Research of midseason potato varieties suitable for organic growing

An essential issue in organic potato production is choosing the right varieties, because varieties grown under conventional conditions may not always be suitable for organic production. The choice of variety was based solely on farmers’ experience, as research results were not available. Because of the lack of reliable information, ÖMKi initiated an on-farm research program for organic potato production in 2012. 13 mid-season potato varieties with certain degree of resistance to relevant diseases or abiotic stresses were tested on 22 organic farms (2012-2015) in close cooperation with the growers. Quantitative and qualitative parameters were assessed at harvest. The average yield was 2.19-3.45 kg/m² (21-34 t/ha). Among seven qualitative parameters the most relevant quality problems were: Streptomyces and Rhizoctonia infection and damage by insect pests. No significant differences could be shown among the varieties regarding the assessed parameters, but disease resistance often differed compared to the descriptions provided by the seed tuber distributors. Besides summarizing and sharing research results, regular meetings and field trips were arranged for farmers. As an indirect result of the on-farm research program the communication was highly improved among the participants and a well-working organic potato workgroup was formed. 13 mid-season potato varieties with certain degree of resistance to relevant diseases or abiotic stresses were tested on 22 organic farms (2012-2015) in close cooperation with the growers. Quantitative and qualitative parameters were assessed at harvest. The average yield was 2.19-3.45 kg/m² (21-34 t/ha). Among seven qualitative parameters the most relevant quality problems were: Streptomyces and Rhizoctonia infection and damage by insect pests. No significant differences could be shown among the varieties regarding the assessed parameters, but disease resistance often differed compared to the descriptions provided by the seed tuber distributors. Besides summarizing and sharing research results, regular meetings and field trips were arranged for farmers. As an indirect result of the on-farm research program the communication was highly improved among the participants and a well-working organic potato workgroup was formed

Snapshot Hyperspectral Imaging for Field Data Acquisition in Agriculture (in Raspberry Plantation)

A snapshot spectral camera with more than 100 spectral channels was used and tested. A native snapshot imaging spectrometer captures all spectra and the entire image at the same time without any time delay. It enables this imaging system to capture motion pictures and producing hyperspectral videos. In our horticulture study a snapshot camera was applied to spectrally document, map and characterize a raspberry plantation under differently coloured shade nets to analyse usability, flexibility and to record spectro-phenological parameters. Leading raspberry producers are located in Eastern Europe and contribute at least 80% of the world's raspberry production (FAOSTAT, 2016). Due to agricultural climate change scenarios raspberry plantations are at risk because evapotranspiration will be challenged by solar radiation and temperature changes. We concluded that spectral field data acquisition and length of data evaluation could be significantly reduced by snapshot spectral imaging

Membrane potential and delta pH dependency of reverse electron transport-associated hydrogen peroxide production in brain and heart mitochondria

Succinate-driven reverse electron transport (RET) is one of the main sources of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) in ischemia-reperfusion injury. RET is dependent on mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and transmembrane pH difference (ΔpH), components of the proton motive force (pmf); a decrease in Δψm and/or ΔpH inhibits RET. In this study we aimed to determine which component of the pmf displays the more dominant effect on RET-provoked ROS generation in isolated guinea pig brain and heart mitochondria respiring on succinate or α-glycerophosphate (α-GP). Δψm was detected via safranin fluorescence and a TPP+ electrode, the rate of H2O2 formation was measured by Amplex UltraRed, the intramitochondrial pH (pHin) was assessed via BCECF fluorescence. Ionophores were used to dissect the effects of the two components of pmf. The K+/H+ exchanger, nigericin lowered pHin and ΔpH, followed by a compensatory increase in Δψm that led to an augmented H2O2 production. Valinomycin, a K+ ionophore, at low [K+] increased ΔpH and pHin, decreased Δψm, which resulted in a decline in H2O2 formation. It was concluded that Δψm is dominant over ∆pH in modulating the succinate- and α-GP-evoked RET. The elevation of extramitochondrial pH was accompanied by an enhanced H2O2 release and a decreased ∆pH. This phenomenon reveals that from the pH component not ∆pH, but rather absolute value of pH has higher impact on the rate of mtROS formation. Minor decrease of Δψm might be applied as a therapeutic strategy to attenuate RET-driven ROS generation in ischemia-reperfusion injury

