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Treatment with prostaglandin F2α (PGF) induces ovulation and increases conception rates in cows, while improving embryo production in buffalos. However, its effect on superovulated cows is unknown. This study verified whether single PGF administration concurrent with artificial insemination (AI) improves fertilization and embryo production rates in superovulated cows. In each replicate, embryo donor cows were equally allocated to two groups: the untreated control and PGF groups. The latter of which received 482 µg of cloprostenol concurrent with the first AI. Each cow (n = 35) was subjected to two superovulations (SOV) in a crossover design (total = 70 embryo collections). In the control and PGF groups, respectively, the observed responses were [median (95% CI)]: 12 (10-18) and 15 (12-18) total structures, 9 (7-11) and 7 (6-10) viable embryos, 1 (0-1) and 1 (1-3) degenerated embryos, and 1 (0-3) and 2 (0-5) oocytes (P > 0.05). In conclusion, single PGF treatment concurrent with the first AI did not affect embryo production in superovulated cows. RESUMO: A prostaglandina F2α (PGF) pode induzir a ovulação e melhorar tanto a concepção em vacas, como a produção de embriões em búfalas, mas o efeito em vacas superovuladas é desconhecido. Esse estudo teve como objetivo verificar se a administração de uma dose de PGF na inseminação artificial (IA) após a superovulação (SOV) melhora as taxas de fecundação e produção embrionária em vacas. Em cada replicação, vacas doadoras de embriões foram equilibradamente alocadas em dois grupos: controle, não tratado, ou PGF, que recebeu 482 µg de cloprostenol no momento da primeira IA. Cada doadora (n = 35) foi submetida a duas SOV em um delineamento crossover (total = 70 coletas de embriões). Nos grupos controle e PGF, respectivamente, foram observados [medianas (IC 95%)]: 12 (10-18) e 15 (12-18) estruturas totais; 9 (7-11) e 7 (6-10) embriões viáveis; 1 (0-1) e 1 (1-3) embriões degenerados; e 1 (0-3) e 2 (0-5) ovócitos (P > 0,05). Conclui-se que uma única administração de PGF no momento da primeira IA não afeta a produção embrionária de vacas superovuladas.

Egg-yolk based supplements have demonstrated biological effects. We have developed a novel processed egg-yolk (PEY) complement, and we have tested whether it has inflammation modulatory properties. These were evaluated in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-challenge in 1-month male rats by in vivo circulating cytokine profiles measured by multiplexing techniques. Cell culture was used to explore ex vivo properties of derived serum samples. We explored growth factor composition, and mass-spectrometry metabolome and lipidome analyses of PEY to characterize it. PEY significantly prevented LPS-induced increase in IL-1 &beta, TNF-&alpha, and MCP-1. Further, serum from PEY-treated animals abrogated LPS-induced iNOS build-up of the Raw 264.7 macrophage-like cell line. Immunochemical analyses demonstrated increased concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in the extract. PEY vs. egg-yolk comparative metabolomic analyses showed significative differences in the concentrations of at least 140 molecules, and in 357 in the lipidomic analyses, demonstrating the complexity of PEY. Globally, PEY acts as an orally-bioavailable immunomodulatory extract that may be of interest in those conditions associated with disarranged inflammation, such as inflammaging.

Resumen Recordamos al abate Lázaro Spallanzani (1729-1799) fundamentalmente por su victoriosa contienda con Needham sobre la generación espontánea, pero fue un hombre de múltiples intereses en distintos campos de la ciencia, desde la biología a la volcanología. Se lo llamó el “biólogo de los biólogos”, desarrollando una serie de investigaciones sobre la reproducción de los anfibios, en una de las cuales - “Experiencias al servicio de la historia de la generación de animales y plantas” - el lector moderno se estremece de horror ante las crueles mutilaciones que infligiera a los sapos machos tratando de interrumpir su copulación con las hembras. Él mismo las califica de “bárbaras” estas torturas, inadmisibles en un hombre que detentaba una jerarquía eclesiástica, aún en una época como la suya, en que se calificaba a los animales como “anima vili” (cosa sin valor). Mucho se ha avanzado hoy en día en resguardo de nuestros “hermanos menores”, como los llamara San Francisco, pero aún falta mucho que hacer en la regulación de la experimentación científica que los utiliza. Abstract We remember Lazaro Spallanzani (1729-1799) mainly for his controversy with Needham over spontaneous generation, but he was a man of multiple scientific activities in the fields of biology, mineralogy, physics, mathematics and… volcanology! Called “the biologist of biologists”, he developed a series of investigations about reproduction of amphibian, in one of them -Experiences in service to the history of the generation of animals and plants- we have found horrific experiments with frogs, including severe and useless mutilation of males, in order to interrupt its copulation with females, acts he describes as “barbaric”, and we estimate inadmissible in the ecclesiastic man he was, even in an epoch in which animals were considered “anima vili” (something without value). A brief review of the use of animals in laboratories shows significant advances in the ethical regulations for this practice, but we believe that these achievements are not enough.

