Seasonal Fluctuations of Vegetative Storage Proteins and Starch Concentrations in Stolons of Trifolium Repens L.

The seasonal pattern of nitrogen, starch and vegetative storage protein (VSP) concentrations was studied in the stolons of two Trifolium repens L. genotypes (cv Aran and Rivendel). Maximum concentrations of starch were found in summer months; its hydrolysis occurred in winter, at the time, where VSP and nitrogen were accumulated. The decrease of nitrogen and VSP concentrations occurred during spring, and an inverse relationship was found between VSP concentrations in stolons and mean temperatures. The causal implications of starch and VSP availability on spring regrowth potential are discussed in relation with regulatory mechanism inducing VSP synthesis

Harmonisation and Between-Country Differences of the Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire in Older Adults

Background: The Lifetime of Experiences Questionnaire (LEQ) assesses complex mental activity across the life-course and has been associated with brain and cognitive health. The different education systems and occupation classifications across countries represent a challenge for international comparisons. The objectives of this study were four-fold: to adapt and harmonise the LEQ across four European countries, assess its validity across countries, explore its association with brain and cognition and begin to investigate between-country differences in life-course mental activities. Method: The LEQ was administered to 359 cognitively unimpaired older adults (mean age and education: 71.2, 13.2 years) from IMAP and EU-funded Medit-Ageing projects. Education systems, classification of occupations and scoring guidelines were adapted to allow comparisons between France, Germany, Spain and United Kingdom. We assessed the LEQ's (i) concurrent validity with a similar instrument (cognitive activities questionnaire - CAQ) and its structural validity by testing the factors' structure across countries, (ii) we investigated its association with cognition and neuroimaging, and (iii) compared its scores between countries. Results: The LEQ showed moderate to strong positive associations with the CAQ and revealed a stable multidimensional structure across countries that was similar to the original LEQ. The LEQ was positively associated with global cognition. Between-country differences were observed in leisure activities across the life-course. Conclusions: The LEQ is a promising tool for assessing the multidimensional construct of cognitive reserve and can be used to measure socio-behavioural determinants of cognitive reserve in older adults across countries. Longitudinal studies are warranted to test further its clinical utility

Copper-deficiency in Brassica napus induces copper remobilization, molybdenum accumulation and modification of the expression of chloroplastic proteins

During the last 40 years, crop breeding has strongly increased yields but has had adverse effects on the content of micronutrients, such as Fe, Mg, Zn and Cu, in edible products despite their sufficient supply in most soils. This suggests that micronutrient remobilization to edible tissues has been negatively selected. As a consequence, the aim of this work was to quantify the remobilization of Cu in leaves of Brassica napus L. during Cu deficiency and to identify the main metabolic processes that were affected so that improvements can be achieved in the future. While Cu deficiency reduced oilseed rape growth by less than 19% compared to control plants, Cu content in old leaves decreased by 61.4%, thus demonstrating a remobilization process between leaves. Cu deficiency also triggered an increase in Cu transporter expression in roots (COPT2) and leaves (HMA1), and more surprisingly, the induction of the MOT1 gene encoding a molybdenum transporter associated with a strong increase in molybdenum (Mo) uptake. Proteomic analysis of leaves revealed 33 proteins differentially regulated by Cu deficiency, among which more than half were located in chloroplasts. Eleven differentially expressed proteins are known to require Cu for their synthesis and/or activity. Enzymes that were located directly upstream or downstream of Cu-dependent enzymes were also differentially expressed

Seasonal fluctuations of vegetative storage protein and starch concentrations in stolons of Trifolium repens L.

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Mobilization of nitrogen reserves during regrowth of defoliated Trifolium repens L. and identification of potential vegetative storage proteins

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Comment améliorer la qualité sanitaire des fourrages pour réduire les pathologies respiratoires équines ?

