Comunicación corta. Exportación de los macroelementos mayoritarios por los frutos de diferentes cultivares de almendro

The amount of the major macroelements required to produce a given crop has been determined for a set of 11 almond (Prunus amygdalus Batsch) cultivars growing in the Middle Ebro Valley (NE Spain). A wide diversity of nutrient exports was found among the different cultivars. Although the production of kernels is the main objective when growing almonds, all the different fruit components: the mesocarp (hull), the endocarp (shell) and the seed (kernel), were taken into account. The different fruit components showed a great variation among cultivars, and the amount of fruit dry matter required for producing 1 kg of kernel ranged from 4.32 kg in ‘Guara’ to 10.56 kg in ‘Desmayo Largueta’. Similarly, the macroelement requirements to produce a given amount of kernels varied among the different cultivars. ‘Guara’ has proved to be the most effective cultivar in taking advantage of the mineral elements for producing a crop, showing that this efficiency is independent of the shell type. Se determinó la cantidad de macroelementos mayoritarios necesarios para producir una determinada cantidad de cosecha en un grupo de 11 cultivares de almendro (Prunus amygdalus Batsch) cultivados en el Valle Medio del Ebro (NE de España). Se encontró una gran diversidad de requerimientos entre los diferentes cultivares. Aunque la producción de pepitas es el objetivo principal en el cultivo del almendro, todos los componentes del fruto se han de tener en cuenta en este cálculo: el mesocarpo (la piel), el endocarpo (la cáscara) y la semilla (la pepita). Estos tres componentes del fruto mostraron una gran variabilidad entre los cultivares y la cantidad de materia seca necesaria para producir 1 kg de pepita osciló entre 4,32 kg en ‘Guara’ y 10,56 kg en ‘Desmayo Largueta’. Igualmente, los requisitos en macroelementos para producir una cantidad determinada de pepita varió entre los diferentes cultivares. ‘Guara’ mostró ser el cultivar más eficiente en la utilización de los elementos minerales para la producción de una cosecha, mostrando que esta eficiencia es independiente del tipo de cáscara

Physical Fruit Traits in Moroccan Almond Seedlings: Quality Aspects and Post-Harvest Uses

The physical traits of local almond populations from Morocco were studied to characterize their genetic resources and to evaluate the possibility of their commercial valorization. Nut weight ranged between 1.15 and 7.39 g, and kernel weight between 0.54 and 1.85 g, but most accessions were characterized by small kernels, pronounced wrinkles, and double kernels. Although the physical quality of the kernels of these populations was low, they show the possibility of some specialized uses, which could improve their marketable value. The genotypes with favorable values could be incorporated into an almond breeding program as parents to increase the kernel quality.Publishe

The definition of the European Almond Core collection

The European project 068 AGRI GEN RES 870/2004 has as an aim the definition of the European almond core collection. The methodology for creation of any core collection has to define how best to select entries using complex and incomplete accession data, as well as how and when to revise these decisions over time. The acquisition of data has been based on specific varietal descriptors, including morphological, physiological, phytopathological, genetic and chemical traits, following the descriptors defined by IBPGR/Bioversity, UPOV and the ECP/GR Prunus Working Group. Newly defined traits, not included in these descriptors, have also been considered because they are very important in defining the range of variability of the species. These traits include chilling and heat requirements for blooming, the molecular markers for genotype identification and the different chemical components of the kernel, as possible parameters for defining almond quality. As a result, a strategy to define the almond core collection was identified by highlighting the main steps to achieve in the near future.Peer ReviewedPrunus amygdalus Batschcore collectiongenetic resourcesgermplasmPublishe

Targeting antisense mitochondrial noncoding RNAs induces bladder cancer cell death and inhibition of tumor growth through reduction of survival and invasion factors

Indexación: Scopus.Knockdown of the antisense noncoding mitochondrial RNAs (ASncmtRNAs) induces apoptotic death of several human tumor cell lines, but not normal cells, supporting a selective therapy against different types of cancer. In this work, we evaluated the effects of knockdown of ASncmtRNAs on bladder cancer (BCa). We transfected the BCa cell lines UMUC-3, RT4 and T24 with the specific antisense oligonucleotide Andes-1537S, targeted to the human ASncmtRNAs. Knockdown induced a strong inhibition of cell proliferation and increase in cell death in all three cell lines. As observed in UMUC-3 cells, the treatment triggered apoptosis, evidenced by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and Annexin V staining, along with activation of procaspase-3 and downregulation of the anti-apoptotic factors survivin and Bcl-xL. Treatment also inhibited cell invasion and spheroid formation together with inhibition of N-cadherin and MMP 11. In vivo treatment of subcutaneous xenograft UMUC-3 tumors in NOD/SCID mice with Andes-1537S induced inhibition of tumor growth as compared to saline control. Similarly, treatment of a high-grade bladder cancer PDX with Andes-1537S resulted in a strong inhibition of tumor growth. Our results suggest that ASncmtRNAs could be potent targets for bladder cancer as adjuvant therapy.https://www.jcancer.org/v11p1780.ht

In search of an evidence-based strategy for quality assessment of human tissue samples: report of the tissue Biospecimen Research Working Group of the Spanish Biobank Network

