Growth regulators and darkness increase efficiency on in vitro culture of immature embryos from peppers

[EN] Common pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important vegetables in the world, and extensive breeding efforts are being made to develop new improved strains of this species. In this regard, in vitro culture of immature embryos may help breeders accelerate breeding cycles and overcome interspecific barriers, among other applications. In this study, we have optimized a protocol for in vitro culture of immature embryos of C. annuum. Levels of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and zeatin have been tested to improve the efficiency (germination rates) of this technique in C. annuum embryos at the four main immature stages (i.e. globular, heart, torpedo, and early cotyledonary) from four varietal types of this species (California Wonder, Piquillo, Guindilla, and Bola). The effect of 5-day initial incubation in the dark was also tested on the most efficient hormone formulation. On average, relatively low levels of both IAA and zeatin (0.01 mg L-1 each) (M-1) provided the highest germination rates, particularly in the advanced stages (torpedo and cotyledonary). To a lesser extent, the lack of these growth regulators (M-0) or high IAA (0.2 mg L-1)/low zeatin (0.01 mg L-1) (M-2) combination also had a positive response. On the contrary, high zeatin levels (0.2 mg L-1) produced very low germination rates or callus development (efficiency 0-7 %). Different responses were also found between genotypes. Thus, considering the best media (M-0, M-1, M-2), Bola embryos had the highest rates. M-1 plus 5-days of initial dark incubation (M-1-D) improved the efficiency rates at all embryo stages, particularly in the earliest (globular) embryos which increased from 3 % to > 20 %.Juan P. Manzur thanks Polytechnic University of Valencia for a research grant (2011-S2-4264, research staff training program, FPI). This work has been co-financed by INIA projects RTA2010-00038-C03-03 and RF2010-00025-00-00, and FEDER fundings. The authors thank NEIKER and the Regulatory Boards of D.O.P. Pimenton de Murcia and D.O.P. Pimiento del Piquillo de Lodosa for providing us with seeds of Guindilla de Ibarra, Bola and Piquillo.Manzur Poblete, JPA.; Calvache Asensio, MDLN.; Rodríguez Burruezo, A. (2014). Growth regulators and darkness increase efficiency on in vitro culture of immature embryos from peppers. Scientia Agricola. 71(6):488-493. https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-9016-2013-0230S48849371

In vitro germination of immature embryos for accelerating generation advancement in peppers (Capsicum annuum L.)

[EN] Capsicum peppers are one of the most important vegetables in the world and continuous breeding efforts are required to improve yield, resistances, or fruit traits. In this sense, breeding programs usually last many years because many generations each with several months are needed. Therefore, the isolation and in vitro germination of immature embryos might be helpful to shorten breeding cycles and accelerate breeding programs. Here, we evaluated the efficiency of this strategy in Capsicum annuum under both Autumn-Winter (AW) and Spring-Summer (SS) growing conditions. Five accessions, representing different varietal types, were included in this experiment and immature advanced embryos (torpedoearly cotyledonary) were used because of their high in vitro germination aptitude. Conventional breeding cycles (control) ranged between 148 and 184 days in AW and between 117 and 154 days in SS, indicating that no more than two generations per year are possible in peppers. By contrast, the in vitro strategy reduced the cycle length by 33-70 days in the AW season and by 13-56 days in the SS season, with California accessions showing the highest shortenings. These findings show that this strategy will allow Capsicum breeders to obtain three generations per year in California peppers, and up to four generations in cayenne peppers. Furthermore, compared to controls, in vitro-germinated plantlets showed the same high pollen fertility, and no deleterious effects were observed in their subsequent development (plant height and biomass). Therefore, these plants can be integrated safely in breeding programs. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Juan P. Manzur thanks Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for a research grant (2011-S2-4264, programa para la formacion de 209 personal investigador, FPI). Authors thank NEIKER and the Consejos Reguladores of D.O.P. Pimenton de Murcia and D.O.P. Pimiento del Piquillo de Lodosa for providing us with seeds of Guindilla de Ibarra, Bola and Piquillo, respectively. This work has been partially financed by INIA projects RTA2010-00038-C03-03 and RF2010-00025-00-00, FEDER funds.Manzur Poblete, JPA.; Oliva Alarcón, M.; Rodríguez Burruezo, A. (2014). In vitro germination of immature embryos for accelerating generation advancement in peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). Scientia Horticulturae. 170:203-210. doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2014.03.015S20321017

European Atlas of Soil Biodiversity

The SOIL Action (22004) of the Joint Research Centre\u2019s Land Management and Natural Hazards Unit (H07) has just completed a comprehensive collaborative project focusing exclusively on life in the soil. One of the resulting outputs is the first ever European Atlas of Soil Biodiversity. This atlas is the result of a collaboration between the European Commission\u2019s Joint Research Centre in Ispra, Italy and world leading experts in soil biodiversity from Europe and beyond. The atlas is a visually stunning publication of 128 pages, using striking photographs, informative texts and maps to explain and illustrate the great diversity of life in the across Europe. The atlas functions as a comprehensive guide to soil biology, allowing non-specialists to access information about this unseen world. The first part of the book provides an overview of the below ground environment, soil biota in general, the ecosystem functions that soil organism perform, the important value it has for human activities and relevance for global biogeochemical cycles. The second part is more of an 'Encyclopedia of Soil Biodiversity'. Starting with the smallest organisms such as the bacteria, this segment works through a range of taxonomic groups such as fungi, nematodes, insects and macro-fauna to illustrate the astonishing levels of heterogeneity of life in soil

Publisher Correction: Whole-genome sequencing of a sporadic primary immunodeficiency cohort (Nature, (2020), 583, 7814, (90-95), 10.1038/s41586-020-2265-1)

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper

Vorapaxar in the secondary prevention of atherothrombotic events

Item does not contain fulltextBACKGROUND: Thrombin potently activates platelets through the protease-activated receptor PAR-1. Vorapaxar is a novel antiplatelet agent that selectively inhibits the cellular actions of thrombin through antagonism of PAR-1. METHODS: We randomly assigned 26,449 patients who had a history of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or peripheral arterial disease to receive vorapaxar (2.5 mg daily) or matching placebo and followed them for a median of 30 months. The primary efficacy end point was the composite of death from cardiovascular causes, myocardial infarction, or stroke. After 2 years, the data and safety monitoring board recommended discontinuation of the study treatment in patients with a history of stroke owing to the risk of intracranial hemorrhage. RESULTS: At 3 years, the primary end point had occurred in 1028 patients (9.3%) in the vorapaxar group and in 1176 patients (10.5%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio for the vorapaxar group, 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 0.94; P<0.001). Cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, or recurrent ischemia leading to revascularization occurred in 1259 patients (11.2%) in the vorapaxar group and 1417 patients (12.4%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.95; P=0.001). Moderate or severe bleeding occurred in 4.2% of patients who received vorapaxar and 2.5% of those who received placebo (hazard ratio, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.43 to 1.93; P<0.001). There was an increase in the rate of intracranial hemorrhage in the vorapaxar group (1.0%, vs. 0.5% in the placebo group; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Inhibition of PAR-1 with vorapaxar reduced the risk of cardiovascular death or ischemic events in patients with stable atherosclerosis who were receiving standard therapy. However, it increased the risk of moderate or severe bleeding, including intracranial hemorrhage. (Funded by Merck; TRA 2P-TIMI 50 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00526474.)

Antiinflammatory therapy with canakinumab for atherosclerotic disease

BACKGROUND: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P=0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P=0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P=0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P=0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P=0.31). CONCLUSIONS: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. Copyright © 2017 Massachusetts Medical Society