First report of Fusarium falciforme causing root rot and wilt on strawberry in Sinaloa, Mexico.

In Mexico strawberry production has great economic importance for the local and export markets as the country is the main strawberry supplier to the United States (SIAP, 2020). In 2022, strawberry plants with yellowing and wilting leaves, root rot and wilting, necrosis of vascular bundles and small fruits symptoms were observed in different commercial fields in the north-central Mexican state of Sinaloa, causing yield losses of about 10%. Typical Fusarium spp. colonies were recovered from all samples. They produced abundant white aerial mycelium with cream to orange pigment and branched septate hyphae (Fig. 1) (Leslie and Summerell, 2006). A total of 18 monosporic isolates were obtained by serial dilutions. The 18 isolates grown for 10 days on carnation leaf agar (CLA) produced hyaline microconidia with 0-2 septa, measuring 9.2 - 15.4 by 4.5 - 6.5 µm (n = 40) and hyaline macroconidia with three septa that measured 28.4 - 53.5 by 4.5 - 9 µm (n = 40). Chlamydospores were not observed. A fragment of the translation elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-alpha) gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the primer pair EF-1/EF-2 (O'Donnell et al. 1998) from two monosporic isolates. The sequences were registered in the NCBI GenBank under accession numbers OR878541 and OR878543 (FRESIN178 and FRESIN194). BLASTn queries of NCBI GenBank identified the sequences as F. falciforme with 98% and 100% similarity to accession numbers OQ262968 and DQ246941 respectively. Fusarium ID database also identified the sequences as F. falciforme, is a member of the F. solani species complex (FSSC). Phylogenetic analysis revealed the partial EF1 sequences grouped with F. falciforme (Fig. 2). A pathogenicity test was performed on thirty strawberry plants (cv. Cabrillo) grown in sterile vermiculite. The plants were inoculated by immersing roots in 20 mL of a conidial suspension (1 × 105 conidia/mL) of isolate FRESIN194. Twelve uninoculated plants served as the control. All plants were grown for 60 days under greenhouse conditions (28 to 35°C). The assay was repeated twice. After 50 days, symptoms of root rot and wilting leaves like those observed in the field were observed. Uninoculated control plants did not develop symptoms. The fungus was reisolated from necrotic tissues of the inoculated plants and identified as F. falciforme by sequencing the EF1-alpha gene and morphological characteristics, completing Koch's postulates. Fusarium falciforme has been reported as the causal agent of root rot, stem rot, and wilt of tomato, papaya, chickpea, onion, common bean, and maize in Mexico (Díaz-Najera et al. 2021, Douriet-Angulo et al. 2021, Felix et al 2022, Tirado-Ramírez et al 2018, Vega-Gutiérrez et al. 2019a, Vega-Gutiérrez et al. 2019b). To our knowledge this is the first report of F. falciforme causing root rot and wilt on strawberry in Sinaloa, Mexico. This result provides useful information for the development and implementation of disease control strategies to mitigate damage caused by F. falciforme.

Stabilized Morphological Evolution of Spiders Despite Mosaic Changes in Foraging Ecology.

A prominent question in animal research is how the evolution of morphology and ecology interacts in the generation of phenotypic diversity. Spiders are some of the most abundant arthropod predators in terrestrial ecosystems and exhibit a diversity of foraging styles. It remains unclear how spider body size and proportions relate to foraging style, and if the use of webs as prey capture devices correlates with changes in body characteristics. Here, we present the most extensive data set to date of morphometric and ecological traits in spiders. We used this data set to estimate the change in spider body sizes and shapes over deep time and to test if and how spider phenotypes are correlated with their behavioral ecology. We found that phylogenetic variation of most traits best fitted an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck model, which is a model of stabilizing selection. A prominent exception was body length, whose evolutionary dynamics were best explained with a Brownian Motion (free trait diffusion) model. This was most expressed in the araneoid clade (ecribellate orb-weaving spiders and allies) that showed bimodal trends toward either miniaturization or gigantism. Only few traits differed significantly between ecological guilds, most prominently leg length and thickness, and although a multivariate framework found general differences in traits among ecological guilds, it was not possible to unequivocally associate a set of morphometric traits with the relative ecological mode. Long, thin legs have often evolved with aerial webs and a hanging (suspended) locomotion style, but this trend is not general. Eye size and fang length did not differ between ecological guilds, rejecting the hypothesis that webs reduce the need for visual cue recognition and prey immobilization. For the inference of the ecology of species with unknown behaviors, we propose not to use morphometric traits, but rather consult (micro-)morphological characters, such as the presence of certain podal structures. These results suggest that, in contrast to insects, the evolution of body proportions in spiders is unusually stabilized and ecological adaptations are dominantly realized by behavioral traits and extended phenotypes in this group of predators. This work demonstrates the power of combining recent advances in phylogenomics with trait-based approaches to better understand global functional diversity patterns through space and time. [Animal architecture; Arachnida; Araneae; extended phenotype; functional traits; macroevolution; stabilizing selection.].

Single intraovarian dose of stem cell- and platelet-secreted factors mitigates age-related ovarian infertility in a murine model.

