Salicylic acid treatment of grape berries retards ripening

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Grapevine Berry Phenolic Compounds in Relation with Plant Water Status

Grape derived secondary metabolites are the principal sources of wine aroma, flavor, color and taste. Most of available data about phenolics are concerned mature berries. Nevertheless, the contribution of flavonols in metabolism may be important, not only in red berries, but especially in green, when the berries are most susceptible to different kind of stresses. The changes in phenol composition in green berries, under water stress conditions (Ojeda et al., 2001; in press) and with different training systems (Kraeva et al., 2001; submitted) have been observed

Transcription of a β-1,3-glucanase gene in grape berries in a late developmental period, or earlier after wounding treatments

The hydrolytic enzymes β-1,3-glucanases (EC3.2.1.39) an known to be involved in plant defense reactions against pathogens and in developmental events. We have obtained two partial cDNA clones, corresponding to Vitis vinifera β-1,3-glucanase gene sequences (VvGlu1/7 and VvGlu26). The expression of VvGlu1/7 was studied in grape berries at different developmental stages and in wounded berries with or without salicylic acid elicitation. No constitutive expression was observed in young berries, whereas the induction of VvGlu1/7 transcription was detected during fruit ripening. By contrast, synthesis of mRNA coding for this isoform was generated in the first stage of rapid berry growth in response to wounding treatments with and without salicylic acid

Geographical Origin Has a Greater Impact on Grape Berry Fungal Community than Grape Variety and Maturation State

We used barcoded sequencing to analyze the eukaryotic population in the grape berries at different ripening states in four Australian vineyards. Furthermore, we used an innovative compositional data analysis for assessing the diversity of microbiome communities. The novelty was the introduction of log-ratio balances between the detected genera. Altogether, our results suggest that fungal communities were more impacted by the geographical origin of the Australian vineyards than grape variety and harvest time. Even if the most abundant genera were Aureobasidium and Mycosphaerella, they were ubiquitous to all samples and were not discriminative. In fact, the balances and the fungal community structure seemed to be greatly affected by changes of the genera Penicillium, Colletotrichum, Aspergillus, Rhodotorula, and Botrytis. These results were not evident from the comparison of relative abundance based on OTU counts alone, remarking the importance of the balance analysis for microbiome studies

Creation of a Composite Bioactive Coating with Antibacterial Effect Promising for Bone Implantation

When creating titanium-containing bone implants, the bioactive coatings that promote their rapid engraftment are important. The engraftment rate of titanium implants with bone tissue depends significantly on the modification of the implant surface. It is achieved by changing either the relief or the chemical composition of the surface layer, as well as a combination of these two factors. In this work, we studied the creation of composite coatings with a two-level (the micro- and nanolevel) hierarchy of the surface relief, which have bioactive and bactericidal properties, which are promising for bone implantation. Using the developed non-lithographic template electrochemical synthesis, a composite coating on titanium with a controlled surface structure was created based on an island-type TiO2 film, silver and hydroxyapatite (HAp). This TiO2/Ag/HAp composite coating has a developed surface relief at the micro- and nanolevels and has a significant cytological response and the ability to accelerate osteosynthesis, and also has an antibacterial effect. Thus, the developed biomaterial is suitable for production of dental and orthopedic implants with improved biomedical properties

Creation of a Composite Bioactive Coating with Antibacterial Effect Promising for Bone Implantation

When creating titanium-containing bone implants, the bioactive coatings that promote their rapid engraftment are important. The engraftment rate of titanium implants with bone tissue depends significantly on the modification of the implant surface. It is achieved by changing either the relief or the chemical composition of the surface layer, as well as a combination of these two factors. In this work, we studied the creation of composite coatings with a two-level (the micro- and nanolevel) hierarchy of the surface relief, which have bioactive and bactericidal properties, which are promising for bone implantation. Using the developed non-lithographic template electrochemical synthesis, a composite coating on titanium with a controlled surface structure was created based on an island-type TiO2 film, silver and hydroxyapatite (HAp). This TiO2/Ag/HAp composite coating has a developed surface relief at the micro- and nanolevels and has a significant cytological response and the ability to accelerate osteosynthesis, and also has an antibacterial effect. Thus, the developed biomaterial is suitable for production of dental and orthopedic implants with improved biomedical properties

A multi-dimensional analysis of genotype–phenotype discordance in malignant hyperthermia susceptibility

Background: Malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptibility is an inherited condition, diagnosed either by the presence of a pathogenic genetic variant or by in vitro caffeine–halothane contracture testing. Through a multi-dimensional approach, we describe the implications of discordance between genetic and in vitro test results in a patient with a family history of possible MH. Methods: The patient, whose brother had a possible MH reaction, underwent the caffeine–halothane contracture test (CHCT) according to the North American MH Group protocol. Screening of the complete RYR1 and CACNA1S transcripts was done using Sanger sequencing. Additional functional analyses included skinned myofibre calcium-induced calcium release sensitivity, calcium signalling assays in cultured myotubes, and in silico evaluation of the effect of any genetic variants on their chemical environment. Results: The patient's CHCT result was negative but she carried an RYR1 variant c.1209C>G, p.Ile403Met, that is listed as pathogenic by the European Malignant Hyperthermia Group. Functional tests indicated a gain-of-function effect with a weak impact, and the variant was predicted to affect the folding stability of the 3D structure of the RyR1 protein. Based on American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics/Association of Molecular Pathology guidelines, this variant would be characterised as a variant of uncertain significance. Conclusions: Available data do not confirm or exclude an increased risk of MH for this patient. Further research is needed to correlate RyR1 functional assays, including the current gold standard testing for MH susceptibility, with clinical phenotypes. The pathogenicity of genetic variants associated with MH susceptibility should be re-evaluated