Mejoramiento genético en el género Mecardonia (Pantaginaceae)

Mecardonia Ruiz & Pavon (Plantaginaceae) es un género americano compuesto por alrededor de nueve especies herbáceas, algunas de las cuales se caracterizan por su gran potencial ornamental. Por este motivo, el Instituto de Floricultura del INTA inicia en el año 2004 un programa de mejoramiento genético con el objetivo dedesarrollar cultivares de Mecardonia para uso ornamental. Desde entonces, se han llevado a cabo distintas actividades, generando información de utilidad para el proceso de mejoramiento. Entre los aspectos abordados, se encuentran los taxonómicos, describiendo dos nuevas especies presentes en Argentina (M. kamogawae Greppi & Hagiwara y M. reneeae Greppi & Sosa). Conteos cromosómicos en dichas especies mostraron la existencia de mayores niveles de ploidía en M. reneeae (tetraploide) y en M. kamogawae (hexaploide) enrelación al resto de las especies que suelen ser diploides. Se analizaron los contenidos de ADN y se evaluaron las relaciones de compatibilidad reproductiva en las especies y variedades botánicas nativas de Argentina. Los estudios indicaron la existencia de incompatibilidad reproductiva a excepción de unos pocos casos. A partir de los cruzamientos se pudieron crear hasta el momento siete cultivares, cuatro de ellos comercializados en Argentina y tres en el mercado internacional a través de un convenio de vinculación tecnológica con la empresa japonesa Sakata Seed. El proceso de mejoramiento de estos primeros cultivares estuvo basado en metodologías clásicas, llevando a cabo cruzamientos y selección de genotipos. Además, se abordó una estrategia no convencional para avanzar en el proceso de mejoramiento e incorporar nuevas características. La metodología utilizada se basó en la transformación genética con Agrobacterium rhizogenes salvaje para obtener plantas con un porte más compacto en cultivares estériles que no pueden ser cruzados o retrocruzados.Fil: Greppi, Julián Alejandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Perez de la Torre, Mariana Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Trupkin, Santiago Ariel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Identification of WRKY transcription factors associated with leaf and corolla senescence in Petunia hybrida

Several families of transcription factors (TFs) control the progression of senescence. Many key TFs belonging to the WRKY family have been described to play crucial roles in the regulation of leaf senescence, mainly in Arabidopsis. However, little is known about senescence-associated WRKY members in floricultural species. Delay of senescence in leaves and petals of Petunia hybrida, a worldwide ornamental crop are highly appreciated traits. In this work, starting from 28 differentially expressed WRKY genes of Arabidopsis during the progression of leaf senescence, we identified the orthologous in P. hybrida and explored the expression profiles of 20 PhWRKY genes during the progression of natural (age-related) leaf and corolla senescence as well as in the corollas of flowers undergoing pollination-induced senescence. Simultaneous visualization showed consistent and similar expression profiles of PhWRKYs during natural leaf and corolla senescence, although weak expression changes were observed during pollination-induced senescence. Comparable expression trends between PhWRKYs and the corresponding genes of Arabidopsis were observed during leaf senescence, although more divergences were found in petals of pollinated petunia flowers. Integration of expression data with phylogenetics, conserved motif and cis-regulatory element analyses were used to establish a list of solid candidates that could regulate more than one senescence process. Our results suggest that several members of the WRKY family of TFs are tightly linked to the regulation of senescence in P. hybrida.Fil: Astigueta, Francisco Horacio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Baigorria, Amilcar H.. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Martín Nahuel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación En Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Delfosse, Verónica Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación En Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: González, Sergio Alejandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación En Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Perez de la Torre, Mariana Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Moschen, Sebastián Nicolás. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación En Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Lia, Verónica Viviana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación En Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Heinz, Ruth Amelia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación En Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Fernandez, Paula del Carmen. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación En Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Trupkin, Santiago Ariel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación En Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentin

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

Mortality and pulmonary complications in patients undergoing surgery with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection: an international cohort study

