Spinal Nerve Roots Abnormalities on MRI in a Child with SURF1 Mitochondrial Disease

Variants in SURF1, encoding an assembly factor of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex IV, cause Leigh syndrome (LS) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 4K in children and young adolescents. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance of enlarged nerve roots with postcontrastographic enhancement is a distinctive feature of hypertrophic neuropathy caused by onion-bulb formation and it has rarely been described in mitochondrial diseases (MDs). Spinal nerve roots abnormalities on MRI are novel findings in LS associated with variants in SURF1. Here we report detailed neuroradiological and neurophysiologic findings in a child with LS and demyelinating neuropathy SURF1-related. Our case underlines the potential contributive role of spinal neuroimaging together with neurophysiological examination to identify the full spectrum of patterns in MDs. It remains to elucidate if these observations remain peculiar of SURF1 variants or potentially detectable in other MDs with peripheral nervous system involvement.

Decoupling the molecular regulation of perenniality and flowering in bulbous barley (Hordeum bulbosum)

Global crop production is being challenged by rapid population growth, declining natural resources, and dramatic climatic turnovers. These challenges have prompted plant breeders to explore new ventures to enhance adaptation and sustainability in crops. One intriguing approach to make agriculture more sustainable is by turning annual systems into perennial which offers many economic and biodiversity-friendly benefits. Previous attempts to develop a perennial cereal crop employed a classical breeding approach and extended over a long period with limited success. Thus, elucidating the genetic basis of perenniality at the molecular level can accelerate the breeding process. Here, we investigated the genetic basis of bulb formation in the barley congener species Hordeum bulbosum by elucidating the transcripts presence/absence variation compared with other annual species in the Poaceae, and a differential expression analysis of meristem tissues. The PAV analysis recaptured the expected phylogeny and indicated that H. bulbosum is enriched with developmental and disease responsive genes that are absent among annual species. Next, the abundance of transcripts was quantified and allowed to identify differentially expressed genes that are associated with bulb formation pathways in addition to major circadian clock genes that regulate flowering. A first model for the bulb formation pathway is suggested and include developmental and starch biosynthesis genes. To the best of our knowledge this is the first transcriptome developed for H. bulbosum and the first attempt to describe the regulation of bulb initiation in cereals at the molecular level.

Impact of salicylic acid and biosilica application on plant growth of shallot under water deficit

Shallot is a horticulture crop with a fibrous root system, which is susceptible to water deficit, particularly in the bulb formation stage. This study was carried out to examine the effects of salicylic acid (SA) and biosilica (Si) exogenous induction on plant growth of shallot grown under water deficit in plastic baskets. A factorial 4×2 experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with four blocks. The first factor of treatments was a four-level exogenous induction, i.e., 0.5mM SA, 6mM Si, combination (0.5mM SA and 6mM Si), and control (0 without SA and Si). The second factor was a level of interval irrigations i.e, one-day interval and three-day interval. The results showed that the treatment of combination 0.5mM SA and 6mM Si can maintained a plant height and the number of leaves was better than the control under water deficit. Avoidance was one of the mechanisms of shallot in dealing with water deficit, namely by reducing the stomatal density. Decreased stomatal density was negatively correlated with water use efficiency.

Evaluation of the Nutrients Uptake by Tomato Plants in Different Phenological Stages Using an Electrical Conductivity Technique

Nutrient consumption by plants depends on the growth stage and environmental conditions. In general, plants take up species of elements at different speeds. We monitored and recorded the electrical charge flow through xylem sap of tomato plants (Brillante F1) using femto/picoammeter equipment (Keysight B2981A). This technique evaluates the nutrient uptake of tomato treated with the most common macronutrients (KNO3; KH2PO4; Ca(NO3)2; KCl) by monitoring the electrical conductivity for 24 h. The electrical conductivity of each treatment correlated with the plant growth and development stages. The results showed that the tomato plants had a high consumption of nutrients in the vegetative stage, while in other stages, they had a specific consumption, like phosphorus for bulb formation, potassium for increasing the number of flowers and water for the ripening of fruits. The quantitative evaluation of the ions absorbed by the plant was based on the magnitude and shape of the electrical conductivity curves. Our technique is an efficient method to determine nutrient consumption and is useful in predicting the deficiency of a certain element in tomato plants.

CISP-Plus: Expanding the Spectrum of Chronic Immune Sensory Polyradiculopathy (CISP)

Objectives:Sensory loss with normal nerve conduction studies (NCS) from focal sensory root inflammatory demyelination is characteristic of chronic immune sensory polyradiculopathy (CISP). However, non-pure cases involving motor and distal sensory nerves exist (CISP-plus). We hypothesize that CISP-plus and CISP are fundamentally part of the same syndrome through comparison of clinical, neurophysiological and pathological features.Methods:CISP-plus (primary dorsal root with lesser motor and sensory nerve involvement) and CISP cases were retrospectively analyzed (1986-2019).Results:We identified 44 CISP-plus and 28 CISP cases (n=72) with 86% (38/44) of CISP-plus and 79% (22/28) of CISP patients experiencing imbalance. On examination, large fiber sensory loss was present in 98% (43/44) of CISP-plus and 96% (27/28) of CISP. Gait ataxia was evident in 93% (41/44) of CISP-plus and 79% (22/28) of CISP. Mild distal weakness was common in CISP-plus (75%, 33/44). NCS showed mild abnormalities in all CISP-plus and were normal (by definition) in all CISP. Elevated cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) protein, slowing of somatosensory evoked potentials and MRI root enhancement occurred in most CISP-plus and CISP cases. Eleven CISP-plus nerve biopsies showed loss of large myelinated fibers and onion-bulb formation most prominent in rootlet biopsies. Immunotherapy resulted in marked improvement of gait ataxia in 84% (27/32) of CISP-plus and 93% (14/15) of CISP cases with return to normal neurological examination in half (25/46).Conclusion:The recognition of CISP-plus expands the spectrum of CIDP by combining CISP-plus (predominant sensory polyradiculopathy with mild motor and sensory nerve involvement) with pure-CISP (focal sensory polyradiculopathy) together as proximal sensory CIDP.

Transcriptome and phytochemical analyses provide insights into the organic sulfur pathway in Allium hirtifolium

Allium is one of the well-known genera of the Amaryllidaceae family, which contains over 780 species. Onions, garlic, leeks, and shallots are the most important species of this genus. Allium hirtifolium (shallot) is a rich source of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, amino acids, and bioactive compounds such as organic sulfur compounds with an expansive range of biological activities and medicinal attributes. To identify the putative compounds and genes involved in the organic sulfur pathway, we applied GC–MS and RNA-seq techniques for the bulb, stem, and flower tissues of A. hirtifolium. The essential oil analysis revealed the maximum amount of sulfur compounds in stem against flower and bulb tissues. Transcriptome profiling showed 6155, 6494, and 4259 DEGs for bulb vs. flower, bulb vs. stem, and flower vs. stem, respectively. Overall, more genes were identified as being up-regulated rather than down-regulated in flower tissue compared to the stem and bulb tissues. Our findings in accordance with other results from different papers, suggest that carbohydrates are vital to bulb formation and development because a high number of identified DEGs (586 genes) were mapped to carbohydrate metabolism. This study has detected the genes in the organic sulfur pathway and indicated that the alliinase gene shows a high variability among different tissues. In general, this study formed a useful genomic resource data to explore tissue-specific sulfur pathway in A. hirtifolium, which is helpful for functional breeding.

WET BULB FORMATION IN SANDY AND CLAY TEXTURES UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM

WET BULB FORMATION IN SANDY AND CLAY TEXTURES UNDER DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM CARLA EFFEGEM1; JOABE MARTINS DE SOUZA2 E ROBSON BONOMO3 [1]Mestranda em Agricultura Tropical, Programa de Pós-graduação em Agricultura Tropical, UFES/CEUNES, BR-101, km 60 - Litorâneo, CEP 29932-540, São Mateus, ES, Brasil, e-mail: [email protected]. 2Pós Doutorando, Programa de Pós-graduação em Agricultura Tropical, UFES/CEUNES, BR-101, km 60 – Litorâneo, CEP 29932-540, São Mateus, ES, Brasil, e-mail: [email protected]. 3Prof. Doutor, Depto de Ciências Agrárias e Biológicas, UFES/CEUNES, BR-101, km 60 – Litorâneo, CEP 29932-540, São Mateus, ES, Brasil, e-mail: [email protected]. 1 ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the formation of wet bulbs in sandy and clayey cultivated soil. The evaluations were made in two Coffea Canephora cultivated areas, the soil texture being sandy to loam (area 01) or sandy clay (area 02) typical of coastal zones. For the wet bulb characterization, to measure soil moisture, several cylindrical access-tubes were mounted for use in time-domain reflectometry. The tubes were arranged at six points in relation to the plant, being one point on the planting line between two plants and five points on the planting line (0.10; 0.40; 0.70; 1.10 e 1.50 m of the plant), the measurements conducted in four depths ranges (0.00-0.20; 0.20-0.40; 0.40-0.60 e 0.60-0.80 m) with three replicates. The wet bulb presented vertical formation in the area with sandy to loam texture and reached a depth between 0.40 and 0.50 m, with a range of up to 0.10 m between coffee lines. The wet bulb formation occurred in the horizontal direction in the area with sandy clay texture, reaching depth values of 0.20 to 0.30 m, with a range of 0.10 to 0.15 m between lines. Keywords: drip irrigation, irrigation management, water movement in the soil EFFEGEM, C.; SOUZA, J. M. de; BONOMO, R. BULBO MOLHADO EM TEXTURA ARENOSA E ARGILOSA SOB IRRIGAÇÃO LOCALIZADA 2 RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar a formação do bulbo molhado em solo arenoso e argiloso cultivado, sob irrigação localizada. As avaliações ocorreram em duas áreas cultivadas com cafeeiro Conilon, sendo o solo de textura de arenosa a média (área 01) e textura argilo arenosa (área 02), típico de tabuleiros. Para a caracterização do bulbo molhado foi realizada instalação de tubos de acesso para medição da umidade do solo por meio da reflectometria no domínio do tempo. Os tubos foram dispostos em seis pontos em relação à planta, sendo um ponto na linha de plantio do cafeeiro entre duas plantas, e em cinco pontos na entre linha (0,10; 0,40; 0,70; 1,10 e 1,50 m da planta), sendo as medições realizadas em quatro faixas de profundidades (0,00-0,20; 0,20-0,40; 0,40-0,60 e 0,60-0,80 m) com três repetições. O bulbo molhado apresentou formação para a área com textura arenosa a média na direção vertical, atingido profundidade entre 0,40 a 0,50 m, com alcance de até 0,10 m na entrelinha do cafeeiro. A área com textura argilo arenosa a formação do bulbo se deu na direção horizontal, atingido profundidade entre 0,20 a 0,30 m, com alcance de 0,10 a 0,15 m na entrelinha do cafeeiro. Palavras-chave: gotejamento, manejo da irrigação, movimento de água no solo

The Effect of Different Applications on In vitro Bulb Development of an Endemic Hyacinth Plant (Hyacinthus orientalis L. subsp. chionophyllus Wendelbo) Grown in Turkey

In this study the effects of different sucrose concentrations, and the combinations of jasmonic acid (JA) with auxins (IAA or NAA) or with cytokinin (2iP) on the bulb induction and rooting of in vitro plantlets of Hyacinthus orientalis subsp. chionophyllus Wendelbo, which is endemic in Turkey, were investigated. The effect of four different sucrose concentrations (30, 45, 60 and 90 g L-1) on bulb formation in tissue culture was investigated. These plantlets were cultured on MS medium supplemented with several concentrations and combinations of JA (0.0, 1.0, 2.0 mg L-1) and 2iP (0.0, 0.25 and 0.50 mg L-1), IAA or NAA (0.5, 1.0 mg L-1). In JA- 2iP treatment, the highest number of bulblets (13.7 number/explant) was obtained by the combinations of JA 1.0 mg L-1 + 2iP 0.25 mg L-1. Also, the largest bulblets with the mean diameter of 7.9 mm were found on MS medium supplemented with JA 2.0 mg L-1. In JA – Auxin treatment, the mean root number per bulblet was highest (17.9 number/explant) and root formation rate was maximum (81.14%) on MS medium supplemented with IAA 1.0 mg L-1 + JA 2.0 mg L-1.

Contribution of Morphological Variables in Garlic Bulb Yield

The objective of this work was to investigate the direct and indirect relationships of morphological variables on garlic bulb yield. The primary components of garlic bulb yield, including clove mass, number of cloves per bulb, and bulb diameter and bulb length, are the variables that affect garlic bulb yield directly. Leaf length and growth of a secondary bulb had a negative correlation to garlic bulb yield. Growth of a secondary bulb also had a negative correlation with the number of cloves per bulb and root dry mass. Irrigation with the deficit, applied at the stage of bulb formation, had a positive correlation with garlic yield and a slightly negative correlation with total plant mass, bulb length, and secondary bulb growth.