Development and Characterization of Microsatellite markers in Black Poplar (Populus Nigra L.)

Using an enrichment procedure, we have cloned and sequenced microsatellite loci from black poplar (Populus nigra L.) and developed primers for sequence-tagged microsatellite (STMS) analysis. Twelve primer pairs for dinucleotide repeats produced fragments of sufficient quality which were polymorphic in P. nigra. Some of them also showed amplification in other Populus species (P. deltoides, P. tricocarpa, P. tremula, P. tremuloides, P. candicans, and/or P. lasiocarpa). The best nine and (GT) (GA) microsatellite markers were tested on a set of 23 P. nigra genotypes from all over Europe. The microsatellites were highly polymorphic, with 10–19 different alleles per microsatellite locus among these 23 genotypes. WPMS08 sometimes amplified three fragments. Using the other eight marker loci, the level of heterozygosity among the plants was on average 0.71 (range 0.25–1.00). The microsatellite markers developed will be useful for screening the genetic diversity in natural populations and in gene bank collections

Cotton Textile/Iron Oxide Nanozyme Composites with Peroxidase-like Activity: Preparation, Characterization, and Application

At present, both native and immobilized nanoparticlesare of great importance in many areas of science andtechnology. In this paper, we have studied magnetic iron oxidenanoparticles and their aggregates bound on woven cotton textilesemploying two simple modification procedures. One modificationwas based on the treatment of textiles with perchloric-acidstabilizedmagnetic fluid diluted with methanol followed by drying.The second procedure was based on the microwave-assistedconversion of ferrous sulfate at high pH followed by drying. Thestructure and functional properties of these modified textiles wereanalyzed in detail. Scanning electron microscopy of native and modified textiles clearly showed the presence of iron oxidenanoparticles on the surface of the modified cotton fibers. All of the modified textile materials exhibited light to dark brown colordepending on the amount of the bound iron oxide particles. Magnetic measurements showed that the saturation magnetizationvalues reflect the amount of magnetic nanoparticles present in the modified textiles. Small-angle X-ray and neutron scatteringmeasurements were conducted for the detailed structural characterization at the nanoscale of both the native and magneticallymodified textiles, and different structural organization of nanoparticles in the two kinds of textile samples were concluded. Thetextile-bound iron oxide particles exhibited peroxidase-like activity when the N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine sulfate salt was used asa substrate; this nanozyme activity enabled rapid decolorization of crystal violet in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Thedeposition of a sufficient amount of iron oxide particles on textiles enabled their simple magnetic separation from large volumes ofsolutions; if necessary, the magnetic response of the modified textiles can be simply increased by incorporation of a piece of magneticiron wire. The simplicity of the immobilized nanozyme preparation and the low cost of all the precursors enable its widespreadapplication, such as decolorization and degradation of selected organic dyes and other important pollutants. Other types of textileboundnanozymes can be prepared and used as low-cost catalysts for a variety of applications

Valorization of Marine Waste : Use of Industrial By-Products and Beach Wrack Towards the Production of High Added-Value Products

Biomass is defined as organic matter from living organisms represented in all kingdoms. It is recognized to be an excellent source of proteins, polysaccharides and lipids and, as such, embodies a tailored feedstock for new products and processes to apply in green industries. The industrial processes focused on the valorization of terrestrial biomass are well established, but marine sources still represent an untapped resource. Oceans and seas occupy over 70% of the Earth's surface and are used intensively in worldwide economies through the fishery industry, as logistical routes, for mining ores and exploitation of fossil fuels, among others. All these activities produce waste. The other source of unused biomass derives from the beach wrack or washed-ashore organic material, especially in highly eutrophicated marine ecosystems. The development of high-added-value products from these side streams has been given priority in recent years due to the detection of a broad range of biopolymers, multiple nutrients and functional compounds that could find applications for human consumption or use in livestock/pet food, pharmaceutical and other industries. This review comprises a broad thematic approach in marine waste valorization, addressing the main achievements in marine biotechnology for advancing the circular economy, ranging from bioremediation applications for pollution treatment to energy and valorization for biomedical applications. It also includes a broad overview of the valorization of side streams in three selected case study areas: Norway, Scotland, and the Baltic Sea.</p&gt

Structure of the genetic diversity in Black poplar (Populus nigra L.) populations across European river systems: consequences for conservation and restoration

Black poplar (Populus nigra L.) is a keystone species for riparian ecosystems in Europe. We analysed the structure of genetic diversity of 17 populations from 11 river valleys that are part of seven catchment systems (Danube, Ebro, Elbe, Po, Rhine, Rhone, and Usk) in Europe, in relation to geography and river management. In total, 1069 trees were genotyped using AFLP and microsatellite markers. The trees had an observed heterozygosity of 0.74 (range 0.59¿0.82 across microsatellite loci). The majority (72.6¿90.8%, depending on the marker system) of the genetic variation was present within populations. Most pairs of populations along a river were relatively similar (pairwise Fst 0.042¿0.135 based on AFLP, 0.002¿0.037 based on microsatellites). Overall population differentiation among rivers was considerable (Fst among populations was 0.268 based on AFLP, and 0.081 based on microsatellites). An analysis using the program Structure indicated that all populations recruited plants from several clusters. Geographically close populations tended to draw from the same Structure clusters, including populations from adjacent catchments. The Danube and Inn populations in Austria were genetically more similar to the Vltava population (Elbe catchment) in Czech Republic than the geographically more distant populations along the Tisa and Prut rivers of the Danube catchment in Ukraine. This indicates that gene flow and dispersal takes place across fairly large distances and between river catchments. Consistent with this result, a principal coordinate analysis of genetic distances among individual trees based on AFLP bands showed large overlap of populations, although the French and Spanish samples formed distinct clusters, and the samples from the Ticino (Italy) were at an intermediate position. The extent of clonal duplication was highest along regulated rivers, with e.g., 41% clonal duplication along the Rhine in The Netherlands (up to 32 trees for one genet). The Usk contained a man-made population (two genotypes along the entire river, one genet present as 70 trees out of 72 trees sampled). No clonal duplication was found along dynamic rivers, such as the Ebro (Spain), the Drome (France), and the Tisa and Prut (Ukraine)