The Citrus Variety Improvement Program in Spain in the Period 1975-2001

The Citrus Variety Improvement Program in Spain (CVIPS) started in 1975. It has the following objectives: a) to recover pathogen-free plants of local cultivars by shoot-tip grafting in vitro (STG); b) to import foreign genotypes through a STG based quarantine procedure; c) to maintain healthy genotypes in a Germplasm Bank; and d) to release healthy budwood to citrus nurseries through a certification program. Plants recovered by STG are biologically indexed by inoculation to the following indicator plants: Mexican lime, Pineapple sweet orange, Dweet tangor, Citrus excelsa, Etrog citron, and Parson’s Special mandarin. In addition, they are indexed by sPAGE or imprint-hybridization for viroids, by RT-PCR for Citrus leaf blotch virus, by dsRNA analysis for viruses that produce dsRNA during their replication cycle, and by tissue print-ELISA for Citrus tristeza virus. Only healthy genotypes are included in the Germplasm Bank, which has a field collection used for research and horticultural evaluation, a cryo-stored collection for longterm maintenance, and a screen-house collection that is used to release budwood to nurseries. It contains a total of 428 genotypes, 237 selected in Spain and 191 imported from other countries, representing 43 Citrus species and 32 species from 17 Citrus-related genera. Release of healthy budwood from this program to nurseries started in 1979. At that time, there were only 10 registered nurseries, but in the last few years the number has now increased to 39. For commercial propagation all nurseries are using budwood from the Germplasm Bank. Since the beginning of the program, about 85 million certified nursery trees from this origin have been produced. This represents more than 70% of the Spanish citrus industry. The CVIPS has had a very high impact on the citrus industry. Virus and virus-like diseases do not currently induce any significant damage in the new plantings, and a wide selection of healthy material from the best varieties is available for growers

Ozonización de aguas regeneradas en pomelo ´star ruby´. Comportamiento de la instalación y respuesta agronómica y fisiológica del cultivo. Póster

Durante la campaña 2019-2020, se llevó a cabo un experimento para evaluar el comportamiento de una instalación de ozonización a pie de parcela cuando se utilizan aguas de diferente naturaleza (Regenerada y Trasvase) y obtener resultados preliminares a nivel agronómico y fisiológico de un cultivo de pomelo en estas condiciones. La aplicación de ozono, se realizó entre los meses de junio y agosto mediante una instalación situada a pie de parcela, utilizando un generador de O3 de 20 gr/hora. Durante este periodo, se aplicó el O3 durante todo el tiempo de riego, menos en la fase de abonado y postabonado, para evitar posibles efectos indeseables sobre la fertilización. Durante el resto del año, los árboles fueron fertirrigados según criterio del agricultor, utilizando el agua disponible (nunca regenerada). Se evaluaron en continuo los valores redox durante todos los eventos de riego, a la entrada y la salida de la instalación, el volumen de agua aplicado, así como algunos parámetros de crecimiento vegetativo y del fruto y estado hídrico del cultivo. Los parámetros de producción y calidad, así como el estado nutricional del cultivo de la campaña, también fueron evaluados. Nuestros resultados denotan que las instalaciones utilizadas para la aplicación de un tratamiento de ozonización a pie de parcela, cuando se utilizan aguas regeneradas, pueden presentar dificultades derivadas de la naturaleza de estas aguas (elevados niveles de materia orgánica y otras sustancias altamente oxidables), lo que hace necesario un estudio más exhaustivo de estos sistemas para poder llevar a cabo un tratamiento eficaz de O3 en estas condiciones. Dimensionar adecuadamente la generación de O3 para cada instalación en función de la naturaleza de las aguas utilizadas e implementar sistemas que garanticen la presurización de la instalación y procuren la dosificación adecuada de medio ácido, pueden ser algunas de las recomendaciones a seguir para este tipo de instalaciones. Por otra parte, la respuesta agronómica y fisiológica, ante estos tratamientos requiere igualmente de un mayor y más largo estudio, para poder alcanzar resultados confiables.El trabajo ha sido financiado por el proyecto RIS3MUR REUSAGUA, financiado por la Consejería de Empresa, Industria y Portavocía de la Región de Murcia, en el marco del Programa Operativo FEDER 2014-2020

Una enfermedad lejana: la información sobre poliomielitis y síndrome post-polio en la prensa hispanolusa, 1995-2009

Se explora el cambio en la percepción social de la polio en la Península Ibérica a través del análisis de contenidos, entre 1995 y 2009, de dos periódicos de gran tirada. La desaparición en la agenda periodística de la polio y de las personas que viven con sus secuelas influyó en el olvido de la misma en la agenda pública. La poliomielitis se vinculó a la pobreza y la ignorancia en países lejanos, susceptibles de acciones de cooperación, siendo objeto de atención solo cuando es percibida como amenaza para Occidente, vinculada a crisis sanitarias o en un sentido metafórico. Así, el síndrome post-polio fue invisibilizado en el caso portugués y débilmente representado en España por el movimiento asociativo

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Hallazgos radiológicos de la tuberculosis pulmonar y su correlación con la presencia de cultivo positivo para Mycobacterium tuberculosis

ste estudio utilizó los hallazgos de radiografías simples y tomografía computarizada, así como algunos parámetros epidemiológicos para predecir la presencia de tuberculosis pulmonar activa. Para ello, estudiamos una muestra 1.549 pacientes, constituida por aquellos individuos del área de influencia de nuestro hospital que fueron sometidos a un cultivo y a una TC pulmonar ante una sospecha de tuberculosis durante el periodo comprendido entre el año 2005 y 2014. Como resultados del modelo de regresión logística multivariante, se presentaron los parámetros estimados (β) con su error estándar (EE). Además, se determinó una puntuación relativa usando el β estimado como base, obteniéndose así un modelo matemático que permitió realizar el diagnóstico de la tuberculosis pulmonar en nuestros pacientes con una sensibilidad del 85.1 % y una especificidad del 83.6 %, con un VPP del 26.6 % y un VPN del 98.7 %.This study used the findings of simple x-rays and computed tomography as well as some epidemiological parameters to predict the presence of active pulmonary tuberculosis. To do this, we studied a sample of 1,549 patients, constituted by those individuals from the area of influence of our hospital who underwent culture and lung CT with a suspicion of tuberculosis during the period between 2005 and 2014. As results of the model of multivariate logistic regression, the estimated parameters (β) were presented with their standard error (SS). In addition, a relative score was determined using the estimated β as the base, obtaining a mathematical model that allowed the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in our patients with a sensitivity of 85.1% and a specificity of 83.6%, with a PVP of 26.6% and A NPV of 98.7%

Synergistic influence of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and organic amendment on Pistacia lentiscus L. seedlings afforested in a degraded semiarid soil

7 pages, 5 tables.A field experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation with Glomus intraradices and added composted residue on the establishment of Pistacia lentiscus L. seedlings in a semiarid area. Composted residue greatly increased macronutrient (NPK) content, soil microbial activity and enzymatic activities, and decreased soil bulk density. There was a significant correlation between soil bulk density and both enzyme activities and labile C fractions (water-soluble C and water-soluble carbohydrates), which are also related to soil microbial activity. The most suitable methodology for revegetating with P. lentiscus seedlings was addition of composted residue to soil in conjunction with a mycorrhizal inoculation pretreatment of seedlings in a nursery, to increase available P uptake from composted residue. One year after planting, such a combined treatment had increased the plant height of P. lentiscus seedlings by 106% with respect to the control.This research was supported by the EU+CICYT co-financed FEDER programme. We acknowledge the technical support of Paisajes del Sur and TRAGSA. F. Caravaca acknowledges a grant from the European Commission.Peer reviewe

Synergistic influence of an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus and organic amendment on Pistacia lentiscus L. seedlings afforested in a degraded semiarid soil

7 pages, 5 tables.A field experiment was undertaken to evaluate the effect of mycorrhizal inoculation with Glomus intraradices and added composted residue on the establishment of Pistacia lentiscus L. seedlings in a semiarid area. Composted residue greatly increased macronutrient (NPK) content, soil microbial activity and enzymatic activities, and decreased soil bulk density. There was a significant correlation between soil bulk density and both enzyme activities and labile C fractions (water-soluble C and water-soluble carbohydrates), which are also related to soil microbial activity. The most suitable methodology for revegetating with P. lentiscus seedlings was addition of composted residue to soil in conjunction with a mycorrhizal inoculation pretreatment of seedlings in a nursery, to increase available P uptake from composted residue. One year after planting, such a combined treatment had increased the plant height of P. lentiscus seedlings by 106% with respect to the control.This research was supported by the EU+CICYT co-financed FEDER programme. We acknowledge the technical support of Paisajes del Sur and TRAGSA. F. Caravaca acknowledges a grant from the European Commission.Peer reviewe