Major fowering time genes of barley: allelic diversity, efects, and comparison with wheat

Key message. This review summarizes the allelic series, effects, interactions between genes and with the environment, for the major flowering time genes that drive phenological adaptation of barley. Abstract: The optimization of phenology is a major goal of plant breeding addressing the production of high-yielding varieties adapted to changing climatic conditions. Flowering time in cereals is regulated by genetic networks that respond predominately to day length and temperature. Allelic diversity at these genes is at the basis of barley wide adaptation. Detailed knowledge of their efects, and genetic and environmental interactions will facilitate plant breeders manipulating fowering time in cereal germplasm enhancement, by exploiting appropriate gene combinations. This review describes a catalogue of alleles found in QTL studies by barley geneticists, corresponding to the genetic diversity at major fowering time genes, the main drivers of barley phenological adaptation: VRN-H1 (HvBM5A), VRN-H2 (HvZCCTa-c), VRN-H3 (HvFT1), PPD-H1 (HvPRR37), PPD-H2 (HvFT3), and eam6/eps2 (HvCEN). For each gene, allelic series, size and direction of QTL efects, interactions between genes and with the environment are presented. Pleiotropic efects on agronomically important traits such as grain yield are also discussed. The review includes brief comments on additional genes with large efects on phenology that became relevant in modern barley breeding. The parallelisms between fowering time allelic variation between the two most cultivated Triticeae species (barley and wheat) are also outlined. This work is mostly based on previously published data, although we added some new data and hypothesis supported by a number of studies. This review shows the wide variety of allelic efects that provide enormous plasticity in barley fowering behavior, which opens new avenues to breeders for fne-tuning phenology of the barley crop.Funding This research was supported by the contract “Iberia region hybrid barley variety development and understanding efects of adaptation genes in hybrids”, between CSIC and Syngenta Crop Protection AG, which included funding for MFC PhD scholarship, and by grants AGL2016-80967-R and PID2019-111621RB-I00 (Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain), SUSCROP ERA-NET project BARISTA, PCI2019-103758, and the Government of Aragón (group A08_20R)

Six-month color change and water sorption of 9 new-generation flowable composites in 6 staining solutions

Color match and water sorption are two factors that affect restorative materials. Discoloration is essential in the lifespan of restorations. The aim of this study was to evaluate color change and water sorption of nine flowable composites at multiple time points over 6 months. 60 samples of each composite were divided into two groups (Color Change and Water Sorption/Solubility). Each Color Change group was divided into six subgroups, which were immersed in distilled water (DW), coffee (CF), Coca-Cola (CC), red wine (RW), tea (TE) and orange juice (OJ). The color was measured at the baseline, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks, and 3 and 6 months and color change values (ΔE) were calculated. Each Water Sorption [WS]/Solubility [WL] group was tested according to ISO 4049:2009. The data were evaluated using two-way ANOVA, Fisher's post-hoc test and Pearson's correlation test. The composite with the lowest ΔE differed for each solution: Filtek™ Bulk Fill in DW (∆E = 0.73 (0.17–1.759)); Vertise Flow in CF (∆E = 14.75 (7.91–27.41)), in TE (∆E = 7.27 (2.81–24.81)) and OJ (∆E = 3.17 (0.87–9.92)); Tetric EvoFlow® in CC (∆E = 1.27 (0.45–4.02)); and Filtek™ Supreme XTE in RW (∆E = 8.88 (5.23–19.59)). RW caused the most discoloration (∆E = 23.62 (4.93–51.36)). Vertise Flow showed the highest water sorption (WS = 69.10 ± 7.19). The Pearson test showed statistically significant positive correlations between water sorption and solubility and between water sorption and ∆E; the positive solubility-∆E correlation was not statistically significant. The findings suggest that water sorption is one factor associated with the ability of composites to discolor; however, discoloration is a multifactorial problem. info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Assessment of pesticide environmental risks in annual crops in center of Santa Fe

