Molecular evidence for the natural production of homozygous Cupressus sempervirens L. lines by Cupressus dupreziana seed trees.

Paternal apomixis was recently reported in the endangered Mediterranean cypress, Cupressus dupreziana. This species acts as a surrogate mother for the development of all-paternal embryos from pollen grains. C. dupreziana production of Cupressus sempervirens haploid or diploid seedlings from C. sempervirens pollen was also demonstrated. The haploid progeny was derived from the embryogenic development of haploid gametes, but the origin of the diploid progeny remained unknown. To determine the ontogenic origin of the diploid C. sempervirens progeny, we analyzed the heterozygozity of 63 diploid all-paternal C. sempervirens seedlings using highly variable co-dominant nuclear microsatellite markers. The bi-parental inheritance of the markers was checked in C. sempervirens controlled crosses. A high level of polymorphism was observed among the diploid all-paternal trees. All but three individuals exhibited single-band profiles as expected for homozygotes, which may originate from natural diploidization of a C. sempervirens haploid embryo or from the fusion of two male gametes produced by the same C. sempervirens microgametophyte. The three heterozygous seedlings must be derived from the fusion of male gametes produced by two different C. sempervirens microgametophytes. These findings offer a unique opportunity in conifers to produce homozygous lines, highly valuable for genetic analyses or breeding.

Electrochemical incineration of vinasse in filter-press-type FM01-LC reactor using 3D BDD electrode.

This work shows results obtained in the electrochemical incineration of a synthetic vinasse with initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 75.096 g L(-1) in aqueous media (which resembles vinasse industrial wastewater). Electrolyses in a filter-press-type FM01-LC electrochemical reactor equipped with a three-dimensional (3D) boron doped diamond electrode (BDD) were performed at Reynolds values between 22

Copper removal from an effluent generated by a plastics chromium-plating industry using a rotating cylinder electrode (RCE) reactor.

This work shows the application of a rotating cylinder electrode (RCE) in the removal of Cu(II) content from an effluent generated by a plastics chromium-plating industry, on the laboratory scale; in particular, it deals with rinse water from the electrolytic copper process. This process was designed to convert cupric ions in solution to metal powder. The generation of metal powders in the RCE was achieved at Reynolds numbers between 52925 and 83183 and limiting current densities (J(L)) in the range of 17 to 25 mA cm(-2). The removal of Cu(II) (initially 922 ppm) reached 43 ppm in 10 minutes of electrolysis for Re = 83183 and J = 25 mA cm(-2), with a space-time yield of 88 mg Cu(II) L(-1) min(-1), 95% current efficiency, and energy consumption of 5.3 KWh m(-3). The electrochemical treatment applied to waste rinse water at the RCE allows this treated water to be recycled back to the same rinsing process, avoiding additional consumption and discharge of this liquid.

(1)H, (13)C NMR and X-ray crystallographic studies of highly polyhalogenated derivatives of costunolide lactone.

The costunolide lactone, a sesquiterpene compound isolated from Zaluzania triiloba species, reacted with several dihalocarbene sources produced by trihaloform-NaOH under successive phase transfer reactions yielding mono-, bis- and tris-dihalocyclopropane adducts. The structures, as well as the configurational assignments of the different derivatives, were established by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy and assisted by X-ray crystallographic and molecular modelling studies. The specific shielding of protons in the neighbourhood of different halogens on the cyclopropane moieties was correlated to the pseudocontact interactions.

2D 1H and 13C NMR evidence for stereoselective formation of a new bond C-N, C-S or C-C in the reaction of ivalin acetate with substituted pyrimidines.

Several pyrimidine derivatives of ivalin acetate were synthesized as potential anti HIV agents. High stereoselective Michael addition to ivaline acetate was observed and a new C-C, C-N or C-S bond was formed. 2D NMR 1H and 13C as well as X-ray crystallographic studies were performed on the compounds herein described to establish the structure and stereochemistry.