Optimizing the choice of microsatellite markers for fingerprinting eucalyptus

In this study we have analyzed the information provided by 17 publicly available Eucalyptus microsatellite (SSR) markers (Brondani et al. 1998, 2002; Jones et al. 2002; Steane et al. 2001) in the context of genetic identification within a sample of 140 individuals from an elite collection (denoted hereafter base) of RAIZ genetic improvement population

Influence of sustained deficit irrigation and foliar kaolin application on almond kernel composition

Deficit irrigation and kaolin foliar application are agronomic practices that have been demonstrated to improve productivity and physiological response in almond trees but there is no consistent information on the effects on the kernel composition. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different Sustainable Deficit Irrigation (SDI) strategies and kaolin application on some physicochemical composition of the cv Ferragn`es almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb). A randomized block design with five treatments was developed: nonirrigation (NI), non-irrigation with foliar kaolin application (NI+K), full irrigation (FI), and two levels of SDI receiving 70% and 35% of evapotranspiration (SDI75 and SDI35). Pomological parameters, volatile profile and oil composition were analyzed. SDI effect on kernel weight was reduced against full irrigation (FI) but substantially improved in comparison with the rainfed treatments (NI and NI+K). Irrigation treatments showed a lower volatile compounds concentration in comparison with rainfed treatment. The fatty acid composition of the oil was significantly affected, with all the irrigated treatments having higher oleic acid contents than the rainfed treatments, and therefore an expected increased shelf life. Kaolin application had no positive effects on the nonirrigated trees, other than an apparent increase in the total volatiles, a tendency also observed in the NI. Moderate water stress levels (SDI35) improved the synthesis of tocopherols compared to NI, FI and SDI70, which could be related to the adaptation of the almond tree to drought. SDI35 is therefore regarded as a very interesting approach, with significant improvements in comparison with non-irrigated trees, and a clear saving on water against full irrigation without significant pomological and chemical alterations.The authors acknowledge the financial support of Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support through national funds FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020), SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2021) and LAQV (UIDB/ 50006/2020 and UIDP/50006/2020). David Barreales thanks FCT for the Ph.D. grant SFRH/BD/139393/2018. This manuscript is part of David Barreales’s Ph.D. thesis. The authors thank to the Cooperativa Agrícola de Alfandega da F´e, Crl. for allowing this research activity in its almond orchards.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Molecular estimates of similarity in Eucalyptus globulus

The base populations used in most forest tree genetic improvement programs usually lack detailed pedigree information. Molecular markers, such as microsatellites (SSR), can be used to estimate individuals’ pairwise relatedness, which is based on the probabilities’ ratios of the identity in state between the individuals compared and the reference unrelated population These estimates can be very useful to infer the level of relationship among sub-populations of elite material and/or for the design of controlled crosses between putatively unrelated parents. Using 113 putatively unrelated individuals - genotyped with 18 SSR - self, full-sib, half-sib and unrelated were simulated, and four pairwise similarity coefficients were tested: Queller & Goodnight 1989; Li et al. 1993; Ritland 1996, and Lynch & Ritland 1999. The Lynch & Ritland (1999) coefficient was selected (Figure 1), for it displayed a better adjustment with the expected level of relatedness and narrower standard errors (SE). SE were calculated through Monte- Carlo techniques, to avoid unequal sample size bias, by using 105 simulations for each relatedness group. To illustrate the usefulness of molecular estimates of similarity in genetic improvement programs, a clustering (UPGMA) based on the pairwise Lynch & Ritland (1999) coefficient (LR) values was performed to infer about the putative relationship among individuals of the subgroups of E. globulus elite individuals. From that analysis at least two pairs might be related and a PCA analysis confirmed the clustering results

An event in the iberoamerican cooperation for the conservation and utilization of the zoogenetic resources

Between 1st and 4th of December, 2003; an event was celebrated in the city of Recife (Pernambuco, Brazil) congregating more than 200 researchers of 16 countries, to present results and discuss the last advances in the Iberoamerican Zoogenetics Resources Conservation and Utilization Area, taking into account contents over Genetics, Assisted reproduction, Rural development and Ethnology. In the present editorial a slight introduction is developed to locate the reader in the objectives, the contents and the development of the event, standing out the rule developed by the organizers, the supporters and the contributors.Del uno al cuatro de diciembre de 2003 se celebró en la ciudad de Recife (Pernambuco, Brasil) un evento que congregó a más de 200 investigadores de 16 países, para presentar resultados y discutir los últimos avances en el área de la conservación y utilización de los Recursos Zoogenéticos de Iberoamérica, tratándose contenidos sobre Genética, Reproducción asistida, Desarrollo rural, y Etnología principalmente. En la presente editorial se realiza una somera introducción para ubicar al lector en los objetivos, los contenidos y el desarrollo del evento, resaltando el papel desarrollado por los organizadores, patrocinadores y participantes

