Biological and ecological traits of anthemis chrysantha J. Gay (Asteraceae), a critically endangered species

[ENG] Anthemis chrysantha (Asteraceae) is a winter annual plant with erect habit which reaches a height of 30 cm. Its emergence period begins in autumn, flowering occurs from early March to late May, and fruits mature mostly in June, after that the plant dies. This species is endemic to North Africa and Cartagena (Murcia, southeast of Spain) and it is classified as Critically Endangered according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) categories, and as En Peligro de Extinción in the Catálogo Regional de Flora Silvestre Protegida de la Región de Murcia. Due to this fact and the little prior knowledge about the species, the aim of this thesis is to study biological ad ecological traits of A. chrysantha in order to establish appropriate measures for its conservation. Thus, this work includes the study of: (1) morphology, anatomy and germination behavior of the heteromorphic achenes of A. chrysantha; (2) the spatial and temporal dispersal traits of the achenes and the implication of their dispersal strategy for the species; (3) the ability of the species to form a soil seed bank and the role that it can play in the maintenance of the population in an arid and unpredictable environment; (4) the level of genetic diversity, including the genetic variation within and between natural populations of the species, using ISSR markers; and (5) two different introduction methods, transplant of plants grown in a greenhouse and direct achene sowing, for testing them regarding to the survival and the establishment of the populations. According to the obtained results from the conducted tests, A. chrysantha produces two morphs of achenes: white and dark achenes which differ in size, weight, anatomy, and germination behavior. White achenes germinate in high percentages at different conditions, but dark achenes do not germinate. Dark achenes have dormancy due to the thickness of their pericarp, which makes difficult the entry of water and also prevents germination by mechanical restriction. This work also demonstrates the two achenes type remain on the dead mother plant from the fruiting period (early summer) to late spring forming a seasonal aerial seed bank, and rain is necessary to release the achenes from the capitula (ombrohydrochory), which are mainly dispersed at short distances (atelechory). The aerial seed bank is an effective trait to ensure the maintenance of this species in its unpredictable habitat, but A. chrysantha has also the ability to form a persistent soil seed bank (PSB), with fluctuations of achene density due to the variability in annual rainfall and where dark dormant achenes are largely responsible for the permanent fraction. A PSB plays a crucial role in the maintenance of the annual population of this endangered plant and the study, carried out during five. Cconsecutive years, highlights its importance in dry years. In addition, the genetic diversity study of the Spanish populations shows that both at the species and population level the genetic variation of A. chrysantha is high, with a high within–population variability and a low, differentiation between populations. The ISSR markers have detected genetic variation among Spanish and Algerian A. chrysantha populations, which could support the proposal of Sánchez et al. (2002) for recognizing the rank of subspecies, at least, for the Spanish populations. Finally, the two introduction methods seem to be valid for the establishment of A. chrysantha, in spite of the reproductive failure after two years due to the dry spring in 2012. However, if the next years are conducive, the formation of a possible PSB could provide dramatic populations recovery and this fact could be of great interest for the species conservation. In conclusion, this work goes into the biology of this threatened species and we hope that it will become a very useful tool for establishing appropriate measures for the species conservation when the Regional Administration carry out its recovery plan.Universidad Politécnica de Cartagen

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Dependent inductions of omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism act inversely on tumor progression.

The Western diet contains a high ratio of omega-6 (ω6) to omega-3 (ω3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). The prototypical aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligand, 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), induces CYP1 family enzymes, which can metabolize PUFA to epoxides. Mice fed ω3-rich or ω6-rich diets were treated with TCDD and injected subcutaneously with AHR-competent Hepa1-GFP hepatoma cells or AHR-deficient LLC lung cancer cells. TCDD reduced the growth rates of the resulting tumors in ω3-fed mice and inhibited their metastasis to the liver and/or lung, but had the opposite effects in mice fed ω6 PUFA. These responses were likely attributable to the corresponding PUFA epoxides generated in tumor cells and/or host, since many depended upon co-administration of a soluble epoxide hydrolase (EPHX2) inhibitor in males, and/or were associated with increases in epoxide levels in tumors and sites of metastasis. Equivalent effects occurred in females in the absence of EPHX2 inhibition, probably because this sex expressed reduced levels of EPHX2. The responses elicited by TCDD were associated with effects on tumor vascularity, tumor cell proliferation and/or apoptosis. Thus environmental AHR agonists, and potentially also endogenous, nutritional, and microbiome-derived agonists, may reduce or enhance cancer progression depending on the composition of dietary PUFA, particularly in females

Could recently locally extinct population patches of Astragalus nitidiflorus regenerate from the soil seed bank?

