species identification, distribution, and new host records in Portugal

Funding Information: This research was supported by the “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” (FCT, Portugal) and the European Social Funds, through the “Programa Operacional Regional Centro”, under the Ph.D. fellowship 2020.05541.BD and through the R&D Unit, UIDB/04551/2020 (GREEN-IT—Bioresources for Sustainability). Acknowledgments Funding Information: This research was supported by the “Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia” (FCT, Portugal) and the European Social Funds, through the “Programa Operacional Regional Centro”, under the Ph.D. fellowship 2020.05541.BD and through the R&D Unit, UIDB/04551/2020 (GREEN-IT—Bioresources for Sustainability). Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2023 Rusinque, Camacho, Serra, Nóbrega and Inácio.Considered one of the most devastating plant parasitic nematodes worldwide, Meloidogyne spp. (commonly known as the root-knot nematodes (RKNs)) are obligate sedentary endoparasites that establish in the roots, causing hyperplasia and hypertrophy of surrounding cells, triggering the formation of galls. These galls will affect root development and physiology, leading to substantial yield losses. During 2017–2022, an extensive survey of Meloidogyne species was undertaken in Portugal (mainland and islands). A total of 1,071 samples were collected by the National Plant Protection Organization (DGAV) and private farmers from different regions of the country and were analysed at the Laboratory of Nematology (NemaINIAV). Samples in which the presence of Meloidogyne sp. was detected were used to perform bioassays to obtain females and juveniles for further studies. Since the accurate identification of RKNs is an important aspect of crop management, morphological and biochemical characterisation was performed. The most common morphological features were observed, showing consistency with previous descriptions of the genus. The biochemical identification using the esterase (EST) phenotype revealed the phenotypes of Meloidogyne arenaria, M enterolobi, M. hispanica, M. hapla, M. incognita, M javanica, and M. luci. Meloidogyne incognita and M. javanica were found to be the most prevalent species in the different regions followed by M. arenaria and M. hapla. This is the first distribution report performed in Portugal on RKNs, contributing to the development of management strategies and to updated information on the status of these pests in Europe.publishersversionpublishe

Identificação morfológica e molecular de Globodera pallida e Globodera rostochiensis presentes em campos de batata portugueses

Mestrado em Engenharia Agronómica - Proteção das Plantas - Instituto Superior de Agronomia - ULOs nemátodes de quisto da batateira, Globodera rostochiensis e Globodera pallida, são uma das maiores ameaças para a cultura da batata em todo o mundo. Estas espécies são consideradas organismos nocivos de quarentena e encontram-se sujeitas a medidas regulamentares rigorosas em muitos países. Como são muito semelhantes, torna-se essencial a seleção de métodos credíveis para a sua identificação. A extração de quistos do solo é uma etapa determinante para detetar a presença de Globodera, e recomenda-se a utilização do levigador de Fenwick em análises de rotina, uma vez que é o método que recupera o maior número de quistos de uma amostra de solo. A identificação das espécies de Globodera com base na morfologia revela-se complicada devido à variabilidade das características-chave e à sobreposição das medidas padrão, sendo necessária uma confirmação através de técnicas moleculares. O teste da PCR multiplex, com os primers ITS5/PITSp4+PITSr3, permite identificar as duas espécies, e é recomendado em análises de rotina. Contudo, apesar do desenvolvimento de métodos de identificação moleculares, o uso da caracterização morfológica permanece essencial, sendo duas abordagens complementares. A análise aos campos de batata portugueses revelou um maior número de amostras com G. pallida, o que contraria as expectativas dado que até agora se tem considerado ser a espécie G. rostochiensis a mais disseminada em Portugal, à semelhança do que acontece no resto da Europa. Este facto leva a questionar se as medidas fitossanitárias estão a ser eficazes ou se estarão a contribuir para o aumento das populações de G. pallida, como tem vindo a suceder no Reino Unido. Continua então a ser essencial a distinção entre as duas espécies para detetar a sua presença no território nacional visando a reavaliação das medidas de controlo até agora implementadas e a adotação de práticas mais eficazesN/

Mild cognitive impairment in older adults: Analysis of some factors

Mild cognitive decline is a feared aspect of aging associated with frailty experienced by individuals.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Potato Cyst Nematodes: geographical distribution, phylogenetic relationships and integrated pest management outcomes in Portugal