Digitaria digitaria, a small astartid usually less than 10 mm in length, has a non-brooding behaviour in spite of its limited space for gonad development. This species lives in highly unstable environments with strong currents, which represent a challenge for fertilization and larval settlement. The studied population of D. digitaria from the Strait of Gibraltar area was dioecious, with signifcant predominance of females and sexual dimorphism, where females are larger than males. The reproductive cycle is asynchronous throughout the year, without a resting period, but with successive partial spawning events. The presence of stored sperm in the suprabranchial chamber and inside the gonad of some females, together with the release of eggs along the dorsal axis of both gills, points to internal oocyte fertilization. Bacteriocytes were found in the female and male follicle walls, but no bacteria were observed inside any of the gametes. Digitaria digitaria could represent a “missing link” between spermcast mating bivalves with brooded ofspring and bivalves with broadcast release of eggs and sperm. The small size, limiting the oocyte production, together with the unstable environment could represent evolutionary pressures towards sperm uptake in D. digitaria., Junta de Andalucia, Spanish Government CGL2010-20748-CO2-01 CGL2010-20748-CO2-02 PB 92-0415

Several reproductive issues and the larval development of the ferruginous limpet, Patella ferruginea Gmelin, 1791, an endangered species endemic from the western Mediterranean Sea, were studied to fill gaps in the knowledge of its life cycle. Average diameter of mature oocytes was 141.83 μm and mean oocyte density in the ovary was 283,800 oocytes/gram. No significant correlations were found between both oocyte diameter or density and female shell length. Female fecundity (number of oocytes per gonad) was significantly correlated with shell length and varied between 189,200 oocytes in a 40.0 mm female and 5,019,200 oocytes in an 86.4 mm female. However, there was considerable variability, in particular for the largest females. Spawning induction was not achieved using usual molluscan aquaculture methods. Thus, oocytes obtained after dissection of females were used for fertilisations trials. Alkalinisation treatments of seawater were used to test improvement in oocyte maturation and later fertilisation rates. Treatment at pH 9 during 2 h produced the highest increase in the percentage of mature oocytes and in the fertilisation rate; but these results showed high variability and were mainly significant when the initial degree of maturation was low. Sperm concentration experiments determined that best in vitro fertilisation was performed at 10 and 5×10 spermatozoids/ml. The sequence and timing of the complete larval development of Patella ferruginea in laboratory conditions is described and illustrated here for the first time. At 20 °C, larvae became competent for metamorphosis 3 days after fertilisation, but some crawling pediveliger larvae with a still well-developed velum were found even 7 days after fertilisation. Recruits 1–2 mm in length were achieved in low numbers from two of the assays and were first detected between 131–141 days after fertilisation. The resulting juveniles were monitored for two years and sex determination of five survivors at the end of this period showed that two were mature males, two mature females and one indeterminate. Our results show that the main reproductive traits or larval development of P. ferruginea hardly differ from those of other non-endangered Mediterranean or NE Atlantic limpet species. Therefore, its decline cannot be mainly attributed to constraints of these traits as was previously suggested, but to human impact. On the other hand, it is feasible to complete the life cycle of this species in laboratory conditions, from fertilised eggs to mature individuals. However, an important part of the process like spawning induction was not achieved as gonads needed to be dissected fatally from females, although sperm could be obtained from males through non-lethal biopsies. At present, large-scale aquaculture production for reintroduction, restocking or stock enhancement purposes is neither possible nor an advisable conservation tool yet. Further study is required and meanwhile, the appropriate design of a network of effectively protected marine areas that ensures connectivity among extant populations is necessary., This work was funded at initial stages (2006-2011) by contracts made by the Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales (OAPN) and the Dirección General de Conservación de la Naturaleza of the former Spanish Ministerio de Medio Ambiente (1996-2008), Ministerio de Medio Ambiente, y Medio Rural y Marino (2008-2011) and Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente (2011-2016). At its late stage (2011-2012), was funded by the project “Action plan for viability proposals of the endangered limpet, Patella ferruginea” (Project Cero of the Spanish Research Council-CSIC Foundation).

Made available in DSpace on 2022-04-28T19:07:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2017-11-08 We characterized the pollination and fecundation times in soybean flowers and evaluated the effects of kinetin and calcium applications on physiological and productive traits of soybean plants during the reproductive stage. The anatomical study of flowers of eight soybean cultivars showed that fecundation occurred in closed flowers with visible petals, which presented embryo in the first cell divisions. These results indicate that fertilizers and growth regulation applications should be performed before flower opening, which is different from the current recommendation. Foliar applications of kinetin and calcium between the floral bud and full flowering stages did not affect carbon dioxide (CO2) assimilation, yield components and final yield. The results obtained in this research showed the lack of viability of foliar application of calcium and kinetin in order to increase pod set and number of seeds per plant in soybean crop. Biological and Agronomic Sciences Department Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) Soil Science Department University of São Paulo (ESALQ) Botany Department Biosciences Institute University State Paulista

[ES] En el manzano, las giberelinas (GAs) se utilizan para mejorar el cuajado de algunas variedades autoincompatibles o con problemas de polinzación, pero poco se sabe de su mecanismo de acción. En este trabajo se estudia como las giberelinas actúan sobre el cuajado del manzano con el objetivo de mejorar la producción de aquellos cvs. que presenten un cierto grado de autoincompatibilidad e incluso permitir su cultivo en ausencia de polinizadores. El trabajo se realizó en árboles adultos de manzano cv.Fuji a los que se realizaron los siguientes tratamientos, 1) autopolinización manual durante la antesis (control), 2) emasculación en pre-antesis (Emasc.) y; 3) emasculacion en pre-antesis y con GA3 (5mg/l). (Emasc.+GA3). Los resultados revelan que el GA3 es capaz de promover la partenocarpia en este cv. que requiere de la fecundacion para cuajar estimulando la síntesis de GA1, como en las flores autopolinizadas, y sustituyendo, por tanto, el efecto de la polinización-fecundación. No obstante, su mecanismo de acción es independiente del AIA, que de ser un factor regulador del cuajado, seria a través del cuajado sexual., [EN] In apple, gibberellins (GAs) are used to improve fruit set of some self-incompatible cultivars in some cases of pollinating problems, but little is known about their mechanism of action. In this work, we study how the gibberellins work increasing fruit set in order to improve the yield of these kind of cvs. It allows to grow these type of cultivars in abscence of pollinators. The experiment was carried out on adult trees of apple cv. Fuji. Treactaments applied were: 1) manual selft-pollinated at anthesis (control); 2) emasculation at preanthesis (Emasc.) and; 3) emasculation at preanthesis and treated with GA3 (5 mg/l) (Emasc.+GA3). Results show that GA3 promotes fruit set in this apple cultivar by increasing GA1 biosynthesis, in a similar manner to that of a self-pollinated flowers in a pollination-fertilization process. Nevertheless, its mechanism of action is independent of the IAA, which seems to be a regulating factor in the sexual set process., [CA] En la pomera, les gibberel·lines (GAs) s'utilitzen per millorar el quallat d'algunes varietats autoincompatibles o amb problemes de pol·linització, però poc es sap del seu mecanisme d'acció. En aquest treball s'estudia com les gibberel·lines actuen sobre el quallat de la pomera amb l'objectiu de millorar la producció d'aquells cvs. que presentin un cert grau d'autoincompatibilitat i fins i tot permetre el seu cultiu en absència de pol·linitzadors. El treball es va realitzar en arbres adults de pomera cv.Fuji als quals es van realitzar els següents tractaments, 1) autopol·linització manual durant la antesi (control), 2) emasculació en pre-antesi (Emasc.) I; 3) emasculació en pre-antesi i amb GA3 (5mg / l) (Emasc.+GA3). Els resultats revelen que el GA3 és capaç de promoure la partenocàrpia en aquest cv. que requereix de la fecundació per quallat estimulant la síntesi de GA1, com en les flors autopol·linitzades, i substituint, per tant, l'efecte de la pol·linització-fecundació. No obstant això, el seu mecanisme d'acció és independent del AIA, que de ser un factor regulador del quallat, seria mitjançant el quallat sexual.

Alteration of the postnatal phenotype has sparked great concern about the developmental impact of culture media used at fertilization. However, the mechanisms and compounds involved are yet to be determined. Here, we used the Ca2+responses from mouse eggs fertilized by ICSI as a dynamic and quantitative marker to understand the role of compounds in egg functioning and establish possible correlations with adult phenotypes. We computed 134 Ca2+responses from the first to the last oscillation in media with specific formulations. Analyses demonstrate that eggs generated two times as many Ca2+oscillations in KSOM as in M16 media (18.8 ± 7.0 vs 9.2 ± 2.5). Moreover, the time increment of the delay between two consecutive oscillations, named TIbO, is the most sensitive coefficient characterizing the mechanism that paces Ca2+oscillations once the egg has been fertilized. Neither doubling external free Ca2+nor dispermic fertilization increased significantly the total number of Ca2+oscillations. In contrast, removing Mg2+from the M16 boosted Ca2+oscillations to 54.0 ± 35.2. Hence, [Mg2+]o/[Ca2+]oappears to determine the number, duration and frequency of the Ca2+oscillations. These changes were correlated with long-term effects. The rate of female’s growth was impacted with the ‘KSOM’ females having only half the fat deposit of ‘M16’ females. Moreover, adult animals issued from M16 had significantly smaller brain weight vs ‘KSOM’ and ‘control’ animals. TIbO is a new Ca2+coefficient that gauges the very early functional impact of culture media. It offers the possibility of establishing correlations with postnatal consequences according to IVF medium formulation.Free French abstract: A French translation of this abstract is freely available athttp://www.reproduction-online.org/content/154/5/675/suppl/DC1.

The understanding of both the reproductive biology and the regulation of the sexual expression of cucumber flowers (Cucumis sativus) makes crop management easier and can improve fruit yield and quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological answer of cucumber floral verticils to the application of IBA. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in completely randomized blocks, with four replications of 4-plant plots, and treatments applied to a 5 x 2 factorial (0, 50, 100, 200, and 500 µmol of IBA, and two cultivars: Wisconsin MR28, gynoecious, and Caipira, monoecious). Cultivar Wisconsin MR28 produced in average 7,636 pollen grains (PG) per flower, with a positive linear response to the increase in IBA concentration. Instead, in cultivar Caipira (5,160 PG) all IBA concentrations reduced PG production. Cultivars did not differ from each other in relation to PG viability (average in vitrogermination of 75.4 and 79.9% to cultivars Wisconsin MR28 and Caipira, respectively) and in both PG viability increased linearly with the increase in AIB concentration. Cultivars Wisconsin MR28 and Caipira presented in average 71.6 and 70.6 seeds per fruit respectively, and responded with an increase in seed number and improvement in fruit general aspect to the rise in IBA concentration. The ratio male:female flowers was significantly different between cultivars (4.2:1 and 3.5:1, respectively to cultivars Wisconsin MR28 and Caipira) and responded in a distinct way to IBA concentrations. While in cultivar Caipira, IBA concentrations near to 100 µmol increased the number of male flowers; in cultivar Wisconsin MR28 the same IBA concentration reduced it. The two cultivars had a similar number of female flowers. However, whereas it remained relatively stable in cultivar Caipira in spite of the increase in IBA concentration, there was an increase in the number of female flowers in cultivar Wisconsin MR28, as a result of the rise in IBA concentration.A compreensão da biologia reprodutiva e da regulação da expressão sexual das flores do pepineiro (Cucumis sativus) pode facilitar o manejo do cultivo e melhorar a produção e a qualidade dos frutos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a resposta fisiológica dos verticilos florais à aplicação de AIB em pepino. O experimento foi conduzido em casa-de-vegetação, em blocos casualizados, com os tratamentos dispostos em fatorial 5 x 2 (AIB nas concentrações de 0, 50, 100, 200 e 500 ìmol, para as cultivares Wisconsin MR28, ginóica, e Caipira, monóica). Foram utilizadas quatro repetições, com quatro plantas por parcela. A cultivar Wisconsin MR28 produziu em média 7.636 grãos de pólen (GP) por flor, com resposta linear positiva ao aumento nas concentrações de AIB. Já na cultivar Caipira (5.160 GP), todas as concentrações de AIB interferiram negativamente na produção de GP. As cultivares não diferiram entre si e em ambas houve efeito linear positivo da concentração de AIB sobre a viabilidade dos GP (germinação média in vitro de 75,4 e 79,9% para as cultivares Wisconsin MR28 e Caipira, respectivamente). As cultivares Wisconsin MR28 e Caipira apresentaram em média 71,6 e 70,6 sementes por fruto respectivamente, respondendo com aumento no número de sementes e melhoria do aspecto do fruto ao incremento da concentração de AIB. A relação de flores masculinas:femininas diferiu significativamente entre cultivares (4,2:1 e 3,5:1 respectivamente para as cultivares Wisconsin MR28 e Caipira) e foi afetada de forma distinta nas duas cultivares pelas concentrações de AIB: concentrações próximas de 100 µmol aumentaram o número de flores masculinas na cultivar Caipira e reduziram na cultivar Wisconsin MR28. A quantidade de flores femininas foi semelhante entre as cultivares e relativamente constante na cultivar Caipira nas diferentes concentrações de AIB. Já na cultivar Wisconsin MR 28, houve aumento do número de flores femininas em função da elevação da concentração de AIB.

Algunas grandes empresas están enfrentando la maternidad de sus trabajadoras a la promoción laboral dentro de la empresa. En este artículo se analizan las diferentes opciones de fecundación, así como, las ventajas e inconvenientes de retrasar la maternidad por motivos laborales. Some big companies are confronting the maternity of their workers with job promotion within the company. This article discusses the different fertilization options, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of delaying childbearing for work reasons. Medicina

A grande maioria das espécies de orquídeas é polinizada por insetos, principalmente abelhas, borboletas e mariposas. A família Orchidaceae é, em geral, considerada alógama, mas informações sobre o tipo de reprodução não são conhecidas para a maioria das espécies. Pouca informação existe sobre orquídeas do Cerrado, o que prejudica o melhoramento destas espécies e adia sua utilização no desenvolvimento de novas cultivares para o mercado de ornamentais. Métodos recentes de biotecnologia vegetal podem auxiliar tanto o melhoramento quanto a conservação destas espécies, como a indução a floração precoce in vitro, técnica importante principalmente para espécies de ciclo longo, e a criopreservação, como ferramenta para o desenvolvimento de bancos de germoplasma, essenciais tanto para o melhoramento quanto para a conservação da variabilidade genética. Este trabalho teve como objetivos contribuir para o melhoramento e conservação de orquídeas com distribuição no Cerrado Brasileiro. Foi avaliada a autocompatibilidade para sete espécies: Cohniella cepula, Cyrtopodium eugenii, Cyrtopodium saintlegerianum, Epidendrum densiflorum, Epidendrum nocturnum, Epidendrum secundum e Lockhartia goyazensis. Apenas três foram autocompatíveis: E. nocturnum, E. secundum e L. goyazensis. Foi avaliada a compatibilidade interespecífica dentro dos gêneros Cyrtopodium e Epidedrum utilizando cruzamentos recíprocos. Apenas C. eugenii e E. nocturnum produziram sementes viáveis. Para a indução floral precoce in vitro foram testadas diferentes composições nutricionais e concentrações de benzilaminopurina (BAP) no meio MS modificado. Apenas C. cepula apresentou respostas positivas aos tratamentos, com formação de até 46% de hastes florais. O efeito do BAP ficou evidente nos resultados dos tratamentos. Foi testada a criopreservação por vitrificação de sementes das sete espécies de orquídeas, obtidas de cápsulas originadas de fecundação cruzada. As respostas aos crioprotetores foram parcialmente distintas para os tratamentos de criopreservação avaliados, dependendo da espécie. A maioria das sementes testadas não apresentou diferenças significativas entre o congelamento em nitrogênio líquido e o controle sem o crioprotetor e sem o congelamento. O congelamento sem crioprotetor foi bem sucedido para todas as espécies mantendo a viabilidade das sementes, para C. cepula em 63%, C. eugenii em 59%, C. sainttlegerianum 70%, E. densiflorum 42%, E. nocturnum 31%, E. secundum 69% e L. goyazensis em 52%. Apenas E. nocturnum e C. cepula apresentaram redução significativa da viabilidade quando submetidas ao congelamento direto em nitrogênio líquido, sem crioprotetor. Os resultados apresentados neste trabalho são úteis ao desenvolvimento de programas de melhoramento para orquídeas e para conservação destas espécies. The vast majority of orchids species are pollinated by insects, mainly bees, butterflies and moths. The orchid family is generally considered allogamic, but information about the type of reproduction are unknown for most species. Little information exist about orchids of Cerrado, which hinders plant breeding of these species and postpones their use in developing new varieties for the ornamental market. Recent methods of plant biotechnology can assist both plant breeding and conservation of these species, such as induction of early in vitro flowering as important technique particularly for species with a long cycle, and cryopreservation as a tool for the conservation of genetic variability. This study aims to contribute to the improvement and conservation of orchids with distribution in the Brazilian Cerrado. Selfcompatibility was evaluated for seven species: Cohniella cepula, Cyrtopodium eugenii, C. saintlegerianum, Epidendrum densiflorum, Epidendrum nocturnum, Epidendrum secundum e Lockhartia goyazensis. Only three were autocompatible: Epidendrum nocturnum, Epidendrum secundum and Lockhartia goyazensis. Interspecific compatibility was assessed for Cyrtopodium and Epidendrum genera, using reciprocal crosses. Just E. nocturnum and C. eugenii produced viable seeds. For early in vitro floral induction 20 different treatments were used through nutritional changes and use of cytokinin (BAP) in modified MS medium. Only C. cepula showed positive responses to treatment with formation of 46% floral stems. The effect of BAP was evident in the results. Cryopreservation was tested by vitrification of seeds of seven species of orchids, obtained from outcrossing. The responses to cryopreservation were partially different for each species. Most seeds tested showed any significant differences between freezing in liquid nitrogen without cryoprotectants and control without freezing. The freezing without cryoprotectant was successful to maintaining seed viability for all species, C. cepula 63%, C. eugenii 59%, C. sainttlegerianum 70%, E. densiflorum 42%, E. nocturnum 31%, E. secundum 69% and L. goyazensis 52%. Only E .nocturnum and C. cepula showed a significant reduction in viability when submitted to freezing in liquid nitrogen. The results presented here are useful for the development of breeding programs for orchids and conservation of these species. Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG

Estimation of yield has always been one of the greatest concerns in the wine-making industry, which is why researchers have attempted to create models and methods that make accurate predictions. However, the variability of the yield components, which depends on the environmental factors, like light and temperature, and on cultural and natural factors which affect vigor, water status, photosynthetic and hormonal activity and the accumulation of reserve substances, make the prediction of the future harvest very difficult to calculate. In certain situations, fertility expressed as the number of bunches, tends to display very stable values from one harvest to the next. The weight of the cluster is the performance factor that has the greatest variability and mostly causes the variations in production. In this report, we analyze the influence of the number of flowers per cluster, the fruit-set percentage, the number of berries per cluster and the berry weight in the variability of the cluster weight of the Verdejo variety (Vitis vinifera L.). The cluster weight and its components have been determined along canes of 6 and 10 buds, in the harvests of 1999, 2000 and 2001. The yield component upon which cluster weight variation fundamentally depends has been the number of berries it contains, whereas the berry weight has had much less of an effect. The number of berries per cluster is mainly determined by the number of flowers per inflorescence, a yield component which has gone so far as to explain, by itself, an average of 75%of the variability in the number of berries per cluster and 70 % of the variability of the cluster weight. Despite the possible influence that the fruit-set percentage may have on the variability in the number of berries per cluster, measuring the number of flowers per inflorescence would make it possible to know, to a reasonable level of accuracy, the future number of berries per cluster long before the harvest date. At the same time, if a yield estimate is not needed far in advance, prediction of the future cluster weight can be determined by measuring the number of berries per cluster 15 or 20 days after fruit-set time, when the falling of small fruits is right minimal. In any case, whether by using the number of flowers per inflorescence or the number of berries per cluster, the berry weight on the harvest date would be the only yield component that would require estimation, which is usually much easier to achieve due to the lesser variability seen in this parameter.

Resumen en español: "Los hongos entomopatógenos tienen gran potencial como agentes de control biológico de las moscas de las frutas; porque además de causar mortalidad, reducen su fecundidad y fertilidad. Si la fecundidad de Anastrepha ludens (Loew) está directamente relacionado con el desarrollo del ovario, es de suponer que la infección fúngica afecta el desarrollo de dicho órgano. Sin embargo, se desconoce cuál es el efecto en el ovario y el mecanismo por el cual se reduce la ovipostura. En este trabajo se evaluó el efecto de la cepa silvestre ECFsur-A23 de Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill. sobre el desarrollo ovárico, ovogénesis, fecundidad y fertilidad de hembras de A. ludens, inoculadas a los 4, 8 y 12 días de edad. Registros fotográficos del crecimiento ovárico y de la ovogénesis en hembras sacrificadas diariamente después de la inoculación, mostraron que la infección retrasa la vitelogénesis, lo cual reduce la cantidad de ovocitos maduros, y como consecuencia ocurre una disminución en la ovipostura. El nivel más bajo de fecundidad se obtuvo en hembras inoculadas a los 4 días de edad (♀♀4: 145.6 huevos < ♀♀8: 375.7 y ♀♀12: 275.6 huevos). La infección no afecto el tamaño ovárico de hembras inoculadas ya que estadísticamente fue similar al de las no inoculadas (p.ej. índice ovárico en el último día del ensayo para ♀♀4: 3.47 mm2 y ♀♀4 no inoculadas: 3.29 mm2, P = 0.461; para ♀♀8 días: 3.33 mm2 y ♀♀8 no inoculadas: 3.51 mm2, P = 0.551; ♀♀12: 3.88 mm2 y para ♀♀12 no inoculadas: 4.47 mm2, P = 0.208). La fertilidad no fue afectada. La cepa causó una mortalidad de 76.7%, se determinó un CL50 de 3.10 x 108 conidios/ml y un TL50 de 6.5 días. Hubo una transmisión horizontal de la infección de hembras a machos de 10.2%, siendo mayor cuando los machos copularon con hembras inoculadas a los 8 y 12 días de edad (6.9 y 10.6% respectivamente). "

The understanding of both the reproductive biology and the regulation of the sexual expression of cucumber flowers (Cucumis sativus) makes crop management easier and can improve fruit yield and quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological answer of cucumber floral verticils to the application of IBA. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse, in completely randomized blocks, with four replications of 4-plant plots, and treatments applied to a 5 x 2 factorial (0, 50, 100, 200, and 500 µmol of IBA, and two cultivars: Wisconsin MR28, gynoecious, and Caipira, monoecious). Cultivar Wisconsin MR28 produced in average 7,636 pollen grains (PG) per flower, with a positive linear response to the increase in IBA concentration. Instead, in cultivar Caipira (5,160 PG) all IBA concentrations reduced PG production. Cultivars did not differ from each other in relation to PG viability (average in vitrogermination of 75.4 and 79.9% to cultivars Wisconsin MR28 and Caipira, respectively) and in both PG viability increased linearly with the increase in AIB concentration. Cultivars Wisconsin MR28 and Caipira presented in average 71.6 and 70.6 seeds per fruit respectively, and responded with an increase in seed number and improvement in fruit general aspect to the rise in IBA concentration. The ratio male:female flowers was significantly different between cultivars (4.2:1 and 3.5:1, respectively to cultivars Wisconsin MR28 and Caipira) and responded in a distinct way to IBA concentrations. While in cultivar Caipira, IBA concentrations near to 100 µmol increased the number of male flowers; in cultivar Wisconsin MR28 the same IBA concentration reduced it. The two cultivars had a similar number of female flowers. However, whereas it remained relatively stable in cultivar Caipira in spite of the increase in IBA concentration, there was an increase in the number of female flowers in cultivar Wisconsin MR28, as a result of the rise in IBA concentration. A compreensão da biologia reprodutiva e da regulação da expressão sexual das flores do pepineiro (Cucumis sativus) pode facilitar o manejo do cultivo e melhorar a produção e a qualidade dos frutos. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a resposta fisiológica dos verticilos florais à aplicação de AIB em pepino. O experimento foi conduzido em casa-de-vegetação, em blocos casualizados, com os tratamentos dispostos em fatorial 5 x 2 (AIB nas concentrações de 0, 50, 100, 200 e 500 ìmol, para as cultivares Wisconsin MR28, ginóica, e Caipira, monóica). Foram utilizadas quatro repetições, com quatro plantas por parcela. A cultivar Wisconsin MR28 produziu em média 7.636 grãos de pólen (GP) por flor, com resposta linear positiva ao aumento nas concentrações de AIB. Já na cultivar Caipira (5.160 GP), todas as concentrações de AIB interferiram negativamente na produção de GP. As cultivares não diferiram entre si e em ambas houve efeito linear positivo da concentração de AIB sobre a viabilidade dos GP (germinação média in vitro de 75,4 e 79,9% para as cultivares Wisconsin MR28 e Caipira, respectivamente). As cultivares Wisconsin MR28 e Caipira apresentaram em média 71,6 e 70,6 sementes por fruto respectivamente, respondendo com aumento no número de sementes e melhoria do aspecto do fruto ao incremento da concentração de AIB. A relação de flores masculinas:femininas diferiu significativamente entre cultivares (4,2:1 e 3,5:1 respectivamente para as cultivares Wisconsin MR28 e Caipira) e foi afetada de forma distinta nas duas cultivares pelas concentrações de AIB: concentrações próximas de 100 µmol aumentaram o número de flores masculinas na cultivar Caipira e reduziram na cultivar Wisconsin MR28. A quantidade de flores femininas foi semelhante entre as cultivares e relativamente constante na cultivar Caipira nas diferentes concentrações de AIB. Já na cultivar Wisconsin MR 28, houve aumento do número de flores femininas em função da elevação da concentração de AIB.