Persistence, distribution and dynamics of Astragalus nitidiflorus soil seed bank, a critically endangered species of southern Spain, were studied during four consecutive years to determine their importance to regenerate locally extinct patches of the only known A. nitidiflorus population worldwide. The spatial distribution of seeds on the ground was highly influenced by the presence or absence of adult plants and by the indehiscent character of the fruit. Results showed that most seeds were present in the surface layer, inside fruit and close to the mother plant. Seed longevity was low in general, but higher for seeds protected by fruit than for single ones after two years of burial. We discuss our results in relation with other patterns of seed dispersal or viability in arid environments, that are generally characterized by high spatial and temporal variability with a short–range dispersal. We concluded that this species is able to form a short–term persistent soil seed bank strongly influenced by environmental factors and population fluctuations. Based on these results, natural regeneration of patches locally extinct some years ago is unlikely from the soil seed bank and recovery should be attempted by sowing seeds or planting new specimens.This work was financed by the ‘Consejería de Agricultura y Agua de la Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia’ and the ‘Fundación Séneca de la Región de Murcia (1186/PI/09)’

Descubre la jara de Cartagena

Esta publicación dirigida a alumnos de educación primaria, con edades comprendidas entre los 6 y los 12 años, está enmarcada entre las acciones de divulgación y sensibilización del proyecto “Acciones para la recuperación y conservación de la especie en peligro de extinción jara de Cartagena (Cistus heterophyllus subsp. carthaginensis)”, llevado a cabo por la Escuela de Ingeniería Agronómica de la Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, que cuenta con el apoyo de la Fundación Biodiversidad del Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, y de la Consejería de Agricultura, Agua y Medio Ambiente de la Región de Murcia. Dividida en dos partes: una breve narración ilustrada, obra de la joven ilustradora Irene Álvarez, en la que se describe la especie y su increíble historia de supervivencia, y unas divertidas actividades que permiten a los alumnos seguir conociendo a la especie mediante fichas para colorear, adivinanzas y pasatiempos de diversos tipos.Fundación Biodiversidad, del Ministerio de Agricultura y Pesca, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, y de la Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Medio Ambiente de la Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia

Morphology, anatomy and germination response of heteromorphic achenes of Anthemis chrysantha J. Gay (Asteraceae), a critically endangered species

[EN] This study demonstrates that Anthemis chrysantha, a 'Critically Endangered' annual plant, produces two morphs of achenes: white and dark achenes, which differ in size, mass, anatomy and germination behaviour. Fresh white achenes germinated at all temperatures assayed from 10 to 25 degrees C in both continuous darkness and 12-h photoperiod, ranging between 24% at 25 degrees C in darkness and 89% at 12/20 degrees C in light, whereas fresh dark achenes did not germinate under any temperature or light conditions. To identify differences in dormancy type between the two morphs, germination of dry-stored achenes, and achenes stratified at 5 or 25 degrees C for 2 months were tested in both darkness and light at 5, 15 and 12/20 degrees C for dry-stored and warm-stratified (25 degrees C) achenes; and at 15, 25 and 12/20 degrees C for cold-stratified (5 degrees C) achenes. Of the white achenes, 90% germinated during the cold stratification period. In general, dry storage and warm stratification did not increase germination compared to fresh achenes. However, dark achenes did not germinate under any conditions. Dark achene dormancy was only broken by mechanical scarification or by excising the embryo (germination reached 71%). An anatomical study showed that the mesocarp of dark achenes had no intercellular spaces and was much thicker and stronger than that of white achenes, making the entry of water difficult, and also preventing germination by mechanical restriction. This study demonstrated that dormancy in the dark achenes is likely caused by the thickness of their pericarp, physically impeding germination and hampering imbibition of water.This work was financed by the Consejeria de Agricultura y Agua de la Comunidad Autonoma de la Region de Murcia and the Fundacion Seneca de la Region de Murcia (Project 1186/PI/09).Aguado, M.; Martinez-Sanchez, JJ.; Reig Armiñana, J.; García Breijo, FJ.; Franco, JA.; Vicente, MJ. (2011). Morphology, anatomy and germination response of heteromorphic achenes of Anthemis chrysantha J. Gay (Asteraceae), a critically endangered species. Seed Science Research. 21(4):283-294. doi:10.1017/S0960258511000183S28329421

Ciclo de vida de Allium chrysonemum y efecto de la temperatura de almacenamiento sobre la floración