BACKGROUND: Systemic administration of soluble factors from bone marrow-derived stem cells combined with activated platelet-rich plasma (SC-PRP) restored ovarian function, mediated through paracrine signaling, in murine models of chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage and human tissue from poor responder patients. However, the effects against age-related infertility and the efficacy of local administration have not been evaluated yet. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess whether a single intraovarian dose of stem cells combined with activated platelet-rich plasma can recover ovarian function, oocyte quality, and developmental competence in older mice. STUDY DESIGN: The effects of stem cells combined with activated platelet-rich plasma against age-related infertility were assessed following controlled ovarian stimulation in an aging murine model reproducing 3 physiological stages of women's reproductive life, namely young, advanced maternal age, and menopausal (n=12 animals per group). Female mice were randomized to receive a single intraovarian injection (10 µL/ovary) of either saline, activated platelet-rich plasma, or stem cells combined with activated platelet-rich plasma. Seven days later, the mice were stimulated, naturally mated, and sacrificed to harvest their ovaries for histologic assessment and molecular analysis and their oviducts to evaluate oocyte maturation and to assess early embryo development. RESULTS: A single intraovarian injection of stem cells combined with activated platelet-rich plasma promoted follicle activation and development in young, advanced maternal age, and old mice. Furthermore, stem cells combined with activated platelet-rich plasma rescued fertility in older mice by enhancing the quantity and quality of ovulated mature oocytes and supporting early embryo development to the blastocyst stage in all the evaluated ages. These fertility outcomes were positively associated with mitochondrial quality, treatment-increased mitochondrial DNA copy numbers, and reduced oxidative damage and apoptosis. Finally, the effects observed by histologic analysis were supported at the proteomic level. Functional proteomic analyses revealed molecular mechanisms involved in oocyte maturation and quality, mitochondrial function, and recovery of the ovarian stroma. CONCLUSION: Bone marrow-derived stem cells combined with activated platelet-rich plasma is a promising treatment with the potential to improve the reproductive outcomes of women with age-related infertility, exceeding the restorative effects of platelet-rich plasma alone. Although further research in human ovarian samples is still required, the autologous nature of stem cell factors collected by noninvasive mobilization, their combination with platelet-rich plasma, and the local administration route suggest that stem cells combined with activated platelet-rich plasma treatment could be a potentially effective and safe application for future clinical practice.

ATCUN-like Copper Site in ßB2-Crystallin Plays a Protective Role in Cataract-Associated Aggregation.

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness worldwide, and it is caused by crystallin damage and aggregation. Senile cataractous lenses have relatively high levels of metals, while some metal ions can directly induce the aggregation of human γ-crystallins. Here, we evaluated the impact of divalent metal ions in the aggregation of human ßB2-crystallin, one of the most abundant crystallins in the lens. Turbidity assays showed that Pb2+, Hg2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ ions induce the aggregation of ßB2-crystallin. Metal-induced aggregation is partially reverted by a chelating agent, indicating the formation of metal-bridged species. Our study focused on the mechanism of copper-induced aggregation of ßB2-crystallin, finding that it involves metal-bridging, disulfide-bridging, and loss of protein stability. Circular dichroism and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) revealed the presence of at least three Cu2+ binding sites in ßB2-crystallin, one of them with spectroscopic features typical for Cu2+ bound to an amino-terminal copper and nickel (ATCUN) binding motif, which is found in Cu transport proteins. The ATCUN-like Cu binding site is located at the unstructured N-terminus of ßB2-crystallin, and it could be modeled by a peptide with the first six residues in the protein sequence (NH2-ASDHQF-). Isothermal titration calorimetry indicates a nanomolar Cu2+ binding affinity for the ATCUN-like site. An N-truncated form of ßB2-crystallin is more susceptible to Cu-induced aggregation and is less thermally stable, indicating a protective role for the ATCUN-like site. EPR and X-ray absorption spectroscopy studies reveal the presence of a copper redox active site in ßB2-crystallin that is associated with metal-induced aggregation and formation of disulfide-bridged oligomers. Our study demonstrates metal-induced aggregation of ßB2-crystallin and the presence of putative copper binding sites in the protein. Whether the copper-transport ATCUN-like site in ßB2-crystallin plays a functional/protective role or constitutes a vestige from its evolution as a lens structural protein remains to be elucidated.

"SARCOPENIA MEASURED BY ULTRASOUND IN HOSPITALIZED OLDER ADULTS" (ECOSARC): multi-centre, prospective observational study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Measurement of muscle mass and function, and thereafter, screening and diagnosis of sarcopenia, is a challenge and a need in hospitalized older adults. However, it is difficult in complex real-world old patients, because usually they are unable to collaborate with clinical, functional, and imaging testing. Ultrasound measurement of quadriceps rectus femoris (QRF) provides a non-invasive, real-time assessment of muscle quantity and quality, and is highly acceptable to participants with excellent inter-rater and intra-rater variability. However, normative data, protocol standardization, and association with longitudinal outcomes, needs further research and consensus. METHODS: Prospective exploratory multicenter study in older adults admitted to Acute Geriatric Units (AGUs) for medical reasons. 157 subjects from 7 AGUs of Spain were recruited between May 2019 and January 2022. Muscle ultrasound measurements of the anterior vastus of the QRF were acquired on admission and on discharge, using a previously validated protocol, using a Chieson model ECO2 ultrasound system (Chieson Medical Technologies, Co. Ltd, Wimxu District Wuxi, Jiangsu, China). Measurements included the cross-sectional area, muscle thickness in longitudinal view, intramuscular central tendon thickness, echogenicity, and the presence or absence of edema and fasciculations. Functional, nutritional, and DXA measurements were provided. Clinical follow-up was completed at discharge, and 30 and 90 days after discharge. Variations between hospital admission and discharge ultrasound values, and the relationship with clinical variables, will be analyzed using paired t-tests, Wilcoxon tests, or Mc Nemar chi-square tests when necessary. Prevalence of sarcopenia will be calculated, as well as sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound measurements to determine sarcopenia. Kappa analysis will be used to analyze the concordance between measurements, and sensitivity analysis will be conducted for each participating center. DISCUSSION: The results obtained will be of great interest to the scientific geriatric community to assess the utility and validity of ultrasound measurements for the detection and follow-up of sarcopenia in hospitalized older adults, and its association with adverse outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05113758. Registration date: November 9th 2021. Retrospectively registered.

