Crop loading studies on ‘Caricia’ and ‘Eva’ apples grown in a mild winter area

The crop load level of an apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) tree impacts fruit yield and quality parameters, tree vigor and biennial bearing. The optimal crop load is that which allows for consistent annual cropping and fruit quality acceptable to the market. We evaluated the effect of crop load on yield and fruit quality of two low-chill apples cv. ‘Caricia’ and ‘Eva’, growing in a mild winter area. During 2010 and 2011 crop load was manually adjusted from 2 or 3 to 17 fruits cm−2 of trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA). Fruit yield was positively related to crop load in both cultivars but mean fruit weight diminished as the crop load increased. For both cultivars, the production of non-commercial and small-sized fruit increased, whereas production of middle-sized fruit diminished as the fruit load increased. Shoot length was not affected by crop load in ‘Eva’ whereas it was reduced in ‘Caricia’. Red skin color (RSC %) had a quadratic response to crop load in ‘Caricia’. On the other hand, the RSC % of ‘Eva’ fruit was adjusted to a negative logarithmic model as an effect of crop load increment. No biennial bearing was observed in either cultivar. This research study suggests that the maximum limit of crop load for both cultivars is 7 fruits cm−2 of TCSA, and the lower limit of crop load was 3 fruits cm−2 of TCSA for ‘Eva’ and 5 fruits cm−2 of TCSA for ‘Caricia’

Towards genomic selection in apple (Malus x domestica Borkh.) breeding programmes: Prospects, challenges and strategies

The apple genome sequence and the availability of high-throughput genotyping technologies have initiated a new era where SNP markers are abundant across the whole genome. Genomic selection (GS) is a statistical approach that utilizes all available genome-wide markers simultaneously to estimate breeding values or total genetic values. For breeding programmes, GS is a promising alternative to the traditional marker-assisted selection for manipulating complex polygenic traits often controlled by many small-effect genes. Various factors, such as genetic architecture of selection traits, population size and structure, genetic evaluation systems, density of SNP markers and extent of linkage disequilibrium, have been shown to be the key drivers of the accuracy of GS. In this paper, we provide an overview of the status of these aspects in current apple-breeding programmes. Strategies for GS for fruit quality and disease resistance are discussed, and an update on an empirical genomic selection study in a New Zealand apple-breeding programme is provided, along with a foresight of expected accuracy from such selection

Feasibility of genome-wide association analysis using a small single nucleotide polymorphism panel in an apple breeding population segregating for fruit skin color

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been used for a range of genetic studies and are now starting to be applied for marker-assisted selection in plant breeding programs. To identify SNP markers associated with red fruit skin color, we conducted a genome-wide association (GWA) analysis in an apple (Malus ×domestica Borkh.) breeding population comprising 94 phenotyped individuals using a 384-plex SNP assay. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis indicated that LD extends over a long physical distance in the population (17 Mbp), indicating that a small number of generations separates the individuals. No significant association of anthocyanin content, overcolor, and colorimetric measures (a*, b*, L*, a/b*, and hue angle) with a marker was identified, although the apple fruit skin color locus has been previously located on apple linkage group 9. Our trial of a small SNP panel for GWA in apple breeding material has demonstrated the limitation of this approach for marker trait association

Papel do Pept?deo Natriur?tico NT pro-BNP no diagn?stico da insufici?ncia card?aca em idosos

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-14T13:54:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 464804.pdf: 1590458 bytes, checksum: e5fa70202dba1d1fd2d06ce2fd978999 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-07-25Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is the final pathway of most diseases affecting the heart. It is estimated that this syndrome, with high mortality rate, affects 80% of the elderly people in the world within five years of disease evolution. Objective:The objective was to evaluate the role of natriuretic peptide NT - proBNP in the diagnosis of HF in the elderly. Method: Cross-sectional study of diagnosis to determine the accuracy (sensitivity, specificity and predictive value) in serum BNP level, checking if there is a correlation between the serum BNP level and severity of heart failure. While testing patients, in the NT-proBNP study, the NT-proBNP serum level was determinedby the blood. Chest X-rays, transthoracic echocardiography and clinical examination were used to define groups with and without HF. A total of 74 elderly were researched in this group, 46 had HF and 28 had noHF. Results: Female gender was more prevalent 92,9% (p = 0.001), the age range was 60-69 years old (with/HF=37%) (without/HF=57.1%) (p=0.025). They had no active physical activities (95.7% w/HF) (p 50% (average 363.2) and 50% (m?dia de 363,2) e <50% (m?dia de 678,2). Classificados usando a NYHA I(20-344,2 m?dia), IV(12-664,9 m?dia) (p=0,412) com sensibilidade 58,7% e especificidade de 82,1%, regress?o linear (r= -0,291 e p=0,05) entre BNP e FE. Conclus?o: O n?vel s?rico de NT-proBNP se mostrou ?til no aux?lio ao diagn?stico de IC em idosos, com capacidade de predi??o de aproximadamente 74%, segundo a ?rea sob a curva ROC. Foi observada uma correla??o fraca entre o n?vel s?rico de NT-proBNP e a fra??o de eje??o nos pacientes com IC. Estudos cl?nicos adicionais s?o necess?rios para definir o papel do NT-proBNP na pr?tica cl?nica em pacientes idoso

Composição mineral de maçãs 'Gala' e 'Fuji' produzidas no Sul do Brasil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a composição mineral de maçãs 'Gala' e 'Fuji', em pomares de diferentes regiões do Sul do Brasil. Foram avaliados pomares em vários municípios de Santa Catarina e do Rio Grande do Sul, agrupados em macrorregiões denominadas de Fraiburgo, Vacaria e São Joaquim, durante o período de 1991 a 2007. Os teores médios (em matéria fresca) de Ca, K, Mg, N e P nos frutos foram, respectivamente, 47, 1.027, 52, 419 e 116 mg kg‑1, para 'Gala', e de 41, 1.043, 46, 373 e 116 mg kg‑1, para 'Fuji'. Os valores médios das relações (K+Mg)/Ca e N/Ca foram respectivamente de 24 e 9,6, para 'Gala', e de 28 e 9,7, para 'Fuji'. Maçãs 'Gala' e 'Fuji' apresentaram teores médios de Ca e P acima dos níveis críticos mínimos (40 e 100 mg kg‑1, respectivamente), e relações médias de (K+Mg)/Ca e N/Ca acima dos níveis críticos máximos (30 e 14), considerados adequados para maior conservação da qualidade pós‑colheita (QPC). Maçãs de pomares de São Joaquim apresentaram maiores teores de Ca e P, menores teores de N e menores relações (K+Mg)/Ca e N/Ca, independentemente da cultivar. O percentual de amostras, com alto risco de perdas em QPC, foi maior para 'Fuji' do que para 'Gala', quanto aos teores de Ca e P e às relações (K+Mg)/Ca e N/Ca