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A espinheira-santa (Monteverdia ilicifolia) é uma planta nativa do Brasil amplamente utilizada na medicina popular por possuir várias propriedades terapêuticas. No que diz respeito à biologia da polinização e da dispersão de sementes dessa espécie não há informações disponíveis na literatura. Neste sentido foram observados e identificados polinizadores e dispersores de M. ilicifolia, bem como o comportamento desses agentes biológicos durante o período de floração e frutificação. Além disso, a frequência de visitas dos polinizadores e a eficiência do dispersor de sementes foram registradas. Verificou-se que na espinheira-santa, a polinização é realizada por dípteros e por himenópteros. Entre os principais grupos de polinizadores estão as moscas, sendo Lucilia eximia, Limnophora sp. e Eristalis sp. as mais frequentes e as vespas, nas quais Brachygastra mellifica, Polistes canadensis, Mischocyttarus sp. e uma espécie da família Tiphiidae foram as mais frequentes. Oito espécies de aves consumiram diásporos (arilos com sementes), atuando como dispersores dessa espécie. No entanto, as seguintes aves foram mais eficientes na dispersão das sementes: Tangara sayaca, Elaenia sp. e Pipraeidea bonariensis. Nesse sentido, M. ilicifolia é uma espécie que possui polinização entomófila e dispersão ornitocórica. Made available in DSpace on 2021-08-11T02:06:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Artigo-Pollinators-and-seed-dispersers.pdf: 655119 bytes, checksum: 39e720424d5bd90edba8e30d37cf46c0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2021

Passiflora con ca. 575 especies es el género más rico de Passifloraceae cuyo centro de diversidad está en Colombia y Ecuador. Éste se divide en cinco subgéneros, entre estos Astrophea agrupa las especies arborescentes y leñosas. El propósito de la investigación fue conocer la diversidad y estado de conservación de especies del subgénero Astrophea para Colombia, sumando aspectos de distribución actual y potencial. Por lo anterior, se revisaron colecciones de herbarios nacionales e internacionales y literatura científica, complementando con colectas de campo. Los resultados fueron analizados con Excel© y los mapas obtenidos mediante Diva-GIS©, además los criterios de la IUCN se aplicaron para cada especie. Se registraron 375 observaciones, agrupadas en 24 especies y distribuidas en 28 departamentos, a lo largo de los valles interandinos del río Cauca y Magdalena. La distribución potencial, sugiere nichos asociados a las regiones de Amazonía y Orinoquía; bioregiones con amplios vacíos de colecta ubicadas dentro de las preferencias de distribución por rango altitudinal de las especies (0-500 m.s.n.m.). Las áreas con mayor riqueza son el centro occidente y nororiente del país con más de siete especies por zona. Pese a esto, el 80% de las especies están por fuera de áreas protegidas, lo que se agrava bajo los criterios de la IUCN, pues el 46% presentan algún grado de amenaza, además del alto porcentaje de endemismo (37,5%). Once especies son incluidas como nuevos reportes para 14 departamentos. Esfuerzos de colecta deben orientarse en las regiones de distribución potencial que poseen condiciones bioclimáticas óptimas para el desarrollo de las especies. Passiflora with approx. 575 species is the most diverse genus in Passifloraceae, with Colombia and Ecuador holding the largest number of taxa. It is divided into five subgenera, one of them being Astrophea, a group of arborescent and woody species. The aim of this research, was to assess the diversity and conservation status of the species in the subgenus Astrophea native to Colombia, and investigate their current and potential distribution. Subsequently, national and international herbarium collections and scientific literature were reviewed. This research was further supplemented by recent field collections. The results were analyzed with Excel © and maps obtained by Diva–GIS © to which the IUCN criteria were applied for each species. 24 species were identified, distributed within 28 departments, by assessing 375 records. The potential distribution ranges of the species, suggests niches associated to the Amazonía and Orinoquía, bioregions with large gaps in collection, provided they are in the species preferred altitudinal ranges (0–500 m). The most diverse parts of the country are the center west and northeast, with more than 7 taxa per area. 46% of species have some degree of threat and 37.5% are endemic. Despite this, 80% of species occur outside protected areas, which further complicate its conservation status according to the IUCN criteria. Eleven species are newly reported for the 14 departments. Collection efforts should be focused on areas with optimal bioclimatic conditions for the growth of species as regions for potential distribution.

This research paper is divided into two general parts. The first part presents a review of the history of the mushrooms belonging to the genus Psilocybe in the world. There I show the ancient and modern history, and the part of the history focused in the Czech Republic, as well as the actual clinic uses of psilocybin. The second section describes the holotypes of Psilocybe species present in the Czech Republic, and the species which I have found in my field work around Brno. I have took macroscopic and microscopic measures to the mushrooms which I found in order to see if any of the species was Psilocybe moravica, a species which have not yet found around Brno.

The invasive plant Senecio ineaquidens from South Africa has colonized many areas in Europe. In addition to being a threat to local flora and therefore to biodiversity, this plant has high concentrations of pyrrolidine alkaloid that can be very harmful to livestock and even human health. This work aims to study how it affects different cutting heights to propose a method to control and prevent the propagate for grazing., La planta invasora Senecio ineaquidens provinent de Sud Àfrica ha colonitzat nombroses àrees en Europa. A més de ser una amenaça per a la flora local i per tant per a la biodiversitat, aquesta planta presenta altes concentracions de pirrolidina alcaloide que pot ser molt nociu per al bestiar i inclús per a la salut humana. El present treball preten estudiar com li afecta el tall a diferents altures per tal de proposar un mètode de control i evitar que es propague per zones de pastura.

No presente estudo o objetivo foi selecionar primers ISSR (Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats ), adequados para futuros estudos de variabilidade genetica em plantas da cultivar ‘Italia’ (Vitis vinifera L.). Alem disso, padronizar o metodo de quantificacao de ADN (Acido Desoxirribonucleico) e a reacao de PCR para os primers selecionados. Para extracao do ADN foram utilizadas amostras de folhas jovens de videira coletadas na regiao de Marialva, PR, e o metodo de quantificacao do ADN escolhido foi o espectrofotometro Picodrop®. Os primers selecionados por apresentarem um numero satisfatorio de bandas nitidas (106 no total) em gel de agarose 2% quando submetidos a eletroforese, foram: ISSR-1, ISSR-2, ISSR-5, ISSR-6, ISSR-7, ISSR-8, ISSR-9, ISSR-11, ISSR-12, ISSR-13, ISSR-14 e ISSR-15, usando uma temperatura para ligacao dos primers de 50 °C na PCR. O numero medio de bandas por primer foi de 8,84, sendo o ISSR-5 o que gerou uma maior quantidade (13) de regioes ISSR amplificadas.

[EN] The feasibility of composted (C), composted plus vermicomposted (V1) and straight vermicomposted (V2) tomato crop waste as component of rooting media for Euonymus japonicus ‘Microphylla’ and Lavandula angustifolia vegetative propagation was studied. Mixes of C, V1 and V2 with coir fibre (CF) at the proportions 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, 0:100 (v:v) were assayed. Physical, physico-chemical and nutritional characteristics of all materials and mixes were determined and correlated with cutting rooting and growth performances. The compost and the two vermicomposts were markedly different from CF. They had higher bulk density and lower total porosity than CF. Compost had lower water-holding capacity and shrinkage in response to drying than vermicomposts and CF. Compost and vermicomposts were alkaline materials whilst CF was almost neutral. Electrical conductivity (EC) was low in CF and vermicomposts, and high in compost due to the high mineral contents, mainly of K+, SO4 2– and Na+ in this material. EC and the ions contributing to it (K+, SO4 2–, Na+) showed highly significative inverse correlations with rooting percentage for the two species and with root and shoot growth but only for E. japonicus. Due to its high EC, compost C (average rooting = 22.5%) performed worse than vermicomposts V1 (av. rooting = 97%) and V2 (av. rooting = 98%) whilst the latter performed similarly to CF control (av. rooting = 100%). Thus vermicomposts appeared to be more appropriate than compost as rooting media constituent., Authors are deeply grateful to Dr. Maria Jose Lopez and Dr. Raquel Melgar for supervising the composting and vermicomposting procedures. This study was funded by the Institut Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria (INIA) of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Project Reference RTA2006-00008-C02-02).

It is a question of making a bibliographical review of the pathogens of the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and its way of combating them in a biological way. In this way a summary of previous studies on the biological control of tomato pathogens is sought. Within this is a description of the plant, as well as its main taxonomic and morphological aspects. The importance of this vegetable in Spain and in the Valencian community is emphasized, as well as the importance of combating the main pathogens of this one., Se trata de hacer una revisión bibliográfica de los patógenos del tomate (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) y su forma de combatirlos de manera biológica. De esta manera se busca realizar un resumen de estudios previos sobre el control biológico de los patógenos del tomate. Dentro de este proyecto, se describen tambien distintos aspectos la planta, así como sus principales características morfológicas. Se nombra también la importancia de este vegetal en España y en la Comunidad Valenciana, así como la importancia de combatir los principales patógenos de éste.

[EN] Essential oil (EO) extracts coming from two representative populations of Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. subesp. suaveolens in Eastern Iberian Peninsula were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and flame ion detector. Plant sampling was carried out in the morning and evening in order to study diurnal variation in EO profiles. Likewise, leaves and inflorescences were analyzed separately. Two chemotypes corresponding to each one of the populations were identified, with piperitenone oxide (35.2 - 74.3%) and piperitone oxide (83.9 - 91.3%), respectively, as major compounds. Once different chemotypes were identified, canonical correspondence analysis was employed to evaluate the effect of the bioclimatic and edaphic factors recorded in each location on the observed differences. Statistical analysis suggested that these chemotypes were closely related to specific environmental factors, mainly the bioclimatic ones. Concretely, piperitenone oxide chemotype can be associated to supramediterranean bioclimatic conditions and soils with major salinity and water field capacity. On the other hand, the most volatile fraction (hydrocarbon monoterpenes) reached its higher level in the morning; specifically, a noticeable amount of limonene was found in morning samples of flowers (4.8 - 10.6%). This fact can be related to ecological role of volatile compounds in order to attract pollinator insects.

[EN] Biomass waste from rice straw has many management problems, including field firing causing severe air pollution and natural organic decomposition resulting in methane emission. The conversion of this waste to ashes may offer the possibility of reusing them in cementing systems. For the first time ashes from different parts of the rice plant (Oryza sativa) were characterised from the chemical composition point of view: rice leaf ash (RLA), rice leaf sheath ash (RlsA) and rice stem ash (RsA). Microscopic studies on ashes revealed heterogeneity in the distribution of chemical elements in the remaining cellular structure (spodograms). The highest concentration of SiO2 was found in dumbbell-shaped phytoliths (%SiO2 > 78%). In the global chemical composition of ashes, SiO2 was also the main oxide present. According to Vassilev¿s classification of chemical composition, RLA belongs to the K-MA zone (medium acid), RlsA to the K-zone (low acid) and RsA to the S-zone (high acid). Calcination temperatures ¿550 ¿C completely removed organic matter from the straw and ashes underwent significant sinterisation by calcining at 650 ¿C due to the presence of potassium chloride. Here, ashes from global straw (rice straw ash, RSA) are characterised (via X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry) and tested from a reactivity point of view (reaction towards calcium hydroxide) in order to assess the possibility for its reuse in cementing systems. Results from pastes made by mixing RSA and calcium hydroxide showed that the pozzolanic reactivity of the ashes is important (hydrated lime fixation of 82% for 7 days and 87% for 28 days in RSA:hydrated lime paste) and cementing C S H gel is formed after 7 and 28 days at room temperature. Compressive strength development of Portland cement mortars with 10% and 25% replacements by RSA yielded 107% and 98% of the strength of control mortar after 28 days of curing. Frattini test confirmed the pozzolanicity of the RSA blended cements. These reactivity results are very promising in terms of the potential reuse of ashes in cementing systems., The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad MINECO, Spain, and FEDER funding [Project: B1A2015-70107-R] The authors thank the Electron Microscopy Service of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (Spain).

ISBN: 978-84-945378-7-5 (Book) ISBN: 978-84-945378-8-2 (e-Book) Available in http://lap.uab.cat/aerobiologia/es/bibliography#organizedcongresses Since 1991, the aerobiology research team of the University of Malaga has been sampling and studying the atmospheric pollen content in different localities of Malaga province (SW Spain) (Recio et al. 1998, 2006). Nevertheless, the northwest part of the province had not been studied yet. In order to complete this missing information, a pollen trap was installed in Ronda in December 2016. This locality, the biggest city in the northwest of Malaga province, is located in a rural area close to the natural Parks Sierra de las Nieves and Sierra de Grazalema, surrounded by crops, natural and semi-natural vegetation. The objectives of this preliminary study were to determinate the atmospheric pollen behaviour of the main taxa registered during winter and spring months in Ronda, as well as compare them with the data obtained by Malaga city sampling station during the same period in order to search for significant differences. The samplings were made by means of two Hirst-type volumetric pollen traps (Hirst 1952). One of them was placed on the roof of the Perez de Guzman High School (Ronda) and the other was located on the roof of the Faculty of Sciences building (Malaga). Samples obtained were mounted and counted according to the methodology proposed by the Spanish Aerobiology Network, the REA (Galán et al. 2007). Significant differences (α = 0.05) between Ronda and Malaga were found regarding the daily concentration of pollen. These differences were particularly detected for some pollen types such as Mercurialis, Fraxinus, Urticaceae and Cupressaceae. In general, we found higher pollen concentration levels in Ronda. We can see a delay for some taxa in Ronda. The higher concentrations of pollen detected in Ronda can be justified by the abundant surrounding vegetation. The differences in concentration and seasonal behaviour detected for some taxa can be explained by the different thermotype and ombrothype of the two sampling sites and the natural distribution and abundance of these taxa in the province. Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech.

[EN] Aloe vera gel, analysed as to its antifungal properties against six fungi causing plant diseases, was found to be most effective against Fusarium oxysporum. It was included in different ratios in starch based films plastiziced with glycerol to obtain antifungal films. These were characterized as to their physical (barrier and optical) and structural properties. Films containing the highest ratio of Aloe vera solids (1:1, with respect to starch) and different glycerol mass ratios with respect to starch (0.15 and 0.25) were analysed as to the water sorption and water plasticization effects, in order to discover the water sensitivity of the films in different RH ambients. Films with 0.15 g glycerol/g starch were more homogenous, with a lower degree of starch crystallization, reduced water vapour permeability and higher gloss and transparency. These films with the highest Aloe vera ratio were effective at controlling fungal decay and weight loss in cherry tomatoes. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved., The authors acknowledge the financial support from the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad throughout the project AGL2013-42989-R and AGL2016-76699-R. Rodrigo Ortega-Toro thanks Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia from Colombia for their support through project PIE-01 2016. Authors also thank the Electron Microscopy Service of the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia for their technical assistance.

Galapagos is an archipelago of volcanic islands located 972 km west from the continental Ecuador. They were declared by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve due to their singular environmental value, where a third part of the native plants are endemic to this archipelago (Jaramillo et al., 2011). In spite of the numerous scientific studies carried out in Galapagos, there are not any aerobiological samplings being performed currently. The main objectives of this study were to install a pollen trap for detecting the presence of pollen in the atmosphere of Puerto Ayora (Santa Cruz, Galapagos Islands) and qualitatively identify the different pollen types detected during the studied period. A Durham (1946) gravimetric pollen trap was modified to turn it into a passive impact pollen trap based on Pla Dalmau (1957) modifications. It was placed on the roof of the Galapagos National School (Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island) at a height of 15m above ground level. The samples were obtained by using silicone fluid as adhesive substance and glycerine gelatine as mounting mean. The pollen grains were counted in a surface of 14 x 48 mm in each sample. The pollen types were identified with the aid of the pollen guide of the Galapagos Island by Jaramillo & Trigo (2011) and the Charles Darwin Foundation pollen bank. Pollen types of endemic plants such as Darwiniothamnus sp., Passiflora foetida var. galapagensis Killip, Justicia galapagana Lindau and Castela galapageia Hook. f. were detected together with those of other native and introduced species. A high diversity of pollen types was detected, reflecting the particular vegetation of the island. This preliminary aerobiological information can be used as precedent for further studies on the pollination of native and introduced species of the Galapagos Islands, as well as for detecting possible allergic diseases in the population. Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech.

[EN] Contacts across the Strait of Gibraltar in the Pleistocene have been studied in different research papers, which have demonstrated that this apparent barrier has been permeable to human and fauna movements in both directions. Our study, based on the genetic analysis of wild boar (Sus scrofa), suggests that there has been contact between Africa and Europe through the Strait of Gibraltar in the Late Pleistocene (at least in the last 90,000 years), as shown by the partial analysis of mitochondrial DNA. Cytochrome b and the control region from North African wild boar indicate a close relationship with European wild boar, and even some specimens belong to a common haplotype in Europe. The analyses suggest the transformation of the wild boar phylogeography in North Africa by the emergence of a natural communication route in times when sea levels fell due to climatic changes, and possibly through human action, since contacts coincide with both the Last Glacial period and the increasing human dispersion via the strait., This study was supported by The Emirates Centre for Wildlife Propagation (Morocco). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Comparative studies on the responses to salt stress of taxonomically related taxa should help to elucidate relevant mechanisms of stress tolerance in plants. We have applied this strategy to three Plantago species adapted to different natural habitats, P. crassifolia and P. coronopus both halophytes and P. major, considered as salt-sensitive since it is never found in natural saline habitats. Growth inhibition measurements in controlled salt treatments indicated, however, that P. major is quite resistant to salt stress, although less than its halophytic congeners. The contents of monovalent ions and specific osmolytes were determined in plant leaves after four-week salt treatments. Salt-treated plants of the three taxa accumulated Na+ and Cl- in response to increasing external NaCl concentrations, to a lesser extent in P. major than in the halophytes; the latter species also showed higher ion contents in the non-stressed plants. In the halophytes, K+ concentration decreased at moderate salinity levels, to increase again under high salt conditions, whereas in P. major K+ contents were reduced only above 400 mM NaCl. Sorbitol contents augmented in all plants, roughly in parallel with increasing salinity, but the relative increments and the absolute values reached did not differ much in the three taxa. On the contrary, a strong (relative) accumulation of proline in response to high salt concentrations (600 800 mM NaCl) was observed in the halophytes, but not in P. major. These results indicate that the responses to salt stress triggered specifically in the halophytes, and therefore the most relevant for tolerance in the genus Plantago are: a higher efficiency in the transport of toxic ions to the leaves, the capacity to use inorganic ions as osmotica, even under low salinity conditions, and the activation, in response to very high salt concentrations, of proline accumulation and K+ transport to the leaves of the plants., MAH was a recipient of an Erasmus Mundus pre-doctoral scholarship financed by the European Commission (Welcome Consortium). AP acknowledges the Erasmus mobility programme for funding her stay in Valencia to carry out her Master Thesis.

Over the next few decades we must boost crop productivity if we are to feed a growing world population, which will reach more than 9×109 people by 2050; and we should do it in the frame of a sustainable agriculture, with an increasing scarcity of new arable land and of water for irrigation. For all important crops, average yields are only a fraction-somewhere between 20% and 50%-of record yields; these losses are mostly due to drought and high soil salinity, environmental conditions which will worsen in many regions because of global climate change. Therefore, the simplest way to increase agricultural productivity would be to improve the abiotic stress tolerance of crops. Considering the limitations of traditional plant breeding, the most promising strategy to achieve this goal will rely on the generation of transgenic plants expressing genes conferring tolerance. However, advances using this approach have been slow, since it requires a deep understanding of the mechanisms of plant stress tolerance, which are still largely unknown. Paradoxically, most studies on the responses of plants to abiotic stress have been performed using stress-sensitive species-such as Arabidopsis thaliana-although there are plants (halophytes, gypsophytes, xerophytes) adapted to extremely harsh environmental conditions in their natural habitats. We propose these wild stress-tolerant species as more suitable models to investigate these mechanisms, as well as a possible source of biotechnological tools (‘stress tolerance’ genes, stress-inducible promoters) for the genetic engineering of stress tolerance in crop plants.

[EN] A botanical survey has been conducted to determine the influence of invasive species on the main indigenous communities in the Spanish Mediterranean coast and evaluate the current status of these communities in the eastern coast of Spain. The work was done in about 35 km of coastline located in Valencia (Spain). A total of 361 species cataloged are present in the study area, belonging to 79 different families. 49 of them have been inventoried invasive species which currently affect 38 plant communities. For this cause, we have developed a map of location finding out the area occupied by the same at every point and key to indigenous communities it affects. The plant communities characteristic of semi-mobile dunes Centaureo maritimae-Echietum sabulicolae and Medicagini marinae-Ammophiletum australis have turned out to have a greater degree of invasion. Carpobrotus edulis, Agave americana, Arundo donax, Oxalis pes-caprae and Cortaderia sellowiana are invasive species that cause further encroachment, both in area as a number of vegetation communities they affect., This study is part of a project to study the coast by the UPV and directed by Jose Serra, has been sponsored by government institutions (General Directorate of Coasts, Ministry of Environment (“Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y Medio Rural y Marino”) and Wildlife Service of Valencia Regional Government (Generalitat Valenciana, the Local Government of the Valencian region).

[EN] Rice is exposed in the field and in stored conditions to a great variety of fungi that can cause a lot of diseases with potential risk to consumers. In the present study, the chemical composition of commercial Laurus nobilis L. and Syzygium aromaticum L. Merr. & Perry essential oils and antifungal activity against five pathogenic fungi isolated from Mediterranean rice grains has been investigated. Thirty-seven compounds accounting for more than 99.5% of the total essential oil were identified by GC and GC/MS. 1,8-Cineole (51.95%), alpha-terpinyl acetate (12.93%) and the monoterpene hydrocarbon sabinene (9.56%) were the main compounds in bay leaf essential oil, while the phenylpropanoid eugenol (88.58%), and the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons beta-caryophyllene (8.13%) and alpha-humulene (2.35%) were found in clove essential oil. Clove essential oils at 300 mu g/mL showed more antifungal effect than bay leaf essential oil against all tested strains. S. aromaticum essential oil showed the best antifungal activity towards Fusarium graminearum and similar antifungal activity compared to pure eugenol against all tested phytopathogenic fungi. In inoculated rice grain, clove essential oil significantly reduced the fungal infection in food so S. aromaticum essential oil could be a good alternative as preservative in stored rice grain. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved., This study has been financed by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad; Subdireccion General de Proyectos de Investigacion; Convocatoria de Ayudas a Proyectos de I+D+i; Research Challenges; Programme-oriented Societal Challenges 2014-2017, reference number AGL2013-42989-R-AR.

The mitochondrial genome of three Moroccan canids has been analysed. Two of them complete and one partial. The sequences are included in GenBank with the accession number KT378605 (16721 bp), KT378606 (16734bp) and KT378607 (27809bp) Theses results have been compared with the results currently available in GenBank. In the phylogenetic analysis of the of cytochrome b regions and control region the three are grouped together with Canis lupus lupaster and the Senegalese golden jackal Canis aureus and separate from the wolf Canis lupus and the Eurasian golden jackal Canis aureus. The comparison of the complete mitochondrial genomes with Canis lupus confirms the distance between the two groups. We conclude that they belong to a different species to the wolf Canis lupus and the Eurasian golden jackal. We propose in agreement with (Koepfli et al., 2015) that it´s scientific name be Canis anthus by merit of being the name by which it was classified and published for the first time as a different species by Cuvier in 1824. The preprint is a translation of a Spanish document published in Altorero journal on the 15th August 2015.

[EN] The precise boundary delineations between taxa in symbiotic associations are very important for evolutionary and ecophysiological studies. Growing evidence indicates that in many cases, the use of either morphological characters or molecular markers results in diversity underestimation. In lichen symbioses. Trebouxia is the most common genus of lichen phycobionts, however, the diversity within this genus has been poorly studied and as such there is no clear species concept. This study constitutes a multifaceted approach incorporating aspects of ultrastructural characterization by TEM and phylogenomics to evaluate the morphological and genetic diversity of phycobionts within the sexually reproducing lichen Ramalina fraxinea in the context of Mediterranean and temperate populations. Results reveal an association with at least seven different Trebouxia lineages belonging to at least two species. T. decolorans and T. jamesii, and diverse combinations of such lineages coexisting within the same thallus depending on the analysed sample. Some of these lineages are shared by several other non-related lichen taxa. Our findings indicate the existence of a highly diverse assemblage of Trebouxia algae associating with R. fraxinea and suggest a possible incipient speciation within T. decolorans rendering a number of lineages or even actual species. This study stresses the importance of coordinated ultrastructural and molecular analyses to improve estimates of diversity and reveal the coexistence of more than one Trebouxia species within the same thallus. lt is also necessary to have clearer species delimitation criteria within the genus Trebouxia and microalgae in general., This study was funded by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (MINECO CGL2012-40058-0O2-01/02), FEDER, the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEOII2013/021, GVA) and the Direccion General de Universidades e Investigacion de la Consejeria de Educacion de la Comunidad de Madrid - Universidad de Alcala (CCG10-UAH/GEN-5904). Drs. Arantxa Matins and Patricia Moya (Universitat de Valencia) made helpful comments on the manuscript.

[EN] Trampling is one of the most visible forms of disturbance to vegetation as a result of recreational use resulting in loss of vegetation height and cover and changes in plant community composition. In order to identify and quantify such impacts, a study on Capo Sant Elia, a calcareous promontory located within the municipality of Cagliari (southern Sardinia) is carried out. This area is characterised by a great naturality and floristic diversity, with a high number of plant species very interesting from biogeographic point of view, as well as a recreational area much frequented by hikers and mountain bikers. Among these species, Globularia alypum L, represents a particular interest because its population in Sardinia is the westernmost station of the species in Italy. Effects of trampling on Mediterranean shrub G. alypum was evaluated realizing transects located a different distance to the paths. Moreover, the population size of G. alypum in Capo Sant Elia was quantified by a census and the estimation of visitors number (both cycling and walking) that frequented this area. The results of the present study allow to know the effects of trampling on G. alypum, the disturbances and threats factors for this species in the study area and the size of the Sardinian population. The results achieved will be useful to propose management actions for guaranteeing the conservation of the taxon., [ES] El trepig és una de les formes més visibles de perjudici de la vegetació com a resultat d activitats lúdiques, el que provoca la pèrdua d altura de la vegetació i de la cobertura de la mateixa, així com de canvis en la composició de la comunitat de plantes. Amb l objectiu d identificar i quantificar aquests impactes, s ha dut a terme un estudi al Capo Sant Elia, un cap de roca calcària que es troba al terme municipal de Calgiari (al sud de la Sardenya). Aquesta àrea es caracteritza pel seu estat natural i la diversitat florística, amb una gran quantitat d espècies molt interessants des del punt de vista biogeogràfic, a més d ésser una zona molt freqüentada per senderistes i bicicletes de muntanya. Entre totes les espècies destaca Globularia alypum L, que posseeix un interès particular perquè aquesta estació, la població de Sardenya, representa la presència més meridional de l espècie en Italia. Els efectes del trepig sobre G. alypum van ser avaluats realitzant transsectes a diferents distàncies de la senda. A més, es va quantificar la població de G. alypum al Capo Sant Elia mitjançant un cens, i també el nombre de visitants (amb bici i a peu) que freqüenten la zona. Els resultats d aquest estudi ens permetran conèixer els efectes del trepig sobre la G. alypum, els perjudicis i les amenaces per a aquesta espècie en la zona d estudi, així com la mesura de la població de Sardenya. Els resultats obtinguts seran d ajuda per proposar mesures de gestió per garantir la conservació del taxó.

[EN] The antimicrobial activity of essential oils (EO) is very well-known and it has been reported that incorporating them into edible films based on biopolymers extends the food's shelf-life. In this study, cinnamon, clove and oregano EO, at 25% with respect to the polymer, were incorporated into glycerol plasticized starch-gelatin blend films (ratio 1:1) in order to elucidate their effect on the physical (barrier, mechanical and optical), structural and antifungal properties of the films. Whereas EOs exhibited no significant effect on tensile behavior in the case of casting films conditioned at 53% relative humidity and 25 degrees C, the EO compounds did significantly reduce the water vapor and oxygen permeability of the films. Likewise, the EOs increased the films' transparency but reduced their gloss. Despite the fact that about 60% of the incorporated EOs were lost during the film drying step, they exhibited antifungal activity against the two tested fungal species, Colletotrichum gloesporoides (CG) and Fusarium oxysporum (FOG), as revealed by the in vitro agar diffusion method. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved., The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad-Spanish Government (AGL2013-42989-R).

Dittrichia viscosa is a Mediterranean ruderal species that over the last decades has expanded into new habitats, including coastal salt marshes, ecosystems that are per se fragile and threatened by human activities. To assess the potential risk that this native-invasive species represents for the genuine salt marsh vegetation, we compared its distribution with that of Inula crithmoides, a taxonomically related halophyte, in three salt marshes located in “La Albufera” Natural Park, near the city of Valencia (East Spain). The presence of D. viscosa was restricted to areas of low and moderate salinity, while I. crithmoides was also present in the most saline zones of the salt marshes. Analyses of the responses of the two species to salt and water stress treatments in controlled experiments revealed that both activate the same physiological stress tolerance mechanisms, based essentially on the transport of toxic ions to the leaves—where they are presumably compartmentalized in vacuoles—and the accumulation of specific osmolytes for osmotic adjustment. The two species differ in the efficiency of those mechanisms: salt-induced increases in Na+ and Cl− contents were higher in I. crithmoides than in D. viscosa, and the osmolytes (especially glycine betaine, but also arabinose, fructose and glucose) accumulated at higher levels in the former species. This explains the (slightly) higher stress tolerance of I. crithmoides, as compared to D. viscosa, established from growth inhibition measurements and their distribution in nature. The possible activation of K+ transport to the leaves under high salinity conditions may also contribute to salt tolerance in I. crithmoides. Oxidative stress level—estimated from malondialdehyde accumulation—was higher in the less tolerant D. viscosa, which consequently activated antioxidant responses as a defense mechanism against stress; these responses were weaker or absent in the more tolerant I. crithmoides. Based on these results, we concluded that although D. viscosa cannot directly compete with true halophytes in highly saline environments, it is nevertheless quite stress tolerant and therefore represents a threat for the vegetation located on the salt marshes borders, where several endemic and threatened species are found in the area of study., Work in the UPV laboratories was partly funded by a grant to OV from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CGL2008-00438/BOS), with contribution from the European Regional Development Fund.

[EN] Recently, biochars and hydrochars have been proposed as soil amendments and, to a lesser degree, as substrate constituents for soilless cultivation. These materials are interesting because their use is a means to reclaim organic matter and because, in some instances, they have been proved to sequester CO2 from the atmosphere. Myrtle and mastic are native to Mediterranean ecosystems and are grown for their essential oil production. This study aims to assess the properties of two biochars from different feedstock and a hydrochar from the same feedstock as one of the biochars as substrate constituents, in order to partially substitute either coir or soil in the cultivation of myrtle and mastic. Although the physical properties of the four organic materials are reasonably adequate for their use in substrate mixes, the biochar of olive mill waste is extremely saline as a pure material and remains very saline in a 50% mix with coir. The hydrochar showed less easily available water for the plants and a lower pH than the others. In incubation experiments using mixes with soil, biochars absorbed more 02 than CO2 emitted, which suggests they were sequestering CO2. The hydrochar showed O-2 consumption and CO2 emission of one order of magnitude larger than the biochars. It also showed that an outstanding amount of organic carbon was being metabolized in anaerobic routes. The biochar of forest waste and the coir displayed N immobilization when mixed with soil, whilst the biochar of olive mill waste had little microbial activity. Although hydrochars had been proved not to immobilize N as pure materials, they did immobilize N when mixed with soil. When tried for plant growth, mixes of the local soil with the biochar of forest waste and with hydrochar produced the best mastic plants. However, unmixed soil gave the best results for myrtle. The biochar of olive mill waste proved phytotoxic for myrtle in mixes with coir, whilst the biochar of forest waste gave optimal results for both species. Depending on their production process and the feedstock from which they are produced, biochars and hydrochars can vary in their characteristics and therefore in their effect on plants. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[EN] Different adverse environmental conditions cause oxidative stress in plants by generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Accordingly, a general response to abiotic stress is the activation of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems. Many phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, are known antioxidants and efficient ROS scavengers in vitro, but their exact role in plant stress responses in nature is still under debate. The aim of our work is to investigate this role by correlating the degree of environmental stress with phenolic and flavonoid levels in stress-tolerant plants. Total phenolic and antioxidant flavonoid contents were determined in 19 wild species. Meteorological data and plant and soil samples were collected in three successive seasons from four Mediterranean ecosystems: salt marsh, dune, semiarid and gypsum habitats. Changes in phenolic and flavonoid levels were correlated with the environmental conditions of the plants and were found to depend on both the taxonomy and ecology of the investigated species. Despite species-specific differences, principal component analyses of the results established a positive correlation between plant phenolics and several environmental parameters, such as altitude, and those related to water stress: temperature, evapotranspiration, and soil water deficit. The correlation with salt stress was, however, very weak. The joint analysis of all the species showed the lowest phenolic and flavonoid levels in the halophytes from the salt marsh. This finding supports previous data indicating that the halophytes analysed here do not undergo oxidative stress in their natural habitat and therefore do not need to activate antioxidant systems as a defence against salinity., This work has been funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CGL2008-00438/BOS), with contribution from the European Regional Development Fund. Thanks to Dr. Rafael Herrera for critical reading of the manuscript.

The presence and extent of genetic variation in saffron crocus are still debated, as testified by several contradictory articles providing contrasting results about the monomorphism or less of the species. Remarkably, phenotypic variations have been frequently observed in the field, such variations are usually unstable and can change from one growing season to another. Considering that gene expression can be influenced both by genetic and epigenetic changes, epigenetics could be a plausible cause of the alternative phenotypes. In order to obtain new insights into this issue, we carried out a molecular marker analysis of 112 accessions from the World Saffron and Crocus Collection. The accessions were grown for at least three years in the same open field conditions. The same samples were analysed using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) and Methyl Sensitive AFLP in order to search for variation at the genetic (DNA sequence) and epigenetic (cytosine methylation) level. While the genetic variability was low (4.23% polymorphic peaks and twelve (12) effective different genotypes), the methyl sensitive analysis showed the presence of high epigenetic variability (33.57% polymorphic peaks and twenty eight (28) different effective epigenotypes). The pattern obtained by Factorial Correspondence Analysis of AFLP and, in particular, of MS-AFLP data was consistent with the geographical provenance of the accessions. Very interestingly, by focusing on Spanish accessions, it was observed that the distribution of the accessions in the Factorial Correspondence Analysis is not random but tends to reflect the geographical origin. Two clearly defined clusters grouping accessions from the West (Toledo and Ciudad Real) and accessions from the East (Cuenca and Teruel) were clearly recognised.

The pine processionary caterpillar, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, is considered an emerging pine pest in Mediterranean countries, and constitutes one of the plagues of major socioeconomic importance in the pinegroves of the Mediterranean region. It’s a nocturnal butterfly that feeds on pines needles, and is one of the few insects that lives exposed to environmental conditions and is kept active in winter. It typically plague the Mediterranean with wide distribution because some factors like the most importants are changes in the structure of the forest, decrease of its natural predators and increase of the global temperature. The problems that it generates to ecological levels are really importants, because in the Iberian Peninsula, annually, 500,000 ha. of pines are completely defoliated because of the assaults of the caterpillars of this lepidopterous, and the principal consequences are loss of the forest biomass, decrease of the revenue due to the lack of high productions, difficulty of recovery of the forests, since the trees lose their reserves and increase of the susceptibility of the forest to it being attacked by secondary parasites. In this thesis will see the nature of this insect-host relationship and will try to find some solution for it., L' eruga processionaria del pi, la Thaumetopoea pityocampa, es considerada una emergent plaga dels pins en els paisos mediterranis, i constitueix una de les plagues amb major importancia socioeconómica en els pinars de les regions mediterranees. Es una papallona nocturna que s'alimenta de fulles de pins, i es un dels pocs insectes que viuen expostos a condicions ambientals i es mantenen actius a l'hivern. Es una plaga tipica al Mediterrani amb una amplia distribució degut a alguns factors dels que mes importants son els canvis en la estructura dels boscos, disminució dels seus predadors naturals i augment de la temperatura global. Els problemes que genera a nivells ecologics son molt importants, ja que en la Peninsula Iberica, anualment, 500,000 ha de pins son completament esfullats a causa de l'atac de les erugues d'aquests lepidopters, i les principals consequencies son la perdua de biomassa forestal, la disminució d'ingresos a causa de la falta d'altes produccions, la dificultat de recuperació dels boscos, des d'on els arbres perden les seves reserves i incrementa la susceptibilitat del bosc a ser atacat per parasits secondaris. En aquesta tesis es veurà la naturalesa de la relació insecte-hoste i es tractarà de trobar solució per aquest problema.

[EN] The present state of knowledge concerning developmental processes and the secondary metabolism of saffron, Crocus sativus L. (Iridaceae), along with the genes involved in these processes so far known, is reviewed. Flowers and corms constitute the most valuable parts of saffron. Corm and flower development are two key aspects to be studied in saffron to increase the yield and quality of the spice, to raise its reproductive rate, and to implement new production systems. Important knowledge about the physiology of flowering and vegetative growth has been acquired in recent years, but there is still only limited information on molecular mechanisms controlling these processes. Although some genes involved in flower formation and meristem transition in other species have been isolated in saffron, the role of these genes in this species awaits further progress. Also, genes related with the synthesis pathway of abscisic acid and strigolactones, growth regulators related with bud endodormancy and apical dominance (paradormancy), have been isolated. However, the in-depth understanding of these processes as well as of corm development is far from being achieved. By contrast, saffron phytochemicals have been widely studied. The different flower tissues and the corm have been proved to be an important source of phytochemicals with pharmacological properties. The biotechnological prospects for saffron are here reviewed on the basis of the discovery of the enzymes involved in key aspects of saffron secondary metabolism, and we also analyze the possibility of transferring current knowledge about flowering and vegetative propagation in model species to the Crocus genus., This work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (BIO2013-44239-R).

[EN] Two biochars, one from forest waste (BCH-FW) and the other from olive mill waste (BCH-OMW), and one hydrochar from forest waste (HYD-FW) were analyzed from the horticultural and environmental point of view. Several incubation assays were performed to foresee the material evolution when used as soilless growth media. HYD-FW was slightly alkaline and rich in nutrients and showed high microbial respiration Moreover, it did not caused N immobilization but N mineralization which contradicts previous reports. Biochars were highly alkaline. BCH-FW was poor in nutrients whilst BCH-OMW was saline and rich in soluble cations. Both materials had low respiratory activity, similar to that of coir fibre (CF). Whilst BCH-FVV and CF immobilize N, BCH-OMW did not. Both biochars captured CO2 from the atmosphere, particularly BCH-OMW, which concomitantly showed a decrease in soluble cations. We conclude that pure hydrochar does not immobilize N and that alkaline biochars act as CO2 traps. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved., This study was funded by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (Proyectos de nuevas Lineas de Investigacion Multidisciplinares; SP 20120433-PAID-05-12). We thank INGELIA S.L. for giving the hydrochar for free and to Mr Manuel Sanchez-Perales and Mrs Joana Oliver for their technical assistance.

This bibliographical work tries to study the biology and ecology of the Rhynchophorus ferrugineus (OLIVIER, 1790), is not an original insect of Europe, who supposes a current plague that affects Spain, country with an important exportation of palm trees. In the work it is pretend to understand the geographical distribution, the host plants, the current methods of control and knowledge the economic importance and damages that this plague produces in the country., [ES] La plaga del picudo rojo (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus) está causando una alta mortandad en varias especies de palmeras, lo que está suponiendo importantes efectos negativos tanto económicos como ambientales. El trabajo pretende realizar una recopilación rigurosa de la informacion sobre los hábitos, introduccion, reproducción, alimentación, conducta, daños y control actual sobre la actual plaga para valorar los tratamientos más eficaces.

Essential oils of bay leaf, cinnamon, clove and oregano were tested in vitro and oregano essential oil in vivo, against two foodborne fungi belonging to the dominant mycobiota of stored rice, Fusarium culmorum and Fusarium verticillioides, collected from the Albuferarice-producing Mediterranean area near Valencia (Spain). Chemical composition was identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Essential oils presented a high percentage of oxygenated components: 78.8 % in bay leaf (eucalyptol 51 %); 90.3 % in clove (eugenol 89.8 %); 92 % in cinnamon (eugenol 60 % and eugenyl acetate18.3 %); 71.8 % in oregano (carvacrol 49.6 % and thymol 21.2 %). Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were: 18 % in bay leaf, 9 % in clove, 5 % in cinnamon, 25 % in oregano. This research showed that essential oils have a great potential to control both fungal pathogens. In the in vitro test, the essential oils of cinnamon, clove and oregano reduced fungal growth by 90 % and almost 100 %, being oregano the most effective essential oil to inhibit fungal growth. The effect of the oregano essential oil on fungal development in inoculated rice grains demonstrated its effectiveness., This study has been financed by the Vice-Chancellor for Research at the Polytechnic University of Valencia as part of its Support Programme to Research and Development, New Lines of Multidisciplinary Research (PAID-05-10), reference number 2644.

BACKGROUND: Environmentally friendly agriculture needs toreduce the use of synthetic fertilizers and to reclaim nutrients from organic wastes. In this study the effect of five doses (0, 12, 24, 48 and 96 t ha(-1)) of two two-phase olive mill waste (TPOMW)-based composts on the bioactivity and chemical characteristics of an agricultural soil and their potential to fertilize alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and stimulate nodulation were assessed during a two-year incubation experiment. The two composts were prepared either with the olive mill waste alone (compost A), which served as control, or mixed with a liquid fatty-proteinaceous hydrolyzate waste (FPH) from the pharmaceutical industry (compost AH). RESULTS: Compost AH resulted in greater N immobilization than compost A because the former supplied the soil with easily degradable C and N, which increased microbial biomass and activity. Both compost mineralizations during the first year of incubation supplied the soil with more nutrients (mainly N), more so with A than with AH. Nevertheless, plant growth was similar in soils amended with either A or AH. Both composts induced nodulation similarly and the highest dose (96 t ha-1) increased the formation of nodules by a factor of 11 compared with the four lower doses. CONCLUSION: TPOMW serves as an effective ground material for co-composting with liquid wastes such as FPH. TPOMW supplies key nutrients and stimulates nodulation in alfalfa. (C) 2014 Society of Chemical Industry, This research was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia through the PETRI Programme (PTR1995-0894-OP-02-02). Rosana Garcia-de-la-Fuente thanks the Valencian Government for awarding her a pre-doctoral grant (BFPI/2007/055) and Profs Paolo Nanipieri, Loretta Landi and Giancarlo Renella from the Universita degli Studi de Firenze for their assistance in developing the N dynamics experiment. Claudia X Jaramillo thanks COOPEN European Commission for awarding her an exchange grant (2009-5124\001-001-ECW). The authors also thank Dr Debra Westall for revising the English and Mrs Joana Oliver for her technical assistance.

[Background] In saffron (Crocus sativus), new corms develop at the base of every shoot developed from the maternal corm, a globular underground storage stem. Since the degree of bud sprouts influences the number and size of new corms, and strigolactones (SLs) suppress growth of pre-formed axillary bud, it was considered appropriate to investigate SL involvement in physiology and molecular biology in saffron. We focused on two of the genes within the SL pathway, CCD7 and CCD8, encoding carotenoid cleavage enzymes required for the production of SLs., [Results] The CsCCD7 and CsCCD8 genes are the first ones isolated and characterized from a non-grass monocotyledonous plant. CsCCD7 and CsCCD8 expression showed some overlapping, although they were not identical. CsCCD8 was highly expressed in quiescent axillary buds and decapitation dramatically reduced its expression levels, suggesting its involvement in the suppression of axillary bud outgrowth. Furthermore, in vitro experiments showed also the involvement of auxin, cytokinin and jasmonic acid on the sprouting of axillary buds from corms in which the apical bud was removed. In addition, CsCCD8 expression, but not CsCCD7, was higher in the newly developed vascular tissue of axillary buds compared to the vascular tissue of the apical bud., [Conclusions] We showed that production and transport of auxin in saffron corms could act synergistically with SLs to arrest the outgrowth of the axillary buds, similar to the control of above-ground shoot branching. In addition, jasmonic acid seems to play a prominent role in bud dormancy in saffron. While cytokinins from roots promote bud outgrowth. In addition the expression results of CsCCD8 suggest that SLs could positively regulate procambial activity and the development of new vascular tissues connecting leaves with the mother corm., The laboratory is funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (BIO2009-07803) and participates in the IBERCAROT network (112RT0445). Dr. Ahrazem was funded by FPCYTA through the INCRECYT Programme.

[EN] Peat replacement is an issue that receives much attention in the horticulturist agenda. Several organic materials have been suggested either as substrates or as substrate constituents. This study aims to determine how three such materials, one compost and two vermicomposts, affect the rooting of cuttings and plant growth of rosemary plants grown in pots. The compost (C) and vermicomposts (V1 and V2) were obtained from the same batch of tomato crop waste. Each material was mixed with peat at several proportions. Two experiments were carried out in nursery conditions. In the first, rosemary cuttings were grown in each mix and rooting was quantified. In the second experiment, rooted seedlings were grown in each mix to marketable size (six months after the seedling transplant). The physical, physico-chemical and chemical characteristics of the initial mixes and of the mixes at the end of the six-month experiment were determined. The physical properties of the substrates were within adequate ranges. pH was fairly alkaline, especially in C and salinity was particularly high in the C-based mixes. Soluble mineral contents in C were much higher than in V1, V2 or peat. Mixing with peat produced substrates with intermediate characteristics. Both vermicomposts outperformed compost and peat for rooting cuttings. The presence of hormone-like substances in the vermicomposts might be behind this effect. The vermicompost-based substrates gave acceptable results for growing plants, though none performed as well as the control. Nitrogen and potassium contents in cuttings and ready-for-sale plants were low and phosphorus content was very low compared to sufficiency ranges, which led to a recommendation to increase fertilization. At the end of the six-month experiment, the mix properties had changed, representing an improvement in the substrate quality that might be taken into consideration when transplanting the rosemary to the soil. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved., The authors wish to thank Dr. Debra Westall for revising the English. This study was funded by the Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria (INIA) of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Project Reference RTA2006-00008-C02-02).

Salinity is an important environmental constraint to crop productivity in arid and semiarid regions of the world. The evaluation of the responses to salinity of different Arabidopsis ecotypes or transgenic lines is important to identify and investigate the role of different key genes. These new characterized genes involved in the response to salinity stress are of great interest to be incorporated in crops breeding programs. Here we provide a reproducible method to evaluate the performance of Arabidopsis lines to salinity stress by analysing primary and lateral root growth and fresh weight of plants grown under in vitro conditions in growth chambers. Even though NaCl is the most frequent used salinity tests, other salts (e.g. KCl, MgCl2) can be also evaluated by this method. Arabidopsis plants can be maintained for 15-20 days in these conditions, although effects on growth and biomass can be observed, depending on the used salt and concentration, within the first 10 days., We gratefully acknowledge funding through grants from Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA; project numbers: 2009-0004-C01, 2012-0008-C01) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (project number: BIO2010-14871 and ERA-NET GEN2006-27772-C2-2).

Resumen enviado, aceptado y publicado en el libro de resúmenes titulado "Pollen3013. 2nd International APLE APLF Congres", celebrado en septiembre de 2'13 en Madrid. Universidad de Málaga

The objective of this work was to study the influence of fruit load on CO2 assimilation in the leaves of citrus trees presenting alternate bearing habits, and the importance of this factor on photosynthetic rate variability throughout the year and under regular cropping conditions. The photosynthetic rate was measured on 60 days throughout the year on field-grown sweet orange plants under natural conditions in the Valencian Community, the most important citrus-producing area of Spain. The experiments were performed on the ‘on’ (high crop) and ‘off’ (low crop) bearing 40-year-old Salustiana sweet orange trees growing in the same orchard. Gas exchange and fluorescence parameters were measured during the year in young and old leaves on sun-exposed branches with and without fruit in the ‘on’ trees, and in fruitless branches of the ‘off’ trees. In non-manipulated Citrus trees, fruit load has no significant effect in any season on the photosynthetic rate in the leaves from branches without fruit. However, in high crop trees, the leaves of branches bearing fruit present a slightly lower photosynthetic rates (approx. 10%) than those of fruitless branches. Variations in mineral content (N, K and P) might explain not only these differences, but also the lower photosynthesis rate observed in old leaves (13–24 month-old leaves). Environmental conditions were the main factor for the variation of the photosynthetic rate, with variability of the monthly mean photosynthetic rate being much lower than that between days in the same month.

Proyecto Confidencial

[EN] Abstract Previous works into photosynthesis regulation under salt stress have focused on the effect of NaCl, although other salts may significantly contribute to the toxicity of saline soils. In this paper, the effects of different salt sources (NaCl, Na2SO4, MgCl2 and MgSO4) on photosynthesis and vegetative growth in three tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cultivars (Marmande RAF, Leader and Daniela) are presented. Differences were found in the net photosynthetic rate and vegetative growth among the studied cultivars and salinity treatments. Cultivar photosynthetic performance related not only to capability for toxic ion exclusion, but also to the maintenance of appropriate essential macronutrient concentrations in leaves. In addition, the role of metabolic and diffusion limitations in regulating photosynthesis varied depending on the studied genotypes. These data, along with variation in biomass and ion distribution in leaves and roots, show that distinct tomato cultivars can address salt tolerance differently, which should be considered when designing strategies to overcome plant sensitivity to salt stress. Highlights ► Photosynthesis and growth were more affected by Na2SO4, MgCl2 and MgSO4 than by NaCl. ► Photosynthetic limitations under salt stress were cultivar-dependent. ► Salinity differentially affected photo-assimilate utilisation among tomato cultivars. ► Salt tolerance has been related to toxic ion exclusion and macroelement homeostasis., This research has been supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (GEN2006-27772-C2-2-E/VEG). We thank Dr. Jaume Flexas and Dr. Miquel Rivas for their assistance with photosynthetic parameters modelling, and Dr. A. Calatayud for her assistance in the mineral content determinations. We thank Helen Warburton for revising the language in the manuscript.

[EN] A comparative study on the suitability of one compost and two vermicomposts, obtained from the same batch of tomato-crop waste, as growth media for ornamental plant production was carried out. Each material was mixed with Sphagnum peat at 100 : 0, 75 : 25, 50 : 50, 25 : 75, and 0 : 100 (peat control) proportions by volume. Two ornamentals (Calendula officinalis, Viola cornuta) were sown and grown in the 13 substrates. Substrates were characterized physically and chemically. Seed germination, total leaf chlorophyll (SPAD units), plant growth, and plant nutrient concentrations were determined. The compost and the vermicomposts were markedly different from peat. Compost and the vermicomposts had greater bulk density and lower total porosity than peat. Compost had larger aeration and lower water-holding capacity than vermicomposts and peat. Compost and vermicomposts were alkaline (pH = 8.8 on average) whilst peat was acidic (pH = 5.9). Electrical conductivity was low in peat (0.23 dS m–1) and vermicomposts (0.65 dS m–1), and high in compost (2.85 dS m–1) due to the high concentrations of K+ and SO2 4 . Mixing compost and vermicomposts with peat produced substrates with intermediate characteristics. Physical properties were within adequate range for all mixes except for the compost ones. pH was within adequate range only in pure peat, and salinity was extremely high in the compost mixes. Compost was phytotoxic, as shown by the strong reduction of seed germination, chlorophyll content, and plant growth of both ornamentals. Vermicomposts did not affect seed germination but reduced plant growth, though much less than compost. Mixing these materials with peat improved germination and growth. The diluted materials (compost at the 25 : 75 and vermicomposts at the 50 : 50 and 25 : 75 proportions) produced good-quality plants., Authors are deeply grateful to Dr. Maria Jose Lopez and Dr. Raquel Melgar for supervising the composting and vermicomposting procedures and to Mr. Manuel Sanchez-Perales for the technical assistance. This study was funded by the Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria (INIA) of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Project Reference RTA2006-00008-C02-02).

The patterns of ion uptake were analysed in three dicotyledonous (Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Sarcocornia fruticosa and Inula crithmoides) and two monocotyledonous (Juncus acutus and J. maritimus) halophytes, collected from a salt marsh in SE Spain. The experimental design included four plots in different positions within the marsh, and three sampling periods corresponding to spring, summer and autumn 2011. Electric conductivity, pH, and Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and Cl- contents were determined in saturated soil extracts. In plants, the same ions were extracted in boiling water. In soil samples, spatial variation in the measured parameters among plots was higher than the seasonal variation within plots, whereas in plants significant differences in ion contents were detected only between species, but not between plots or sampling seasons for a given species. The dicot species under study are Na+ and Cl- accumulators, showing significant higher levels of these ions than the monocot taxa, but a direct correlation between ion content in soil and plants could be not established

[EN] Floral movements are traits with a plethora of functions. Nicotiana attenuata shows rhythmic changes in flower orientation that start the anthesis day and last until the transition to fruit or flower senescence. The pedicel regulates flower movement in an autonomous way. Sequential epinastic curvature and hyponastic straightening of this organ drive the changes in flower angle. Asymmetric distribution of auxins between the adaxial and abaxial flanks of the pedicel leads to the development of curvature. Auxins are de novo synthesized in the pedicel and IAA transport to the ovary is the main mechanism for auxin homeostasis., [ES] Los movimientos florales presentan una gran variedad de funciones entre las destacan la protección de los tejidos reproductivos, facilitar el desarrollo de los óvulos fertilizados o como componentes clave en interacciones planta-polinizador. Las flores de Nicotiana attenuata presentan movimientos rítmicos diurnos que se inician el día de la antesis y duran hasta la transición a fruto o senescencia de la flor. El pedicelo regula este movimiento de manera autónoma y sus variaciones en curvatura hacen que las flores pasen de un estado péndulo a orientadas oblicuamente hacia arriba. La distribución asimétrica de auxinas entre las partes adaxial y abaxial del pedicelo genera un crecimiento diferencial que conlleva el desarrollo de la curvatura. Las auxinas tienen un papel fundamental en este crecimiento asimétrico, son sintetizadas en el tejido meristemático de la parte basal del pedicelo y el principal mecanismo para mantener la homeostasis de IAA es su transporte hacia el ovario.

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia de Fungos, Algas e Plantas, Florianópolis, 2013. Políporos é um dos principais grupos de fungos decompositores de madeira, contudo, o conhecimento sobre sua diversidade ainda é escasso. Em Santa Catarina, a sinopse sobre a diversidade dos macromicetos apresenta 247 espécies de fungos, destas, 143 são poliporoides, principalmente da região insular. Para a continuidade e o avanço do conhecimento sobre a diversidade de fungos poliporoides que ocorrem na Mata Atlântica de Santa Catarina, foram estudados aspectos sobre a ecologia de comunidades fúngicas, particularmente de uma área pouco explorada, bem como um complexo taxonômico que ocorre na região. Primeiramente foi avaliada e caracterizada a comunidade de políporos em uma área de Floresta Ombrófila Densa do Parque Nacional da Serra do Itajaí, em termos de riqueza, abundância e funcionalidade. Entre os 152 espécimes coletados 58 espécies foram identificadas. Polyporus dictyopus, Perenniporia martia e Fuscoporia walhbergii foram as espécies dominantes. Com base nas frequências relativas nos diferentes tipos e substratos foram encontrados cinco grupos funcionais, dos quais dois formados por Phylloporia spathulata (em raízes vivas no solo) e Phylloporia chrysita (em lianas vivas) e os outros três constituídos por espécies saprofíticas, sendo cada grupo caracterizado pela presença de uma das espécies dominantes citadas. Finalmente, Phellinus piptadeniae é apresentada como um complexo taxonômico, em processo de especiação, a partir de evidências ecológicas (hospedeiro e distribuição geográfica) e filogenéticas. Abstract : Polypores is one of the most important groups of wood-decay fungi; however, its diversity knowledge is still scarce. In Santa Catarina state, a synopsis of macrofungi diversity presented 247 species, of which 143 are polypores, mainly from insular region. In order to continue and improve the knowledge about the diversity of polypores, wich are occurring in the Atlantic Forest of Santa Catarina, ecological aspects of fungal communities were studied, in an unexplored area, as well as a complex taxonomy that occurs in the region. Firstly, was described the community of wood-decaying polypores in the Atlantic Rain Forest of Parque Nacional da Serra do Itajai, characterizing the community in terms of richness, abundance and functionality. Among 152 specimens collected 58 species were identified. Polyporus dictyopus, Perenniporia martia and Fuscoporia walhbergii were the dominant species. Based on the relative frequency in the different types of substrates where five functional groups were recognized. Two of them were formed by Phylloporia spathulata (on live roots in the ground) and Phylloporia chrysita (on live trunks); and three other functional groups, consisting of saprophytic species, each of them was characterized by the presence of one of the dominant species. Finally, Phellinus piptadeniae is presented as a taxonomic complex, in a speciation process, evidenced by the existence of two phylogenetic and ecological (host and geographic distribution) lineages.

Saffron is a triploid sterile crop with a low vegetative propagation rate, which prevents the widespread use of selected genotypes. Despite efficient in vitro propagation via direct organogenesis being very interesting, high contamination levels and low propagation rates preclude the commercial use of this technique. In order to obtain a source of explants for the in vitro multiplication of saffron that allows low contamination levels and efficient propagation, daughter corms were produced by storing non-planted mother corms at low temperatures (1–3 °C) for 9 months. This method avoids field cultivation and yields more corms than field production (8 vs. 3 corms per mother corm). Corms produced under cold storage conditions were in vitro sprouted on media with a high level of cytokinins (5 mg l −1 6-benzylaminopurine or 1 mg l −1 thidiazuron) and 0.5 mg l −1 naphthalene acetic acid, and sprouted buds were cultivated on the same media. After 8 weeks of culture, multiple shoot primordia emerged from the base of the sprouted buds with no callus formation, and up to 400 shoot primordia were produced from one initial mother corm. These shoot primordia can be elongated and 90% produce corms. The high multiplication rate, lack of contamination, and the fact that multiplication occurs through direct organogenesis make the method suitable for the propagation of selected genotypes. Otherwise shoot clusters can be maintained for 6–7 months. However for longer maintenance periods, shoot proliferation capacity by direct organogenesis diminishes, and the emergence of somaclonal variation cannot be ruled out.

La yuca (Manihot esculenta) se constituye en la base de la alimentación para mas de 1000 millones de personas en el mundo. La producción de yuca puede verse severamente comprometida por las enfermedades ocasionadas por diferentes patógenos. Para defenderse de las infecciones virales, bacterianas y fúngicas, las plantas han desarrollado un grupo de proteínas de resistencia (R), las cuales son capaces de reconocer moléculas especificas de los patógenos. Un repertorio amplio de proteínas R han sido identificadas en varias especies vegetales y a pesar de conferir resistencia a patógenos diversos presentan unos pocos dominios conservados. A partir de la reciente liberación de la secuencia completa del genoma de yuca se identificaron secuencias similares a proteínas R en el genoma de yuca. Con esta información se diseñaron cebadores para amplificar 13 genes en yuca. Para 10 de ellos se logró obtener amplificación en las variedades TMS30572 y CM2177-2, las cuales representan los parentales empleados en la construcción del mapa genético de yuca. A partir de la secuenciación de los amplicones obtenidos se identificaron 37 SNPs (Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms) de los cuales 18 (48,6%) corresponden a transversiones y 19 (45,9%) a transversiones. El restante son inserciones/deleciones. Este conocimiento permitirá desarrollar estrategias adecuadas para el desarrollo de marcadores moleculares tipo CAPs (del ingles Cleaved Amplified Polymorphism) para posteriormente evaluar su segregación en la población F1, permitiendo de esta manera posicionar estos marcadores en el mapa genético de yuca.

The search for new biocontrol strategies to inhibit the growth of phytopathogenic microorganisms has become widely widespread due to environmental concerns. Among actinomycetes, Streptomyces species have been extensively studied since they have been recognized as important sources of antibiotics. Actinomycete strains were isolated from a calcareous soil, 2 two-phase olive mill waste ('alperujo') composts, and the compost-amended soil by using selective media, and they were then co-cultured with 5 phytopathogenic fungi and 1 bacterium to perform an in vitro antagonism assay. Forty-nine actinomycete strains were isolated, 12 of them showing a great antagonistic activity towards the phytopathogenic microorganisms tested. Isolated strains were identified by 16S rDNA sequence analysis and phenotypic procedures. Eleven isolates concerned the genus Streptomyces and 1 actinomycete with chitinolytic activity belonged to the genus Lechevalieria. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd., This research was carried out within the framework of the project UPV-PPI-05-05-5542 subsidized by the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) and a PhD fellowship supported by the Valencian Council of Education.

[EN] The essential oil composition of Cistus ladanifer grown in central Spain was analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, revealing it to be rich in oxygenated compounds, with trans-pinocarveol (20.00%), bornyl acetate (7.03%) and terpinen-4-ol (6.37%) as the main monoterpene compounds. Viridiflorol (13.59%) and ledol (4.36%) were the main constituents of the oxygenated sesquiterpene fraction. Large amounts of-pinene (4.70%) were found in the hydrocarbonated fractions. To study its possible use as a natural herbicide, the oil was tested invitro against Amaranthus hybridus, Portulaca oleracea, Chenopodium album, Conyza canadensis and Parietaria judaica, completely inhibiting A. hybridus germination, and nearly blocking C. canadensis and P. judaica germination at all concentrations assayed. In P. oleracea, the oil showed less effect, inhibiting its germination at the higher doses studied. It did not control C. album germination. Regarding seedling length, the oil had strong phytotoxic activity, being effective at all concentrations tested. © 2012 Taylor & Francis.

[EN] Changes in physical and chemical characteristics of an organic waste (tomato crop waste) throughout composting (COM), vermicomposting (VER) and the combination of both processes (C + V) were assessed at five selected stages. COM consisted of a combination of the static Rutgers system with forced aeration and pile turning. For VER Eisenia worms were fed with the raw material. For C + V pre-composted material was added to the worms. Particle size decreased during COM, yet it increased during VER and C + V due to the amalgamation of small particles. pH was alkaline throughout the processes. Heavy irrigation during vermicomposting resulted in greater decrease of EC and greater leaching of organic matter, total nitrogen and most macronutrients in VER and C + V than in COM. Final materials were not phytotoxic but compost could have salinity related problems. Thus, COM, VER and C + V produced treated organic material, which could be suitable for horticultural purposes. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved., Authors are deeply grateful to Dr. Maria Jose Lopez and Dr. Raquel Melgar for supervising the composting and vermicomposting procedures. They would also like to thank Professor Sebastia Balasch for his advice on statistics and Dr. Bruce Pearce for reviewing the English. This study was funded by the Instituto Nacional de Investigacion y Tecnologia Agraria (INIA) of the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (Project Reference RTA2006-00008-C02-02).