Development and characterization of new microsatellite markers for grape

Thirty five new grape microsatellite markers were developed under an international consortium involving AGROGENE. These loci were amplified in 41 Spanish cultivars of V. vinifera. Eleven of the markers were polymorphic and informative in V. vinifera. Twelve were monomorphic and of the remaining markers one was polymorphic but less useful because individuals amplified more than two bands and the rest had amplification problems. The number of alleles detected for the 11 informative markers ranged from 4 to 12, with heterozygosity values ranging from 0.6 to 0.8. Primer sequences are reported for these markers.

Loneliness and health indicators in middle-aged and older females and males

Loneliness is a complex and uncomfortable feeling that results from the perception of a lack of desired personal and social ties. Loneliness is accentuated with aging. It has been related to a wide range of objective and subjective health indicators and is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. One of the proposed underlying mechanisms through which loneliness affects health is the dysregulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. However, the relationship between loneliness and cortisol, the main product of the HPA axis, is unclear and requires more research. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to investigate the relationships between loneliness, subjective health, and cortisol indexes, taking the sex into account, and investigate whether the HPA axis mediates the relationship between loneliness and subjective health. For this purpose, 79 participants (between 55 and 75 years old) completed several scales on loneliness, depression, perceived stress, psychological and physical health, and social relationships. Various salivary cortisol measurements were obtained on two consecutive days. The initial results showed that loneliness was related to psychological and physical health in the mixed-sex sample. However, when covariates were introduced, loneliness was only associated with psychological health in males. In addition, the cortisol indexes employed were not related to loneliness and did not mediate the relationship between loneliness and subjective health. Hence, we did not find a relevant role of the HPA axis in the association between loneliness and subjective health. More severe perceptions of loneliness would probably be necessary to detect this role. Overall, these results also show that the expected negative outcomes of loneliness associated with aging can be countered by an active life that can compensate for the natural losses experienced with age or at least delay these negative outcomes. Finally, some sex differences were found, in line with other studies, which warrants further examination of social variables and dimensions related to gender in future research. Copyright © 2022 Crespo-Sanmiguel, Zapater-Fajarí, Garrido-Chaves, Hidalgo and Salvador

Calpains, the proteases of two faces controlling the epithelial homeostasis in mammary gland

Calpain-1 and calpain-2 are calcium-dependent Cys-proteases ubiquitously expressed in mammalian tissues with a processive, rather than degradative activity. They are crucial for physiological mammary gland homeostasis as well as for breast cancer progression. A growing number of evidences indicate that their pleiotropic functions depend on the cell type, tissue and biological context where they are expressed or dysregulated. This review considers these standpoints to cover the paradoxical role of calpain-1 and -2 in the mammary tissue either, under the physiological conditions of the postlactational mammary gland regression or the pathological context of breast cancer. The role of both calpains will be examined and discussed in both conditions, followed by a brief snapshot on the present and future challenges for calpains, the two-gateway proteases towards tissue homeostasis or tumor development

Analysis of the origin of parthenocarpy in grapevine cultivar Corinto Bianco

Póster presentado en la 2nd Annual ConferenceFleshy Fruit Development & Ripening (COST Action FA1106 QualityFruit), celebrada en Chania (Grecia) del 22 al 25 de septiembre de 2013.Seedless fruits appear spontaneously in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) as a result of somatic variation. Stenospermocarpic and parthenocarpic seedlesness are known. The first type is widely used in table grapes production because seed development aborts after fertilization giving rise to seed traces and almost normal size berries. In contrast, small berries without seed traces develop in absence of fertilization in parthenocarpic cultivars that are appreciated for raisin production. The cultivar Corinto Bianco is a parthenocarpic somatic variant of the Spanish seeded cultivar Pedro Ximénez. Morphological and molecular comparison of flower development and gametogenesis between both genotypes were directed to understand the genetic and molecular basis of this parthenocarpic phenotype. Histological analyses showed that ovules developed similarly in both genotypes. However, macrogametogenesis was altered in Corinto Bianco showing disorders during mitosis after mother cell meiotic reduction. Microgametogenesis was also altered in Corinto Bianco, which pollen was 100% sterile in 2012 and 2013, compared with Pedro Ximénez pollen that showed only 8.47 and 21.64% of sterility in those years. The average number of seeds per berry was 1.35 in Pedro Ximénez berries, which weight was six times higher than in Corinto Bianco parthenocarpic berries with zero seeds. In addition, we observed partial phenotypic reversion in 2.6% of Corinto Bianco berries that carried one seed and displayed a comparable size to that of Pedro Ximénez berries. These seeds were unable to germinate in soil under normal conditions. Fortunately, following an in vitro germination protocol we were able to rescue 41 seedlings derived from revertant berries for further analyses. Gene expression alterations between Pedro Ximénez and Corinto Bianco, that could lead to the identification of candidate genes responsible for the phenotypic change, were analyzed by comparing closed flowers of both genotypes at 50% bloom time using the NimbleGen Vitis HX12 microarray. We identified 441 genes upregulated and 949 downregulated in the parthenocarpic mutant (¿2-fold change and 5% FDR). Interestingly, genes related with cell cycle and gametogenesis were downregulated in Corinto Bianco, including a cyclin (CYB1;2- like) and a MADS-box gene (AGL66-like), whose function in Arabidopsis is related with mitosis and pollen development, respectively. The expression of these genes could be related with defects in gametogenesis in Corinto Bianco. These preliminary results suggest the presence of defects in the meiotic mechanisms central to the process of gametogenesis in Corinto Bianco, providing clues for further characterization of the origin of parthenocarpy in this cultivar.Peer Reviewe

