Caractérisation agromorphologique d’une nouvelle génération d’hybrides de cocotiers grands (cocos nucifera l.) En côte d’ivoire

Pour répondre aux préoccupations des producteurs désireux de grosses noix, des hybrides améliorés de cocotier grands ont été créés. Le présent travail analyse quelques paramètres agromorphologiques de ces hybrides de cocotiers. Trois hybrides de cocotier Grands x Grands sont comparés à un témoin PB121 amélioré (PB121+) en examinant les paramètres de production et les composantes de la noix à travers l’analyse de variance complétée par le test de Newman et Keuls. Les résultats montrent que les hybrides Grands x Grands améliorés produisent des noix plus grosses (2,96 ± 0,56 dm3 à 3,29 ± 0,83 dm3) et plus lourdes (1084,3 ± 120,12 g à 1147 ± 27,52 g) que le croisement témoin PB121 amélioré (2,48 ±0,53 dm3 et 999,81 ± 85,54 g). Les grosses noix des hybrides Grands x Grands améliorés sont également plus riches en albumen (396,25 ± 37,08 g à 430,72 ± 39 g) que celles produites par le PB121 amélioré (353,31 ± 27,46 g). Parmi les hybrides de cocotiers Grands améliorés, c’est le Grand des îles Rennell croisé avec le Grand Ouest Africain (GRL+ x GOA+) qui présente le rendement en nombre de noix le plus élevé (127 ± 33 noix arbre-1an-1) qui est statistiquement égal à celui du PB121+. Les autres croisements de cocotiers Grands fournissent un rendement en nombre de noix (91 ± 35 à 95 ± 34 noix arbre -1 an-1) inférieur au témoin PB121+(136 ± 41 noix arbre-1an-1). L’hybride GRL+ x GOA+ est donc à conseiller aux opérateurs qui préfèrent les grosses noix riches en coprah et en huile à partir de l’albumen.Mots-clés : Cocos nucifera L., grosses noix, hybride Grand, production.In order to provide big coconut seed required by some farmers, tall improved hybrids were developed. This work analyzes some agromorphological parameters of these coconut hybrids. Three tall x tall coconut hybrids were compared to the controlled material PB121+ using yield parameters and nut components through analysis of variance completed by Newman and Keuls test. The results showed that the tall x tall improved hybrids yield bigger (from 2.96 ± 0.56 dm3 to 3.29 ± 0.83 dm3) and heavier nuts (from 1084.3 ± 120.12 g to 1147 ± 27.52 g) than those from PB121+ (2.48 ±0.53 dm3 and 999.81 ± 85.54 g). The big nuts of the tall x tall improved hybrids contain more kernels (from 396.25 ± 37.08 g to 430.72 ± 39 g) than those from PB121+ (353.31 ± 27.46 g). Within the tall x tall hybrids, Rennell Island Tall crossed with West African Tall (GRL+ x GOA+) is the bigger yielder of nuts (127 ± 33 nuts tree-1 year-1), with the same statistical level with the PB121+. The other tall hybrids (from 91 ± 35 to 95 ± 34 nuts tree -1 year-1) yield less nuts than the controlled material PB121+ (136 ± 41 nuts tree-1year-1). So the GRL+ x GOA+ is the tall hybrid which has to be advised to farmers and actors who prefer big coconut with high content copra and oil from kernel

Influence de l’acide salicylique sur l’activité des polyphénoloxydases et l’accumulation des composés phénoliques chez le manioc (Manihot esculenta Crantz )

Influence of salicylic acid on activity of polyphenol oxidases and accumulation of phenolic compounds in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)To study the reaction of defence of cassava, we have measured the activity of polyphenol oxidases (PPO) and dosed total ethano-soluble phenolic compounds accumulated before and after inoculation of salicylic acid in six weeks old seedlings. PPO activity has beenprecociously induced (1 h) for the cultivars bouaga, mamawa, tapioca and ecrevisse but tardily for the cultivars bonoua (4 h) and yace (12 h). PPO have been 3 to 11.50 times stimulated according to varieties.Dosed total phenolic compounds have undergone a significant increase since the inoculation, and this rate has remained almost constant during experimentation. The synthesis of enzyme has been equally stimulated in immediately situated leaves above (fis) and in under (fii) of the inoculated leaf (fi). Phenolic compound have also undergonean increase in these leaves. Concerning the age of the inoculated leaf (4 and 6 weeks), PPO activity and the phenolic compounds quantity have become more important in adult leaves

Influence de l\'acide salicylique sur la synthèse de la phénylalanine ammonia-lyase, des polyphénoloxydases et l\'accumulation des composes phénoliques chez le manioc (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Pour étudier la réaction de défense du manioc contre les agents pathogènes, nous avons évalué l'activité de la phénylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) et des polyphénoloxydases (PPO), et dosé les composés phénoliques totaux éthano-solubles accumulés avant et après l'inoculation de l'acide salicylique (AS) dans des plants âgés de six semaines. La synthèse des enzymes a été précocement induite (1-4 h). L'activité de la PAL a été 4 à 13 fois stimulée et celle des PPO, 3 à 11 fois plus, selon les cultivars. Les taux de composés phénoliques totaux éthano-solubles ont subi une augmentation significative dès l'inoculation des plantes. Ces taux sont restés quasi constants malgré la baisse de l'activité de la PAL. La synthèse de l'enzyme a été également stimulée dans les feuilles immédiatement situées audessus (fis) et en dessous (fii) de la feuille inoculée (fi). Les composés phénoliques ont subi aussi une augmentation dans ces feuilles. Concernant l'âge de la feuille inoculée (4 et 6 semaines), la synthèse de la PAL et la quantité des composés phénoliques ont été plus élevées dans les feuilles adultes.To study the reaction of defence of cassava against pathogens, we have evaluated the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), polyphenol oxidases (PPO) and dosed total ethano-soluble phenolic compounds accumulated before and after inoculation of salicylic acid in six weeks old seedlings. Enzymes synthesis was precociously induced (1–4 h). PAL activity was 4 to 13 times stimulated and those PPO, 3 to 11 fold higher, according to varieties. Dosed total phenolic compounds undergone a significant increase since the plants inoculation, and this rate has remained almost constant despite the decrease of PAL activity. The enzyme synthesis was equally stimulated in immediately situated leaves above (fis) and in under (fii) of the inoculated leaf (fi). Phenolic compounds have also undergone an increase in these leaves. Concerning the age of the inoculated leaf (4 and 6 weeks), the PAL synthesis and the phenolic compounds quantity have become more important in adult leaves. Keywords: cassava, phenolic compounds, PAL, PPO, salicylic acid, reaction of defence Sciences & Nature Vol. 5 (1) 2008: pp. 1-1

Meta-Analysis of the Association between Transforming Growth Factor-Beta Polymorphisms and Complications of Coronary Heart Disease

Objective: To investigate the association between common transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and significant complications of coronary heart disease (CHD).\ud \ud Method: We performed a meta-analysis of published case-control studies assessing the association of TGF-β SNPs with a range of CHD complications. A random effects model was used to calculate odds ratios and confidence intervals. Analyses were conducted for additive, dominant and recessive modes of inheritance.\ud \ud Results: Six studies involving 5535 cases and 2970 controls examining the association of common SNPs in TGF-β1 with CHD were identified. Applying a dominant model of inheritance, three TGF-β1 SNPs were significantly associated with CHD complications: The T alleles of rs1800469 (OR = 1.125, 95% CI 1.016–1.247, p = 0.031) and rs1800470 (OR = 1.146, 95% CI 1.026–1.279, p = 0.021); and the C allele of rs1800471 (OR = 1.207, 95% CI 1.037–1.406, p = 0.021).\ud \ud Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests that common genetic polymorphisms in TGF-β1 are associated with complications of CHD