Background: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on postoperative recovery needs to be understood to inform clinical decision making during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study reports 30-day mortality and pulmonary complication rates in patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: This international, multicentre, cohort study at 235 hospitals in 24 countries included all patients undergoing surgery who had SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed within 7 days before or 30 days after surgery. The primary outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality and was assessed in all enrolled patients. The main secondary outcome measure was pulmonary complications, defined as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or unexpected postoperative ventilation. Findings: This analysis includes 1128 patients who had surgery between Jan 1 and March 31, 2020, of whom 835 (74·0%) had emergency surgery and 280 (24·8%) had elective surgery. SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed preoperatively in 294 (26·1%) patients. 30-day mortality was 23·8% (268 of 1128). Pulmonary complications occurred in 577 (51·2%) of 1128 patients; 30-day mortality in these patients was 38·0% (219 of 577), accounting for 81·7% (219 of 268) of all deaths. In adjusted analyses, 30-day mortality was associated with male sex (odds ratio 1·75 [95% CI 1·28–2·40], p\textless0·0001), age 70 years or older versus younger than 70 years (2·30 [1·65–3·22], p\textless0·0001), American Society of Anesthesiologists grades 3–5 versus grades 1–2 (2·35 [1·57–3·53], p\textless0·0001), malignant versus benign or obstetric diagnosis (1·55 [1·01–2·39], p=0·046), emergency versus elective surgery (1·67 [1·06–2·63], p=0·026), and major versus minor surgery (1·52 [1·01–2·31], p=0·047). Interpretation: Postoperative pulmonary complications occur in half of patients with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection and are associated with high mortality. Thresholds for surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic should be higher than during normal practice, particularly in men aged 70 years and older. Consideration should be given for postponing non-urgent procedures and promoting non-operative treatment to delay or avoid the need for surgery. Funding: National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland, Bowel and Cancer Research, Bowel Disease Research Foundation, Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons, British Association of Surgical Oncology, British Gynaecological Cancer Society, European Society of Coloproctology, NIHR Academy, Sarcoma UK, Vascular Society for Great Britain and Ireland, and Yorkshire Cancer Research

In vitro propagation and genetic stability analysis of Evolvulus spp. Biotechnological tools for the exploration of native germplasm with ornamental potential

The goal of the present work is to establish a protocol that allows the in vitro propagation of Evolvulus glomeratus and Evolvulus arizonicus. Nodal segments of both species were disinfected by the standard method (ethanol/NaClO/Tween 80) with and without the addition of an antibiotics-antifungal mixture to the Murashige and Skoog (MS) complete medium, growth regulator free. E. arizonicus did not survive to the in vitro culture starting procedure. To determine the nutritional requirements for E. glomeratus, the nodal segments were cultured on different dilutions of the MS macronutrients, being the complete MS the more adequate basal medium. Two types of explants were isolated from E. glomeratus for their in vitro propagation: nodal segments and leaves. The first ones were cultured on complete MS medium supplemented with increasing benzylaminopurine (BA) concentration from 0 to 4.4 μM, and the second ones onto the same basal medium but supplemented with the following naphthalene acetic acid and BA concentration (micromolars): 0.0, 1.3, 2.6, and 5.3 for naphthalene acetic acid and 0.0, 1.1, 2.2, and 4.4 for benzylaminopurine in all possible combinations. Under the conditions applied from the leaves, no shoot regenerations were detected. On the other hand, it was possible to recover an average close to four shoots per explant when the nodal segments were cultured on a medium supplemented with 2.2 μM benzylaminopurine. For the rooting and rustication step, in vitro and ex vitro (with Growing Mix #2 and Perlite as substrate) strategies were tested. The best result was 91. 6% efficiency of acclimated plants obtained with the ex vitro procedure using Perlite. The use of intersimple sequence repeat showed no differences among the tested regenerated plants under the applied experiment conditions. The protocol developed here is the starting point for the application of biotechnological techniques for both the massive propagation and the improvement of E. glomeratus and other related species.Fil: Maritano, Patricia Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Floricultura; ArgentinaFil: Alderete, Liliana M.. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Floricultura; ArgentinaFil: Perez de la Torre, Mariana Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Floricultura; ArgentinaFil: Escandón, Alejandro Salvio. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Floricultura; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

First Report of Potato Virus Y in Ornamental Calibrachoa in Argentina

Calibrachoa is a genus of the Solanaceae family endemic to South America that is used as an ornamental plant. Calibrachoa grows vigorously and has flowers of different colors such as pink, violet, red, yellow, and salmon (Milicia et al. 2016). Even though Calibrachoa hybrida in Argentina is mainly sold in the local markets and in a small percentage, the importance of this genus lies in being the main source of germplasm for ornamental varieties of great international impact. Viral diseases represent a serious problem for calibrachoa production because they decrease its commercial value and productivity. To date, only calibrachoa mottle virus (genus Carmovirus) and tobacco mild green mosaic virus (genus Tobamovirus) have been described to infect calibrachoa plants (Liu et al. 2003). The genus Potyvirus is one of the largest and most widespread important genera of plant viruses. Potato virus Y (PVY), the type species of the genus, is a major pathogen of solanaceous crops (potato, tobacco, pepper, and tomato), ornamentals (dahlia and petunia), and weeds (Karasev and Gray 2013; Quenouille et al. 2013). In 2017, C. hybrida cultivars ?Pampa Salmón INTA? and ?Overá Fucsia INTA? in a production greenhouse at Buenos Aires, Argentina, displayed virus-like symptoms, including leaf mosaic and growth retardation. Samples from symptomatic leaf tissue were collected from 20 plants of C. hybrida cultivar Overá Fucsia INTA and tested by indirect ELISA using polyclonal antibodies against potyviruses (BIOREBA Poty group test). The results of that study revealed that all samples were positive for a potyvirus. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with degenerate primers was performed to identify this potyvirus. Total RNA was extracted from symptomatic leaves of one ELISA-positive sample using TRIzol reagent, and cDNA was synthesized following the manufacturer?s instructions, using SuperScript III reverse transcription and primer AP from a 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA end kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific). The universal Potyviridae S-primer (Chen et al. 2001) and the abridged universal amplification primer (Thermo Fisher Scientific) were used to amplify a ∼1.7-kb PCR product spanning the nuclear NIb and the coat protein cistrons and the 3′ untranslated region with platinum Pfx DNA polymerase (Thermo Fisher Scientific). This ∼1.7-kb PCR product was cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector (Promega) and sequenced on an ABI 3500 XL automated sequencer. The 1,772-nt nucleotide sequence was deposited in GenBank database under the accession number MH880833. A BLASTn analysis of the 1,772-nt region of the virus isolate with the nucleotide sequences available in the GenBank database showed 82 to 88% nucleotide identity with different PVY isolates. The highest nucleotide identities were 88% with PVY (KC823271) isolated from Nicotiana tabacum in Brazil and 83% with PVY (KC296439) isolated from tobacco in China. At the amino acid level, the 480 amino acid partial polyprotein sequence showed 93% identity with the same Brazilian isolate (AGX27991) and 88% with the Chinese isolate (AGH27746). PVY complex includes five nonrecombinant strains and 36 recombinant patterns, presenting a challenge for strain typing (Green et al. 2018). The identification of the calibrachoa-infecting PVY strain is vital for resistant-cultivar selection, and therefore it should be addressed in future studies. To our knowledge, this is the first report of PVY as a pathogen of Calibrachoa in Argentina.Fil: Tombion, Leticia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Floricultura; ArgentinaFil: Alderete, Luciano Martín. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Floricultura; ArgentinaFil: Perez de la Torre, Mariana Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Floricultura; ArgentinaFil: Agrofoglio, Yamila Carla. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Delfosse, Verónica Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Distefano, Ana Julia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación en Ciencias Veterinarias y Agronómicas. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Soto, María Silvina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Floricultura; Argentin

Search for narrow resonances using the dijet mass spectrum in pp collisions at s√=8 TeV

Results are presented of a search for the production of new particles decaying to pairs of partons (quarks, antiquarks, or gluons), in the dijet mass spectrum in proton-proton collisions at s√=8  TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 4.0  fb−1, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2012. No significant evidence for narrow resonance production is observed. Upper limits are set at the 95% confidence level on the production cross section of hypothetical new particles decaying to quark-quark, quark-gluon, or gluon-gluon final states. These limits are then translated into lower limits on the masses of new resonances in specific scenarios of physics beyond the standard model. The limits reach up to 4.8 TeV, depending on the model, and extend previous exclusions from similar searches performed at lower collision energies. For the first time mass limits are set for the Randall–Sundrum graviton model in the dijet channel

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data