First report of Fusarium keratoplasticum causing strawberry root rot in Sinaloa, Mexico.

Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) is a fruit of economic importance for Mexico, occupying the third place in world production, with an approximate production of 861, 337 t (SIAP, 2021). In January 2021, in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico (24°46'46″N; 107°27'04″ W), wilting symptoms (stunted growth, leaf yellowing and wilting, necrosis in vascular bundles, root rot and wilting) were observed on commercial strawberry crops, with an incidence of 5 to 10 %. Tissue samples from symptomatic roots were cut and disinfected with alcohol, sodium hypochlorite and sterile water, to later be plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Fifteen monosporic isolates were obtained by single-spore culturing (Hansen and Smith, 1932). Typical Fusarium spp. colonies were obtained from all root samples. On PDA the colonies were abundant with white aerial mycelium, hyphae were branched and septate, and light-yellow pigmentation was observed in the center of old cultures (Leslie and Summerell 2006). From 10-day-old cultures grown on carnation leaf agar medium, macroconidia were slightly curved, showing three marked septa, broad central cells, slightly tapered apices, foot-shaped basal cells and measured 59.6 - 73.4 (x̄ = 68.7) x 10.4 - 14.9 µm (x̄ = 13.6) (n = 40). The microconidia (n = 40) were thin-walled, hyaline, ovoid unicellular that measured 19.7 - 32.2 (x̄ = 26.6) x 8.8 - 11.8 µm (x̄ = 10.2). The translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1-α) gene (O'Donnell et al. 1998) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. Maximum likelihood analysis was carried out using the EF1-α sequence from the isolate FKTFRESCULSIN (GenBank accession no. OK491929) and other Neocosmospora and Fusarium species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the isolate was Fusarium keratoplasticum (currently named Neocosmospora keratoplastica) belonging to the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC). Pathogenicity tests were performed on strawberry plants (cultivar Camarosa) grown on autoclaved sandy loam soil mix. Twenty plants were inoculated by drenching with 20 ml of a conidial suspension (1 × 105 CFU/ml) in an isotonic saline solution of FKTFRESCULSIN grown on PDA. Ten uninoculated plants served as controls. Plants were maintained for 60 days under greenhouse conditions (25 to 30°C). The assay was conducted twice. Root and stem rot similar to that observed on the infected plants in the field was observed. No symptoms were observed on uninoculated control plants after 60 days. The pathogen was reisolated from necrotic tissue from all inoculated plants and identified as F. keratoplasticum by sequencing the partial EF1-α gene and based on its morphological characteristics, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. To our knowledge, this is the first report of root rot and wilt of strawberry caused by F. keratoplasticum in Mexico; it also contributes knowledge to the scientific community, since there is little information about this pathogen causing damage to plants in the world. Strawberry is an important crop in Mexico, and the occurrence of this disease could threaten strawberry production.

Fusarium verticillioides Causing Root and Stem Rot in Papaya (Carica papaya) in Mexico.