The purpose of the present work is to underline the importance of obtaining a standardized procedure to ensure and evaluate both clinical and research usability of human tissue samples. The study, which was carried out by the Biospecimen Science Working Group of the Spanish Biobank Network, is based on a general overview of the current situation about quality assurance in human tissue biospecimens. It was conducted an exhaustive review of the analytical techniques used to evaluate the quality of human tissue samples over the past 30 years, as well as their reference values if they were published, and classified them according to the biomolecules evaluated: (i) DNA, (ii) RNA, and (iii) soluble or/and fixed proteins for immunochemistry. More than 130 publications released between 1989 and 2019 were analysed, most of them reporting results focused on the analysis of tumour and biopsy samples. A quality assessment proposal with an algorithm has been developed for both frozen tissue samples and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples, according to the expected quality of sample based on the available pre-analytical information and the experience of the participants in the Working Group. The high heterogeneity of human tissue samples and the wide number of pre-analytic factors associated to quality of samples makes it very difficult to harmonize the quality criteria. However, the proposed method to assess human tissue sample integrity and antigenicity will not only help to evaluate whether stored human tissue samples fit for the purpose of biomarker development, but will also allow to perform further studies, such as assessing the impact of different pre-analytical factors on very well characterized samples or evaluating the readjustment of tissue sample collection, processing and storing procedures. By ensuring the quality of the samples used on research, the reproducibility of scientific results will be guaranteed.This work was funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovacion y Universidades of Spain and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI16/00528, PI16/00946, PI16/01207 and PI16/01276), co-funded by the Spanish Biobank Network (PT13/0010/0030, PT17/0015/0001, PT17/0015/0021, PT17/0015/0049, PT17/0015/0018, PT17/0015/0002, PT17/0015/0016, PT17/0015/0038, PT17/0015/0027, PT17/0015/0004, PT17/0015/0047, PT17/0015/0014, PT17/0015/0041, and PT17/0015/0006), European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) "A way to make Europe" and granted by Conselleria d'Innovacio, Recerca i Turisme del Govern de les Illes Balears (TEC/002/2017).S

Proyecto europeo para la valorización de recursos genéticos autóctonos de almendro y avellano. Trabajos realizados en España

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Genotype and Environment Effects on Phytosterol and Tocopherol Contents in Almond Kernel Oil

The phytosterol and tocopherol contents of almond kernel oil were evaluated in three almond cultivars, including the Spanish cultivar ‘Marcona’ and the French cultivars ‘Ferragnès’ and ‘Ferraduel’, grown under two different agro-climatic conditions, Zaragoza (Spain) and Meknès (Morocco). The analysis of variance showed significant effects of the genotype on kernel phytosterol content, Δ5-Avenasterol, Δ7-Campesterol, Stigmasterol and on the three tocopherol isomers. The location effect was significant on oil and kernel phytosterol contents, β-sitosterol,Δ5-avenasterol, Δ7-stigmastenol, Δ7-campesterol and α- and γ-tocopherol. The highest value of kernel and oil phytosterol contents were observed at Meknès (1.48 g kg−1 and 2.54 g kg−1, respectively), as compared to those obtained at Zaragoza (1.31 g kg−1 and 2.54 g kg−1, respectively).The highest values ofβ-sitosterol and Δ5-avenasterol were obtained at the Zaragoza location (81.93% and 10.55% of total phytosterols, respectively).The highest value of α-tocopherol was observed in the Morocco location (496 mg kg−1 oil). These results indicate that under warm climate conditions in Morocco, the almond cultivars tend to accumulate more phytosterol and tocopherol. However, the significance of the genotype × location interaction on the phytosterol and tocopherol contentindicates that the magnitude of variation in these traits mainly depends on the genotype.Publishe

Reproductive biology traits affecting productivity of sour cherry

The objective of this work was to evaluate variability in reproductive biology traits and the correlation between them in genotypes of 'Oblacinska' sour cherry (Prunus cerasus). High genetic diversity was found in the 41 evaluated genotypes, and significant differences were observed among them for all studied traits: flowering time, pollen germination, number of fruiting branches, production of flower and fruit, number of flowers per bud, fruit set, and limb yield efficiency. The number of fruiting branches significantly influenced the number of flower and fruit, fruit set, and yield efficiency. In addition to number of fruiting branches, yield efficiency was positively correlated with fruit set and production of flower and fruit. Results from principal component analysis suggested a reduction of the reproductive biology factors affecting yield to four main characters: number and structure of fruiting branches, flowering time, and pollen germination. Knowledge of the reproductive biology of the 'Oblacinska' genotypes can be used to select the appropriate ones to be grown or used as parents in breeding programs. In this sense, genotypes II/2, III/9, III/13, and III/14 have very good flower production and satisfactory pollen germination

Effectiveness of intensive group and individual interventions for smoking cessation in primary health care settings: a randomized trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>Primary: To compare the effectiveness of intensive group and individual interventions for smoking cessation in a primary health care setting; secondary: to identify the variables associated with smoking cessation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Three-pronged clinical trial with randomisation at the individual level. We performed the following: an intensive individual intervention (III), an intensive group intervention (IGI) and a minimal intervention (MI). Included in the study were smokers who were prepared to quit smoking. Excluded from the study were individuals aged less than 18 years or with severe mental conditions or terminal illnesses. The outcome measure was continued abstinence at 12 months confirmed through CO-oximetry (CO). The analysis was based on intention to treat.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In total, 287 smokers were recruited: 81 in the III, 111 in the IGI, and 95 in the MI. Continued abstinence at 12 months confirmed through CO was 7.4% in the III, 5.4% in the IGI, and 1% in the MI. No significant differences were noted between III and MI on the one hand, and between IGI and MI on the other [RR 7.04 (0.9-7.2) and RR 5.1 (0.6-41.9), respectively]. No differences were noted between IGI and III [RR 0.7 (0.2-2.2)]. In multivariate analysis, only overall visit length showed a statistically significant association with smoking cessation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The effectiveness of intensive smoking interventions in this study was lower than expected. No statistically significant differences were found between the results of individual and group interventions.</p> <p>Trial registration number</p> <p>ISRCTN32323770</p