The effect of three plant bioregulators on pollen germination, pollen tube growth and fruit set in almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb] cvs. Non Pareil and Carmel

Background In commercial almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb] orchards in Chile, the percentage of fruit set is low and commonly reaches 5–30%. As almond trees bloom during a cool period and also suffer from self-incompatibility, any factor that can improve pollination, pollen germination and pollen tube growth or extend the effective pollination period, such as the application of plant bioregulators (PBRs), should be beneficial for fruit production. Results Three plant bioregulators (PBRs): brassinolide (BL), gibberellic acid (GA3) and kinetin (KN) were evaluated for pollen germination and pollen tube growth in vitro, as well as for fruit set in almond cultivars Non Pareil and Carmel, in central Chile, during the 2013 and 2014 seasons. For pollen germination in vitro, the BL concentration of 10 mg L- 1 had the highest value in Non Pareil (97.7%), after 4 h germination in 2014 growing season (the control was 90.9%). KN at a concentration of 50 µL L- 1 induced the longest pollen tube growth of 1243.4 µm in Carmel after 8 h germination in 2013 (the control was 917.7 µm). In Non Pareil, the highest percentage of fruit set (31.0%) was achieved in 2014 by spraying during bloom at pink bud stage with KN at 50 µL L- 1 (the control was 16.7%). Conclusions A significant favorable effect of the tested PBRs was observed in pollen germination and pollen tube growth in vitro, as well as on fruit set in Non Pareil and Carmel almonds.

Mortality from Alzheimer's disease in Brazil, 2000-2009 / Enfermedad de Alzheimer: estudio de la mortalidad en Brasil, 2000-2009 / Doença de Alzheimer: estudo da mortalidade no Brasil, 2000-2009

Alzheimer's disease is the most prevalent type of dementia in the elderly worldwide. To evaluate the mortality trend from Alzheimer's disease in Brazil, a descriptive study was conducted with the Mortality Information System of the Brazilian Ministry of Health (2000-2009). Age and sex-standardized mortality rates were calculated in Brazil's state capitals, showing the percentage variation by exponential regression adjustment. The state capitals as a whole showed an annual growth in mortality rates in the 60 to 79 year age bracket of 8.4% in women and 7.7% in men. In the 80 and older age group, the increase was 15.5% in women and 14% in men. Meanwhile, the all-cause mortality rate declined in both elderly men and women. The increase in mortality from Alzheimer's disease occurred in the context of chronic diseases as a proxy for increasing prevalence of the disease in the population. The authors suggest healthcare strategies for individuals with chronic non-communicable diseases.

La enfermedad de Alzheimer es la demencia más frecuente entre adultos mayores en el mundo. Para evaluar la evolución de la mortalidad por la enfermedad de Alzheimer en Brasil, se ha desarrollado un estudio con datos del Sistema de Información sobre Mortalidad del Ministerio de Salud, durante el período 2000-2009. Se calcularon las tasas de mortalidad estandarizadas por edad y sexo en las capitales brasileñas y se registró la variación porcentual mediante ajuste de la regresión exponencial. El conjunto de las capitales presentó un aumento anual de las tasas de mortalidad en el grupo de edad de 60 a 79 años, de un 8,4% en mujeres y un 7,7% en hombres. En el grupo de 80 o más años, el aumento fue de un 15,5% en mujeres y un 14% en hombres. No obstante, hubo una disminución en la tasa de mortalidad por todas las causas entre los adultos mayores de ambos sexos. Se destaca un aumento de la mortalidad por enfermedad de Alzheimer en el contexto de las enfermedades crónicas como un proxy para la prevalencia de la enfermedad en la población, y se indican estrategias de asistencia en el cuidado de pacientes con enfermedades de larga duración.

A doença de Alzheimer é o tipo de demência que mais prevalece entre os idosos no mundo. Para avaliar a evolução da mortalidade por doença de Alzheimer no Brasil foi desenvolvido um estudo descritivo com os dados do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade do Ministério da Saúde, no período de 2000 a 2009. Calcularam-se as taxas de mortalidade padronizadas por idade e sexo nas capitais brasileiras e se observou a variação percentual por meio de ajuste por regressão exponencial. Para o conjunto das capitais houve um crescimento anual nas taxas de mortalidade na faixa etária de 60 a 79 anos de 8,4% entre as mulheres e 7,7% entre os homens. No grupo etário de 80 anos e mais, o aumento foi de 15,5% entre as mulheres e 14% entre os homens. Contrariamente, verificou-se declínio da taxa de mortalidade por todas as causas entre os idosos em ambos os sexos. Destaca-se o aumento da mortalidade por doença de Alzheimer no contexto das doenças crônicas como um indicador aproximado da prevalência da doença na população, e são apontadas estratégias de assistência ao cuidado dos portadores de doenças de longa duração.