Genetic variation and association analyses identify genes linked to fruit set-related traits in grapevine

Grapevine is one of the most valuable fruit crops in the world. Adverse environmental conditions reduce fruit quality and crop yield, so understanding the genetic and molecular mechanisms determining crop yield components is essential to optimize grape production. The analysis of a diverse collection of grapevine cultivars allowed us to evaluate the relationship between fruit set-related components of yield, including the incidence of reproductive disorders such as coulure and millerandage. The collection displayed a great phenotypic variation that we surveyed in a genetics association study using 15, 309 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) detected in the sequence of 289 candidate genes scattered across the 19 grapevine linkage groups. After correcting statistical models for population structure and linkage disequilibrium effects, 164 SNPs from 34 of these genes were found to associate with fruit set-related traits, supporting a complex polygenic determinism. Many of them were found in the sequence of different putative MADS-box transcription factors, a gene family related with plant reproductive development control. In addition, we observed an additive effect of some of the associated SNPs on the phenotype, suggesting that advantageous alleles from different loci could be pyramided to generate superior cultivars with optimized fruit production

Single versus double experimental bile duct ligation model for inducing bacterial translocation

Background: Double common bile duct ligation plus section in rats is used as a model for bacterial translocation, a phenomenon that has been correlated with the degree of liver damage. This study analyzes whether a simpler variant of the technique is also a valid model to study bacterial translocation. Methods: Fifty-six male Sprague Dawley rats underwent one of three surgical interventions: a) proximal double ligation and section of the common bile duct; b) proximal simple ligation of the bile duct; and c) sham operation. Bacterial translocation was measured by cultures of mesenteric lymph nodes, blood, spleen and liver. Stool culture and histological analysis of liver damage were also performed. Results: The incidence of bacterial translocation in SBL and DBDL groups was 23,5% and 25% respectively. Mortality was similar between ligation groups (11.2% versus 10%). Liver cirrhosis developed in the group of double ligation and section (100% of the animals at 4 weeks), while portal hypertension appeared starting at week 3. None of the animals submitted to simple ligation developed liver cirrhosis. Conclusions: Simple bile duct ligation is associated with a similar incidence of bacterial translocation as double ligation, but without cirrhosis or portal hypertension

Challenges of viticulture adaptation to global change: tackling the issue from the roots

Viticulture is facing emerging challenges not only because of the effect of climate change on yield and composition of grapes, but also of a social demand for environmental‐friendly agricultural management. Adaptation to these challenges is essential to guarantee the sustainability of viticulture. The aim of this review is to present adaptation possibilities from the soil‐hidden, and often disregarded, part of the grapevine, the roots. The complexity of soil–root interactions makes necessary a comprehensive approach taking into account physiology, pathology and genetics, in order to outline strategies to improve viticulture adaptation to current and future threats. Rootstocks are the link between soil and scion in grafted crops, and they have played an essential role in viticulture since the introduction of phylloxera into Europe at the end of the 19th century. This review outlines current and future challenges that are threatening the sustainability of the wine sector and the relevant role that rootstocks can play to face these threats. We describe how rootstocks along with soil management can be exploited as an essential tool to deal with the effects of climate change and of emerging soil‐borne pests and pathogens. Moreover, we discuss the possibilities and limitations of diverse genetic strategies for rootstock breeding.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio