Agro-physiological responses of the pistachio (Pistacia vera L., cv. Mateur) to partial root drying (PRD) irrigation

Purpose: Water irrigation regimes strongly influence the agrophysiological parameters in pistachio. This study aims to investigate the impact of the partial root drying on the yield, vegetative growth, physiological parameters, water status and biochemical traits of the pistachio cv. Mateur budded on P. atlantica rootstocks during the growing season (2021). Research Method: The agro-physiological responses of the pistachio trees located in the experimental orchard of the Regional Center of Agriculture Research (CRRA, Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia), were studied. Three water treatments were applied; T0: 100% Partial root drying (PRD) during all the season, T1; 75% PRD during all the season and T2; 50% PRD during all the growing season. The leaf gas exchange parameters were determined using a portable photosynthesis system (CI-340 handheld photosynthesis system, USA). Findings: Results showed the stomatal conductance (gS) of pistachio leaves ranged from 320 to 760 mmol H2O m-2s-1 in the 100% PRD treatment whereas the water regimes 75% PRD and 50% PRD presented a clear decrease in this parameter. The proline and the soluble sugar content reached its maximum value (2.10 μmol g−1 FW and 275.60 μg g−1 FW, respectively) under the 50 % PRD treatment during the month of August. Research limitations: No limitations were found. Originality/Value: The 75% PRD treatment was the most efficient as it did not show significant differences with the 100% PRD treatment while 25% of the irrigation water was saved. The partial root drying strategy can be used in pistachio orchards under semi-arid conditions

Selección de melocotón de carne dura con alto contenido en azúcares y antioxidantes

4 Pags.- 2 figs. Contribución de los autores originalmente presentada, como comunicación,en el XIV Congreso Nacional de Ciencias Hortícolas (SECH 2015): Retos de la Nueva Agricultura Mediterránea (Orihuela, 3-5 junio 2015).Existen muchos estudios sobre los efectos beneficiosos que el consumo de frutas, ricas en antioxidantes tiene sobre la salud humana. En particular, los compuestos fenólicos son potencialmente beneficiosos para la salud, por sus efectos en la prevención de enfermedades degenerativas, tales como hipertensión, Alzheimer, Parkinson o cáncer. Por esta razón en las últimas décadas, gran parte de los programas de mejora genética de melocotonero han incorporado estos atributos de calidad de fruto entre sus objetivos. El programa de mejora que se lleva a cabo en la Estación Experimental de Aula Dei centra sus objetivos en la selección de cultivares de melocotonero con alta calidad de fruto y adaptados a las condiciones mediterráneas. Para seleccionar cultivares con frutos ricos en compuestos bioactivos, con calidad organoléptica y nutricional, se han estudiado las poblaciones de melocotonero ‘BabyGold 9’ × ‘Crown Princess’ y ‘Andross’ × ‘Calante’. Se determinaron las concentraciones de vitamina C, fenoles totales, flavonoides, y la capacidad antioxidante del fruto mediante espectrofotometría y el contenido en azúcares individuales con HPLC-IR. Los frutos en ambas poblaciones, son melocotones amarillos, de carne dura y de cosecha media y tardía, con gran variación fenotípica en todos los caracteres analizados. Se han encontrado correlaciones positivas entre varios de los parámetros de calidad y los compuestos bioactivos estudiados. Combinando características favorables destacan por su potencial comercial una veintena de genotipos que ampliarán la oferta de cultivares de carne dura en el sector frutícola español.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el MINECO (AGL-2008-00283, AGL2011-24576) y Gobierno de Aragón (A44). W. Abidi y E. Ksia han sido beneficiarios de las becas JAE-Pre (CSIC) y FMI41/10 (DGA), respectivamente.Peer reviewe

Antioxidant status, biochemical and hormonal responses involved in the response of Olea europaea L. to water deficit induced by PRD irrigation