Biorregulador e pré-condicionamento osmótico na germinação de sementes e no crescimento inicial da muda de carobinha (Jacaranda decurrens subsp. symmetrifoliolata Farias & Proença) - Bignoniaceae / Bioregulator and priming on seed germination and initial growth of "carobinha" (Jacaranda decurrens subsp. symmetrifoliolata Farias & Proença - Bignoniaceae) seedlings

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de tratamentos pré-germinativos na emergência das plantas e no crescimento inicial das mudas de Jacaranda decurrens subsp. symmetrifoliolata Farias & Proença. Foram realizados dois experimentos. No primeiro, as sementes, separadas em claras e escuras, foram submetidas aos tratamentos pré-germinativos: 1) KNO3 (20000 mg L-1); 2) ácido giberélico (GA3) 50 mg L-1, 3) GA3 100 mg L-1 4) GA3 200 mg L-1; 5) Stimulate 5 mL 0,5 kg-1 de sementes; 6) Stimulate 10 mL 0,5 kg-1 de sementes; 7) água 24 horas; 8) testemunha. A semeadura foi realizada em bandejas de células preenchidas com substrato terra + substrato comercial. Os cinco melhores tratamentos foram selecionados para avaliação do crescimento da muda. As plantas com 120 dias de idade provenientes dos seguintes tratamentos: 3) GA 100 mg L-1 4) GA 200 mg L-1; 5) Stimulate 5 mL 0,5 Kg-1 de sementes 6) Stimulate 10 mL 0,5 Kg-1 de sementes e 8) Testemunha, foram transplantadas para embalagens de plástico de 3 Kg com substrato terra + areia + cama-de-frango (1:1:1 - v:v), mantidas em sombreamento de 50 por cento e avaliadas aos 70, 130, 170 e 210 dias após o transplante. Em geral, as sementes claras apresentaram maior germinabilidade e índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG) em relação às sementes escuras. Entretanto, as plantas provenientes dessas sementes apresentaram menor crescimento do que as plantas provenientes das sementes escuras. No segundo experimento as sementes foram pré-embebidas em solução de: 1) PEG 6000 (-1,0 MPa); 2) PEG 6000 (-1,0 MPa) + KNO3 (20000 mg L-1) (-1,0 MPa); 3) KNO3 (20000 mg L-1) (-1,0 MPa); 4) Água e 5) água deionizada, e incubadas em BOD a 10ºC e 20ºC durante 0 (controle), 6, 12 e 24 horas. Após esses períodos elas foram secas em ambiente de laboratório até atingirem a massa apresentada antes do condicionamento e, posteriormente, incubadas em BOD a 20-30ºC com 8 h escuro e 12 h de luz. Os tratamentos pré-germinativos não interferiram na vitalidade e no vigor das sementes osmocondicionadas por até 12 horas. Não houve diferença entre as temperaturas de 10 e 20ºC para germinabilidade (60 por cento) e IVG, porém a temperatura de 10ºC originou plântulas com maior massa fresca (95,7 mg) e comprimento médio de raiz (3,2 cm) e de parte aérea (2,6 cm). O osmocondicionamento por 24 horas causou redução na qualidade das sementes e vigor das plântulas.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of pregerminative treatments on the emergence and initial growth of Jacaranda decurrens subsp. symmetrifoliolata Farias & Proença seedlings. Two experiments were carried out. In the first experiment, seeds were separated into light and dark seeds and were subjected to the following pregerminative treatments: 1) KNO3 (20000 mg L-1); 2) Gibberellic acid (GA3) 50 mg L-1, 3) GA3 100 mg L-1 4) GA3 200 mg L-1; 5) Stimulate 5 mL 0.5 kg-1 seeds; 6) Stimulate 10 mL 0.5 kg-1 seeds; 7) Water 24h; and 8) Control. The sowing was performed on polystyrene trays filled with land + commercial substrate. The five best treatments were selected to evaluate seedling growth. Plants aged 120 days from treatments 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 were transplanted to plastic bags (3kg) filled with land + sand + poultry manure (1:1:1 - v:v), kept under 50 percent shading and evaluated at 70, 130, 170 and 210 days after transplanting. In general, light seeds had higher germinability and germination speed index (GSI) than the dark ones. However, the plants obtained from these seeds had lower growth than plants from dark seeds. In the second experiment, seeds were primed in the solutions: 1) PEG 6000 (-1.0 MPa); 2) PEG 6000 (-1.0 MPa) + KNO3 (20000 mg L-1) (-1.0 MPa); 3) KNO3 (20000 mg L-1) (-1.0 MPa); 4) Water; and 5) Deionized water, and incubated in a BOD chamber at 10 and 20ºC for 0 (control), 6, 12 and 24h. Then, seeds were dried at room temperature until reaching the matter presented before priming and incubated in a BOD chamber at 20-30ºC with 8h dark - 12h light. The pregerminative treatments did not interfere with the vitality and vigor of seeds primed for up to 12h. There was no difference between 10 and 20ºC for germinability (60 percent) and GSI. However, the temperature of 10ºC led seedlings to present higher fresh matter (95.7 mg) and mean root (3.2 cm) and shoot (2.6 cm) length. Priming for 24h decreased seed quality and seedling vigor.

Physiological studies on duration and types of dormancy in some grape CVS

This study was carried out for two successive seasons on "Flame, Superior and Thompson" Seedless grapevine cultivars grown in sandy soil under drip irrigation system. Dormancy types and periods, changes in endogenous hormones and thickness of scale layer in relation to de-scaling, exposure to various chilling and ODD regimes were investigated, in addition to the thermal requirements for some phenological stages. Results indicated that grape buds exhibit a short shallow dormancy period, Part of it is attributed to Endo-dormancy and other to Para-dormancy which are basically due to the scales. Scale layers diameter increased markedly during the dormancy period. Such increment might restrict bud growth and expansion, it may be a source of ABA. On the other hand, dormancy period of the three considered grape cultivars may depend on the interaction between both chilling and ODD with various degrees. It was clear that scaling increased bud burst percentage in most sampling dates. Results concerning endogenous hormones emphasized general increase in the promoting hormones [IAA and GA3] and general decrease in ABA at post dormancy, whereas the reverse was detected in the deep dormancy. GA3 was not detected at both Pre- and deep dormancy phases

Biochemical studies of embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus of Cardiospermum halicacabum L.

Some physiological and biochemical changes were measured between embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus obtained from Cardiospermum halicacabum. Combination of auxin with cytokinin was more favourable for high amount of callus formation. 2,4-D played a key role in triggering somatic embryo formation. Embryogenic callus had more total carbohydrate and starch contents, total free amino acids, nucleic acids, phenols and ascorbic acid. Non-embryogenic callus exhibited high chlorophyll content, total soluble sugar, protein, ammonia and enzymes like peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase. Thus, the present study indicated that the process of somatic embryogenesis was characterized by some biochemical and physiological changes induced by plant growth regulators.

Lipochitooligosaccharides and legume Rhizobium symbiosis--a new concept.

Legume-Rhizobium symbiosis is a multistep process characterized by the formation of root nodules on the host plant. A number of genes from both symbiotic partners share information during the interaction process. Nodulation genes (nod, nol and noe) have been classified as common nodulation genes and host specific (hsn) nodulation genes. Though common nodulation genes are enough to form root nodules, host specific nodulation genes are needed for specific interaction leading to formation of functional nodules. Core lipochitooligosaccharides (LCOs), the products of common nodulation genes are modified by the action of host specific nodulation genes. LCOs seem to be present in legumes as well as nonlegume and are known to act as a morphogen by acting as auxin-transport inhibitor. The understanding of Nod factor may contribute to reveal complex biological functions such as developmental regulation, signal transduction and plant morphogenesis.

Role of polyamines and ethylene as modulators of plant senescence.

Under optimal conditions of growth, senescence, a terminal phase of development, sets in after a certain physiological age. It is a dynamic and closely regulated developmental process which involves an array of changes at both physiological and biochemical levels including gene expression. A large number of biotic and abiotic factors accelerate the process. Convincing evidence suggests the involvement of polyamines (PAs) and ethylene in this process. Although the biosynthetic pathways of both PAs and ethylene are interrelated, S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) being a common precursor, their physiological functions are distinct and at times antagonistic, particularly during leaf and flower senescence and also during fruit ripening. This provides an effective means for regulation of their biosynthesis and also to understand the mechanism by which the balance between the two can be established for manipulating the senescence process. The present article deals with current advances in the knowledge of the interrelationship between ethylene and PAs during senescence which may open up new vistas of investigation for the future.

Molecular signaling in pathogenicity and host recognition in smut fungi taking Karnal bunt as a model system.

Karnal bunt of wheat, incited by a phytopathogen Tilletia indica (Syn. Neovossia indica) is a floret infecting disease. In the floral tissues fungus proliferates and produces massive amount of black spores. In smut fungi, belonging to order Ustilaginales, communication between cells is necessary to regulate growth, differentiation and monokaryotic to dikaryotic transition during pathogenic and sexual development. Neighbouring cells are able to communicate with each other by direct cell to cell contact through plasma membrane bound signaling molecules or through formation of gap junctions and alternatively through secretion of chemical signals if cells are some distance away. Current research efforts toward understanding of pathogenic and sexual development in phytopathogenic fungi, offer a number of opportunities. These include the analysis of molecular signal(s) for direct contribution of sexual interactions to ability of smut and bunt pathogens to cause disease. These efforts will provide not only to explore the mechanisms of pathogenesis, but also to enhance knowledge of basic cellular biology of an economically important group of fungi.