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Objective Methods Results Significance Fenfluramine (FFA), stiripentol (STP), and cannabidiol (CBD) are approved add‐on therapies for seizures in Dravet syndrome (DS). We report on the long‐term safety and health care resource utilization (HCRU) of patients with DS treated with FFA under an expanded access program (EAP).A cohort of 124 patients received FFA for a median of 2.8 years (34.4 months). We compared data on safety and HCRU during FFA treatment with those from a same pre‐treatment period. Echocardiography was conducted every 6 months. Information collected included gender, age, and auxological parameters (height, weight, and body mass index [BMI]) at the start (T0) and follow‐up (T1); FFA treatment details (start, withdrawal, dosage); adverse events (AEs); and HCRU data including hospital admissions, status epilepticus (SE) episodes, and rescue medication use. We grouped patients by weight: ≤37.4 kg (n = 68, 54.8%) and ≥37.5 kg (n = 56; 45.1%), with FFA dosing adjusted accordingly. Statistical analyses included paired t test, Wilcoxon signed‐rank test, Kaplan–Meier analysis, and Bonferroni correction to adjust for multiple testing.Mean age was 47 months at clinical diagnosis and 81 months at T0. The last follow‐up average FFA dose was .5 mg/kg/day, with a median of .4 mg/kg/day. FFA led to a 9.5% reduction in prior treatment load. At last follow‐up, 118 of 124 (91.5%) remained on FFA. Rescue medication use decreased significantly from 4.5 to 1, hospitalizations from 1 to 0, and SE episodes from 0–240 to 0–180 (p < .001 for all). Seizure freedom was achieved in 9 of 118 patients (7.6%). AEs occurred in 39 of 124 patients (31.5%), with no cardiac issues or deaths. There was an overall mean reduction in BMI, with no statistical significance, and never requiring FFA withdrawal.FFA is well tolerated, without cardiac toxicity, and reduces treatment load and HCRU, suggesting improved patient management. BMI reduction in young children highlights the need for growth and nutritional monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses research being done on the molecular and morphological characterization of native Fragaria chiloensis (F. chiloensis) in southern Chile. Breeding of F. chiloensis in southern Chile; Variation in the natural populations of F. chiloensis; Morphological types of F. chiloensis according to characteristics and collection sites.

BACKGROUND: In red raspberries, two fruiting traits are distinguished, and classified as primocane and floricane fruiting. Primocane cultivars represent greater economic relevance; they are adapted to warm climate zones and have an elongated production period. However, this classification can be complicated since fruiting is affected by both environmental and genetic factors. In 'Heritage', the main cultivar used in Chile, flowering is inhibited in shoots produced the first season when grown in temperate zones with low thermal oscillation. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of cold temperature during shoot growth on fruiting parameters in different genotypes. METHODS: Plants of the cultivars 'Autumn Bliss', 'Heritage', 'Meeker' and 'Tulameen' were tested at low night temperatures. We evaluated these growing characteristics for each cultivar; days until to first visible floral button, number of floral laterals and meristematic bud differentiation. We also analysed the variations associated with expression of the gene RiTFL1, on flowering inhibition. RESULTS: There is an effect of temperature on flowering, growth and RiTFL1 expression, mainly in cvs. 'Heritage' and 'Meeker'. Flowering was enhanced in 'Heritage', while 'Meeker' exhibited an intermediate behaviour, since seasonal shoots managed to flower with a 60-night cold treatment. In both cultivars, growth was reduced, and RiTFL1 was repressed in cold treated plants. CONCLUSIONS: Genotypes with intermediate behaviour require low temperatures for floral induction, which could be associated with RiTFL1 gene repression with low-temperature treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Charcoal rot of strawberry (Macrophomina phaseolina) is an emerging disease difficult to manage, a desirable alternative is the use of resistant cultivars. However, little is known regarding the reaction of cultivars to the pathogen under water stress conditions. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this work were to study the effect of water stress on the physiology of four strawberry cultivars during the infection, and to determine the relationship between water stress and cultivar susceptibility. METHODS: Healthy and inoculated plants of 'Monterey', 'Albion', 'Camarosa' and 'Sabrina' were maintained under no irrigation and full irrigation regimes, in greenhouse conditions. Stem water potential (SWP) and stomatal conductance (gs) were evaluated. The disease severity was recorded weekly for seven weeks. RESULTS: The disease detrimentally affected the water relations in 'Sabrina', 'Albion' and 'Monterey'. A significant correlation was detected between the evaluated parameters and the disease severity. The disease severity increases in plants with no irrigation, regardless of cultivar. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the infection caused by M. phaseolina increases the negative effects of water stress, depending on the genotype, and that the cultivars that were able to maintain more stable water relations respond better to the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: A high incidence of root and crown rot of strawberries (Macrophomina phaseolina) has been observed in major strawberry production regions. In Chile, the pathogen was reported in strawberry plants in 2013. A strategy for disease management is the use of resistant cultivars. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility of eleven strawberry cultivars to the disease. METHODS: Two trials were conducted. A first trial was performed under greenhouse conditions, with plants propagated by runners and inoculated by oat seeds infected with M. phaseolina. The impact of the disease on the growth of the plants and incidence were assessed. The second trial was performed in a growth chamber. Plants were obtained by in-vitro multiplication and were inoculated with a suspension of sclerotia of the same isolate. Plant mortality was assessed. RESULTS: Significant differences in susceptibility were observed among the eleven strawberry cultivars, with 'Florida Festival', 'Amiga' and 'Naiad' as the least susceptible cultivars, while 'Florida Fortuna' was the most susceptible cultivar in both trials. CONCLUSIONS: Differences were detected in terms of susceptibility of cultivars to root and crown rot of strawberry caused by M. phaseolina. This work contributes to knowledge about the susceptibility of strawberry cultivars to this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Despite its historical and genetic value, there is little knowledge about the physiological processes related to flowering in F. chiloensis subsp. chiloensis f. chiloensis , the 'Chilean white strawberry'. • This species has a completely different floral behavior compared to others seasonal flowering genotypes of F. x ananassa. • Floral induction is favoured only at low temperatures (lower than 9 °C) and need approximately 900-1,000 chilling units for dormancy release. • To prevent its disappearance it is necessary to improve the flowering, so possible vernalization requirements must be studied. The flowering process in Fragaria x ananassa has been widely studied, while the favourable environmental conditions for Fragaria chiloensis subsp. chiloensis f. chiloensis , the ''Chilean white strawberry', are not well understood. With the objective to study the floral induction and dormancy process in this species, several experiments were conducted from 2016 to 2019 using the ecotype 'Contulmo' for 'Chilean white strawberry' and the cv. 'Camarosa' for F. x ananassa , the latter as a reference genotype. Growth parameters and the differentiation state of apex were evaluated at two locations in Chile (33°38' S and 38°45' S) as well as in climate-controlled growth chamber (9 °C and 8 -h photoperiod). Additionally, the chilling requirement for dormancy release after different cold storage periods (2 °C in darkness) was determined in this species. This requirement was field-verified (38°45' S) over two seasons. The 'Chilean white strawberry' showed continuous and reduced growth, without changes under different temperature and photoperiod conditions, with values significantly different from those of cv. 'Camarosa'. In both locations, the floral and dormancy induction started late (June), occurred only in a part of the plants (20-30%) and them yielded a single inflorescence. In addition, it was determined that the 'Chilean white strawberry' require approximately 900-1,000 chilling units for dormancy release. Our results indicated that flowering is favoured only with low temperatures, lower than those necessary for many short-day genotypes. This characteristic, together with the late flowering, suggests that there is a vernalization requirement for this species. Temperature increase is probably the main factor involved in the current floral behaviour of 'Chilean white strawberry', however this can decreasing even more in a climate change context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]