Strategy for selection of soybean genotypes tolerant to drought during germination.

Water deficit is the main reason for instability in the context of soybean culture. The development of strategies for the selection of more tolerant genotypes is necessary. These strategies include the use of polyethylene glycol 6000 solutions (PEG-6000) for conducting the germination test under conditions of water restriction. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the osmotic potential and the main characteristics that promote the discrimination of soybean genotypes with regard to water stress tolerance during germination and the vigor test. Thirteen soybean cultivars were used. The seeds were allowed to germinate on sheets of germitest paper moistened in solution with PEG-6000, simulating different levels of water availability, which is expressed as osmotic potential (0.0, -0.2, -0.4, and -0.6 MPa). We assessed germination, length, and dry mass for seedlings and seeds, as well as reserve dynamics. Germination and variables related to the dynamics of reservation have great influence on the expression of variability in environments under stress. Among the different osmotic potentials, the -0.2 MPa was the most efficient for the expression of genetic variability among the cultivars. Conducting the germination test with PEG-6000 solution to -0.2 MPa was efficient for selecting soybean cultivars tolerant to water stress. This was accomplished by evaluating the percentage of germination, along with variables related to the dynamics of reservation.

N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide, but not brain natriuretic peptide, is increased in patients with severe obesity.

Elevated body mass index (BMI) has been reported as a risk factor for heart failure. Prevention of heart failure through identification and management of risk factors and preclinical phases of the disease is a priority. Levels of natriuretic peptides as well as activity of their receptors have been found altered in obese persons with some conflicting results. We investigated cardiac involvement in severely obese patients by determining N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and attempting to correlate the levels of these peptides in serum and plasma, respectively, with BMI, duration of obesity, waist circumference, and echocardiographic parameters. Thirty-three patients with severe obesity (mean BMI: 46.39 kg/m(2), mean age: 39 years) were studied. The control group contained 30 healthy age-matched individuals (BMI: <25 kg/m(2), mean age: 43 years). The t-test and Spearman correlation were used for statistical analysis. Log-NT-proBNP was significantly higher (P = 0.003) in obese patients (mean 1.67, 95% CI: 1.50-1.83 log pg/mL) compared to controls (mean: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.17-1.47 log pg/mL). The Log-NT-proBNP concentration correlated with duration of obesity (r = 0.339, P < 0.004). No difference was detected in the Log-BNP concentration (P = 0.63) of obese patients (mean: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.46-1.00 log pg/mL) compared to controls (mean: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.51-0.81 log pg/mL). NT-proBNP, but not BNP, is increased in severely obese patients and its concentration in serum is correlated with duration of obesity. NT-proBNP may be useful as an early diagnostic tool for the detection of cardiac burden due to severe obesity.

N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide, but not brain natriuretic peptide, is increased in patients with severe obesity

Elevated body mass index (BMI) has been reported as a risk factor for heart failure. Prevention of heart failure through identification and management of risk factors and preclinical phases of the disease is a priority. Levels of natriuretic peptides as well as activity of their receptors have been found altered in obese persons with some conflicting results. We investigated cardiac involvement in severely obese patients by determining N-terminal-pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and attempting to correlate the levels of these peptides in serum and plasma, respectively, with BMI, duration of obesity, waist circumference, and echocardiographic parameters. Thirty-three patients with severe obesity (mean BMI: 46.39 kg/m², mean age: 39 years) were studied. The control group contained 30 healthy age-matched individuals (BMI: <25 kg/m², mean age: 43 years). The t-test and Spearman correlation were used for statistical analysis. Log-NT-proBNP was significantly higher (P = 0.003) in obese patients (mean 1.67, 95 percent CI: 1.50-1.83 log pg/mL) compared to controls (mean: 1.32, 95 percent CI: 1.17-1.47 log pg/mL). The Log-NT-proBNP concentration correlated with duration of obesity (r = 0.339, P < 0.004). No difference was detected in the Log-BNP concentration (P = 0.63) of obese patients (mean: 0.73, 95 percent CI: 0.46-1.00 log pg/mL) compared to controls (mean: 0.66, 95 percent CI: 0.51-0.81 log pg/mL). NT-proBNP, but not BNP, is increased in severely obese patients and its concentration in serum is correlated with duration of obesity. NT-proBNP may be useful as an early diagnostic tool for the detection of cardiac burden due to severe obesity.

Epidemiología de enfermedades fúngicas de postcosecha en frutos de papaya / Epidemiology of postharcest fungal diseases in papaya fruits

Se analizó el impacto de las enfermedades fúngicas en las pérdidas de postcosecha de papaya en la fase de comercialización, evaluando la influencia de la temperatura en la manifestación de las enfermedades de postcosecha y del binomio temperatura-humedad relativa en la severidad de la pudrición causada por Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Cuatro supermercados, en la cuidad de Recife (Estado de Pernambuco, Brasil), fueron analizados en cuanto al impacto de las enfermedades fúngicas postcosecha en las pérdidas de frutos de papaya. Estas fueron las principales causas de descarte, correspondiendo un 98 por ciento al Cultivar Formosa y 90,5 por ciento al Cultivar Sunrise Solo. Los principales hongos involucrados en el proceso de infección fueron Colletotrichum gloeosporiodes, L. Theobromae y Rhizopus stolonifer, agentes causales de la antracnosis, pudrición peduncular y pudrición acuosa, respectivamente. Al analizar la influencia de la temperatura (5, 15 y 30°C) en los frutos con aspecto sano, se constató que las principales enfermedades fueron las mismas observadas en los frutos descartados. A temperaturas de 5 y 15°C, la antracnosis presentó una mayor incidencia en relación con las otras enfermedades, mientras que la pudrición peduncular fue constatada solamente a 30°C, con incidencia superior a las demás. En el análisis de la influencia de la temperatura y la humedad sobre la severidad de la pudrición causada por L. theobromae, no se observaron síntomas de la enfermedad en frutos en humedad relativa inferior o igual al 90 por ciento. En presencia de elevada humedad, sólo a partir de 25°C fue constada la incidencia de la enfermedad, con un aumento en la severidad de la misma con la elevación de la temperatura y del período de humedad relativa.