Los plaguicidas permiten alcanzar la productividad y la sustentabilidad si se manejan adecuadamente. La elaboración de indicadores permite cuantificar el impacto ambiental de un fitosanitario. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar el impacto ambiental de plaguicidas sobre el suelo y el agua en lotes de agricultura del centro de Santa Fe con tres indicadores: GUS, Ipest e Índice relativo de Plaguicidas. El trabajo se realizó en 25 establecimientos cuyos registros de aplicaciones en cultivos de soja, maíz y trigo se relevaron entre 2007 y 2011. Se calcularon los tres indicadores y se compararon los resultados obtenidos. El maíz fue el cultivo con mayor riesgo de impacto ambiental por el uso intensivo de atrazina. En trigo y soja, los ingredientes activos empleados tuvieron bajo impacto ambiental. El empleo de indicadores contribuye a seleccionar plaguicidas con mejor comportamiento ambiental y realizar una planificación más sustentable de los cultivos.Pesticides are essential tools to achieve productivity and sustainability in agricultural crops when they are applied minimizing undesirable effects. Pesticide environmental impact is related to toxicity and time of exposure. Several indicators allow the calculation of this impact: GUS, IPEST and Relative Pesticide Index. Our aim was the evaluation of pesticide environmental impact on soil and water in agricultural fields of Central Santa Fe with those three indicators. All pesticide treatments applied in soybean, wheat and corn in 25 farms were recorded from 2007 and 2011, also with soil properties and pesticide characteristics. Indicators were calculated and the results were compared. Corn has the highest risk of pesticide contamination in soil and water, related to the frequent use of atrazine. Wheat and soybean had less environmental impact. The application of indicators may be helpful for considering the use of new active ingredients and their relationship with sustainable systems.Fil: Arregui, Maria Cristina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Grenon, Daniel Arnaldo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Sánchez, D.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Ghione, J.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentin

Hybrids Provide More Options for Fine-Tuning Flowering Time Responses of Winter Barley

Crop adaptation requires matching resource availability to plant development. Tight coordination of the plant cycle with prevailing environmental conditions is crucial to maximizing yield. It is expected that winters in temperate areas will become warmer, so the vernalization requirements of current cultivars can be desynchronized with the environment’s vernalizing potential. Therefore, current phenological ideotypes may not be optimum for future climatic conditions. Major genes conferring vernalization sensitivity and phenological responses in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) are known, but some allelic combinations remain insufficiently evaluated. Furthermore, there is a lack of knowledge about flowering time in a hybrid context. To honor the promise of increased yield potentials, hybrid barley phenology must be studied, and the knowledge deployed in new cultivars. A set of three male and two female barley lines, as well as their six F1 hybrids, were studied in growth chambers, subjected to three vernalization treatments: complete (8 weeks), moderate (4 weeks), and low (2 weeks). Development was recorded up to flowering, and expression of major genes was assayed at key stages. We observed a gradation in responses to vernalization, mostly additive, concentrated in the phase until the initiation of stem elongation, and proportional to the allele constitution and dosage present in VRN-H1. These responses were further modulated by the presence of PPD-H2. The duration of the late reproductive phase presented more dominance toward earliness and was affected by the rich variety of alleles at VRN-H3. Our results provide further opportunities for fine-tuning total and phasal growth duration in hybrid barley, beyond what is currently feasible in inbred cultivars.his research was supported by the contract “Iberia region hybrid barley variety development and understanding effects of adaptation genes in hybrids,” between CSIC and Syngenta (Basel, Switzerland) Crop Protection AG, which included funding for MF-C scholarship

Original research Dental Materials

Six-month color change and water sorption of 9 new-generation flowable composites in 6 staining solutions Abstract: Color match and water sorption are two factors that affect restorative materials. Discoloration is essential in the lifespan of restorations. The aim of this study was to evaluate color change and water sorption of nine flowable composites at multiple time points over 6 months. 60 samples of each composite were divided into two groups (Color Change and Water Sorption/Solubility). Each Color Change group was divided into six subgroups, which were immersed in distilled water (DW), coffee (CF), Coca-Cola (CC), red wine (RW), tea (TE) and orange juice (OJ). The color was measured at the baseline, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks, and 3 and 6 months and color change value

