Effect of heterologous expression of FT gene from Medicago truncatula in growth and flowering behavior of olive plants.

Olive (Olea europaea L. subsp. europaea) is one of the most important crops of the Mediterranean Basin and temperate areas worldwide. Obtaining new olive varieties adapted to climatic changing conditions and to modern agricultural practices, as well as other traits such as biotic and abiotic stress resistance and increased oil quality, is currently required; however, the long juvenile phase, as in most woody plants, is the bottleneck in olive breeding programs. Overexpression of genes encoding the 'florigen' Flowering Locus T (FT), can cause the loss of the juvenile phase in many perennials including olives. In this investigation, further characterization of three transgenic olive lines containing an FT encoding gene from Medicago truncatula, MtFTa1, under the 35S CaMV promoter, was carried out. While all three lines flowered under in vitro conditions, one of the lines stopped flowering after acclimatisation. In soil, all three lines exhibited a modified plant architecture; e.g., a continuous branching behaviour and a dwarfing growth habit. Gene expression and hormone content in shoot tips, containing the meristems from which this phenotype emerged, were examined. Higher levels of OeTFL1, a gene encoding the flowering repressor TERMINAL FLOWER 1, correlated with lack of flowering. The branching phenotype correlated with higher content of salicylic acid, indole-3-acetic acid and isopentenyl adenosine, and lower content of abscisic acid. The results obtained confirm that heterologous expression of MtFTa1 in olive induced continuous flowering independently of environmental factors, but also modified plant architecture. These phenotypical changes could be related to the altered hormonal content in transgenic plants.

Modification of 13-hydroperoxide lyase expression in olive affects plant growth and results in altered volatile profile.

The C6 aldehydes, alcohols, and the corresponding esters are the most important compounds of virgin olive oil aroma. These C6 volatile compounds are synthesized via the 13-hydroperoxide lyase (13-HPL) branch of the lipoxygenase pathway. In this investigation, a functional analysis of the olive (Olea europaea L.) 13-HPL gene by its overexpression and silencing in olive transgenic lines was carried out. With this aim, sense and RNAi constructs of the olive 13-HPL gene were generated and used for the transformation of embryogenic olive cultures. Leaves from overexpressing lines showed a slight increase in 13-HPL gene expression, whereas RNAi lines exhibited a strong decrease in their transcript levels. Quantification of 13-HPL activity in two overexpressing and two RNAi lines showed a positive correlation with levels of transcripts. Interestingly, RNAi lines showed a high decrease in the content of C6 volatiles linked to a strong increase of C5 volatile compounds, altering the volatile profile in the leaves. In addition, the silencing of the 13-HPL gene severely affected plant growth and development. This investigation demonstrates the role of the 13-HPL gene in the biogenesis of olive volatile compounds and constitutes a functional genomics study in olive related to virgin olive oil quality.

Exploring the Use of Fruit Callus Culture as a Model System to Study Color Development and Cell Wall Remodeling during Strawberry Fruit Ripening.

Cell cultures derived from strawberry fruit at different developmental stages have been obtained to evaluate their potential use to study different aspects of strawberry ripening. Callus from leaf and cortical tissue of unripe-green, white, and mature-red strawberry fruits were induced in a medium supplemented with 11.3 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) under darkness. The transfer of the established callus from darkness to light induced the production of anthocyanin. The replacement of 2,4-D by abscisic acid (ABA) noticeably increased anthocyanin accumulation in green-fruit callus. Cell walls were isolated from the different fruit cell lines and from fruit receptacles at equivalent developmental stages and sequentially fractionated to obtain fractions enriched in soluble pectins, ester bound pectins, xyloglucans (XG), and matrix glycans tightly associated with cellulose microfibrils. These fractions were analyzed by cell wall carbohydrate microarrays. In fruit receptacle samples, pectins were abundant in all fractions, including those enriched in matrix glycans. The amount of pectin increased from green to white stage, and later these carbohydrates were solubilized in red fruit. Apparently, XG content was similar in white and red fruit, but the proportion of galactosylated XG increased in red fruit. Cell wall fractions from callus cultures were enriched in extensin and displayed a minor amount of pectins. Stronger signals of extensin Abs were detected in sodium carbonate fraction, suggesting that these proteins could be linked to pectins. Overall, the results obtained suggest that fruit cell lines could be used to analyze hormonal regulation of color development in strawberry but that the cell wall remodeling process associated with fruit softening might be masked by the high presence of extensin in callus cultures.

Usage of the Heterologous Expression of the Antimicrobial Gene afp From Aspergillus giganteus for Increasing Fungal Resistance in Olive.

The antifungal protein (AFP) produced by Aspergillus giganteus, encoded by the afp gene, has been used to confer resistance against a broad range of fungal pathogens in several crops. In this research, transgenic olive plants expressing the afp gene under the control of the constitutive promoter CaMV35S were generated and their disease response against two root infecting fungal pathogens, Verticillium dahliae and Rosellinia necatrix, was evaluated. Embryogenic cultures derived from a mature zygotic embryo of cv. 'Picual' were used for A. tumefaciens transformation. Five independent transgenic lines were obtained, showing a variable level of afp expression in leaves and roots. None of these transgenic lines showed enhanced resistance to Verticillium wilt. However, some of the lines displayed a degree of incomplete resistance to white root rot caused by R. necatrix compared with disease reaction of non-transformed plants or transgenic plants expressing only the GUS gene. The level of resistance to this pathogen correlated with that of the afp expression in root and leaves. Our results indicate that the afp gene can be useful for enhanced partial resistance to R. necatrix in olive, but this gene does not protect against V. dahliae.

Generation and Selection of Transgenic Olive Plants.

Olive (Olea europaea L.) is one of the most important oil crops in the Mediterranean basin. Biotechnological improvement of this species is hampered by the recalcitrant nature of olive tissue to regenerate in vitro. In previous investigations, our group has developed a reliable Agrobacterium-mediated transformation protocol using olive somatic embryos as explants ( Torreblanca et al., 2010 ). Embryogenic cultures derived from radicles of matured zygotic embryos are infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens, AGL1 strain, containing a binary plasmid with the gene of interest and the nptII selection gene. After a meticulous selection procedure, carried out using solid and liquid media supplemented with paromomycin, the putative transformed lines are established. A preliminary confirmation of their transgenic nature is carried out through PCR amplification. Afterwards, plants can be obtained through an efficient regeneration protocol, whose main characteristics are the use of a low-ionic-strength mineral formulation, a phase in liquid medium for synchronization of cultures and the use of semi-permeable cellulose acetate membranes for embryo maturation ( Cerezo et al., 2011 ). Final confirmation of transgene insertion is carried out through Southern or Northern analysis using leaf samples of regenerated plants.

Envejecimiento poblacional en Guatemala y repercusiones de la globalización en la vejez / Population aging in Guatemala and the repercussions of globalization in old age

Este pequeño trabajo pretende hacer algunas consideraciones entre la globalización, el neoliberalismo y la vejez en el mundo actual, ya que como hemos visto en los artículos anteriores, el mundo está envejeciendo y el ritmo de envejecimiento es más profundo y rápido en los países subdesarrollados, lo que conlleva cambios profundos en los sistemas económicos actuales, que debería de ser dirigidos a garantizar los derechos de éste grupo poblacional, ya que la vejez, economía y globalización, se encuentran ligadas...(AU)

This small work present some general considerations between the globalization, the neoliberalism and the old age in the present world, since we have seen in previous articles, the world is aging and the aging rate is deeper and faster in the underdeveloped countries, which entails deep changes in the present economic systems, that would have to be directed to guarantee the rights of this one population group, since the oldness, economy and globalization, are linked...(AU)

Valoración Geriátrica Integral / Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

El paciente geriátrico es un paciente de especiales características en el que confluyen características propias del envejecimiento fisiológico y las formas especiales de presentación de las patologías, lo que hace necesaria una valoración especial, la Valoración Geriátrica Integral (VGI), la cual nos permite de una manera global valorar las características de éste tipo de pacientes que se escaparían de una valoración clínica usual, que comprende sólo anamnesis y exploración física. La VGI es "un proceso diagnóstico evolutivo multidimensional (porque analiza las diferentes esferas que integran al individuo) e interdisciplinario (interdisciplinaria porque en esta participan diferentes profesionales médicos, enfermeras y asistentes sociales), diseñado para identificar y cuantificar los problemas físicos, funcionales, psíquicos y sociales que puedan presentar los adultos mayores, especialmente los más frágiles, con el propósito de desarrollar un plan individualizado de cuidados integrales, que permita una acción preventiva, terapéutica, rehabilitadora y de seguimiento, con la óptima utilización de recursos, a fin de lograr el mayor grado de autonomía y mejorar la calidad de vida del adulto mayor." Constituye la herramienta fundamental del trabajo del clínico que atiende pacientes dentro del campo geriátrico. Un reciente metanálisis concluyó que los ancianos hospitalizados que se les realizó VGI incrementaron la posibilidad de permanecer vivos en su propia casa, es decir, menos probabilidades de institucionalizarse, de presentar deterioro funcional o de morir, además de experimentar mejoría de la cognición en un máximo de 12 meses comparado con pacientes de las mismas características...(AU)

The geriatric patient is a patient of special features, in which the physiological aging and the special forms of presentation of the pathologies come together which makes a special evaluation necessary such as the Integral Geriatrical valuation (VGI), which allows us with a global approach to value the characteristics of this type of patients, since could be escape of a usual clinical evaluation, this include only anamnesis and physical examination. The VGI it is "a evolutive multidimensional process of diagnosis (because it analyzes different spheres that integrates the individual) and interdisciplinary (interdisciplinary because of the participation of different areas as doctors, nurses and social assistants), designed to identify and quantify physical, functional, psychic and social problems who can present the elderly population, specially the most weak ones, in order to develop an individualized plan of integral cares, that allows preventive, therapeutic , rehabilitative and the follow up antions , with the optimal uses of the resources, in order to obtain a greater degree of autonomy to improve the quality of life of the elderly patients" It is the fundamental tool of work of the clinicians that takes care of elderly patients. A recent meta analysis study concluded that the elderly hospitalized patients that were evaluated with the VGI , increased the possibility of remaining alive at community field at home, it means. less possibilities to received hospitalization and reducing the possibilities to present functional deterioration or of dying, besides to experience improvement of the cognition in a maximum of 12 months compared with patients of the same characteristics.

Prevención cardiovascular en el adulto mayor / Cardiovascular prevention in the elderly

La población mundial >60 años es el grupo etario de más rápido crecimiento, la cual vivirá mayoritariamente en países menos desarrollados, como Guatemala. Las Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (ECV) son la principal causa de muerte de este grupo a nivel mundial y en nuestro país. La estrategia preventiva es el mejor camino para luchar con éxito contra el impacto de las ECV. Son importantes, los cambios en el estilo de vida, actividad física regular, dieta mediterránea, medidas de prevención de la cardiopatía coronaria y del accidente Cerebrovascular, además del control de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular de manera especial Hipertensión Arterial y Diabetes Mellitus, así como utilización de aspirina y estatinas. Se debería implementar más ampliamente la Prevención cardiovascular en el adulto mayor, con el fin de contribuir a mejorar la calidad de vida de este segmento creciente de población.

World population >60 years old, it is the group with fastest growing, which will live mostly in developingcountries like Guatemala. Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among this groupworldwide as our country. The preventive strategy is the best way to successfully combat the impact of CVD.There are important things to do, like, changes in lifestyle, regular physical activity, Mediterranean diet,prevention of coronary heart disease and stroke, as well, as control of cardiovascular risk factors, especiallyHypertension and Diabetes Mellitus and use of aspirin and statins. Should be implemented more widely thecardiovascular prevention in the elderly, in order to help improve the quality of life for this growing segment ofthe population.

Tratamientos benéficos en disminución de riesgo cardiovascular en síndrome metabólico / Beneficial treatments in decreasing cardiovascular risk in metabolic syndrome

El síndrome metabólico es bien conocido y estudiado por la conjunción de patologías que incrementan el riesgo cardiovascular de forma significativa. En la presente revisión se definen las intervenciones no farmacológicas las farmacológicas tanto en monoterapia como en terapia combinada que previenen el síndrome, así como las intervenciones terapéuticas en los pacientes en quienes ya se desarrollo el mismo...

Consejos para una vida saludable / Tips for Healthy Living

El incremento de las enfermedades no transmisibles se está haciendo cada día más evidente en los paises en vías de desarrollo, sin que las enfermedades infecciosas y transmisibles estén controladas o desapareciendo, principalmente la ateroesclerosis, lo cual está muy ligado a la prevalencia cada vez mayor que se observa en todo el planeta de sedentarismo, dietas no saludables...