The identification and phylogenetic relationships of potato cyst nematodes (PCN) were studied to assess the potential value of geographical distribution information for integrated pest management of potato production in Portugal. This research focused on PCN species, Globodera pallida and Globodera rostochiensis. From 2013 until 2019, 748 soil samples from the rhizosphere of different potato cultivars were surveyed in the Portuguese mainland to detect and identify both species and track their location. PCN are widespread invasive species throughout Portugal. In fact, during the survey period an incidence of 22.5% was estimated for the tested samples. The patterns of infestation vary among regions, increasing from south to north, where PCN were first detected. Currently, both species are present in all potato producing regions of the country, with a greater incidence of G. pallida. Phytosanitary control measures are influencing to the observed results. The use of potato cultivars resistant to G. rostochiensis led to a decrease of this species but had no influence on G. pallida detections, which continues its reproduction freely since there are no effective resistant cultivars for this species. The relationship between the presence, infestation rate, spread and geographical distribution of PCN is discussed in terms of behavioral responses of the potato cultivars and the implications for developing new integrated crop protection measures

Plant-nematode co-cultures in the screening of sustainable nematicides against soil-dwelling parasitic nematodes of plants

The diseases caused by plant parasitic nematodes are still a serious constraint to modern global crop production. An increasing number of active compounds in commercial nematicidal formulations is being banned from use by common policies of pest management. Farmer communities report a low efficiency for the replacement pesticides, which reflects on crop yield and productivity. Novel sustainable biopesticides are urgently needed to cope with global food demands while respecting the most recent environmental policies. Plant-nematode co-cultures offer a stable biotechnological screening tool able to assess the active compound’s nematicidal activity and its effect on host tissues, simultaneously, in an easily accessible system that simulates natural infection. These systems are being developed and optimized at the Nematology laboratory of INIAV. Preliminary results were obtained for co-cultures of Solanum lycopersicum with the nematode Meloidogyne ethiopica and S. tuberosum with Globodera pallida. Future studies will target other plant parasitic nematodes, e.g., the root lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus penetrans) in transgenic roots of potato and the pinewood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) on in vitro pine shoots (Pinus sp.)

FTA-LAMP based biosensor for a rapid in-field detection of Globodera pallida—the pale potato cyst nematode

The combination of a sensitive and specific magnetoresistive sensing device with an easy DNA extraction method and a rapid isothermal amplification is presented here targeting the on-site detection of Globodera pallida, a potato endoparasitic nematode. FTA-cards were used for DNA extraction, LAMP was the method developed for DNA amplification and a nanoparticle functionalized magnetic-biosensor was used for the detection. The combinatorial effect of these three emerging technologies has the capacity to detect G. pallida with a detection limit of one juvenile, even when mixed with other related species. This combined system is far more interesting than what a single technology can provide. Magnetic biosensors can be combined with any DNA extraction protocol and LAMP forming a new solution to target G. pallida. The probe designed in this study consistently distinguished G. pallida (∆Vacbinding/Vacsensor above 1%) from other cyst nematodes (∆Vacbinding/Vacsensor below 1%). It was confirmed that DNA either extracted with FTA-cards or Lab extraction Kit was of enough quantity and quality to detect G. pallida whenever present (alone or in mixed samples), ensuring probe specificity and sensitivity. This work provides insights for a new strategy to construct advanced devices for pathogens in-field diagnostics. LAMP runs separately but can be easily integrated into a single device

The fight against plant-parasitic nematodes: current status of bacterial and fungal biocontrol agents

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are among the most notorious and underrated threats to food security and plant health worldwide, compromising crop yields and causing billions of dollars of losses annually. Chemical control strategies rely heavily on synthetic chemical nematicides to reduce PPN population densities, but their use is being progressively restricted due to environmental and human health concerns, so alternative control methods are urgently needed. Here, we review the potential of bacterial and fungal agents to suppress the most important PPNs, namely Aphelenchoides besseyi, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, Ditylenchus dipsaci, Globodera spp., Heterodera spp., Meloidogyne spp., Nacobbus aberrans, Pratylenchus spp., Radopholus similis, Rotylenchulus reniformis, and Xiphinema index

Nemátode-dos-citrinos: prevenir o declínio lento do pomar

Os citrinos são as fruteiras mais importantes em termos de produção a nível mundial, com cerca de 130 milhões de toneladas produzidas (World Citrus Organisation, 2020), repartin- do-se por mais de 125 países localizados entre os 40° de latitude a norte e a sul do Equador. Entre as várias ameaças à produção citrícola contam-se os nemátodes fitoparasitas. Os nemátodes fitoparasitas são pequenos animais, de aspeto vermiforme, cilíndricos e alongados, geralmente com menos de 1-2 mm de comprimento, que causam doenças às plantas. A maior parte habita no solo, infe- tando as raízes de onde se alimentam atra- vés do estilete (estrutura na cavidade oral que funciona como uma agulha hipodérmi- ca, sugando o conteúdo das células vegetais). Uns permanecem no exterior (ectoparasi- tas), enquanto outros penetram nas raízes (endoparasitas) e outros ainda avançam nos tecidos do hospedeiro, mas só com a parte posterior (cabeça e pescoço), permanecendo o restante corpo fora da raiz (semiendopara- sitas). O nemátode-dos-citrinos, Tylenchulus semipenetrans, é um semiendoparasita e daí a sua designação específica. De todos os ne- mátodes que podem afetar estas fruteiras, é aquele que tem maior impacte económico, sendo a única espécie presente em todas as regiões produtoras de citrinos do mundo

