Co-Adjuvant Therapy Efficacy of Catechin and Procyanidin B2 with Docetaxel on Hormone-Related Cancers In Vitro.

Prostate (PC) and breast cancer (BC) are heterogeneous hormonal cancers. Treatment resistance and adverse effects are the main limitations of conventional chemotherapy treatment. The use of sensitizing agents could improve the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic drugs as well as obviate these limitations. This study analyzes the effect of single catechin (CAT), procyanidin B2 (ProB2) treatment as well as the co-adjuvant treatment of each of these compounds with docetaxel (DOCE). We used PC- and BC-derived cell lines (PC3, DU-145, T47D, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). The short and long-term pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative and anti-migratory effects were analyzed. RT-qPCR was used to discover molecular bases of the therapeutic efficacy of these compounds. ProB2 treatment induced a two- to five-fold increase in anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects compared to single DOCE treatment, and also had a more sensitizing effect than DOCE on DU145 cells. Regarding BC cells, ProB2- and CAT-mediated sensitization to DOCE anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects was cell-independent and cell-dependent, respectively. Combined treatment led to high-efficacy effects on MCF-7 cells, which were associated to the up-regulation of CDKN1A, BAX, caspase 9 and E-cadherin mRNA under combined treatment compared to single DOCE treatment. CAT and ProB2 can enhance the efficacy of DOCE therapy on PC and BC cells by the sensitizing mechanism.

Variation in Susceptibility to Downy Mildew Infection in Spanish Minority Vine Varieties.

Downy mildew is one of the most destructive diseases affecting grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.). Caused by the oomycete Plasmopara viticola (Berk. and Curt.) Berl. and de Toni, it can appear anywhere where vines are cultivated. It is habitually controlled by the application of phytosanitary agents (copper-based or systemic) at different stages of the vine growth cycle. This, however, is costly, can lead to reduced yields, has a considerable environmental impact, and its overuse close to harvest can cause fermentation problems. All grapevines are susceptible to this disease, although the degree of susceptibility differs between varieties. Market demands and European legislation on viticulture and the use of phytosanitary agents (art. 14 of Directive 128/2009/EC) now make it important to know the sensitivity of all available varieties, including minority varieties. Such knowledge allows for a more appropriate use of phytosanitary agents, fosters the commercial use of these varieties and thus increases the offer of wines associated with different terroirs, and helps identify material for use in crop improvement programmes via crossing or genetic transformation, etc. Over 2020-2021, the susceptibility to P. viticola of 63 minority vine varieties from different regions of Spain was examined in the laboratory using the leaf disc technique. Some 87% of these varieties were highly susceptible and 11% moderately susceptible; just 2% showed low susceptibility. The least susceptible of all was the variety Morate (Madrid, IMIDRA). Those showing intermediate susceptibility included the varieties Sanguina (Castilla la Mancha, IVICAM), Planta Mula (Comunidad Valenciana, ITVE), Rayada Melonera (Madrid, IMIDRA), Zamarrica (Galicia, EVEGA), Cariñena Roja (Cataluña, INCAVI), Mandrègue (Aragón, DGA) and Bastardo Blanco (Extremadura, CICYTEX). The highly susceptible varieties could be differentiated into three subgroups depending on sporulation severity and density.

Evaluation and Pre-selection of New Grapevine Genotypes Resistant to Downy and Powdery Mildew, Obtained by Cross-Breeding Programs in Spain.

The need to develop an environmentally friendly, sustainable viticulture model has led to numerous grapevine improvement programmes aiming to increase resistance to downy and powdery mildew. The success of such programmes relies on the availability of protocols that can quantify the resistance/susceptibility of new genotypes, and on the existence of molecular markers of resistance loci that can aid in the selection process. The present work assesses the degree of phenotypic resistance/susceptibility to downy and powdery mildew of 28 new genotypes obtained from crosses between "Monastrell" and "Regent." Three genotypes showed strong combined resistance, making them good candidates for future crosses with other sources of resistance to these diseases (pyramiding). In general, laboratory and glasshouse assessments of resistance at the phenotype level agreed with the resistance expected from the presence of resistance-associated alleles of simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for the loci Rpv3 and Ren3 (inherited from "Regent"), confirming their usefulness as indicators of likely resistance to downy and powdery mildew, respectively, particularly so for downy mildew.

Narcea-an unknown, ancient cultivated rose variety from northern Spain.

