Physiological Responses to Drought Stress in Jatropha curcas Seedlings

Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate the physiological mechanisms of Jatropha curcas seedlings exposed to drought and the possible influence of seedling age. Study Design: A pot experiment was carried out using a completely randomized design with two seedling ages (2- and 3-month-old seedlings), two treatments per age (Watered: fully irrigated, and Unwatered: Not irrigated), six replicates (24 pots). Place and Duration of Study: The experiment was performed in a greenhouse facility located at the Experimental Station “Mauro Deidda” (Department of Agriculture of University of Sassari) at Ottava (Sassari, Italy) between June and September 2011. Methodology: To investigate the responses of 2- and 3-month-old J. curcas seedlings exposed to drought stress on 4th, 8th, 12th, 19th, and 26th day from treatment’s beginning, leaf and soil water content, biometric, gas exchange, and chlorophyll a fluorescence measurements were performed; on 26th day from treatment’s beginning, biometric destructive measurements were carried out. Results: Results support the hypothesis that J. curcas is appropriate to be cultivated in areas with limited water availability or prolonged periods of drought and highlight that mechanisms of drought response are highly influenced by seedling age. J. curcas seedlings maintained a good leaf water status by means of an effective stomatal closure, associated with a reduced aboveground growth and an increased root:shoot ratio. Under drought stress, 2-month seedlings showed a higher allocation of resources to roots compared to 3-month seedlings. Drought resulted in more detrimental effects on the photosynthetic response of 3-month seedlings, inducing the reduction of stomata conductance and the loss of photosystem II integrity. 2-month seedlings were instead able to activate mechanisms of drought tolerance through the activation of excess energy dissipation mechanisms. Conclusion: In the early stage of crop establishment, the transplanting of J. curcas 2-month seedlings proved to be more effective in order to avoid water stress related consequences

Richness of earthworms in an Argiudol soil under soybean (Colonia Ensayo, Entre Ríos)

En las últimas décadas la producción agrícola experimentó una creciente demanda de insumos agroquímicos, en especial plaguicidas, con aplicación de siembra directa y reducción de rotaciones con tendencia al monocultivo soja. En este contexto, las prácticas de manejo aplicadas generan efectos en la biodiversidad del suelo. En particular, las lombrices cumplen un rol clave en las funciones ecosistémicas y responden a los cambios producidos por estas prácticas. Por lo cual constituyen un grupo muy apropiado para evaluar la calidad del suelo que habitan. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar la densidad y riqueza de la oligoquetofauna en un suelo bajo sistema de producción soja: rastrojo-suelo. El estudio se realizó en el campo experimental ?Dr. Ramón J. Roldan? de la FCA-UNER (Diamante, Entre Ríos) con producción de soja mediante siembra directa y aplicación de plaguicidas (tratamientos: Glifosato/barbecho, Glifosato/barbecho-postemergencia y Glifosato/barbecho-postemergencia-Cipermetrina). Se determinaron características físicas y químicas del suelo y residualidad de plaguicidas en las tres zonas: baja, media y alta, determinadas en base a la topografía del lugar. La oligoquetofauna fue muestreada antes del inicio de los tratamientos (otoño y primavera 2013) y al finalizar los mismos (otoño 2014). En los muestreos de 2013 tanto la densidad como la riqueza mostraron diferencias por estación (p<0,05), registrándose dos especies: Aporrectodea rosea y Micros-colex dubius. En otoño 2014 la densidad no mostró diferencias con la registrada en 2013, pero varió por tratamientos (p<0,05) destacándose Glifosato/barbecho con el mayor valor (140 ind.m-2). Si bien la riqueza coincidió con la de 2013, la abundancia de A. rosea fue notable-mente mayor, dominando las endogeas. Respecto a los residuos de glifosato y su metabolito AMPA hallados en este estudio, estarían afectando la abundancia y dinámica poblacional de oligoquetos.Agricultural production with the incorporation of non-tillage, developed a very important increase of agrochemical application (specially plaguicides). Earthworms play a crucial function in the soil ecosystem and are an appropiate indicator of soils quality. The aim of this work was to evaluate density and diversity of earthworms in soybean production fields. Tests were done in the experimental field “Dr. Ramón J. Roldán” of the FCA-UNER (Diamante-Entre Ríos) and consisted of the following treatments: Glyphosate/fallow; Gliphosate/fallow-postemergence and Glyphosate/fallow-postemergenceCipermetrine. In coincidence with the field topography, the physical and chemical characteristics of the samples were determined at three levels: low, medial and high. Plaguicide residues were also determined. Earthworms were determined before the beginning and end of treatments (autumn and spring 2013, autumn 2014) respectively. Samples obtained during 2013 showed significant differences (p<0.05) in density and diversity between seasons, with two species: Aporrectodea rosea and Microscolex dubius being identified. No differences in density were observed between autumn 2013 and 2014. Significant differences (p<0.05) were obtained between treatments, principally Glyphosate/fallow with the highest value (140 ind.m-2 ). A. rosea was the most abundant specie. Glyphosate residues and AMPA metabolite were found, the results suggest that play an important role in the dynamics and abundance of earthworms.Fil: Masin, Carolina Elisabet. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico Para la Industria Química (i); ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, Alba R.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Industria Química (i); ArgentinaFil: Maitre, Maria Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Desarrollo Tecnológico Para la Industria Química (i); Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias; ArgentinaFil: Cerana, Jorge. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Hernandez, Juan. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Anglada, Marta. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Elizalde, José. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; ArgentinaFil: Lallana, Maria del Carmen. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos. Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias; Argentin