Cognitive Training Effectiveness on Memory, Executive Functioning, and Processing Speed in Individuals With Substance Use Disorders: A Systematic Review

Background: Cerebral neuroplasticity is compromised due to substance abuse. There is damage to neuronal areas that are involved in memory and executive functioning. Treatments with worse outcomes are often associated with cognitive deficits that have resulted from substance dependence. However, there is evidence that cognitive training can lead to improvements in cognitive functions and can be useful when treating addictions. This systematic review aims to synthesize evidence on the effectiveness of cognitive training in memory, executive functioning, and processing speed in individuals with substance use disorder (SUD). Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute’s PICO strategy was used to develop this systematic literature review. Four databases were searched (PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and PsycINFO) to identify controlled randomized clinical studies and quasi-experimental studies, in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, from 1985 to 2019. The literature found was examined by two independent reviewers, who assessed the quality of studies that met the inclusion criteria. The Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for the randomized controlled trials and the ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies were used to assess the risk of bias. In data extraction, the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews was considered. Results: From a total of 470 studies, 319 were selected for analysis after the elimination of duplicates. According to the inclusion criteria defined, 26 studies were eligible and evaluated. An evaluation was performed considering the participant characteristics, countries, substance type, study and intervention details, and key findings. Of the 26 selected studies, 14 considered only alcoholics, six included participants with various SUD (alcohol and other substances), three exclusively looked into methamphetamine-consuming users and another three into opioid/methadone users. Moreover, 18 studies found some kind of cognitive improvement, with two of these reporting only marginally Caetano et al. Cognitive Training in Substance Use Disorders significant effects. One study found improvements only in measures similar to the training tasks, and two others had ambiguous results. Conclusions: The included studies revealed the benefits of cognitive training with regard to improving cognitive functions in individuals with SUD. Memory was the most scrutinized cognitive function in this type of intervention, and it is also one of the areas most affected by substance use.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

FTA-LAMP based biosensor for a rapid in-field detection of Globodera pallida—the pale potato cyst nematode

Funding Information: The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This research was funded by National Funds through FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology under the PhD fellowships BD 138724/2018 and COVID/BD/152764/2023, the project UIDB/05183/2020 (MED–Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Évora University) and the project UID/05367/2020 (PROGRAMATICO—Research Unit INESC MN, Microsystems and Nanotechnologies). Publication was supporteded by Bactometer, 2022-RIS_Innovation-068, funded through EIT Health. Funding Information: The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This research was funded by National Funds through FCT—Foundation for Science and Technology under the PhD fellowships BD 138724/2018 and COVID/BD/152764/2023, the project UIDB/05183/2020 (MED–Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, Évora University) and the project UID/05367/2020 (PROGRAMATICO—Research Unit INESC MN, Microsystems and Nanotechnologies). Publication was supporteded by Bactometer, 2022-RIS_Innovation-068, funded through EIT Health. Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2024 Camacho, Albuquerque, Inácio, Martins, Mota, Freitas and de Andrade.The combination of a sensitive and specific magnetoresistive sensing device with an easy DNA extraction method and a rapid isothermal amplification is presented here targeting the on-site detection of Globodera pallida, a potato endoparasitic nematode. FTA-cards were used for DNA extraction, LAMP was the method developed for DNA amplification and a nanoparticle functionalized magnetic-biosensor was used for the detection. The combinatorial effect of these three emerging technologies has the capacity to detect G. pallida with a detection limit of one juvenile, even when mixed with other related species. This combined system is far more interesting than what a single technology can provide. Magnetic biosensors can be combined with any DNA extraction protocol and LAMP forming a new solution to target G. pallida. The probe designed in this study consistently distinguished G. pallida (∆Vacbinding/Vacsensor above 1%) from other cyst nematodes (∆Vacbinding/Vacsensor below 1%). It was confirmed that DNA either extracted with FTA-cards or Lab extraction Kit was of enough quantity and quality to detect G. pallida whenever present (alone or in mixed samples), ensuring probe specificity and sensitivity. This work provides insights for a new strategy to construct advanced devices for pathogens in-field diagnostics. LAMP runs separately but can be easily integrated into a single device.publishersversionpublishe