Photographic protocol for image acquisition in craniofacial microsomia

Craniofacial microsomia (CFM) is a congenital condition associated with orbital, mandibular, ear, nerve, and soft tissue anomalies. We present a standardized, two-dimensional, digital photographic protocol designed to capture the common craniofacial features associated with CFM

Zebrafish hoxd4a Acts Upstream of meis1.1 to Direct Vasculogenesis, Angiogenesis and Hematopoiesis

10.1371/journal.pone.0058857PLoS ONE83

Visual recovery after perinatal stroke evidenced by functional and diffusion MRI: case report

BACKGROUND: After perinatal brain injury, clinico-anatomic correlations of functional deficits and brain plasticity remain difficult to evaluate clinically in the young infant. Thus, new non-invasive methods capable of early functional diagnosis are needed in young infants. CASE PRESENTATION: The visual system recovery in an infant with perinatal stroke is assessed by combining diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and event-related functional MRI (ER-fMRI). All experiments were done at 1.5T. A first DTI experiment was performed at 12 months of age. At 20 months of age, a second DTI experiment was performed and combined with an ER-fMRI experiment with visual stimuli (2 Hz visual flash). At 20 months of age, ER-fMRI showed significant negative activation in the visual cortex of the injured left hemisphere that was not previously observed in the same infant. DTI maps suggest recovery of the optic radiation in the vicinity of the lesion. Optic radiations in the injured hemisphere are more prominent in DTI at 20 months of age than in DTI at 12 months of age. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that functional cortical recovery is supported by structural modifications that concern major pathways of the visual system. These neuroimaging findings might contribute to elaborate a pertinent strategy in terms of diagnosis and rehabilitation

Genetic polymorphisms of the RAS-cytokine pathway and chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children is irreversible. It is associated with renal failure progression and atherosclerotic cardiovascular (CV) abnormalities. Nearly 60% of children with CKD are affected since birth with congenital or inherited kidney disorders. Preliminary evidence primarily from adult CKD studies indicates common genetic risk factors for CKD and atherosclerotic CV disease. Although multiple physiologic pathways share common genes for CKD and CV disease, substantial evidence supports our attention to the renin angiotensin system (RAS) and the interlinked inflammatory cascade because they modulate the progressions of renal and CV disease. Gene polymorphisms in the RAS-cytokine pathway, through altered gene expression of inflammatory cytokines, are potential factors that modulate the rate of CKD progression and CV abnormalities in patients with CKD. For studying such hypotheses, the cooperative efforts among scientific groups and the availability of robust and affordable technologies to genotype thousands of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across the genome make genome-wide association studies an attractive paradigm for studying polygenic diseases such as CKD. Although attractive, such studies should be interpreted carefully, with a fundamental understanding of their potential weaknesses. Nevertheless, whole-genome association studies for diabetic nephropathy and future studies pertaining to other types of CKD will offer further insight for the development of targeted interventions to treat CKD and associated atherosclerotic CV abnormalities in the pediatric CKD population

Genome-wide association study identifies six new loci influencing pulse pressure and mean arterial pressure.

Numerous genetic loci have been associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in Europeans. We now report genome-wide association studies of pulse pressure (PP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP). In discovery (N = 74,064) and follow-up studies (N = 48,607), we identified at genome-wide significance (P = 2.7 × 10(-8) to P = 2.3 × 10(-13)) four new PP loci (at 4q12 near CHIC2, 7q22.3 near PIK3CG, 8q24.12 in NOV and 11q24.3 near ADAMTS8), two new MAP loci (3p21.31 in MAP4 and 10q25.3 near ADRB1) and one locus associated with both of these traits (2q24.3 near FIGN) that has also recently been associated with SBP in east Asians. For three of the new PP loci, the estimated effect for SBP was opposite of that for DBP, in contrast to the majority of common SBP- and DBP-associated variants, which show concordant effects on both traits. These findings suggest new genetic pathways underlying blood pressure variation, some of which may differentially influence SBP and DBP