The present work reports the discovery and the complete characterisation of an ancient cultivated rose variety found growing in a private garden in the southwest of the Principality of Asturias (northern Spain). The variety is here given the name Narcea. The majority of roses currently cultivated belong to the so-called group of 'Modern Roses', all of which were obtained after 1867 via artificial crosses and improvement programmes. All are destined for ornamental use. Until the 19th century, the great majority of the many ancient cultivated roses in Europe were used in perfumery and cosmetics, or had medicinal uses. Rosa damascena and Rosa centifollia are still grown and used by the French and Bulgarian perfume industries. The Asturian Massif of the Cantabrian Mountain Range provides a natural habitat for some 75% of the wild members of the genus Rosa, but until now there was no evidence that this area was home to ancient cultivated roses. A complete botanical description is here provided for a discovered ancient rose. It is also characterised according to a series of sequence tagged microsatellite sites, and its agronomic features are reported. In addition, a histological description (optical and scanning electronic microscope studies) of the petals is offered, along with an analysis of the volatile compounds present in these organs as determined by solid phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The results reveal the uniqueness of this ancient type of rose and suggest it may be of interest to the perfume industry.

Factors Affecting the Vineyard Populational Diversity of Plasmopara viticola.

Vitis vinifera is very susceptible to downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola). A number of authors have suggested different genetic populations of this fungus exist in Europe, each showing a different degree of virulence. Work performed to date indicates this diversity to be the result of different factors. In areas where gene flow is greater and recombination more frequent, the diversity of P. viticola appears to be wider. In vineyards isolated by geographic barriers, a race may become dominant and produce clonal epidemics driven by asexual reproduction. The aim of the present work was to identify the conditions that influence the genetic diversity of P. viticola populations in the vineyards of northwestern Spain, where the climatic conditions for the growth of this fungus are very good. Vineyards situated in a closed, narrow valley of the interior, in more open valleys, and on the coast were sampled and the populations of P. viticola detected were differentiated at the molecular level through the examination of microsatellite markers. The populations of P. viticola represented in primary and secondary infections were investigated in the same way. The concentration of airborne sporangia in the vegetative cycle was also examined, as was the virulence of the different P. viticola populations detected. The epidemiological characteristics of the fungus differed depending on the degree of isolation of the vineyard, the airborne spore concentration, and on whether the attack was primary or secondary. Strong isolation was associated with the appearance of dominant fungal races and, therefore, reduced populational diversity.

The Course of Colonization of Two Different Vitis Genotypes by Plasmopara viticola Indicates Compatible and Incompatible Host-Pathogen Interactions.

ABSTRACT The course of colonization of leaf mesophyll by the causal agent of grapevine downy mildew, Plasmopara viticola, in a susceptible and a resistant grapevine genotype was examined in order to characterize the development of the pathogen in compatible and incompatible host-pathogen interactions. Within a few hours after inoculation, the pathogen was established in the susceptible Vitis vinifera cv. Müller-Thurgau and formed primary hyphae with a first haustorium. No further development occurred in the following 10 to 18 h. The next step, in which the hyphae grew and branched to colonize the intercellular space of the host tissue, was observed 1.5 days after inoculation. After 3 days, the intercostal fields were entirely filled with mycelium and sporulation was abundant under favorable environmental conditions. The first infection steps were essentially the same in the resistant V. rupestris. However, the invasive growth of P. viticola was delayed, and further development ceased before the intercostal fields were filled with mycelium.

Classification and characterization of different white grape juices by using a hybrid electronic tongue.

A multisensor system combined with multivariate analysis is applied for the characterization and classification of white grape juices. The proposed system, known as hybrid electronic tongue, consists of an array of electrochemical microsensors and a colorimetric optofluidic system. A total of 25 white grape juices representing the large variability of vines grown in the Northwest Iberian Peninsula were studied. The data obtained were treated with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Soft Independent Modeling Class Analogy (SIMCA). The first tool was used to train the system with the reference genotypes -Albariño, Muscat à Petit Grains Blanc and Palomino- and the second to study the feasibility of the hybrid electronic tongue to distinguish between different grape juice varieties. The results show that the three reference genotypes are well differentiated in the PCA model and this can be used to interpolate the rest of varieties and predict their basic characteristics. Besides, using the SIMCA, the system demonstrates high potential for classifying and discriminating grape varieties.