Plant characterization of genetically modified maize hybrids MON-89Ø34-3 × MON-88Ø17-3, MON-89Ø34-3 × MON-ØØ6Ø3-6, and MON-ØØ6Ø3-6: alternatives for maize production in Mexico

Environmental risk assessment (ERA) of genetically modified (GM) crops is a process to evaluate whether the biotechnology trait(s) in a GM crop may result in increased pest potential or harm to the environment. In this analysis, two GM insect-resistant (IR) herbicide-tolerant maize hybrids (MON-89Ø34-3 9 MON-88Ø17-3 and MON-89Ø34-3 9 MON-ØØ6Ø3-6) and one herbicide-tolerant GM hybrid (MON-ØØ6Ø3-6) were compared with conventional maize hybrids of similar genetic backgrounds. Two sets of studies, Experimental Phase and Pilot Phase, were conducted across five ecological regions (ecoregions) in Mexico during 2009–2013, and data were subject to meta-analysis. Results from the Experimental Phase studies, which were used for ERA, indicated that the three GM hybrids were not different from conventional maize for early stand count, days-tosilking, days-to-anthesis, root lodging, stalk lodging, or final stand count. Statistically significant differences were observed for seedling vigor, ear height, plant height, grain moisture, and grain yield, particularly in the IR hybrids; however, none of these phenotypic differences are expected to contribute to a biological or ecological change that would result in an increased pest potential or ecological risk when cultivating these GM hybrids. Overall, results from the Experimental Phase studies are consistent with those from other world regions, confirming that there are no additional risks compared to conventional maize. Results from Pilot Phase studies indicated that, compared to conventional maize hybrids, no differences were detected for the agronomic and phenotypic characteristics measured on the three GM maize hybrids, with the exception of grain moisture and grain yield in the IR hybrids. Since MON-89Ø34- 3 9 MON-88Ø17-3 and MON-89Ø34-3 9 MONØØ6Ø3- 6 confer resistance to target insect pests, they are an alternative for farmers in Mexico to protect the crop from insect damage. Additionally, the herbicide tolerance conferred by all three GM hybrids enables more cost-effective weed management

Estrategias de selección en familias de hermanos completos en dos poblaciones de maíces criollos

El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar índices de selección, selección simultánea de caracteres independientes, y ganancias genéticas en un programa de selección recurrente de familias de hermanos completos en dos poblaciones de maíz: la 15 y 45 de Pinto Amarillo. Se evaluaron 81 familias de cada población bajo un diseño experimental alfa-latice 9x9 con tres repeticiones en condiciones de riego en el campo experimental de la Facultad de Agronomía de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, México; las variables registradas fueron: altura de planta, altura de mazorca, floración masculina, floración femenina, rendimiento de grano, longitud de mazorca, diámetro de mazorca y número de hileras por mazorca. Los índices de selección fueron más eficientes ya que involucraron hasta siete variables asociadas al rendimiento de grano, principalmente altura de planta, floración masculina, diámetro de mazorca, número de hileras por mazorca, y longitud de mazorca

Native Macrofungi that Produce Lignin-Modifying Enzymes, Cellulases, and Xylanases with Potential Biotechnological Applications

With the aim of identifying and exploiting the mycological resources available in the Mexican Sierra Madre Oriental, the lignocellulolytic and pectinolytic potential of autochthonous fungi were evaluated in the present work. A solid media selection system was established in which 74 isolated strains were tested and compared to six international reference strains. The macrofungi Xylaria sp CS121, Inonotus sp CU7, Basidiomycete CH32, Basidiomycete CH23, Xylaria poitei, and Trametes maxima CU1 showed the highest cellulolytic and pectinolytic potential. The greatest lignolytic capability was exhibited by T. maxima CU1 and Pycnoporus sanguineus CS43. Under stirred submerged culture, T. maxima CU1 (cellulases, cellobiose dehydrogenase, manganese peroxidase (MnP), and laccase, with 200, 359, 51, and 267 U/L, respectively) and Xylaria sp CS121 (198 U/L of xylanases) were the highest enzymatic producers. Under stationary conditions, the best producers were Inonotus sp CU7 for cellulases, P. sanguineus CS43 for cellobiose dehydrogenase and laccase, and T. maxima CU1 for xylanases and MnP (242, 467, 35, 165, and 31 U/L, respectively). These results demonstrate the efficiency of enzymatic profiling as a tool for enzyme discovery with Mexican native fungi

