Corrigendum to "European contribution to the study of ROS:A summary of the findings and prospects for the future from the COST action BM1203 (EU-ROS)" [Redox Biol. 13 (2017) 94-162]

The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) provides an ideal framework to establish multi-disciplinary research networks. COST Action BM1203 (EU-ROS) represents a consortium of researchers from different disciplines who are dedicated to providing new insights and tools for better understanding redox biology and medicine and, in the long run, to finding new therapeutic strategies to target dysregulated redox processes in various diseases. This report highlights the major achievements of EU-ROS as well as research updates and new perspectives arising from its members. The EU-ROS consortium comprised more than 140 active members who worked together for four years on the topics briefly described below. The formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) is an established hallmark of our aerobic environment and metabolism but RONS also act as messengers via redox regulation of essential cellular processes. The fact that many diseases have been found to be associated with oxidative stress established the theory of oxidative stress as a trigger of diseases that can be corrected by antioxidant therapy. However, while experimental studies support this thesis, clinical studies still generate controversial results, due to complex pathophysiology of oxidative stress in humans. For future improvement of antioxidant therapy and better understanding of redox-associated disease progression detailed knowledge on the sources and targets of RONS formation and discrimination of their detrimental or beneficial roles is required. In order to advance this important area of biology and medicine, highly synergistic approaches combining a variety of diverse and contrasting disciplines are needed

Comunicación corta. La decisión sobre la elección de germoplasma para la mejora de una población local de veza común está afectada por el grado de densidad de siembra

The value of a population as a potential gene pool on which to apply selection may be severely underestimated under competition conditions because of the negative correlation of competitive versus yielding ability. To address this issue, a vetch (Vicia sativa) local population along with a control cultivar was evaluated at densities ranging from 1.15 to 25 plants m-2. A hyperbolic increasing pattern as density declined was found for both grain and biomass yield. Nevertheless, at the highest density the control cultivar performance exceeded the population, whereas at the lowest density the opposite happened. The results were attributed to the heterogeneity of the population versus the homogeneity of the cultivar combined with the aforementioned negative relationship. It was concluded that severe crowding undervalues the potential of a population because plants representing high yielders cannot exhibit this capacity due to their competitive disadvantage. On the other side, the absence of competition optimizes the yield expression of individual plants. Therefore, absence of competition is recommended as the optimal condition to evaluate populations and make the right decision on the most promising one for breeding.El valor de una población, en el conjunto de genes potenciales sobre los que aplicar la selección, podría subestimarse de forma importante en condiciones de competencia, debido a la correlación negativa de la capacidad competitiva frente a la capacidad de producción. Para solucionar este problema, se evaluó una población local de veza (Vicia sativa) junto con un cultivar comercial como control, a densidades que oscilan desde 1,15 hasta 25 plantas m-2. Se encontró, tanto en producción de grano como de biomasa, un patrón de aumento hiperbólico según iba disminuyendo la densidad. A mayor densidad, el comportamiento del cultivar control fue superior a la población, mientras que a menor densidad ocurrió lo contrario. Los resultados se atribuyeron a la heterogeneidad de la población vs. la homogeneidad del cultivar, combinado con la correlación negativa antes mencionada. Se concluye que las siembras a mayor densidad disminuyen el potencial de una población, porque las plantas muy productivas no llegan a exhibir su capacidad potencial debido a la desventaja competitiva. Por otro lado, la ausencia de competitividad optimiza la expresión de la productividad en plantas individuales. Por tanto, para optimizar la evaluación de las poblaciones para mejora y tomar decisiones correctas, se recomienda la ausencia de competitividad sobre las poblaciones más prometedoras

The influence of different soil types on rainfed wheat varieties for grain and protein yield

Twenty-three winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties were tested in randomized complete blocks for four seasons in two felds (sandy and loamy soil), of the Mendel University in Brno, Czech Republic. Objectives were to fnd genotypes combining high grain with protein yield and cover the protein content standards. Stability was assessed on the coefcient of variation (CV) of grain yield and plant height (plot-to-plot variability), the level a variety lagged behind the maximum yield attained within a block (yield-gap index), and the GGE biplot analysis. Sandy and loamy felds simulated low- and high-input agroecosystems, respectively. The sandy feld averaged 5.47 t/ha grain yield and 15.25% grain protein content, while the respective values for the loamy feld were 10.4 t/ha and 13.17%. In the loamy feld, nine varieties failed to meet the protein content benchmark of 13% for the breadmaking industry. The CV of plant height rather than of grain yield was a good criterion to show the efects of crop variation on yield and stability. The yield-gap index constituted a good measure of general adaptability to fuctuating conditions. Some varieties showed specifc adaptation to sandy or loamy soil. On basis of CV of plant height, yield-gap index and GGE biplot, there were also varieties with general adaptability. Genotypes were found to have high protein content irrespective of grain yield, so selection of varieties with good yielding performance and protein concentration appears to be a sound pursuit

Testing the Validity of CV for Single-Plant Yield in the Absence of Competition as a Homeostasis Index

The coefficient of variation (CV) of yield may functionally be related to the mean. The expected exponential CV decline with increasing mean, i.e., the Taylor’s power law (TPL), is not always valid. Removal of this scale dependency allows for a scale-independent assessment of stability. The objective of this study was to interpret the validity of the homeostasis index (HI), i.e., the inverse CV value, suggested in breeding under nil competition as a selection criterion for progeny lines that oppose the acquired interplant variation. Data concerning the single-plant yield of various crops under a nil-competition regime were studies against the theoretical background of the above hypothesis. Simple correlations between logarithms of variances and respective means were used to assess the reliability of CV as a stability statistic in breeding trials under nil competition. A total of 8 of the 24 case analyses revealed a systematic variance dependence on the mean. The impact was more prevalent in experiments with extensive spatial heterogeneity and high CV scores. Conversion of variance to remove systematic dependence did not validate the CV~mean negative relationship. Because of variance dependence, caution is needed when interpreting the HI as a stability index. Misuse of the HI may entail the risk of bias, upgrading or downgrading a progeny line in its ability to withstand acquired dissimilarity between plants. Testing the validity of the variance seems necessary, and the calculation of HI on a converted variance may enhance the accuracy of identifying the most promising progeny lines