¿Transporte público para esenciales o transporte público esencial? Prospectivas sobre la movilidad urbana pospandemia

The COVID19 pandemic affected daily life, two positions emerging in contrasting ways: one that affirms that we will be able to return to our “normal” life and another that raises the emergence of a “new normal”. This raises questions about life in cities and, particularly, mobility. With the pandemic, global mobility fell precipitously, as it is considered a vector for the spread of the virus. The reactivation of activities has brought with it the problem of how to move around avoiding contagion. Therefore, Argentina generated a series of restrictions on the use of public transport, only for essential workers. But how does it affect urban mobility? The present work aims to analyze urban mobility in pandemic and the use of public transport, taking the city of La Plata as a case study and reflecting on the change in user behavior. The research is based on data collected by Google Mobility and on an ad hoc survey that reveals mobility situations during the isolation period and future trends. The first results show a critical mobility pattern of majority use of the private car, followed by walking and cycling. This pattern produces a territorial and socioeconomic bias that accentuates social inequalities in the population. Public transport fulfills a social role that must be considered in the application of policies. The post-pandemic future will not be without inequalities; therefore we must consider the needs of the entire population, with an efficient transportation system, with freedom of choice and guaranteeing the safety of all.La pandemia por COVID19 afectó la vida cotidiana surgiendo dos posturas de manera contrapuesta: aquella que afirma que podremos volver a nuestra vida “normal” y otra que plantea el surgimiento de una “nueva normalidad”. Esto genera interrogantes sobre la vida en las ciudades y, particularmente, la movilidad. Con la pandemia, la movilidad a nivel global cayó de manera precipitada, por considerarse un vector de propagación del virus. La reactivación de las actividades ha traído consigo el problema de cómo moverse evitando el contagio. Por ello, Argentina generó una serie de restricciones al uso del transporte público, solo para los trabajadores esenciales. Pero ¿Cómo afecta esto a la movilidad urbana? El presente trabajo tiene por objetivo analizar la movilidad urbana en pandemia y el uso del transporte público, tomando como caso la ciudad de La Plata y reflexionando sobre el cambio en el comportamiento de los usuarios. La investigación se basa en datos relevados por Google Mobility y en una encuesta ad hoc que releva las situaciones de movilidad durante el período de aislamiento y las tendencias a futuro. Los primeros resultados arrojan un patrón de movilidad crítico de uso mayoritario del auto particular, seguido de la caminata y la bicicleta. Este patrón produce un sesgo territorial y socioeconómico que acentúa las desigualdades sociales en la población. El futuro pospandemia no estará exento de desigualdades, por ello debemos considerar las necesidades de toda la población, con un sistema de transporte eficiente, con libertad de elección y garantizando la seguridad de todos

Para evaluar el riesgo de impacto ambiental de los fitosanitarios

Para diseñar estrategias de protección del ambiente, de los efectos indeseables de los plaguicidas, es necesario ponderar el impacto que estos pueden ocasionar. El impacto ambiental de un fitosanitario resulta de la combinación de sus grados de exposición y de toxicidad, y de los grados de vulnerabilidad y resiliencia tanto del sitio de aplicación como del territorio que pueda ser alcanzado por los efectos del producto. Se presentan los valores de riesgo ambiental de los fitosanitarios más utilizados en cultivos extensivos en el norte de Santa Fe.Fil: Arnold, M.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Arregui, Maria Cristina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Cracogna, Mariano Federico. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Grenon, Daniel Arnaldo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; Argentin