Monitorização de pragas associadas à amendoeira em Alfândega-da-Fé (Trás-os-Montes)

Trás-os-Montes é uma das principais regiões produtoras de amêndoa em Portugal. Esta cultura apresenta problemas fitossanitários associados a pragas que podem originar estragos significativos na produção da planta. A monitorização dessas pragas constitui um aspeto importante com vista a uma correta tomada de decisão no que diz respeito ao combate a efetuar contra cada espécie. O objetivo deste trabalho foi monitorizar as populações das principais pragas da amendoeira, nomeadamente Tetranychus urticae koch, Monosteira unicostata (Mulsant & Rey, 1852), Anarsia lineatella Zeller, Grapholita molesta (Busck), Cossus cossus L. e Zeuzera pyrina L. na zona de Alfândega-da-Fé, em Trás-os-Montes. Para a monitorização das populações de aranhiço-amarelo T. urticae e de M. unicostata realizaram-se observações entre meados de julho e meados de agosto de 2015 em um amendoal não regado através da colheita de 20 folhas em 20 árvores em cada uma das variedades "Giorieta" e "Masbovera" e, no laboratório, contaram-se ovos, ninfas e adultos de T. urticae e adultos de M. unicostata. Para a monitorização de A. lineatella, G. molesta, C. cossus e Z. pyrina instalaram-se, em dois amendoais (um regado e outro não regado), três armadilhas delta com feromona para captura das duas primeiras espécies e três armadilhas tipo funil com feromona para captura das duas segundas. Estas armadilhas permaneceram instaladas desde inícios de maio até finais de novembro de 2015. Não se verificaram diferenças significativas entre as populações de T. urticae e de M. unicostata capturadas nas duas variedades de amendoeira, nem entre as populações das restantes pragas capturadas nos dois amendoais. As populações de T. urticae registaram um pico de abundância em meados de julho e foi atingido o seu nível económico de ataque. As populações de A. lineatel/o e de G. molesta atingiram níveis populacionais relativamente elevados (com um pico médio de capturas de 74 e 9 indivíduos, respetivamente), mas apenas 1 indivíduo de C. cossus e 1 de Z. pyrina foram capturados. Estes resultados permitiram conhecer os níveis populacionais das pragas associadas à amendoeira e fazer recomendações, aos parceiro do projeto, sobre a melhor ocasião para efetuar o tratamento fitossanitário.Este trabalho foi realizado no âmbito do projeto PRODER 54610 - Estratégias integradas para o aumento da produtividade da amendoeira em Trás-osMontes, financiado pelo Programa de Desenvolvimento Rural (PRODER) no âmbito da medida 4.1 - Cooperação para a Inovação (Apoio à Inovação na Agricultura, Agroindústria e Floresta).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Analysis of a vegetable oil performance in a milling process by MQL lubrication

In this work, we carried out a comparison between the dry machining of an aluminum block with conventional cutting oil and a block with vegetable oil. The two oils had different flow rates. Using the Taguchi method, it was possible to determine the matrices for optimizing the best parameters for each group of tests. Then, we studied the utility of using vegetable oil as a cutting lubricant. We found that the vegetable oil studied in this work had good properties in terms of reducing cutting temperatures but was less effective than conventional cutting oil in reducing the surface roughness of the machined part. Tribological tests were carried out to understand the influence of the selected lubricants in reducing friction and wear. After the sliding experiments, which were performed without lubrication in the presence of the same lubricants that were used in the machining tests and in the presence of distilled water, we concluded that vegetable oil has satisfactory lubricating properties that are similar to those of the conventional cutting fluid, indicating a potential for consideration as an effective alternative to the conventional cutting fluid, with economic, environmental, and health advantages.Financial support was provided by Portugal’s national funding FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC) to Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO) (UIDB/00690/2020 and UIDP/00690/2020) and SusTEC (LA/P/0007/2020). Additionally, this work was partially supported by Portuguese FCT, under the reference projects UIDB/04077/2020, UIDB/00532/2020 and UIDB/04436/2020. This research was also partially funded by EXPL2021CIMO_01. Inês Afonso acknowledges the financial support of CIMO through EXPL2021CIMO_01.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Characterization of the endophytic fungal communities associated to Coleostephus myconis: looking for potential repellent/attractant compounds towards Philaenus spumarius