Complete mitochondrial genome of the composting worm Dendrobaena veneta (Clitellata: Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae)

Dendrobaena veneta (Rosa, 1886) is widely distributed all over Europe due to its use as compost worm. The specimen presented here was collected in Tiranë district, Albania. Currently, only two species’ complete or nearly complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) sequences have been reported in the genus Dendrobaena; D. octaedra (Savigny, 1826) and D. tellermanica Perel, 1966. In this study, the complete mitogenome of D. veneta was sequenced, assembled, and annotated. The mitogenome of D. veneta is a circular DNA molecule, consisting of 15,475 bp with an A + T content of 61.2%. It contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and 1 non-coding region (control region). Phylogenetic analysis showed that D. veneta is clustered with the other two Dendrobaena species in the well-supported family Lumbricidae

Prognostic value of medulloblastoma extent of resection after accounting for molecular subgroup: a retrospective integrated clinical and molecular analysis

BACKGROUND: Patients with incomplete surgical resection of medulloblastoma are controversially regarded as having a marker of high-risk disease, which leads to patients undergoing aggressive surgical resections, so-called second-look surgeries, and intensified chemoradiotherapy. All previous studies assessing the clinical importance of extent of resection have not accounted for molecular subgroup. We analysed the prognostic value of extent of resection in a subgroup-specific manner. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients who had a histological diagnosis of medulloblastoma and complete data about extent of resection and survival from centres participating in the Medulloblastoma Advanced Genomics International Consortium. We collected from resections done between April, 1997, and February, 2013, at 35 international institutions. We established medulloblastoma subgroup affiliation by gene expression profiling on frozen or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues. We classified extent of resection on the basis of postoperative imaging as gross total resection (no residual tumour), near-total resection (/=1.5 cm2 tumour remaining). We did multivariable analyses of overall survival and progression-free survival using the variables molecular subgroup (WNT, SHH, group 4, and group 3), age (/=3 years old), metastatic status (metastases vs no metastases), geographical location of therapy (North America/Australia vs rest of the world), receipt of chemotherapy (yes vs no) and receipt of craniospinal irradiation (30 Gy vs no craniospinal irradiation). The primary analysis outcome was the effect of extent of resection by molecular subgroup and the effects of other clinical variables on overall and progression-free survival. FINDINGS: We included 787 patients with medulloblastoma (86 with WNT tumours, 242 with SHH tumours, 163 with group 3 tumours, and 296 with group 4 tumours) in our multivariable Cox models of progression-free and overall survival. We found that the prognostic benefit of increased extent of resection for patients with medulloblastoma is attenuated after molecular subgroup affiliation is taken into account. We identified a progression-free survival benefit for gross total resection over sub-total resection (hazard ratio [HR] 1.45, 95% CI 1.07-1.96, p=0.16) but no overall survival benefit (HR 1.23, 0.87-1.72, p=0.24). We saw no progression-free survival or overall survival benefit for gross total resection compared with near-total resection (HR 1.05, 0.71-1.53, p=0.8158 for progression-free survival and HR 1.14, 0.75-1.72, p=0.55 for overall survival). No significant survival benefit existed for greater extent of resection for patients with WNT, SHH, or group 3 tumours (HR 1.03, 0.67-1.58, p=0.89 for sub-total resection vs gross total resection). For patients with group 4 tumours, gross total resection conferred a benefit to progression-free survival compared with sub-total resection (HR 1.97, 1.22-3.17, p=0.0056), especially for those with metastatic disease (HR 2.22, 1.00-4.93, p=0.050). However, gross total resection had no effect on overall survival compared with sub-total resection in patients with group 4 tumours (HR 1.67, 0.93-2.99, p=0.084). INTERPRETATION: The prognostic benefit of increased extent of resection for patients with medulloblastoma is attenuated after molecular subgroup affiliation is taken into account. Although maximum safe surgical resection should remain the standard of care, surgical removal of small residual portions of medulloblastoma is not recommended when the likelihood of neurological morbidity is high because there is no definitive benefit to gross total resection compared with near-total resection. FUNDING: Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute, Terry Fox Research Institute, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, National Institutes of Health, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and the Garron Family Chair in Childhood Cancer Research