Para evaluar el riesgo de impacto ambiental de los fitosanitarios

Para diseñar estrategias de protección del ambiente, de los efectos indeseables de los plaguicidas, es necesario ponderar el impacto que estos pueden ocasionar. El impacto ambiental de un fitosanitario resulta de la combinación de sus grados de exposición y de toxicidad, y de los grados de vulnerabilidad y resiliencia tanto del sitio de aplicación como del territorio que pueda ser alcanzado por los efectos del producto. Se presentan los valores de riesgo ambiental de los fitosanitarios más utilizados en cultivos extensivos en el norte de Santa Fe.Fil: Arnold, M.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Arregui, Maria Cristina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Cracogna, Mariano Federico. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Grenon, Daniel Arnaldo. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; Argentin

A Reliability Study in a Cohort of 207 Apparently Healthy Participants

The reliability of single time point measurements of the novel adipokines retinol-binding protein 4 and omentin-1 in the blood has not been evaluated in large samples yet. The present study aimed to assess the amount of biological variation of these two adipokines within individuals. The study sample comprised 207 participants (124 women and 83 men) from Potsdam (Germany) and surrounding areas, with an average age of 56.5 years (SD 4.2). Blood samples were collected from each participant twice, approximately four months apart. Using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, the concentrations of retinol- binding protein 4 and omentin-1 were determined in EDTA plasma. As indicators of reliability, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated from the repeated biomarker measurements. The ICCs for repeated retinol- binding protein 4 and omentin-1 measurements were 0.77 (95% CI 0.71, 0.82) and 0.83 (95% CI 0.78, 0.87), respectively, indicating for both adipokines excellent reliability. ICCs were stable across strata according to sex, age, BMI, and blood pressure. Thus, for epidemiological studies it seems reasonable to rely on concentrations of retinol-binding protein 4 and omentin-1 in samples from a single time point if repeated measurements are not available

Resequencing the Vrs1 gene in Spanish barley landraces revealed reversion of six-rowed to two-rowed spike

Six-rowed spike 1 (Vrs1) is a gene of major importance for barley breeding and germplasm management as it is the main gene determining spike row-type (2-rowed vs. 6-rowed). This is a widely used DUS trait, and has been often associated to phenotypic traits beyond spike type. Comprehensive re-sequencing Vrs1 revealed three two-rowed alleles (Vrs1.b2; Vrs1.b3; Vrs1.t1) and four six-rowed (vrs1.a1; vrs1.a2; vrs1.a3; vrs1.a4) in the natural population. However, the current knowledge about Vrs1 alleles and its distribution among Spanish barley subpopulations is still underexploited. We analyzed the gene in a panel of 215 genotypes, made of Spanish landraces and European cultivars. Among 143 six-rowed accessions, 57 had the vrs1.a1 allele, 83 were vrs1.a2, and three showed the vrs1.a3 allele. Vrs1.b3 was found in most two-rowed accessions, and a new allele was observed in 7 out of 50 two-rowed Spanish landraces. This allele, named Vrs1.b5, contains a ‘T’ insertion in exon 2, originally proposed as the causal mutation giving rise to the six-row vrs1.a2 allele, but has an additional upstream deletion that results in the change of 15 amino acids and a potentially functional protein. We conclude that eight Vrs1 alleles (Vrs1.b2, Vrs1.b3, Vrs1.b5, Vrs1.t1, vrs1.a1, vrs1.a2, vrs1.a3, vrs1.a4) discriminate two and six-rowed barleys. The markers described will be useful for DUS identification, plant breeders, and other crop scientists.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness grants AGL2010-21929, AGL2013-48756-R, RFP2012-00015-00-00, RTA2012-00033-C03-02, and EUI2009-04075 (national code for Plant-KBBE project ExpResBar). CPC was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness grant no. BES-2011-045905 (linked to project AGL2010-21929). TK and SS were supported by a research fund by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Japan (Genomics for Agricultural Innovation grants no. TRS1002). SS was supported by a Grant-in-Aid from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Postdoctoral Fellow for Research Abroad and a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B) (no. 16 K18635)