Mexico is the fifth largest producer of papaya in the world with an estimated production of 1, 134, 753 metric tons per year (FAOSTAT 2022). In February 2022, in the center zone of Sinaloa State (Mexico), in a seedling-producing greenhouse, papaya seedlings were observed with an incidence (20%) of root and stem rot and necrotic tissue. Symptomatic tissues were collected from 10 papaya plants, which were cut into small pieces and surface sterilized sequentially with 70% alcohol for 20 s and 1% sodium hypochlorite for 2 min, dried, placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA), and incubated at 26°C in darkness for 5 days. Typical Fusarium spp. colonies were obtained from all root samples. Ten pure cultures were obtained by single-spore culturing and morphologically characterized on PDA and carnation leaf agar (CLA) media. On PDA, the colonies produced abundant white aerial mycelium, and the center of old cultures was yellow pigmentation (Leslie and Summerell 2006). From 10-day-old cultures grown on CLA medium, macroconidia were slightly curved, which showed zero to three septa, with some slightly sharp apices, and basal cells with notches, the measurements were from 22.53 to 48.94 x 6.9 to 13.73 µm (n= 50). The microconidia were presented in abundant chains of microconidia. The microconidia presented thin walls, oval and hyaline in shape, forming long chains, measuring 10.4 to 14.25 x 2.4 to 6.8 µm (n= 50). Chlamydospores were not observed. The translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1-α) gene (O'Donnell et al. 1998) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced from isolate FVTPPYCULSIN (GenBank accession no. OM966892). Maximum likelihood analysis was carried out using the EF1-α sequence (OM966892) and other species from the genus Fusarium. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the isolate was Fusarium verticillioides (100% bootstrap). Furthermore, the isolate FVTPPYCULSIN was 100 % similar with other reported Fusarium verticillioides sequence (GenBank accession nos. MN657268) (Dharanendra et al. 2019). Pathogenicity tests were performed on 60-day-old papaya plants (cultivar Maradol) grown on autoclaved sandy loam soil mix. Ten plants per isolate (n = 10) were inoculated by drenching with 20 ml of a conidial suspension (1 × 105 CFU/ml) of each isolate per plant. The suspension was obtained by collecting the spores of each isolate grown on PDA with 10 ml of an isotonic saline solution. Ten noninoculated plants served as controls. Plants were maintained for 60 days under greenhouse conditions (25 to 30°C). The assay was conducted twice. Root and stem rot similar to that observed on the infected plants in the greenhouse was observed on the papaya plants. No symptoms were observed on noninoculated control plants after 60 days. The pathogen was reisolated from the necrotic tissue from all inoculated plants and was identified again as Fusarium verticillioides by sequencing the partial EF1-α gene again and based on its morphological characteristics, genetic analysis, and pathogenicity test, fulfilling Koch's postulates. The molecular identification was confirmed via BLAST on the Fusarium ID and Fusarium MLST databases. The isolate FVTPPYCULSIN was deposited in the fungal collection of the Faculty of Agronomy of the Autonomous University of Sinaloa. To our knowledge, this is the first report of root and stem rot of papaya caused by F. verticillioides. Papaya is an important fruit crop in Mexico, and the occurrence of this disease needs to be taken into account in papaya production.

First report of Fusarium verticillioides causing safflower root rot in Sinaloa, Mexico.

Safflower cultivation is of great socioeconomic importance worldwide. Production is intended for the extraction of oil from the seeds. In 2021 Mexico ranked fifth in world production with approximately 52,553.28 tons (SIAP, 2021). In April 2022, in the north-central zone of Sinaloa, Mexico, diseased plants were reported in fields planted with safflower. Symptoms included chlorotic plants, necrosis and rot in vascular bundles, dwarfed plants and reflexed plants bent towards the ground. The disease caused estimated losses of 15% of seed production, with respect to the production obtained from the previous year in the safflower fields surveyed. Twenty-five plants with symptoms were sampled to isolate the pathogen. Plants were cut at the base of the stem near the roots and roots cut into 5 mm2 pieces. Tissue samples were superficially disinfected by immersing in 70% alcohol for 10 sec, 2% sodium hypochlorite for 1 min, washed in sterile water, and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 28 ºC for 7 days in the dark. Twelve monosporic isolates derived from the PDA culture were morphologically characterized. Abundant white aerial mycelium and small pink to dark violet pigments in the center of the culture were observed. From 10-day-old cultures grown on carnation leaf agar medium microconidia and macroconidia were produced. Microconidia were hyaline, had zero to two septa, and were oval or ellipsoidal, 4.6 to 14 x 1.8 to 4.2 µm (n = 40). The macroconidia were hyaline, were slightly curved with three to five septa, and measured from 26 to 69 x 3 to 6.1 µm (n = 40). No chlamydospores were observed. According to the morphological characteristics, the isolates were identified as Fusarium verticillioides (Leslie and Summerell, 2006). DNA was extracted from one isolate and the Translation Elongation Factor 1-α (EF1) gene was amplified and sequenced (O'Donnell et al. 2010). The sequence obtained from isolate FV3CARCULSIN with 645 base pairs was submitted to NCBI GenBank with accession number OQ262963. The BLAST search revealed 100% similarity with F. verticillioides isolate 13 (KM598773) (Lizárraga et al. 2015). Identification in FUSARIUM ID resulted in a 99.85% similarity with isolate F. verticillioides CBS 131389 (MN534047) (Yilmaz et al. 2021). A phylogenetic tree, made with sequences of the EF1 gene, revealed that FV3CARCULSIN was most closely related to F. verticillioides (100% bootstrap). Pathogenicity tests were carried out on safflower plants (cv. Oleico) grown in sterile vermiculite. Plants were inoculated with a conidial suspension (1 × 105 conidia/ml) obtained from FV3CARCULSIN grown on PDA for 7 days. A total of 45 plants were inoculated by drenching the roots with 20 ml of inoculum when the plants were 20 days old. Fifteen plants served as negative controls without inoculation. Plants were kept for 60 days in greenhouse conditions; however, after 45 days the plants began to die. The assay was conducted twice. Rotting and necrosis was observed in the roots of the plants. The pathogen was reisolated from the tissue of all the plants with symptoms and identified as F. verticillioides using morphological characteristics and EF1 sequences, completing Koch's postulates. No symptoms were observed in control plants after 60 days. This is the first report of root rot in safflower caused by F. verticillioides in Mexico. The fungus has been reported in maize (Figueroa et al. 2010), but it is unknown if it could be the same pathogen of safflower. Identification of the pathogen is important for implementing management methods to reduce yield losses and for additional studies on the impact of the disease on oil quality extracted from safflower seeds.

Bioleaching of the α-alumina layer of spent three-way catalysts as a pretreatment for the recovery of platinum group metals.

Acid bioleaching of Al by Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans has been explored as an environmentally friendly pretreatment to facilitate the extraction of platinum group metals from spent three-way catalysts (TWC). Biogenic sulfur obtained from desulfurization bioreactors improved the production of acid by A. thiooxidans compared to commercially available elemental sulfur. The lixiviation abilities of bacteria-free biogenic acid and biogenic acid with exponential or stationary phase bacteria were compared against a control batch produced by commercial H2SO4. The maximum Al leaching percentage (54.5%) was achieved using biogenic acids with stationary-phase bacteria at a TWC pulp density of 5% w/v whereas bacteria-free biogenic acid (23.4%), biogenic acid with exponential phase bacteria (21.7%) and commercial H2SO4 (24.7%) showed lower leaching abilities. The effect of different pulp densities of ground TWC (5, 30, and 60% w/v) on Al leaching and bacterial growth was determined. While greater Al leaching yields were obtained at lower TWC pulp density solutions (54.5% at 5% w/v and 2.5% at 60% w/v), higher pulp densities enhanced microbial growth (2.3 × 109 cells/mL at 5% w/v and 9.5 × 1010 cells/mL at 60% w/v). The dissolution of the metal from the solid into the liquid phase triggered the production of biological polymeric substances that were able to absorb traces of both Al (up to 24.80% at 5% w/v) and Pt (up to 0.40% at 60% w/v).

Sustainable Recovery of Platinum Group Metals from Spent Automotive Three-Way Catalysts through a Biogenic Thiosulfate-Copper-Ammonia System.

This study explores an eco-friendly method for recovering platinum group metals from a synthetic automotive three-way catalyst (TWC). Bioleaching of palladium (Pd) using the thiosulfate-copper-ammonia leaching processes, with biogenic thiosulfate sourced from a bioreactor used for biogas biodesulfurization, is proposed as a sustainable alternative to conventional methods. Biogenic thiosulfate production was optimized in a gas-lift bioreactor by studying the pH (8-10) and operation modes (batch and continuous) under anoxic and microaerobic conditions for 35 d. The maximum concentration of 4.9 g S2O32- L-1 of biogenic thiosulfate was reached under optimal conditions (batch mode, pH = 10, and airflow rate 0.033 vvm). To optimize Pd bioleaching from a ground TWC, screening through a Plackett-Burman design determined that oxygen and temperature significantly affected the leaching yield negatively and positively, respectively. Based on these results, an optimization through an experimental design was performed, indicating the optimal conditions to be Na2S2O3 1.2 M, CuSO4 0.03 M, (NH4)2SO4 1.5 M, Na2SO3 0.2 M, pH 8, and 60 °C. A remarkable 96.2 and 93.2% of the total Pd was successfully extracted from the solid at 5% pulp density using both commercially available and biogenic thiosulfate, highlighting the method's versatility for Pd bioleaching from both thiosulfate sources.

Combining genomic, phenotypic and Sanger sequencing data to elucidate the phylogeny of the two-clawed spiders (Dionycha).

The importance of morphology in the phylogenomic era has recently gained attention, but relatively few studies have combined both types of information when inferring phylogenetic relationships. Sanger sequencing legacy data can also be important for understanding evolutionary relationships. The possibility of combining genomic, morphological and Sanger data in one analysis seems compelling, permitting a more complete sampling and yielding a comprehensive view of the evolution of a group. Here we used these three data types to elucidate the systematics and evolution of the Dionycha, a highly diverse group of spiders relatively underrepresented in phylogenetic studies. The datasets were analyzed separately and combined under different inference methods, including a novel approach for analyzing morphological matrices with commonly used evolutionary models. We tested alternative hypotheses of relationships and performed simulations to investigate the accuracy of our findings. We provide a comprehensive and thorough phylogenetic hypothesis for Dionycha that can serve as a robust framework to test hypotheses about the evolution of key characters. We also show that morphological data might have a phylogenetic impact, even when massively outweighed by molecular data. Our approach to analyze morphological data may serve as an alternative to the proposed practice of arbitrarily partitioning, weighting, and choosing between parsimony and stochastic models. As a result of our findings, we propose Trachycosmidae new rank for a group of Australian genera formerly included in Trochanteriidae and Gallieniellidae, and consider Ammoxenidae as a junior synonym of Gnaphosidae. We restore the family rank for Prodidomidae, but transfer the subfamily Molycriinae to Gnaphosidae. Drassinella is transferred to Liocranidae, Donuea to Corinnidae, and Mahafalytenus to Viridasiidae.

Sequence Capture Phylogenomics of True Spiders Reveals Convergent Evolution of Respiratory Systems.

The common ancestor of spiders likely used silk to line burrows or make simple webs, with specialized spinning organs and aerial webs originating with the evolution of the megadiverse "true spiders" (Araneomorphae). The base of the araneomorph tree also concentrates the greatest number of changes in respiratory structures, a character system whose evolution is still poorly understood, and that might be related to the evolution of silk glands. Emphasizing a dense sampling of multiple araneomorph lineages where tracheal systems likely originated, we gathered genomic-scale data and reconstructed a phylogeny of true spiders. This robust phylogenomic framework was used to conduct maximum likelihood and Bayesian character evolution analyses for respiratory systems, silk glands, and aerial webs, based on a combination of original and published data. Our results indicate that in true spiders, posterior book lungs were transformed into morphologically similar tracheal systems six times independently, after the evolution of novel silk gland systems and the origin of aerial webs. From these comparative data, we put forth a novel hypothesis that early-diverging web-building spiders were faced with new energetic demands for spinning, which prompted the evolution of similar tracheal systems via convergence; we also propose tests of predictions derived from this hypothesis.[Book lungs; discrete character evolution; respiratory systems; silk; spider web evolution; ultraconserved elements.].

