failure. Urinary properdin and sC5b-9 might be useful biomarkers for complement activation and chronic kidney allograft deterioration, suggesting a potential role for an alternative pathway blockade in RTR

Normal Type Ia supernovae from violent mergers of white dwarf binaries

One of the most important questions regarding the progenitor systems of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) is whether mergers of two white dwarfs can lead to explosions that reproduce observations of normal events. Here we present a fully three-dimensional simulation of a violent merger of two carbon-oxygen white dwarfs with masses of $0.9 \mathrm{M_\odot}$ and $1.1 \mathrm{M_\odot}$ combining very high resolution and exact initial conditions. A well-tested combination of codes is used to study the system. We start with the dynamical inspiral phase and follow the subsequent thermonuclear explosion under the plausible assumption that a detonation forms in the process of merging. We then perform detailed nucleosynthesis calculations and radiative transfer simulations to predict synthetic observables from the homologously expanding supernova ejecta. We find that synthetic color lightcurves of our merger, which produces about $0.62 \mathrm{M_\odot}$ of $^{56}\mathrm{Ni}$, show good agreement with those observed for normal SNe Ia in all wave bands from U to K. Line velocities in synthetic spectra around maximum light also agree well with observations. We conclude, that violent mergers of massive white dwarfs can closely resemble normal SNe Ia. Therefore, depending on the number of such massive systems available these mergers may contribute at least a small fraction to the observed population of normal SNe Ia.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Abschätzung der Auswirkungen der Krautfäule auf den Bio-Kartoffelbau in verschiedenen Europäischen Ländern, sowie Inventar der angewendeten Anbau- und Pflanzenschutzstrategien

Problemstellung/Ziele Die Kraut- und Knollenfäule (Phytophthora infestans) ist die Krankheit, die im biologischen (aber auch konventionellen) Kartoffelanbau in Europa die größten Probleme verursacht. Unter günstigen klimatischen Bedingungen breitet sich die Krankheit sehr rasch aus und kann große Ertragsausfälle verursachen. Innerhalb von Europa variiert der durch P. infestans verursachte wirtschaftliche Schaden stark zwischen den Regionen. Dies hängt von verschiedenen Faktoren ab, aber in biologisch bewirtschafteten Anbausystemen immt man an, dass die klimatischen Bedingungen, die verwendeten Sorten sowie die agronomischen Maßnahmen wie Bodenbearbeitung oder die Verwendung von Pflanzenschutzmitteln eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Die Reduktion oder das Verbot des Kupfereinsatzes im biologischen Kartoffelanbau wird deshalb auch unterschiedliche Auswirkungen in den verschiedenen Europäischen Regionen haben. Als Teilprojekt des EU-finanzierten Projektes Blight-MOP (QLRT 31065) wurde eine detaillierte Studie der ökonomischen und gesetzlichen Rahmenbedingungen und ein Inventar der Anbausysteme in 7 Ländern durchgeführt, um (i) Ein Inventar der derzeitigen Anbautechniken zu erstellen, (ii) die Auswirkungen von P. infestans auf Erträge und Wirtschaftlichkeit zu evaluieren und die Auswirkungen eines Kupferverbotes abzuschätzen und um (iii) Pflanzenschutzstrategien von Bioproduzenten zu identifizieren, die bereits jetzt ohne den Einsatz von Kupfer auskommen. Fazit: Diese Betriebsanalyse weist darauf hin, dass eine Optimierung der Einzelmassnahmen und die regionsspezfische Integration von Massnahmen zu einer substanziellen Verbesserung des Anbauerfolges führen können. Die Betriebsanalyse zeigt auch, dass Kupfer bislang eine wichtige Rolle bei der Ertragsbildung gespielt hat. Ein Kupferverbot ohne Angebot von praxistauglichen Alternativlösungen (wie sie innerhalb von Blight-MOP und anderen Projekten erarbeitet werden) würde demnach zu einer starken Destabilisierung des biologischen Kartoffelanbaues und vermutlich zu einer Angebotsvernappung führen. Andere Teilprojekte des Blight-MOP Projektes zielen auf die Verbesserung von anbautechnischen Massnahmen und die Entwicklung von Ersatzprodukten für Kupfer ab