National audienceDust, moulds, pollen and endotoxins occurring in forage are considered to be among the main etiological agents of equine pulmonary disease. An experiment based on forage harvested from permanent grassland in Lower Normandy showed that certain cultivation practices (balinghay with 75% dry matter content) or even rain after cutting increase the amount of dust and fungal spores (mainly toxigenic fungus such as Aspergillus fumigatus) breathed in by horses. Alternatively, barn drying, haylage and propionic acid used as a preservative help control dust and mould when weather conditions prevent harvesting hay with 85% dry matter content. The analysis of single-species and commercial forage used to feed horses suggests that carefully selecting flora when sowing grassland could also help overcome this problem.Les poussières, moisissures, pollens et endotoxines présents dans les fourrages sont suspectés d'être les principaux agents étiologiques desmaladies pulmonaires équines. L'étude ici présentée ouvre des perspectives pour améliorer la qualité sanitaire des foins distribués aux équins et ainsi réduire la prévalence de ces maladies. Une expérimentation, menée à partir du fourrage d'une prairie permanente bas-normande, a mis en évidence que certaines pratiques culturales (foin bottelé à 75% MS) ou une pluie après la coupe entraînent une augmentation des poussières respirables et des organismes fongiques, en particulier des espèces toxinogènes comme Aspergillus fumigatus. A l'inverse,d'autres pratiques limitent ces poussières et moisissures : le séchage en grange, l'enrubannage et l'ajout d'acide propionique lorsque les conditions météorologiques ne permettent pas de récolter le foin à 85% MS. L'analyse de fourrages monospécifiques ou commercialisés pour l'alimentation équine suggère que le choix de la composition floristique d'une prairie semée pourrait aussi constituer une voie d'amélioration

Comment améliorer la qualité sanitaire des fourrages pour réduire les pathologies respiratoires équines ?

National audienceDust, moulds, pollen and endotoxins occurring in forage are considered to be among the main etiological agents of equine pulmonary disease. An experiment based on forage harvested from permanent grassland in Lower Normandy showed that certain cultivation practices (balinghay with 75% dry matter content) or even rain after cutting increase the amount of dust and fungal spores (mainly toxigenic fungus such as Aspergillus fumigatus) breathed in by horses. Alternatively, barn drying, haylage and propionic acid used as a preservative help control dust and mould when weather conditions prevent harvesting hay with 85% dry matter content. The analysis of single-species and commercial forage used to feed horses suggests that carefully selecting flora when sowing grassland could also help overcome this problem.Les poussières, moisissures, pollens et endotoxines présents dans les fourrages sont suspectés d'être les principaux agents étiologiques desmaladies pulmonaires équines. L'étude ici présentée ouvre des perspectives pour améliorer la qualité sanitaire des foins distribués aux équins et ainsi réduire la prévalence de ces maladies. Une expérimentation, menée à partir du fourrage d'une prairie permanente bas-normande, a mis en évidence que certaines pratiques culturales (foin bottelé à 75% MS) ou une pluie après la coupe entraînent une augmentation des poussières respirables et des organismes fongiques, en particulier des espèces toxinogènes comme Aspergillus fumigatus. A l'inverse,d'autres pratiques limitent ces poussières et moisissures : le séchage en grange, l'enrubannage et l'ajout d'acide propionique lorsque les conditions météorologiques ne permettent pas de récolter le foin à 85% MS. L'analyse de fourrages monospécifiques ou commercialisés pour l'alimentation équine suggère que le choix de la composition floristique d'une prairie semée pourrait aussi constituer une voie d'amélioration

Nitrogen reserve in perennial tissues of white clover

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Long-lasting effects of antibiotics on bacterial communities of adult flies

International audienceInsect symbionts benefit their host and their study requires large spectrum antibiotic use like tetracycline to weaken or suppress symbiotic communities. While antibiotics have a negative impact on insect fitness, little is known about antibiotic effects on insect microbial communities and how long they last. We characterized the bacterial communities of adult cabbage root fly Delia radicum in a Wolbachia-free population and evaluated the effect of tetracycline treatment on these communities over several generations. Three D. radicum generations were used the first- and second-generation flies either ingested tetracycline or not, while the third-generation flies were untreated but differed with their parents and/or grandparents that had or had not been treated. Fly bacterial communities were sequenced using a 16S rRNA gene. Tetracycline decreased fly bacterial diversity and induced modifications in both bacterial abundance and relative frequencies, still visible on untreated offspring whose parents and/or grandparents had been treated, therefore demonstrating long-lasting transgenerational effects on animal microbiomes after antibiotic treatment. Flies with an antibiotic history shared bacterial genera, potentially tetracycline resistant and heritable. Next, the transmission should be investigated by comparing several insect development stages and plant compartments to assess vertical and horizontal transmissions of D. radicum bacterial communities. © 2020 FEMS 2020