Hormonal Influences on Pod–Seed Intercommunication during Pea Fruit Development

Angiosperms (from the Greek “angeion”—vessel, and “sperma”—seed) are defined by the presence of specialised tissue surrounding their developing seeds. This tissue is known as the ovary and once a flower has been fertilised, it gives rise to the fruit. Fruits serve various functions in relation to the seeds they contain: they often form tough physical barriers to prevent mechanical damage, they may form specialised structures that aid in dispersal, and they act as a site of nutrient and signal exchange between the parent plant and its offspring. The close coordination of fruit growth and seed development is essential to successful reproduction. Firstly, fertilisation of the ovules is required in most angiosperm species to initiate fruit growth. Secondly, it is crucial that seed dispersal facilitated by, e.g., fruit opening or ripening occurs only once the seeds have matured. These highly coordinated events suggest that seeds and fruits are in close communication throughout development and represent a classical problem of interorgan signalling and organismic resource allocation. Here, we review the contribution of studies on the edible, unicarpellate legume Pisum sativum to our understanding of seed and fruit growth coregulation, and propose areas of new research in this species which may yield important advances for both pulse agronomy and natural science.

Foreign trade relations between Ukraine and China: main directions of development

The article is devoted to the problems of developing foreign trade relations between Ukraine and China, as China ranks first in terms of trade among other trade partners of Ukraine. The article analyzes the reasons for China's interest in Ukraine and possible benefits for our country. The countries' export, import, foreign trade turnover, and foreign trade balance indicators are studied. The calculated indicators allowed us to state a positive trade balance for most goods, which indicates the advantage of exports over imports. The growth rates of exports and imports for the main product groups are calculated. It is concluded that the dynamics of international trade for ferrous metals, seeds, and fruits export growth rates are the highest, and electric machines and flour products - the lowest. The necessity of direct investments for further development in all spheres of the economy is substantiated. The structure of investment cooperation between Ukraine and China is analyzed, and conclusions are made about the number of direct investments coming from China. Based on the research and study of literature sources on the selected topic, the following conclusions were drawn on the prospects of foreign trade relations between China and Ukraine: it is advisable to study in detail the development of China's interests to adjust Ukraine's export policy to revive cooperation partners of Ukraine; as for the Ukrainian-Chinese trade relations, the following product groups have particular prospects for development: already positive in the foreign trade balance (corn, soybeans, barley, dairy products, honey), negative in the foreign trade balance (poultry, pork, fruits, vegetables) ) and products that do not require special state permits (sunflower oil and a wide range of food products). It is expedient to develop bilateral relations in mutually beneficial areas for both countries; there is a positive trade balance for most goods. For ferrous metals, seeds, and fruits, the export growth rates are the highest. For electric machines and flour products - the lowest, we need to emphasize the stabilization of exports of commodity groups, where export growth has increased. Ukraine needs to make tremendous efforts to join the «One Belt, One Road» initiative as a participant: because our country is only a watchdog. Also, you need to show more initiative and declare your desire to join the project «16 + 1»

A Key for the Microhistological Determination of Plant Fragments Consumed by Carpathian Forest Cervids

We present a microhistological key for identification of plant fragments consumed and partially digested by free-roaming, forest cervids based on collection of 92 plant species representing forage availability of the Western Carpathian forests. The key represents a determination tool to facilitate microhistological analyses of faecal and ruminal material. We summarized, integrated, and developed current knowledge on microstructures of plants consumed by Cervidae using specific diagnostic features of plant fragments including type, shape, orientation, and arrangement of cells and stomata, type of venation, presence, and type of trichomes and crystalline inclusions. Since most plant species of the same taxa show common patterns in morphology of the different epidermal traits, we categorized collected material into seven functional botanical groups, i.e., grasses and sedges, herbs and leaves of broadleaved trees, needles, ferns and mosses, seeds and fruits, and genera Rubus, Rosa, Vaccinium. The key is consistent with classifications used in the majority of studies on diet of wild cervids and is supported with photographs of the main diagnostics features. The key has the potential to decrease amount of time needed for processing of the reference material, and to improve consistency between users studying feeding behaviour of forest cervids in central Europe.

Allergic reactions to emerging food allergens in Canadian children

Most Canadian food allergy data has focused on Health Canada’s priority food allergens. This study describes which non-priority (emerging) food allergens were most commonly reported by Canadian parents and categorized/confirmed by allergists. A secondary aim was to describe severity of allergic reactions to emerging allergens. Parents reported allergic reactions to emerging food allergens experienced by their child (< 18 years) which occurred in the past 12 months, and allergists categorized/confirmed them according to likelihood of IgE-mediated food allergy. Of 68 eligible patients completing the survey, the most commonly reported emerging allergens were fruits/vegetables (58.8%), seeds (22.1%), legumes (19.1%) and other (11.8%). Median allergist ranking for legumes was ‘probable’ IgE-mediated food allergy, ‘possible’ for seeds and fruits/vegetables, and ‘unlikely’ for other. Median reaction severity was mild for legumes, and moderate for seeds, fruits/vegetables, and other. Our study highlights that non-priority food allergens, namely legumes and seeds, can lead to probable/likely allergic reactions in Canadian children. These food allergens are increasing in popularity in the Canadian diet, which could lead to increasing reports of allergic reactions. More research is needed to confirm reports of reactions to emerging allergens, and to document their inclusion as ingredients in packaged foods.

Van traditionele archeologie naar ecologische archeologie: terugblik en vooruitblik in een jubileumjaar

From traditional archaeology to ecological archaeology: looking back and looking ahead in a jubilee year. The start of archaeological research at the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen dates back to 1920. From the 1930s, research on subfossil plant remains became integrated into the archaeological research. Three research disciplines became established: palynology, research on wood, and research on non-woody macro remains (in particular seeds and fruits). Because this research deals with cells, tissues and organisms, identifications are possible to a low taxonomic level, which facilitates a detailed reconstruction of former vegetation and food economies. Future research would benefit from a further integration of these distinct disciplines within biological archaeology, as well as a further integration of biological archaeology within the study of archaeology. Such an approach could be designated as ecological archaeology.

Danos em Frutos e Sementes de Hymenaea courbaril L. por Rhinochenus stigma (Linneu 1764)

O desenvolvimento de insetos em frutos ameaça o potencial de germinação das sementes, sendo responsáveis por perdas em um número variado de espécies nativas e de valor econômico no Brasil. O jatobá é uma árvore grande, com 30 a 40 metros de altura, e possui tronco reto, com cerca de 2 metros de diâmetro, sendo bastante utilizado por populações tradicionais em função de suas diversas utilidades, a partir do uso da casca, das sementes, dos frutos, da seiva e das folhas, tendo seu mercado incentivado pelos vários produtos originados. Pesquisas realizadas em diferentes biomas brasileiros com espécies de árvores leguminosas destacam a predação de sementes e frutos por coleópteros broqueadores, afetando a qualidade da semente destinada à perpetuação da espécie. Portanto, este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar os danos causados por Rhinochenus stigma em frutos e sementes de Hymenaea courbaril. Constatou-se que esse inseto foi responsável pelo consumo médio de 46,79% do peso de uma semente e que a porcentagem de germinação das sementes danificadas foi de apenas 3%. A predação de sementes por R. stigma possui um efeito direto sobre a qualidade fisiológica das sementes de H. courbaril e evitar esses danos são, significativamente, importantes para os coletores de frutos e sementes que o utilizam para confecção de artesanato, bem como para o uso em planos de reflorestamento. Palavras-chave: Insecta. Cryptorhynchinae. Jatobá. Abstract The development of insects in fruits threatens the seeds germination potential and is responsible for losses in a varied number of native species and of economic value in Brazil. Jatoba is a large tree, 30 to 40 meters high, and has a straight trunk, about 2 meters in diameter, it is widely used by traditional populations due to its diverse uses from the use of bark, seeds, fruits, sap and leaves, with its market encouraged by the various originated products. Research carried out in different Brazilian biomes with legume tree species highlights the seeds and fruits predation by boring coleoptera, affecting the quality of the seed aimed at the species perpetuation. Therefore, this work aims to evaluate the damage caused by Rhinochenus stigma in fruits and seeds of Hymenaea courbaril. It was found that this insect was responsible for the average consumption of 46.79% of the weight of a seed and that the germination percentage of the damaged seeds was only 3%. The seeds predation by R. stigma has a direct effect on the physiological quality of H. courbaril seeds and avoiding these damages is significantly important for fruit and seed collectors who use it for making crafts, as well as for use in reforestation plans. Keywords: Insecta. Cryptorhynchinae. Jatoba.