Phylogeny and biogeography of the ancient spider family Filistatidae (Araneae) is consistent both with long-distance dispersal and vicariance following continental drift.

Filistatids, the crevice weavers, are an ancient family of cribellate spiders without extant close relatives. As one of the first lineages of araneomorph spiders, they present a complicated mixture of primitive and derived characters that make them a key taxon to elucidate the phylogeny of spiders, as well as the evolution of phenotypic characters in this group. Their moderate diversity (187 species in 19 genera) is distributed mainly in arid and semi-arid subtropical zones of all continents, except Antarctica. The objective of this paper is to generate a comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis for this family to advance the understanding of its morphological evolution and biogeography, as well as lay the basis for a natural classification scheme. By studying the morphology using optical and electronic microscopy techniques, we produced a matrix of 302 morphological characters coded for a sample of 103 species of filistatids chosen to represent the phylogenetic diversity of the family. In addition, we included sequences of four molecular markers (COI, 16S, H3 and 28S; 3787 aligned positions) of 70 filistatid species. The analysis of the data (morphological, molecular, and combined) consistently indicates the separation of the Filistatidae into two subfamilies, Prithinae and Filistatinae, in addition to supporting several groups of genera: Filistata, Zaitunia and an undescribed genus from Madagascar; Sahastata and Kukulcania; all Prithinae except Filistatinella and Microfilistata; Antilloides and Filistatoides; a large Old World group including Pritha, Tricalamus, Afrofilistata, Labahitha, Yardiella, Wandella and putative new genera; and a South American group formed by Lihuelistata, Pikelinia and Misionella. Pholcoides is transferred to Filistatinae and Microfilistata is transferred to Prithinae, and each represents the sister group to the remaining genera of its own subfamily. Most genera are valid, although Pikelinia is paraphyletic with respect to Misionella, so we consider the two genera as synonyms and propose a few new generic combinations. Considering the new phylogenetic hypothesis, we discuss the evolution of some morphological character systems and the biogeography of the family. The ages of divergence between clades were estimated using a total-evidence tip-dating approach by including fossils of Filistatidae and early spider clades; this approach resulted in younger age estimates than those obtained with traditional node-dating. Filistatidae is an ancient family that started diversifying in the Mesozoic and most genera date to the Cretaceous. Clades displaying transcontinental distributions were most likely affected by continental drift, but at least one clade shows unequivocal signs of transoceanic long-distance dispersal.

Root Rot and Wilt caused by Fusarium nygamai of Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) in Sinaloa, Mexico.

Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is the second most important crop in Mexico after corn due to high consumption in all regions of the country. Sinaloa state is ranked second in Mexico, producing 140,830 tons in 2020 (SIAP, 2021). In October 2020, wilting symptoms (stunted growth, withered leaves, root rot and wilt) were observed on commercial bean crops in three fields in Culiacan, Sinaloa with an incidence of 3 to 5%. Tissue samples from symptomatic roots were plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA). Typical Fusarium spp. colonies were obtained from all root samples. Three pure cultures were obtained by single-spore culturing. On PDA, the colonies produced abundant white aerial mycelium, and the center of old cultures was light pink with yellow pigmentation (Leslie and Summerell 2006). Macroconidia, from 10-day-old cultures grown on carnation leaf agar, were slightly curved, with three septa, wide central cells, slightly sharp apices, basal foot-shaped cells, measuring 38.5  2.5 × 5.5  1.0 µm (n = 40). Microconidia were hyaline, ovoid, unicellular and measured 12.0  1.5 x 4.8  0.95 µm (n= 40). Chlamydospores were not observed. The translation elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1-α) gene (O'Donnell et al. 1998) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced from isolate FNTL6P7CULSIN (GenBank accession no. OK491917). Maximum likelihood analysis was carried out using the EF1-α sequence (OK491917) and other species from the genus Fusarium. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the isolate was F. nygamai (100% bootstrap). Moreover, isolate FNTL6P7CULSIN was 99.7% (648 bp/649bp), and 99.9 % (648bp/650bp) similar, respectively, with other reported F. nygamai sequences (GenBank accession no. OL415419 and KR612341). Pathogenicity tests were performed on 20-day-old bean plants (cultivar Mayocoba) grown on autoclaved sandy loam soil mix. Twenty plants were inoculated by drenching with 20 ml of a conidial suspension (1 × 105 CFU/ml) in an isotonic saline solution of FNTL6P7CULSIN grown on PDA. Ten uninoculated plants served as controls. Plants were maintained for 60 days under greenhouse conditions (25 to 30°C). The assay was conducted twice. Root and stem rot similar to that observed on the infected plants in the field was observed. No symptoms were observed on uninoculated control plants after 60 days. The pathogen was reisolated from necrotic tissue from all inoculated plants and identified as F. nygamai by sequencing the partial EF1-α gene and based on its morphological characteristics, thus fulfilling Koch's postulates. Fusarium nygamai was associated with Fusarium foot rot of rice in Sardinia by Balmas et al., (2000). Also, this pathogen was reported by Leyva (2015) causing root rot in Maize in Sinaloa, Mexico. To our knowledge, this is the first report of root rot and wilt of bean caused by F. nygamai in Mexico. Bean is an important crop in Mexico, and the occurrence of this disease could threaten bean production.

First Report of Mango malformation disease caused by Fusarium proliferatum in Mexico.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is the most economically important fruit in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Mexico is ranked the fourth largest mango producer worldwide with an approximate production of 2 396 675 t in 2019 (FAO 2020). Sinaloa is the principal mango production state in Mexico with 410,147 t in 2020 (SIAP 2021). Mango malformation disease (MMD) is one of the main limitations in the production of this crop worldwide, causing serious losses in yield. During December 2017 to April 2018, symptoms of MMD were observed in commercial mango in the municipality of El Rosario (Sinaloa, Mexico). These symptoms included malformed and compacted inflorescences, abnormal development of vegetative shoots with shortened internodes at an incidence of 25 %. Tissue from 15 symptomatic trees were superficially disinfested with 2% sodium hypochlorite and transferred to potato dextrose agar (PDA). Typical Fusarium spp. colonies were obtained from all samples. Fifteen pure cultures were obtained by single spore culturing. White to cream-colored aerial mycelia of typical Fusarium colonies were observed from all samples on PDA (Leslie and Summerell 2006). From 10-day-old cultures grown on carnation leaf agar medium, macroconidia (n = 50) were hyaline, relatively slender with a curve, 4 to 5 septate, and measured 39.5 to 76.8 x 5.7 to 9.5 µm. The microconidia (n = 50) were hyaline and pyriform, without septa, and measured 8.1 to 10.6 x 5.1 to 6.9 µm. Chlamydospores were observed. The EF1-α gene (O'Donnell et al. 1998) was amplified by PCR and sequenced from the isolates. The EF1-α sequence from one representative isolate (128FRSIN) was deposited in GenBank with the accession number MK932806. Maximum likelihood analysis was carried out using the representative EF1-α sequence for F. proliferatum (MK932806) and other Fusarium species. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the isolate most closely related was F. proliferatum (100% bootstrap). The molecular identification was also confirmed via BLAST on the Fusarium ID and Fusarium MLST databases. The pathogenicity tests were carried out on healthy three-month-old mango plants. Twenty plants and five shoots per plant were inoculated with 20 µl of the conidial suspension (1 x 106 conidia/ml) (Freeman et al. 1999). Twenty plants served as noninoculated controls. Plants were maintained for 365 days under greenhouse conditions (25 to 30°C). The assay was conducted twice. Symptoms of multiple vegetative shoots and shortened internodes were observed four months after inoculation on the infected plants with an average disease of 4.5 in the first trial and 4.4 in the second assay according to the disease severity scale outlined by Iqbal et al., (2006). No symptoms were observed on non inoculated control plants after 365 days. One isolate per plant was isolated again from the plants with malformation symptoms (n=20), and identified again as F. proliferatum, by morphological and molecular characteristics. F. proliferatum was identified as the causal agent of MMD in China by Zhan et al. (2010). To our knowledge, this is the first report of F. proliferatum causing MMD in Mexico. The development of management strategies to prevent crop loss is required in this important mango production area.

Effect of two different intermediate landfill leachates on the ammonium oxidation rate of non-adapted and adapted nitrifying biomass.

A widely employed approach to minimize the detrimental effect of landfill leachates (LL) on nitrifying biomass is to adapt it to these contaminated effluents prior to use. In the study reported here the impact of different intermediate landfill leachates (intermediate 1 (ILL1) and intermediate 2 (ILL2)) and synthetic medium (SM) on the nitritation rates of non-adapted and adapted nitrifying biomass were evaluated and modeled. The models, based on previously reported models (Haldane, Edwards and Aiba), considered the effect of three different heavy metals (Cu, Ni and Zn) present in both landfill leachates. The proposed models fitted well with the different biomasses. The highest specific substrate oxidation rate (qS) of the present study (41.85 ± 1.09 mg N-NH4+ g TSS-1 h-1) was obtained by the non-adapted biomass using SM. The non-adapted biomass was characterized by ~5- and ~28-fold higher nitritation rates on using the different ammonium sources tested (SM, ILL1 and ILL2) when compared to the other biomasses adapted to ILL1 (~9 mg N-NH4+ g TSS-1 h-1) and ILL2 (~1.3 mg N-NH4+ g TSS-1 h-1), respectively. The calculated inhibition constants indicate that the inhibitory effect of the heavy metals followed the order Ni>Zn>Cu. The results reported here bring into question the commonly accepted idea that an adaptation period of the biomass is required to treat landfill leachate.

Immediate impact of COVID-19 pandemic on farming systems in Central America and Mexico.