Allium chrysonemum es una especie endémica del sudeste ibérico catalogada como vulnerable en el Catálogo Regional de Flora Silvestre Protegida de la Región de Murcia. Se ha estudiado el desarrollo y fenología de los bulbos procedentes de Calasparra obtenidos de semilla y la influencia de la temperatura de almacenaje sobre la emergencia del escapo floral, aspectos importantes para hacer reintroducciones en campo. Se estudió el desarrollo morfofenológico de los bulbos durante 2009‐2012. Los bulbos extraídos en 2011 se almacenaron a 5°C, 10°C y 22°C. Los resultados muestran un lógico incremento de peso de los bulbos con los años. Ya en el segundo ciclo de cultivo se inició la floración de algunos bulbos (16%), dándose una floración plena durante el tercer ciclo (99%). En este tercer ciclo de cultivo el 10% de los bulbos forman bulbillos, de los cuales el 37,5% desarrolló a su vez el escapo floral. En cuanto al efecto de la temperatura de almacenamiento de los bulbos, el 100% de los conservados a 22ºC brotaron durante el almacenamiento, mientras que a 5ºC y a 10°C lo hicieron el 70% y 81% respectivamente. La conservación a bajas temperaturas provocó una disminución gradual en el tiempo de emergencia del escapo floral. Por otro lado, los bulbos almacenados a bajas temperaturas florecieron con tan sólo 4 hojas, mientras que los conservados a 22ºC lo hicieron con 6 hojas. El almacenamiento a bajas temperaturas ayuda a evitar floraciones tardías y por tanto disminuye el riesgo de fallo reproductivo en veranos muy secos.ofrecida por mis compañeras y amigas Naveira, D. y Rosique, M. A así como a Solano, F.J

Omega-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Enhance Tumor Aggressiveness in Experimental Lung Cancer Model: Important Role of Oxylipins

Lung cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer death worldwide; it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage and bears poor prognosis. It has been shown that diet is an important environmental factor that contributes to the risk and mortality of several types of cancers. Intake of ω-3 and ω-6 PUFAs plays an important role in cancer risk and progression. Current Western populations have high consumption of ω-6 PUFAs with a ratio of ω-6/ω-3 PUFAs at 15:1 to 16.7:1 This high consumption of ω-6 PUFAs is related to increased cancer risk and progression. However, whether a diet rich in ω-6 PUFAs can contribute to tumor aggressiveness has not been well investigated. We used a murine model of pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma to study the aggressiveness of tumors in mice fed with a diet rich in ω-6 PUFAs and its relationship with oxylipins. Our results shown that the mice fed a diet rich in ω-6 showed a marked increase in proliferation, angiogenesis and pro-inflammatory markers and decreased expression of pro-apoptotic proteins in their tumors. Oxylipin profiling revealed an upregulation of various pro-tumoral oxylipins including PGs, HETEs, DiHETrEs and HODEs. These results demonstrate for the first time that high intake of ω-6 PUFAs in the diet enhances the malignancy of tumor cells by histological changes on tumor dedifferentiation and increases cell proliferation, angiogenesis, pro-inflammatory oxylipins and molecular aggressiveness targets such as NF-κB p65, YY1, COX-2 and TGF-β

Entrevista a Mayra Aguado sobre el proyecto de conservación de la Jara de Cartagena

Entrevista a Mayra Aguado, investigadora en Proyecto Jara de Cartagena - Cistus heterophyllus, durante Semana de la Ciencia y la Tecnología de la Región de Murcia 201

Plan de marketing para el lanzamiento de un servicio de suscripción de vinos online a través de una plataforma

El presente trabajo de investigación desarrolla el plan de marketing de una plataforma de suscripción de vinos en línea que incluye cuatro tipos de suscripción, el cual se basa en el envío de una botella de vino de acuerdo a la elección del cliente y otra botella de vino al azar, elegida por el equipo de sumilleres especializados sobre la base de los gustos y las preferencias de los clientes, así como del posterior envío a domicilio de las botellas de vinos de “sorpresa controlada”

Banco aéreo transitorio de semillas de anthemis chrysantha j. gay (compositae), un iberoafricanismo amenazado

El presente trabajo estudia la existencia del banco aéreo de semillas de Anthemis chrysantha 1. Gay, una especie catalogada como en Peligro Critico, y el valor cuantitativo del mismo a lo largo de tres ciclos anuales consecutivos, de 2006 a 2008. Los resultados obtenidos constatan la persistencia de los aquenios durante meses en las plantas muertas, cuya dispersión se produce de forma gradual durante el otoño y el invierno del año correspondiente.Asociación de Jóvenes Investigadores de Cartagena, (AJICT). Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena. Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Industrial UPCT, (ETSII). Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería Agronómica, (ETSIA), Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación (ETSIT). Escuela de Ingeniería de Caminos, Canales, y Puertos y de Ingeniería de Minas, (EICM). Fundación Séneca, Agencia Regional de Ciencia y Tecnología. Parque Tecnológico de Fuente Álamo. Grupo Aquiline