El consentimiento informado es un requisito ético-jurídico esencial para que un paciente participe en una investigación científica. Helsisnki (art.22): el paciente debe saber objetivos, métodos, fuentes de financiamiento, conflictos de intereses, afiliaciones del investigador, beneficios y riesgos previstos e incomodidades. Las pautas éticas exigen además: duración, confidencialidad, responsabilidad civil, libertad de participar y de retirarse, si el producto estará a su disposición, razones de la selección. Oportunidad de preguntar. Consentimiento documentado. Se puede retener información, con autorización del CEC, si ésta incide en los resultados. Informed consent is an essential edric - juridical element for a patient to be part of a scientific investigation. Helsinki (art. 22): the patient must know the objectives, methods, economic resources, conflicts of interest, affiliations of the investigator, benefits, risks and all incommodities. Besides this ethic precepts require terms, confidentiality, civil responsibility, freedom of entering or leaving the investigation, if the product will be at the patient's disposition, reasons of the selection, the opportunity to ask questions, documented consent. CEC can give an authorization to keep the information, if it affects the results.

Las técnicas de reproducción asistida: fecundación in vitro, y transferencia de embriones, han sido declaradas inconstitucionales en Costa Rica por la Sala IV, aduciendo que la vida humana comienza con la fecundación negando el concepto de pre-embrión, haciendo que desde el punto de vista técnico, esta posición sea incorrecta, pues confunde los conceptos de fecundación con el de concepción como si se distingue y establece en las convenciones internacionales de derechos, siendo también contrario al criterio médico y médico legal. The techniques of assisted reproduction: in vitro fecundation, and embryo transfer, have been declared unconstitutional in Costa Rica by the Constitutional Court, adducing that human life begins with the fecundation meaning that the concept of pre-embryo does not exist, which makes the technical point of view incorrect, because it confuses the concepts of fecundation and conception; which are well distinguish in the internacional rights conventions, and also contradicting medical and forensic criteria.

Las técnicas de reproducción asistida, y entre ellas la clonación humana, suscitan interrogantes éticas. Su empleo promete beneficios para la humanidad y, específicamente para parejas infértiles la satisfacción de ser madres y padres. En este artículo se debaten las regulaciones y las implicaciones jurídicas de dicha actividad, actualizándonos en el acontecer mundial y nacional del tema. Se argumenta que la clonación humana ya es una realidad y como si esta técnica se regula promueve la vida y la dignidad humanas. Además se propone que esta técnica se entiende mejor no en términos moralistas, sino contextuales que responden a situaciones reales de la vida, específicamente una ética de la responsabilidad. The techniques of assisted reproduction, among them human cloning, rises ethical questions. Their use promises benefits for humanity and, specifically for infertile couples, the satisfaction of being parents. This article discusses the regulations and juridical implications of this activity, trying to take us into the actual international and national reality. lt is argued that human cloning promotes human life and dignity. In addition, it is proposed that this technique is best understood not in moralistic terms, but rather in terms of contexts that respond to real life situations, specifically an ethics of responsibility.