CONTEXT: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all sectors and human activities around the World. OBJECTIVE: In this article we present a first attempt to understand the immediate impact of COVID-19 and the sanitary measures taken by governments on farming systems in Central America and Mexico (CAM). METHODS: Through a review of information generated in these initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic (webinars, blogs, electronic publications, media) and 44 interviews with key informants across the region, we have identified the main impacts felt by different types of farming systems in the region. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: From corporate agricultural production systems, to small and medium scale entrepreneurs and smallholder subsistence farm households, all types of farming systems were impacted, more or less severely, by the different measures implemented by governments such as reduced mobility, closure of public and private venues and restrictions in borders. Larger corporate farming systems with vertical market integration and high level of control or coordination within the supply chain, and smallholder or subsistence farming systems with important focus on production for self-consumption and little external input use, were both relatively less impacted and showed greater adaptive capacity than the medium and small entrepreneurial farming systems dependent on agriculture as their primary income and with less control over the upstream and downstream parts of their supply chain. All types of farming systems implemented a series of mechanisms to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic including the development of alternative value chains, food and agricultural products delivery systems and the exponential use of digital means to communicate and maintain the viability of the different agricultural systems. Collective action and organization of farmers also proved to be an important coping mechanism that allowed some farmers to acquire inputs and deliver outputs in the context of restricted mobility, price volatility, and general uncertainty. Some features of the CAM region played an important role in mediating the impact of COVID-19 and associated sanitary measures. We identify as particularly relevant the nature of agricultural exports, the current structure of the agricultural sector, the diversified livelihood strategies of rural households, and the importance of mobility for rural livelihoods. SIGNIFICANCE: The results presented focus only in the immediate effect of COVID-19 pandemic and the mechanisms implemented by farmers in the first months. Whether these impacts and response mechanisms will result in a transformation of the farming systems towards greater resilience and sustainability is still an open question.

Impulsivity, decision-making and risk-taking behaviour in bipolar disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Despite the robust body of work on cognitive aspects of bipolar disorder (BD), a clear profile of associated impairments in impulsivity, decision-making and risk-taking from studies that use behavioural measures has yet to be established. A systematic review, across four electronic databases (PsycINFO, MEDLINE/PubMed, ScienceDirect and Scopus), of literature published between January 1999 and December 2018 was carried out in accordance with the PRISMA statement. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018114684). A fixed-effect and random-effects meta-analysis using the Hedges' g (ES) estimate was performed. The analysis revealed significant impairment in BD individuals with medium effect sizes in various aspects of impulsivity - response inhibition (ES = 0.49; p < 0.0001), delay of gratification (ES = 0.54; p < 0.0001) and inattention (ES = 0.49; p < 0.0001) - and in decision-making (ES = 0.61, p = 0.0002), but no significant impairment in risk-taking behaviour (ES = 0.41; p = 0.0598). Furthermore, we found significant heterogeneity between studies for decision-making and risk-taking behaviour but not for impulsivity. Impaired risk-taking behaviour was significant in a subgroup of BD-I and euthymic individuals (ES = 0.92; p < 0.0001) with no significant heterogeneity. A stratification analysis revealed comparable results in euthymic and non-euthymic individuals for impulsivity. Our findings suggest that behaviour impulsivity is elevated in all phases of BD, representing a core and clinically relevant feature that persists beyond mood symptoms. More studies about decision-making and risk-taking are necessary to establish if they are impaired in BD and to analyze the role of mood state.

The Grass was Greener: Repeated Evolution of Specialized Morphologies and Habitat Shifts in Ghost Spiders Following Grassland Expansion in South America.

While grasslands, one of Earth's major biomes, are known for their close evolutionary ties with ungulate grazers, these habitats are also paramount to the origins and diversification of other animals. Within the primarily South American spider subfamily Amaurobioidinae (Anyphaenidae), several species are found living in the continent's grasslands, with some displaying putative morphological adaptations to dwelling unnoticed in the grass blades. Herein, a dated molecular phylogeny provides the backbone for analyses revealing the ecological and morphological processes behind these spiders' grassland adaptations. The multiple switches from Patagonian forests to open habitats coincide with the expansion of South America's grasslands during the Miocene, while the specialized morphology of several grass-dwelling spiders originated at least three independent times and is best described as the result of different selective regimes operating on macroevolutionary timescales. Although grass-adapted lineages evolved towards different peaks in adaptive landscape, they all share one characteristic: an anterior narrowing of the prosoma allowing spiders to extend the first two pairs of legs, thus maintaining a slender resting posture in the grass blade. By combining phylogenetic, morphological, and biogeographic perspectives we disentangle multiple factors determining the evolution of a clade of terrestrial invertebrate predators alongside their biomes.

Hunting the wolf: A molecular phylogeny of the wolf spiders (Araneae, Lycosidae).

Lycosids are a diverse family of spiders distributed worldwide. Previous studies recovered some of the deeper splits of the family, but with little support. We present a broad phylogenetic analysis of the Lycosidae including a wide geographic sampling of representatives and all the subfamilies described to date. Additionally, we extend the amount of molecular data used in previous studies (28S, 12S and NADH) through the inclusion of two additional markers, the nuclear H3 and the mitochondrial COI. We estimated the divergence times through the inclusion of fossils as calibration points and used the phylogenetic hypothesis obtained to explore the evolution of particular traits associated with dispersal capabilities. We recovered most of the currently recognized subfamilies with high nodal support. Based on these results, we synonymize Piratinae and Wadicosinae with Zoicinae and Pardosinae, respectively, and revalidate the subfamily Hippasinae. We corroborated that lycosids are a family with a relatively young origin that diversified with the reduction of tropical forests and the advance of open habitats. We show that a gradual accumulation of behavioral traits associated with ambulatory dispersal made Lycosidae the most vagrant subfamily of spiders, with an impressive ability to disperse long distances which helps to explain the worldwide distribution of some very young clades, such as the members of the subfamily Lycosinae.