Witches' broom disease of cocoa : genome organization, genetic variability and anlysis of the identity and expression of pathogenicity genes of the fungal pathogen Crinipellis perniciosa

Orientador: Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães PereiraTese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: A Vassoura-de-Bruxa do cacaueiro constitui um patosistema complexo e até o momento não foi estabelecido um plano de controle efetivo na região produtora da Bahia. O objetivo principal deste trabalho foi aprimorar os conhecimentos sobre a interação C. perniciosa-Cacaueiro com informações referentes à: 1) tamanho e organização do genoma através da obtenção do cariótipo molecular do fungo; 2) variabilidade genética deste fitopatógeno a nível cromossômico na região produtora da Bahia; e 3) expressão gênica do fungo em presença de extratos do hospedeiro. O cariótipo molecular foi estabelecido por eletroforese em gel de campo pulsado. Esta mesma metodologia foi utilizada em combinação com análise tipo microsatélites para um estudo de variabilidade a nível cromossômico de 38 isolados provenientes de três biótipos e diferentes regiões geográficas. Para análise da expressão gênica foram seqüenciadas quatro bibliotecas de cDNA do fungo sob diferentes condições de cultivo e em diferentes estágios do desenvolvimento, incluindo uma biblioteca subtrativa obtida por SSH. Como resultados, apresentamos o cariótipo molecular de C. perniciosa e a existência de polimorfismos cromossômicos. A análise dos 38 isolados permitiu observar que o cariótipo do biótipo-C é estável ao longo do tempo e sua variabilidade na região da Bahia é baixa, mostrando assim a fragilidade do programa de melhoramento genético do cacaueiro na Bahia, onde os clones resistentes selecionados no campo foram desafiados contra apenas dois genótipos do patógeno. Com relação à análise da expressão do fungo, obtivemos 1427 unigenes e sua análise por similaridade com as bases de dados permitiu a identificação de diversos mecanismos pelos quais o fungo poderia estar manipulando o metabolismo da planta para seu benefício e em detrimento da produção de cacau. Assim, consideramos que a partir deste trabalho foi possível obter uma maior compreensão dos mecanismos utilizados por C. perniciosa no desenvolvimento da Vassoura-de-Bruxa em cacaueiro e estudos mais aprofundados, baseados nos resultados aqui obtidos, deverão auxiliar no desenvolvimento de estratégias de controle para esta importante doençaAbstract: Witches' broom disease of cocoa is a complex pathosystem that has evaded an efficient control program in the cacao-producing region of Bahia, Brazil. The main goal of this work was to acquire a better understanding of the C. perniciosa-Cacao interaction by providing new data regarding: 1) the size and organization of the fungal genome through molecular karyotyping; 2) the genetic variability of this phytopathogen at the chromosomal level in the cacao-producing region of Bahia; and 3) the gene expression of the fungus in the presence of host extracts. The molecular karyotype was obtained through pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. This same technique was applied in combination with microsatellite PCR analysis of 38 isolates from different biotypes and geographic regions in order to study the chromosomal-level genetic variability of this pathogen. For the gene expression analysis, four cDNA libraries of the fungus grown under different culture conditions and developmental stages, including a subtractive library using SSH, were sequenced and searched for similarities in the public databases. As results, we present the molecular karyotype of C. perniciosa and the existence of chromosome-length polymorphism. The analysis of the 38 isolates showed that the karyotype of the C-biotype is very stable in time and that the variability of the pathogen in Bahia is very low, thus indicating the fragility of the current cacao-breeding program in Bahia, where the resistant cacao clones selected in the field were challenged against only two different genotypes of the pathogen. With regards to the gene expression analysis, we obtained 1427 unigenes and the similarity searches allowed the identification of various mechanisms through which the fungus might be manipulating the metabolism of the plant for its own benefit and in detriment of cocoa production. Therefore, we consider that this work allowed us to acquire a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms used by C. perniciosa during witches' broom development in cacao and more detailed studies, based on the results presented here, might aid in the development of novel control strategies for this important diseaseDoutoradoBioquimicaDoutor em Biologia Funcional e Molecula

UNIVERSITY IN TRANSITION: FACULTY SENSE-MAKING AND RESPONSES

Across the institutional spectrum, universities are attempting to reposition themselves as more research dominant institutions, a pattern referred to as “mission creep.” Such changes in university missions have several critical implications for faculty members and their work. In this qualitative study, we interviewed ten tenure-track faculty members to explore how they make sense of and respond to Sun University’s creeping university mission. Through qualitative data analysis, we found that faculty use organizational scripts to construct and make sense of their role, yet they do so towards different ends. Some faculty members own the transition and attempt to contribute to its success, while others negotiate the transition by mobilizing these very same scripts. Finally, a third subgroup resists the transition to research status altogether by using the organizational scripts in different ways. Ultimately, this study shows the importance of organizational scripts as faculty members used them in disparate ways to carry out the personal ambition and hopes that faculty often have for their work

