Analysis of the legume–rhizobia symbiosis in shrubs from central western Spain

s. rodríguez-echeverría, m.a. pérez-fernández, s. vlaar and t. finnan. 2003.Aims: This work analyses the diversity of rhizobia associated with some of the predominant shrubby legumes in central-western Spain. Symbiotic promiscuity and effectiveness were studied using cross-inoculation experiments with shrubby species.Material and Results: Six new bradyrhizobia strains were isolated from nodules collected from wild plants of six leguminous species, Cytisus balansae, C. multiflorus, C. scoparius, C. striatus, Genista hystrix and Retama sphaerocarpa. These isolates were genetically characterized by 16S rDNA partial sequencing and random amplification of polymorphic DNA2013PCR fingerprinting. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that these isolates could represent three new Bradyrhizobium species. Shrubby legumes and bradyrhizobia displayed a high symbiotic promiscuity both for infectivity and effectiveness. Symbioses were effective in more than 70% of the associations established by four of the six plant species.Conclusions: Native woody legumes in western Spain are nodulated by Bradyrhizobium strains. The high degree of symbiotic promiscuity and effectiveness highlights the complex dynamics of these communities in wild ecosystems under a Mediterranean-type climate. Furthermore, the results from this study suggest a potential importance of inoculation for these legume species in soil-restoration projects.Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first study, to our knowledge, that combines both molecular analysis and pot trials to study the rhizobia2013legume symbiosis for wild legumes

¿Existe un sesgo en la participación y visibilidad de las mujeres en ecología? Una comparación entre los congresos ibérico y suizo

Women are still under-represented in science and technology because there is a bias in the different evaluation processes from the admission of oral communications at conferences to the access to more qualified positions. In this study, we compared the participation and visibility of female ecologists in the IV Iberian Ecological Conference (CIE4) with the Annual Swiss Conference on Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, Biogeography and Conservation (Biology16) where a method of blind evaluation was applied. In both conferences, and after active selection by conference committees, male delegates presented proportionately more regular oral contributions than female ones, although these differences were marginally significant. In the Biology16, this bias was due to lower female applicants for oral contributions, and in the CIE4, to a lower selection rate of female oral contributions. In the CIE4, the higher male presence in oral contributions was consistent with male greater visibility, whereas female visibility was higher in the Biology16. This different visibility was caused by contrasting selection for invited speakers; being male researches preferentially invited at the CIE4, but female ones at the Biology16. Implementing a blind review system of contributions and active policies to promote the participation of women as invited speakers may reduce the differences in visibility and could contribute in the medium term to eliminate the bias against women in the selection of oral contributions at the Iberian conferences

Diversity and distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi along a land use gradient in Terceira Island (Azores)

More knowledge of community composition of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in ecosystems in relation to habitat type and land use intensity is needed. We studied AMF in 106 soil samples from pristine natural forests and a gradient of disturbance including semi-natural and intensively managed pastures of Terceira, Azores. Altogether, 42 spore morphotypes were detected from eight AMF families, revealing different fungal community structures among the three land use types. Spore density was highest in native forests and lowest in intensively managed pastures, but fungal richness was highest in semi-natural pastures and lowest in native forests. No significant difference occurred between intensively managed pastures and native forests. Members of Acaulosporaceae and Glomeraceae were dominant in native forests, while fungi from Gigasporaceae and Claroideoglomeraceae were most abundant in semi-natural and intensively managed pastures respectively, indicating family-based ecological preferences. Rarefaction analysis revealed that pastures supported more diverse AMF communities than native forests, because in high elevation pristine forests, a few rare species dominate. It is therefore likely that more species would be found with increasing survey effort. Further research is needed to clarify the influence of land use type on AMF diversity and distribution in remote islands, and the role of native AMF on soil ecosystem processes and the spread of exotic plants.This research was funded by Fundo Regional para a Ciência e Tecnologia–Governo dos Açores (M3.1.a/F/059/2016; M3.1.a/F/012/2016) and by the Development Grant (IF/00462/2013) from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) Portugal with national funds and co-funded by FEDER and COMPETE 2020 program. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is supported by the Scottish Government’s Rural and Environmental Science and Analytical Services Division.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Cloning, in silico structural characterization and expression analysis of MfAtr4, an ABC transporter from the banana pathogen Mycosphaerella fijiensis

ABC transporters are membrane proteins that use the energy released from the hydrolysis of ATP to drive the transport of compounds across biological membranes. In some plants, pathogenic fungi ABC transporters play a role as virulence factors by mediating the export of plant defense compounds or fungal virulence factors. Mycosphaerella fijiensis, the causal agent of black Sigatoka disease in banana, is the main constraint for the banana industry worldwide. So far, little is known about molecular mechanism that it uses to infect the host. In this study, degenerated primers designed from fungal ABC transporters known to be involved in virulence were used to isolate homologs from M. fijiensis. Here, we reported the full cloning of MfAtr4 a putative ortholog of MgAtr4, an ABC transporter of the related Mycosphaerella graminicola with a function in virulence. Similarities and differences with its presumed ortholog MgAtr4 are described, and the putative function of MfAtr4 are discussed. Analysis of MfAtr4 gene expression in field banana samples exhibiting visible symptoms of black Sigatoka disease indicated a higher expression of MfAtr4 during the first symptomatic stages in comparison to the late necrotrophic phases, suggesting a role for MfAtr4 in the early stages of pathogenic development of M. fijiensis.Key words: ABC transporters, virulence factors, MgAtr4 ortholog, Mycosphaerella fijiensis, black Sigatoka, Musa sp

Influencias del paisaje, climatología y manejo agrícola sobre la biodiversidad asociada a viña: efectos sobre servicios ecosistémicos y sostenibilidad frente a cambio global (Proyecto BA C O)

Dentro de un contexto dominado por el cambio rápido y frecuente, es básico analizar sus efectos sobre la biodiversidad y los servicios ecosistémicos que ésta provee. El cultivo de la viña es uno de los sistemas agrícolas más antiguos de la región Mediterránea, con una interacción muy estrecha entre el manejo humano y el ambiente natural circundante. El proyecto BA C O pretende, desde un enfoque multidisciplinar, evaluar el papel del clima, paisaje y manejo sobre la biodiversidad y los servicios ecosistémicos asociados a viñedos. Se proponen los siguientes objetivos: i) caracterizar el paisaje, ambiente, clima y tipo de manejo de las principales explotaciones de vid; ii) evaluar la influencia del paisaje, ambiente y manejo en la biodiversidad de los viñedos y iii) estimar los servicios ecosistémicos que esta diversidad aporta. Se usarán tres escalas espaciales de resolución: a) Regional, considerando todos los viñedos y sistemas de manejo (convencional/ ecológico; variedades de uva) presentes en Andalucía; b) F inca, situadas en un gradiente altitudinal (proxi de Tª) y de paisaje, en las que se realizarán medidas de biodiversidad, servicios ecosistémicos, productividad, funcionalidad y sostenibilidad del viñedo frente a cambio global y c) Cepa, en las que se tomarán muestras de suelo, sarmientos, hojas, raíces, estado fisiológico, afectación por plagas, productividad y calidad. Los resultados esperamos que sirvan para: 1) mejorar predicciones y tomas de decisiones de gestión; 2) generar documentos de transferencia identificando las prácticas de manejo y uso agrícola más sostenibles que optimicen la conservación de los recursos naturales y los beneficios socioeconómicos y 3) el desarrollo de herramientas que permitan predecir efectos futuros derivados de cambio climático y de usos de suelo, así como su interacción y sus efectos sobre la biodiversidad, servicios ecosistémicos asociados y su capacidad de resiliencia.Dentro de un contexto dominado por el cambio rápido y frecuente, es básico analizar sus efectos sobre la biodiversidad y los servicios ecosistémicos que ésta provee. El cultivo de la viña es uno de los sistemas agrícolas más antiguos de la región Mediterránea, con una interacción muy estrecha entre el manejo humano y el ambiente natural circundante. El proyecto BA C O pretende, desde un enfoque multidisciplinar, evaluar el papel del clima, paisaje y manejo sobre la biodiversidad y los servicios ecosistémicos asociados a viñedos. Se proponen los siguientes objetivos: i) caracterizar el paisaje, ambiente, clima y tipo de manejo de las principales explotaciones de vid; ii) evaluar la influencia del paisaje, ambiente y manejo en la biodiversidad de los viñedos y iii) estimar los servicios ecosistémicos que esta diversidad aporta. Se usarán tres escalas espaciales de resolución: a) Regional, considerando todos los viñedos y sistemas de manejo (convencional/ ecológico; variedades de uva) presentes en Andalucía; b) F inca, situadas en un gradiente altitudinal (proxi de Tª) y de paisaje, en las que se realizarán medidas de biodiversidad, servicios ecosistémicos, productividad, funcionalidad y sostenibilidad del viñedo frente a cambio global y c) Cepa, en las que se tomarán muestras de suelo, sarmientos, hojas, raíces, estado fisiológico, afectación por plagas, productividad y calidad. Los resultados esperamos que sirvan para: 1) mejorar predicciones y tomas de decisiones de gestión; 2) generar documentos de transferencia identificando las prácticas de manejo y uso agrícola más sostenibles que optimicen la conservación de los recursos naturales y los beneficios socioeconómicos y 3) el desarrollo de herramientas que permitan predecir efectos futuros derivados de cambio climático y de usos de suelo, así como su interacción y sus efectos sobre la biodiversidad, servicios ecosistémicos asociados y su capacidad de resiliencia

Cu(ii) and Zn(ii) complexes with a poly-functional ligand derived from o-vanillin and thiophene. Crystal structure, physicochemical properties, theoretical studies and cytotoxicity assays against human breast cancer cells

The interaction of a poly-functional ligand derived from o-vanillin and 2-thiophenemethylamine (oVATPNH2) with transition metal ions Cu(II) and Zn(II) leads to the formation of stable coordination compounds, namely [Cu(oVATPNH2)2] and [Zn(oVATPNH2)2]. Their crystal structures have been determined by X-ray diffraction methods. Two molecules of the deprotonated ligand acting in a bidentate fashion build a nearly square planar environment around Cu(II) and a distorted tetrahedral coordination arrangement for Zn(II). The complexes were characterized by spectroscopic techniques, including solid state FTIR, Raman, EPR and diffuse reflectance and solution UV-vis and EPR. Their thermal behavior has been analyzed by means of TGA and DTA. DFT theoretical studies, using computational methods based on DFT, were employed to assist the interpretation and assignment of spectroscopic data. Cytotoxicity assays against two human breast cancer cell lines, namely MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, revealed an enhancement of the effectiveness of the complexes as compared with both the ligand and the free metal ions. The results for the copper compound are promising, as its cytotoxic effect was stronger than the reference metallodrug cisplatin in both cancer cell lines tested.CONICET-CCT-La Plata (PIP 0651 and 0034), ANPCyT (PICT 2016-1574) and UNLP (11/X-473) (Argentina) and also by Consejerı´a de Educacio´n CyL and FFEDER BU076U16, BU022G18 and Ministerio de Economı´a y Competitividad CTQ2016-75023-C2-1-P and CTQ2015-70371- REDT MetDrugs Network (Spai

Structure, tautomerism, spectroscopic and DFT study of o-vanillin derived Schiff bases containing thiophene ring

Two Schiff bases derived from o-vanillin (o-HVA), a well-known antioxidant hydroxo aldehyde, have been obtained from condensation with 2-thiophenecarboxilic acid hydrazide (TPNNH) and 2-thiophenemethylamine (TPNH2), respectively. The inclusion of thiophene is based on its significance in the development of effective therapeutic agents. The study of the compounds oVATPNNH and oVATPNH2 includes solid state structural and spectroscopic analysis by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy (FTIR and Raman). The crystal structure of oVATPNH2 shows a peculiar rotational disorder in the heterocycle. Tautomeric equilibria in solution, which depends on the molecule structure and the nature of the solvent, were analysed by means of 1H and 13C{1H} NMR along with electronic spectroscopy. Tautomerism plays an important role not only in the molecular interactions but also in the behaviour of the Schiff base when acting as a ligand in coordination compounds. Results obtained from DFT calculations were used in the interpretation of the experimental data and in the spectral assignments.CONICET and UNLP, Argentina and by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad Español (CTQ2014-58812-C2-1-R, CTQ2015-70371-REDT

pSESYNTH project: Community mobilization for a multi-disciplinary paleo database of the Global South

How to enhance paleoscientific research, collaboration and application in the Global South? The INQUA-funded multi-year pSESYNTH project envisions the first multi-disciplinary Holocene paleo database through a collaborative vision for past human-environmental systems in the Global South, and their future sustainability