Genetic variation and gains in resistance of strawberry to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

Anthracnose crown rot is an important disease of strawberry primarily caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in Florida and North Carolina. Information on the magnitude of additive and nonadditive genetic variation is required to define breeding strategies and to estimate potential genetic gains. However, little is known about the genetic control of resistance and its utility in breeding. Our objectives were to obtain estimates of heritabilities and of components of genetic variances, genotype-environment interactions, and gains for resistance, and to examine the effects of locations and transplant types on the estimates. An incomplete diallel mating design generated 42 full-sib families, which were propagated in plugs from seed (seedling tests) and as bare-root runner plants (clonal tests) of different genotypes of the same families. Both seedlings and clones were inoculated with C. gloeosporioides under field conditions in North Carolina and Florida during the 2010-11 season. Narrow-sense heritability (h(2)) and broad-sense heritability (H(2)) for both clones and seedlings were higher at the North Carolina location (h(2) = 0.34 to 0.62 and H(2) = 0.46 to 0.85) than at the Florida location (h(2) = 0.16 to 0.22 and H(2) = 0.37 to 0.46). Likewise, the seedling tests showed higher genetic control than the clonal tests at both locations. Estimates of dominance variance were approximately one-third of the additive variance at North Carolina and were even larger at Florida. Epistasis was negative at both locations and assumed zero for heritability (H(2)) calculations. Genotype-environment interactions were different by transplant type, suggesting rank changes across locations. 'Pelican' was the most resistant parent at both locations, followed by 'NCH09-68' at the NC location and 'Winter Dawn' at the Florida location. Selection and deployment of the most resistant clone within each of the five best families is estimated to produce average genetic gains of 53.0 and 73.7% at the North Carolina and Florida locations, respectively.

Valor pronóstico de los biomarcadores procalcitonina, interleukina 6 y proteína C reactiva en la sepsis grave / Prognostic value of the biomarkers procalcitonin, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein in severe sepsis

Objetivo: Comprobar el valor pronóstico de los biomarcadores procalcitonina, interleukina 6 y proteína C reactiva en pacientes sépticos graves Diseño: Cohorte de 81 pacientes críticos Ambito: Unidad de Críticos Hospital Dr. Peset. Valencia. Pacientes: Divididos según el grado de sepsis (sepsis, sepsis severa, shock séptico), foco de sepsis y grupo (pacientes médicos y posquirúrgicos de alto riesgo). Variables analizadas: Cuantitativas (procalcitonina, interleukina-6, proteína C reactiva, lactato, edad, Apache II y SOFA) al ingreso, 3.er y 7.o día de evolución. Cualitativas (mortalidad intra UCI, desarrollo Fallo Multiorgánico y sexo). Estadística: comparación variables cuantitativas con test U de Mann-Whitney; las cualitativas con test de χ2; análisis multivariante variables dependientes mortalidad y fallo multiorgánico e independientes las cuantitativas descritas; curvas ROC de las variables significativas en el multivariante Resultados: Pacientes con shock séptico fallecieron más y desarrollaron más fallo multiorgánico. Comparación entre vivos y fallecidos, mostró diferencias significativas Apache II, interleukina-6 y lactato (p <0,001) al ingreso, 3.er y 7.o día. Entre pacientes con fallo multiorgánico y sin él, también y los mismos días. La procalcitonina mostró diferencias solo en 3.er y 7.o día (p=0,001). Análisis multivariante con variable dependiente mortalidad la interleukina-6 mostró significación al 3.er día (O.R. 2,6). Con variable dependiente fallo multiorgánico solo SOFA tuvo significación (O.R. 2,3). Curva ROC Apache II e interleukina-6 3.er día mostró área 0,80 y 0,86 respectivamente. Conclusiones: 1) La interleukina-6 es un biomarcador inflamatorio con valor pronóstico de mortalidad; 2) Ningún biomarcador tuvo valor predictivo de fallo multiorgánico (AU)

Aim: To determine the prognostic value of the biomarkers procalcitonin, interlukin-6 and C-reactive protein in septic patients. Design: A cohort of 81 septic patients. Setting: Critical Care Unit. Dr. Peset Hospital. Valencia (Spain). Patients: Divided according to sepsis classification (sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock), source and two different groups (medical and postsurgical). Variables analyzed: Quantitative (procalcitonin, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, lactate, age, Apache II and SOFA scores upon admission and after 3 and 7 days). Qualitative (ICU mortality, multiorgan failure development and sex). Statistical analysis: Mann-Whitney U-test for the comparison of quantitative variables, X2 test for qualitative variables. Multivariate analysis with mortality and multiorgan failure as dependent variables and the described quantitative parameters as independent variables. ROC curves of the variables found to be significant in the multivariate analysis. Results: Septic shock patients showed greater mortality and more frequent multiorgan failure. Comparison of survivors versus deceased patients showed significant differences in Apache II score, interleukin-6 and lactate (p<0.001) upon admission and after 3 and 7 days. Similar findings applied to the comparison of patients with and without multiorgan failure, and on the same days. Procalcitonin only showed differences on days 3 and 7 (p=0.001). In the multivariate analysis with mortality as dependent variable, interleukin-6 proved significant on day 3 (OR 2.6). With multiorgan failure as dependent variable, only the SOFA score showed significance (OR 2.3). The Apache II and interleukin-6 ROC curves corresponding to day 3 showed areas of 0.80 and 0.86, respectively. Conclusions: 1) Interleukin-6 is an inflammatory biomarker with mortality prognostic value. 2) None of the biomarkers proved predictive of multiorgan failure (AU)

Prognostic value of the biomarkers procalcitonin, interleukin-6 and C-reactive protein in severe sepsis.

AIM: To determine the prognostic value of the biomarkers procalcitonin, interlukin-6 and C-reactive protein in septic patients. DESIGN: A cohort of 81 septic patients. SETTING: Critical Care Unit. Dr. Peset Hospital. Valencia (Spain). PATIENTS: Divided according to sepsis classification (sepsis, severe sepsis and septic shock), source and two different groups (medical and postsurgical). VARIABLES ANALYZED: Quantitative (procalcitonin, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, lactate, age, Apache II and SOFA scores upon admission and after 3 and 7 days). Qualitative (ICU mortality, multiorgan failure development and sex). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Mann-Whitney U-test for the comparison of quantitative variables, χ² test for qualitative variables. Multivariate analysis with mortality and multiorgan failure as dependent variables and the described quantitative parameters as independent variables. ROC curves of the variables found to be significant in the multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Septic shock patients showed greater mortality and more frequent multiorgan failure. Comparison of survivors versus deceased patients showed significant differences in Apache II score, interleukin-6 and lactate (p<0.001) upon admission and after 3 and 7 days. Similar findings applied to the comparison of patients with and without multiorgan failure, and on the same days. Procalcitonin only showed differences on days 3 and 7 (p=0.001). In the multivariate analysis with mortality as dependent variable, interleukin-6 proved significant on day 3 (OR 2.6). With multiorgan failure as dependent variable, only the SOFA score showed significance (OR 2.3). The Apache II and interleukin-6 ROC curves corresponding to day 3 showed areas of 0.80 and 0.86, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 1) Interleukin-6 is an inflammatory biomarker with mortality prognostic value. 2) None of the biomarkers proved predictive of multiorgan failure.

Age-age and trait-trait correlations for Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden and their implications for optimal selection age and design of clonal trials.

Previous results from seven locations of Eucalyptus grandis clonal trials in Colombia supported the a priori contention of sub-dividing them into three different environmental zones for testing and deployment. Within these zones, the determination of age-age genetic correlations for both height and mean annual increment (MAI) showed that strong age-age correlations are present for a rotation age of 6 years starting at 3 years age and, thereafter, suggesting this age as appropriate for selection. This biological selection age coincides with an "economical" age for selection based on discounted selection efficiency in perpetuity, considering a range of interest rates between 10% and 20%. High genetic correlations between wood density at 3 years and 6 years as well as the lack of genetic correlation between this trait and growth traits, also favors selection at age 3 and facilitates breeding strategies that consider the utilization of both traits for improvement. A simulation of optimal clonal test designs indicated that by using six locations and six blocks per location in a single-tree plot design, between 80% and 90% of the maximum selection efficiency could be obtained. This type of design allows testing of a large number of genotypes across a reasonable number of locations in a cost-effective manner.