Philaenus spumarius is a xylem feeding insect identified so far as the only vector involved in the first European outbreak of the phytobacterium Xylella fastidiosa, affecting and devastating olive groves in Italy. One approach to reduce X. fastidiosa transmission could rely in the vector control through the use of baits to attract and/or repel de insect. Fungal endophytes inhabiting plants provide a source of candidate repellent/attractant compounds. In this work, the endophytic fungi community associated to the weed Coleostephus myconis, was studied in order to identified potential fungi that can be used as attractants or repellents of P. spumarius. Coleostephus myconis is common in olive groves and preferentially used by P. spumarius for the nymph development. Fungi were isolated from the stems, leaves and inflorescences from plants with three levels of P. spumarius infestation (i.e. no infestation, moderate and high infestation). The fungal isolates obtained were identified by sequencing the ITS region of rDNA and the partial tef1. Overall, was obtained 138 taxa belonging to 37 different genera. The endophytic community composition differs between infested and non-infested plants, solely at stems level, where the P. spumarius foam nests are present. The fungal genera, Cytospora, Diaporthe and Penicillium, which are well-known with producers of volatiles compounds repellent activity against insect, were found only on non-infested plants. Botrytis was restricted to infested plants. The behavioral responses and preferences of P. spumarius for C. myconis plants colonized by these endophytes should be investigated in the future.This work is funded by national funds through the Foundation for Science and Technology - FCT - in the scope of the project PTDC/AGR-PRO/0856/2014 XF-FREEOLIVE: Multifunctional study of xylem-sap of Portuguese olive cultivars and its relation with susceptibility to infection by Xylella fastidiosa, and by European fund in the scope of the project H2020-SFS-2016-3 XF-ACTORS - Xylella fastidiosa active containment through a multidisciplinary-oriented research strategyinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Anti rickettsia-antibody for spotted fever group in horses and dogs in the North of Paraná Stated, Brazil

The Brazilian Spotted Fever (BSF) is a zoonosis that can be fatal if not trteated. As there are few studies of the BSF in the Paraná State, the occurrence of BSF was serologically investigated in dogs and horses by indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), in the North of that State, in animals that are regarded as sentinels for BSF. A total of 241 samples of sera of equine, four of asinine, and 29 of dogs were collected in nine farms of three municipalities in the North of Paraná: Arapongas, Douradina, and Umuarama. From fifteen samples of equine serum with positive titres for RIFI, eight (53.3 %) had titre of 64 against R. rickettsii, two (13.3 %) 128 against R. rickettsii, and five (33.3 %) were reactants for R. parkeri and R. rickettsii, with titres ranging from 64 to 2048, and 128 to 1024, respectively. The results showed that domestic animals, sentinels for BSF, are under low exposition to ticks infected with spotted fever group Rickettsia, indicating low risk of human infection by these agents in the studied area

Effect of the particle size range of construction and demolition waste on the fresh and hardened-state properties of fly ash-based geopolymer mortars with total replacement of sand

This study seeks the valorization of industrial residues (fly ash and construction and demolition waste (CDW)) through the production of geopolymer mortars. The effect of the sand substitution by CDW and the influence of the particle size range of CDW fine aggregates on the fresh and hardened properties of the mortars were evaluated. Geopolymer mortars were produced using biomass fly ash waste and metakaolin as a binder, CDW as fine aggregates, and an alkali solution of sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide as activator. The geopolymer mortars were characterized in fresh state by the flow table test and in the hardened state through chemical, physical/microstructural analyzes. The mortars produced with CDW showed lower flowability when compared to the ones prepared with sand. The compressive and flexural strength of hardened mortars, respectively, obtained with residues were higher when compared to sand: 40 MPa and 8.5 MPa with CDW, against 23 MPa and 3.1 MPa for sand-based samples. It was observed that mortars developed with recycled aggregate and natural aggregate present similar chemical and mineralogical compositions. The superior results obtained in the mechanical properties of mortars produced with CDW are related to the recycled aggregate-geopolymer paste interface.publishe