Contribution of bound phenolic compounds to the total phenol content and antioxidant capacity of oat (Avena sativa) grain fractions

Bound phenolics from oat grain endosperm-germ and bran fractions contributed to 73.30–82.22% of total phenol content and 59.33–66.83%, 67.86–75.74%, and 59.02–67.86% of total antioxidant capacity in ABTS-AC, DDPH-AC, and FRAP-AC, respectively. Bound phenolics form the bulk of total phenol content and antioxidant capacity, especially in bran fraction.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Diversidad de maíces criollos de Nuevo León, México, mediante AFLP y caracteres morfológicos.

Diversity of maize landraces of Nuevo León, México, using AFLP and morphological characters. The objective of this work was to identify the molecular and phenotypicvariability among maize populations Pinto Amarillo and Liebre in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The phenotypiccharacterization experiment was established in spring 2009.The variables registered were plant height, days to maleand female fl owering, number of rows per ear, kernels perrow of ears, length and diameter of the corn ear. For the molecular characterization of the 30 populations, the seedswere planted in February 2010 in pots with peat-moss. At30 days after planting all the leaves were collected and usedin AFLP. A cluster analysis was conducted using UPGMA method. Three groups were identified; twelve populations of Pinto Amarillo and three of Liebre. The landraces within each group were associated more to races of maize morethan to location.Diversidad de maíces criollos de Nuevo León, México,mediante AFLP y caracteres morfológicos. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo identificar la variabilidad fenotípica y molecular entre poblaciones de maíz Pinto Amarillo yLiebre en Nuevo León, México. En la caracterización fenotípica se estableció un experimento en primavera 2009. Lasvariables registradas fueron altura de planta, días a floración masculina y femenina, número de hileras por mazorca, granos por hilera de mazorca, longitud y diámetro de mazorca.Para la caracterización molecular, las treinta poblaciones se sembraron en febrero del 2010 en macetas con peat-moss, después de treinta días se colectaron todas las hojas de laplántula, para la técnica AFLP; se realizó un análisis conglomeradosutilizando el método de UPGMA. Se identificaron tres grupos; doce poblaciones de Pinto Amarillo y tres de Liebre agrupando genotipos comunes. Los grupos se asociaron más a la raza de maíz que al lugar de colectas

Comparación de dos tipos de selección en poblaciones de maíces criollos

The aims of this study were to estimate, in two native corn populations, selection indexes of agronomic characters that allow to identify corn families superior in yield and to compare two relative efficiencies of the predicted response expected. We evaluated 169 full-sib corn families under irrigation of the "Liebre" subpopulations number "10" and "37", in the experimental field of the Faculty of Agronomy of the UANL. The experimental design was a 13 x 13 lattice; the determined variables were grain yield, plant height, cob height, days to male and female flowering, cob length, cob diameter and number of rows per cob. Greater genetic gain was obtained by combining four characters correlated with yield. The most efficient selection indexes were those which considered the days to male flowering, plant height, cob height, cob length, cob diameter, and grain yield.Los objetivos fueron estimar en dos poblaciones criollas de maíz índices de selección de caracteres agronómicos que permitan identificar familias superiores en rendimiento y comparar dos eficiencias relativas de la respuesta predicha esperada. Se evaluaron bajo riego 169 familias de hermanos completos de las subpoblaciones "10" y "37" 'de Liebre' en el campo experimental de la Facultad de Agronomía de la UANL. El diseño experimental fue un latice 13 x 13; las variables determinadas fueron rendimiento de grano, altura de planta, altura de mazorca, floración femenina, floración masculina, longitud de mazorca, diámetro de mazorca y número de hileras por mazorca. Se obtuvo mayor ganancia genética al combinar cuatro caracteres correlacionados con el rendimiento. Los índices de selección más eficientes fueron los que tomaron en cuenta días a floración masculina, altura de planta y mazorca, longitud y diámetro de mazorca; así como rendimiento de grano