Principles and Principals: Leveraging K-12 Principal Training and Evaluation Standards to Support Environmental, Ecological, and Sustainability Education

Ecoliteracy is the pedagogical grouping of environmental science, ecology and sustainability studies. This paper is a policy analysis of how principal training and evaluation standards may support a principal’s building-level efforts to establish and sustain an ecoliteracy mission and curriculum in US public K-12 schools. A comparative case study of leadership standards in Texas and Michigan was conducted to support the argument that school administrator training and evaluation standards in both states can lend formal, codified support to a sufficiently determined school leader’s efforts to center the school’s mission on ecoliteracy. The limitations of this support are also discussed

Confronting the Unknown: Tejanas in the Transformation of Spanish and Mexican Texas, 1735-1836

Confronting the Unknown: Tejanas in the Transformation of Spanish and Mexican Texas, 1735-1836 sheds light on Tejana legal and social roles in this tumultuous period. Despite great strides in the field of Borderlands history in recent years the field surprisingly lacks studies on women in early Texas. My goal is to help fill that void by illustrating women’s roles during the construction of and transition between empire to republic. Past studies place women in an overall narrative that includes them as a minor element to colonial life in Texas. My study places women at the center of the narrative, uncovering the major contributions they made to the Spanish and Mexican frontier. In addition, I argue that Tejanas exerted a great deal of agency on the edge of Spanish and Mexican society. Using court records I show that Tejanas were active participants in the legal sphere of colonial life. These sources reveal that Tejanas exercised more economic and political freedom under Spanish and Mexican control then they did under the Republic of Texas. They owned property, sued in court, and petitioned the government for land grants under the Spanish and Mexican governments. Among these legal rights, land grants in particular allowed Tejanas to aid in the establishment of a permanent presence on the frontier and thus aided the Spanish and Mexican government in imperial expansion. Because of these rights, Tejanas became strong matriarchs in a patriarchal dominated society. Their position in society, however, changed dramatically when they became Texas citizens. As Anglo Americans immigrated into Texas in large numbers, Tejanas appeared less in courts and conformed to the accepted Anglo American legal codes that had been practiced in the United States that were unwelcoming to women. Anglo American racist attitudes ultimately took a toll on the previous social hierarchy, forcing Tejanos and Tejanas into second-class citizenship. Despite these circumstances, Tejanas persisted and contributed greatly to the development of Texas

Representación social de la educación ambiental en estudiantes de la Universidad del Magdalena

El presente artículo tuvo como objetivo principal describir las Representaciones Sociales de la Educación Ambiental, desde las categorías “conocimiento, actitud y percepción”, a través de un enfoque de investigación descriptiva, desarrollado a través de la metodología específica que ofrece la Teoría de Facetas para la construcción de un instrumento ágil para la medición de los objetivos planteados. El estudio se desarrolló con 120 sujetos, todos estudiantes de la Universidad del Magdalena de los semestres de quinto a décimo. El abordaje conceptual de las representaciones sociales que ofrece Jodelet y Moscovici, permitió entenderla en su clasificación de: conocimiento, actitud y percepción, y los resultados arrojan que en cuanto al conocimiento se encuentran en el límite inferior, mientras que en cuanto a actitud y percepción de la Educación Ambiental, están en el límite superior. (DUAZARY 2010, 41- 48

Revisiting Photovoice: Perceptions of Dementia among Researchers with Intellectual Disability

There is limited evidence internationally exploring perceptions of dementia among people with intellectual disabilities. This article presents findings from the first known study where an inclusive research team, including members with intellectual disability, used photovoice methodology to visually represent views of people with intellectual disabilities and dementia. Drawing on Freire’s empowerment pedagogy, study aims were consistent with global photovoice aims: enabling people to visually record critical dialogue about dementia through photography and social change. We investigated the benefits and challenges of photovoice methodology with this population and sought to identify perspectives of dementia from people with intellectual disabilities. Findings challenge the notion that a key photovoice aim of reaching policymakers is always achievable, suggesting that revisiting Freire’s original methodological aims may lead to improved outcomes in co-produced research with marginalized groups. Qualitative themes emerged identifying issues such as peers ‘disappearing’ and the importance of maintaining friendship as dementia progressed

Propuesta de reestructuración del diseño de la página web de dirección de prácticas profesionales de la Universidad del Magdalena

la presente propuesta permitirá un mejor acceso a la información sobre los procesos que deben realizar las empresas y los estudiantes que deseen realizar el proceso de prácticas profesionales en la Universidad del Magdalena

Sociedad y derecho penal en Cuba

Sociedad y derecho penal en Cub