Genetic polymorphism of local Abkhazian grape cultivars

Local grape cultivars from different countries of the world are an important part of the gene pool of this culture. Of particular interest are the genotypes of the most ancient regions of viticulture. The territories of the subtropical zone of Georgia and the central part of Abkhazia belong to one of the centers of origin of the cultural grapevine. The purpose of the work was to genotype native Abkhazian grape cultivars, to study their genetic diversity based on DNA profiling data and to compare them with the genotypes of local varieties of other viticultural regions. Samples of plants were taken on the territory of the Republic of Abkhazia in private farmsteads and in the collection of the agricultural firm “Vina i Vody Abkhazii“ (“Wines and Waters of Abkhazia”). The genotyping of the Abkhazian cultivars Avasirhva, Agbizh, Azhapsh, Azhizhkvakva, Azhikvaca, Atvizh, Atyrkuazh, Achkykazh, Kachich was carried out using 14 DNA markers, 9 of which are standard microsatellite markers recommended for the identification of grape varieties. To improve our knowledge about the sizes of the identified alleles, we used the DNA of grape cultivars with a known allelic composition at the analyzed loci. Statistical analysis of the data showed that the observed heterozygosity for the analyzed loci exceeded expected values, which indicates a genetic polymorphism of the studied sample of varieties. Evaluation of genetic similarity within the analyzed group based on the results of genotyping at 14 loci showed that the cultivars Kachich and Azhapsh differed from the other Abkhazian varieties. The obtained DNA profiles of the Abkhazian cultivars were checked for compliance with DNA-fingerprints of grape varieties in the Vitis International Variety Catalogue. The Georgian varieties Azhizhkvakva and Tsitska turned out to be synonyms according to DNA profiles, two varieties from the Database (Italian Albana bianca and Georgian Ojaleshi) have differences in DNA-fingerprints from the varieties Atyrkuazh and Azhikvatsa only in one allele, respectively. When comparing the identified Abkhazian grape genotypes, their difference from the sample of Dagestan, Don, Greek, Turkish, Italian, Spanish, and French varieties and genetic similarity with the genotypes of Georgian grapes were shown.

Profile of the volatile organic compounds of pink pepper and black pepper

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and pink pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) are two plant-based spices, which despite having a common popular name, have a botanical family and distinct centers of origin. Its fruits are known worldwide in cuisine as condiments; in addition, the extraction of essential oil from these species is interesting from a pharmacological and industrial perspective. In this sense, the present study aimed to analyze the chemical profile of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) present in black pepper and pink pepper. The solid phase microextraction method in headspace mode (HS-SPME) was used, using the fiber, polydimethylsiloxane-divinylbenzene (PDMS/DVB) for the extraction of VOCs. In the extraction of volatile compounds, 2g of the seeds of each sample were used, previously ground in an analytical mill, and placed in a 20 ml headspace flask. The adsorption of the compounds was carried out at a temperature of 60ºC, for 20 minutes, with the exposed PDMS/DVB fiber, after extraction, the desorption was carried out in the gas chromatograph injector coupled to mass spectrometry (CG-MS), where the fiber was exposed for 5 minutes. The identification of VOCs was performed by comparing the mass spectra obtained with data from the NIST library. Thirty-six volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified and quantified among pink pepper and black pepper seed samples. Of which 16 were found in black pepper, and 20 in pink pepper. These compounds are divided into monoterpenes, sesquitepenes, and other classes such as alkaloids and sesquiterpenoids. The volatile organic compounds found in higher concentrations in black pepper were Carnegine with 36.32 %, beyerene (30.84%), alpha-gurjunene (6.10%) and 1R,4S,7S,11R-2, 2,4,8-Tetramethyltricyclo [5.3.1.0 (4.11)] undec-8-ene also with 6.10%. In pink pepper, the compounds with the highest concentrations were, phyllocladene (36.16%), 3-carene (12.49%), and 1R,4S,7S,11R-2,2,4,8-tetramethyltricyclo [ 5.3.1.0 (4.11)] undec-8-ene (12.43%).

Genetic Variability of Mineral Content in Different Grain Structures of Bean Cultivars from Mesoamerican and Andean Gene Pools

Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are an important source of proteins, carbohydrates, and micronutrients in the diets of millions of people in Latin America and Africa. Studies related to genetic variability in the accumulation and distribution of nutrients are valuable for biofortification programs, as there is evidence that the seed coat and embryo differ in the bioavailability of essential nutrients. In this study, we sought to evaluate the genetic variability of total mineral content in the grain and its constituent parts (seed coat, cotyledon, and embryonic axis) of bean genotypes from Mesoamerican and Andean centers of origin. Grain samples of 10 bean cultivars were analyzed for the content of proteins and minerals (Mg, Ca, K, P, Mn, S, Cu, B, Fe, and Zn) in the whole grains and seed coat, cotyledons, and embryonic axis tissues. Genetic variability was observed among the cultivars for protein content and all evaluated minerals. Moreover, differential accumulation of minerals was observed in the seed coat, cotyledons, and embryonic axis. Except for Ca, which accumulated predominantly in the seed coat, higher percentages of minerals were detected in the cotyledons. Furthermore, 100-grain mass values showed negative correlations with the contents of Ca, Mg, P, Zn, Fe, and Mn in whole grains or in the different grain tissues. In general, the Mesoamerican cultivars showed a higher concentration of minerals in the grains, whereas Andean cultivars showed higher concentrations of protein.

Retiring “cradles” and “museums” of biodiversity

In 1974, G. Ledyard Stebbins provided a metaphor illustrating how spatial gradients of biodiversity observed today are byproducts of the way environment–population interactions drive species diversification through time. We revisit the narrative behind Stebbins’ “cradles” and “museums” of biodiversity to debate two points. First, the usual “high speciation” vs. “low extinction” and “tropical” vs. “temperate” dichotomies are oversimplifications of the original metaphor and may obscure how gradients of diversity are formed. Second, the way in which we use modern gradients of biodiversity to interpret the potential historical processes that generated them are often still biased by the reasons that motivated Stebbins to propose his original metaphor. Specifically, the field has not yet abandoned the idea that species-rich areas and “basal lineages” indicate centers of origin, nor has it fully appreciated the role of traits as regulators of environment–population dynamics. We acknowledge the popularity of “cradles” and “museums” in the literature and that terminologies can evolve with the requirements of the field. However, we also argue that “cradles” and “museums” have outlived their utility in studies of biogeography and macroevolution and should be replaced by discussions of actual processes at play.

Artemisia gmelinii Web. ex Stechm. within the Buryatian flora: phytocenotic confinedness, composition of essential oil

Buryatia as a part of Baikalian Siberia is one of the main centers of origin and morphological diversity of wormwood in Eurasia. There are 48 species and subspecies of wormwood within Buryatian flora, one of which is Artemisia gmelinii Web. ex Stechm. For the first time the composition of the essential oils of A. gmelinii growing in the rare community of Siberian apricot ( Armeniaca sibirica (L.) Lam) is presented in this work. Essential oils were obtained from the raw materials collected during the field works on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia (Kyakhtinsky district, surroundings of Tamir village - Southern slopes of the Tamir range) in 2020. The vegetation of the Tamir ranges slope is represented by shrub communities from the relict of Eastern Asia growing since the Miocene-Pliocene time - Armeniaca sibirica . The dominant components of essential oils of A. gmelinii from apricot community are 1,8-cineole, germacrene D, camphor, borneol, caryophyllene. Essential oils of A. gmelinii growing within the Siberian flora of one chemotype with a predominance of mono-terpenoids in the group composition form two subtypes, prevailing: 1) in the East Siberian populations of A. gmelinii with a predominance of sesquiterpenoids in the composition of essential oils; 2) in the West Siberian populations of A. gmelinii with a predominance of monoterpenoids in essential oils.

A horta como laboratório vivo para trabalhar a interdisciplinaridade no ensino médio

Nowadays, education undergoes a process of restructuring and interdisciplinarity is fundamental to minimize the existing limits between the disciplines of High School. The origin of interdisciplinarity lies in the transformations of the ways of producing science and of perceiving reality. In this sense, the school garden can be a way to relate the knowledge of the various disciplines. With this extension work, the objective was to implement a vegetable garden at the Ruy Barbosa State High School, in the municipality of Novo Cabrais - RS, in order to promote interdisciplinary actions. Before the implementation of the garden, a lecture was given to students and teachers. It was chosen an idle place with potential for the cultivation of vegetables, where the vegetable garden was implanted. Lettuce, arugula, tomato, cassava, beet, sweet potato, popcorn, beans, Japanese moranga, fennel, pumpkin, radish and almeirão, among others crops. Among the interdisciplinary activities to be worked in High School are the calculation of the total production of each species cultivated in the garden, study of the centers of origin of each species, scientific names of the cultivated species, use of natural insecticides and organic fertilizer, regions that use the species grown in food and / or as medicinal plants.

Ralstonia solanacearum Species Complex: A Quick Diagnostic Guide

Ralstonia solanacearum (Smith 1896) Yabuuchi et al. 1996 is ranked second among the top 10 most economically important plant pathogenic bacteria. The soil-borne bacterium affects over 200 plant species worldwide, including economically and nutritionally important crops, such as potato (Solanum tuberosum), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and bananas (Musa spp.). R. solanacearum is a species complex, meaning that the species is composed of strains with differential characteristics, including different metabolic requirements, centers of origin, host range, and ideal environmental conditions for infection. Its nature and the fact that it is a species complex can make R. solanacearum a difficult bacterium to work with, especially when lacking experience. Inappropriate isolation or storage of the pathogen can lead to inaccurate diagnostics or misleading conclusions. Thus, the objectives of this diagnostic guide are to provide adequate methods for isolation, storage, and identification and to discuss other relevant aspects related to this important plant pathogenic bacterium.

The extent of adaptive wild introgression in crops

The study of crop evolution has focused primarily on the process of initial domestication. Post-domestication adaptation during the expansion of crops from their centers of origin has received considerably less attention. Recent research has revealed that, in at least some instances, crops have received introgression from their wild relatives that has facilitated adaptation to novel conditions encountered during expansion. Such adaptive introgression could bear importantly on the basic study of domestication, affecting estimates of several evolutionary processes of interest (e.g., the strength of the domestication bottleneck, the timing of domestication, the targets of selection during domestication). Identification of haplotypes introgressed from the wild may also aid the identification of alleles that are beneficial under particular environmental conditions. Here we review mounting evidence for substantial adaptive wild introgression in several crops and consider the implications of such gene flow to our understanding of crop histories.