Relationship between health-related quality of life and respiratory health status among coal-based sponge iron plant workers in Barjora, India

Background: Many coal-based sponge iron plant workers have poor health-related quality of life in general, and specifically a poor respiratory health status. However, the relationship between their health-related quality of life and respiratory health status is unknown. Aim: This study investigated the relationship between health related quality of life, measured using the EuroQol- 5D (EQ5D), and respiratory health status, measured using the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), among coal-based sponge iron plant workers in Barjora, India. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among coalbased sponge iron plant workers in Barjora, and complete data were available on 252 participants. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients were reported to show the strength of relationship between health-related quality of life and respiratory health status. Results and conclusion: Significant correlations were found between all EQ5D dimensions/visual analogue scale (VAS) and all SGRQ scores except between EQ5D-VAS and SGRQ-activity. A range of correlations was found. They were moderate between EQ5D-anxiety/depression and SGRQ-symptom, EQ5D-VAS and SGRQ-symptom, and EQ5D-anxiety/depression and SGRQ-total, but weak between all the other factors

Detección de Glifosato y AMPA en suelos del área agrícola de Entre Ríos y la valoración de efectos en matrices biológicas

Se evaluaron residuos de glifosato en muestras de suelo y rastrojo de los lotes Los Hermanitos y Alberdi (Argiudol vértico y Argiudol ácuico) de la provincia de Entre Ríos y se determinó el efecto biológico como una aproximación al estudio de contaminantes originados por la producción agrícola. Se determinó la concentración del herbicida, se realizaron relevamientos de oligoquetos y ensayos de toxicidad con Eisenia fétida y se aplicaron bioensayos de germinación con especies sensibles. Se detectó glifosato y ácido aminometilfosfónico (AMPA) en los suelos estudiados durante las campañas 2015 – 2017, alcanzando concentraciones máximas de 222 ppb y 620 ppb, respectivamente. Se observó relación lineal negativa entre la Capacidad de Intercambio Catiónico y el contenido de glifosato en los suelos estudiados, con dependencia de la relación encontrada entre el contenido de materia orgánica y el contenido de herbicida hallado. Cuando se utilizó rastrojo como sustrato&nbsp;&nbsp; en los bioensayos con lechuga y tomate, se detectó fitotoxicidad en uno de los lotes. La mayor abundancia de especies de lombricesse registró en el lote Alberdi (5 especies) y de los sitios de referencia, se destacó el correspondiente a Los Hermanitos (6 especies). La biomasa y densidad presentaron variaciones en los sitios agrícolas para cada campaña, como así también en la cantidad de juveniles y el número de adultos

European experts consensus: BRCA/homologous recombination deficiency testing in first-line ovarian cancer

Background: Homologous recombination repair (HRR) enables fault-free repair of double-stranded DNA breaks. HRR deficiency is predicted to occur in around half of high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas. Ovarian cancers harbouring HRR deficiency typically exhibit sensitivity to poly-ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi). Current guidelines recommend a range of approaches for genetic testing to identify predictors of sensitivity to PARPi in ovarian cancer and to identify genetic predisposition. Design: To establish a European-wide consensus for genetic testing (including the genetic care pathway), decision making and clinical management of patients with recently diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer, and the validity of biomarkers to predict the effectiveness of PARPi in the first-line setting. The collaborative European experts’ consensus group consisted of a steering committee (n = 14) and contributors (n = 84). A (modified) Delphi process was used to establish consensus statements based on a systematic literature search, conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines. Results: A consensus was reached on 34 statements amongst 98 caregivers (including oncologists, pathologists, clinical geneticists, genetic researchers, and patient advocates). The statements concentrated on (i) the value of testing for BRCA1/2 mutations and HRR deficiency testing, including when and whom to test; (ii) the importance of developing new and better HRR deficiency tests; (iii) the importance of germline non-BRCA HRR and mismatch repair gene mutations for predicting familial risk, but not for predicting sensitivity to PARPi, in the first-line setting; (iv) who should be able to inform patients about genetic testing, and what training and education should these caregivers receive. Conclusion: These consensus recommendations, from a multidisciplinary panel of experts from across Europe, provide clear guidance on the use of BRCA and HRR deficiency testing for recently diagnosed patients with advanced ovarian cancer