Grafting response to excess boron and expression analysis of genes coding boron transporters in tomato.

Boron (B) is essential for plant growth, however its excess in soil and/or in irrigation water can severely compromise plant growth and yield. The goal of this work was to determine whether grafting onto 'Arnold', a commercial interspecific hybrid (Solanum lycopersicum × S. habrochaites) rootstock, which in a previous study was found to be tolerant to salt stress, could improve tomato (S. lycopersicum L. 'Ikram') tolerance to excess B, and whether this effect is associated with an exclusion mechanism. Non-grafted, self-grafted and grafted plants were hydroponically grown in a greenhouse with B concentration in the nutrient solution of 0.27 (control), 5, 10 and 15 mg·l-1 . A transcription analysis was carried out on SlNIP5 and SlBOR1 genes, which encode putative B transporters. Grafting 'Ikram' onto 'Arnold' rootstock reduced B concentration in leaf tissue of plants exposed to B concentrations of 10-15 mg·l-1 . At high B levels, SlNIP5 was down-regulated in all grafting combinations, while SlBOR1 was down-regulated only in the roots of plants grafted onto 'Arnold'. We conclude that grafting the susceptible tomato cultivar 'Ikram' onto the commercial rootstock 'Arnold' improved tolerance to excess B by reducing expression of genes encoding for B transporters at the root level, thus partially reducing the root uptake of B and its accumulation in the shoot.

[Crohn's disease in the elderly]. / Il morbo di Crohn in età geriatrica.

Primary Crohn's disease in the elderly is a not frequent pathology, which however have distinguished from the reheightening or relapse of an inflammatory illness risen up in juvenile age. The Authors compare the personal experience (6 cases on 120 patients operated for Crohn's disease) with the data of the literature. The more frequent localization stays the ileo-colic one, also if in the elderly present better impact the cases of Crohn's colitis (pancolitis or left colitis), with frequent and- perianal implications. The symptomatology is not pathognomonic and above all in the cases of colitis sets problems of differential diagnosis with other pathologies, among which the diverticular disease, that on the other hand, can also coexist with the inflammatory illness. A pharmacological treatment is desiderable, but frequently doesn't result effective. The surgical conservative therapy is not always possible and could be necessary resort to maiming interventions, like massive ileal resections or a total proctocolectomy. From the prognostic point of view, the course appears from the beginning or very favorable (with low index of relapse) or tumultuous (with acute manifestations, which require an emergency surgery, wighted by a more elevated rates of mortality and morbidity.