Changes in antioxidant status, biochemical and hormonal responses, were investigated in three olive cultivars (Arbequina, Arbosana and Chetoui) grown in a super-high-density orchard under partial root-zone drying (PRD) irrigation. Four irrigation treatments were applied during two growing seasons (2015 and 2016); control treatment (100% ETC) irrigated at 100% of crop evapotranspiration on both parts of the root-zone and three PRD irrigation treatments (100% PRD, 75% PRD and 50% PRD) irrigated at 100%, 75%, and 50% of crop evapotranspiration only on one alternated part of the root-zone. The results indicated that the three studied olive cultivars showed a clear difference in their response to PRD irrigation. In fact, PRD irrigation has led to a strong activation of secondary metabolites with antioxidant properties such as pigments, phenols and flavonoids. Other metabolic changes, including the accumulation of soluble sugars and proline have been also triggered by PRD irrigation. Among the studied cultivars, Arbequina displayed the highest levels for proline, total soluble sugars, phenols and flavonoids, and the lowest ones for MDA and H2O2. The increase in SOD, CAT and POD activity and the reduction and PPO activity under PRD irrigation were more pronounced in 2016 season with highest activities obtained from cultivar Arbequina. For all the three cultivars, PRD irrigation increased phytohormones concentration in both, roots and leaves and the highest levels were recorded in 2016. In leaves, Arbequina showed the lowest levels of ABA and the highest levels of JA, SA and IAA. PRD irrigation also induces a higher accumulation of ABA, JA and IAA in dried roots than in wetted ones. Taken together, biochemical mechanisms induced by PRD irrigation were more effective in Arbequina suggesting better protection of their foliar functions compared to other cultivars and its higher adaptability to PRD

Evaluation of Antioxidant Compounds and Total Sugar Content in a Nectarine [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] Progeny

Epidemiological studies suggest that consumption of fruit rich in phenolic compounds is associated with health-protective effects due to their antioxidant properties. For these reasons quality evaluation has become an important issue in fruit industry and in breeding programs. Phytochemical traits such as total phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, L-ascorbic acid, sugar content and relative antioxidant capacity (RAC) were analyzed over four years in flesh fruit of an F1 population “Venus” × “Big Top” nectarines. Other traits such as harvesting date, yield, fruit weight, firmness, soluble solids concentration (SSC), pH, titratable acidity (TA) and ripening index (RI) were also determined in the progeny. Results showed high variability among genotypes for all analyzed traits. Total phenolics and flavonoids showed significant positive correlations with RAC implying that both are important antioxidant bioactive compounds in peaches. We found genotypes with enhanced antioxidant capacity and a better performance than progenitors, and in consequence the best marketability

Utica Project (Tunisia). Excavations in the Phoenician‑Punic city. Results of the 2016 season

Se presentan los resultados de la campaña de excavaciones de 2016 en Utica (Túnez). En la Zona II se continuó excavando en el corte 21 buscando la delimitación del muro perimetral de un edificio fenicio arcaico. Se continuó la excavación al norte de dicho corte de una fosa romana. En la zona I se continuó la excavación en los sectores 21 y 22 del corte 10. El primero dio como resultado un pavimento perteneciente a una vivienda quizá del siglo III‑II a. C. En el segundo sector, situado al extremo noreste del corte, se localizó una posible calle que delimitaría la manzana urbana fenicio‑púnica. En el corte 11 se efectuó una ampliación al norte que descubrió una plataforma de cimentación hecha con grandes bloques, posiblemente para sostener el muro perimetral noreste del templo del siglo IV a. C. Por último, se efectuó una prospección geofísica en las zonas I y II para comprobar los límites de la ciudad y la existencia de estructuras antiguas en las inmediaciones de la antigua línea de costa.In the article are presented the results of the excavation season of 2016 at Utica (Tunisia). In Zone II the excavation went on in square 21 searching the delimitation of a perimetral wall of an archaic Phoenician building. North of the square was continued the excavation of a Roman pit. In Zone I, square 10, the excavation focused in sectors 21 and 22. The first one gave as a result a pavement that belongs to a house maybe of the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. In the second sector, placed at the north-east extreme of the square, was localized a possible street which could delimitate an urban Phoenician-Punic block. In square 11 an enlargement in the north area discovered a foundation platform built with ashlars, likely to support the north-east perimetral wall of the temple of 4th century BC. Finally, a geophysical survey was done in zones I and II to check the limits of the city and the existence of ancient structures in the surroundings of the ancient coastal line

Excavaciones en la ciudad fenicio-púnica de Utica (Túnez). La campaña de 2017

The article presents the results of the excavations of the Tunisian-Spanish team in Utica, with special reference to those of the 2017 campaign. A very old Phoenician building has been documented in Zone II, as well as remains of a large building from the 3rd to 2nd centuries BC. In the urban area of Zone I, part of a house with a mudbrick domestic kiln has been located, probably a kitchen, adjacent to a courtyard covered with an opus tessellatum pavement, which was in use until the beginning of the 2nd century B.C. Also in Zone I, the floor plan of a Phoenician-Punic temple from the 4th century B.C. and its construction process has been completed, locating also decorative architectural elements of a monumental building, dating from the 3rd-2nd centuries B.C

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake