Cheek tooth erosion in male babirusa (genus Babyrousa)

The wear on the occlusal surfaces of male babirusa cheek teeth was evaluated in 53 skulls of Babyrousa babyrussa from Buru and the Sula Islands and 87 skulls of B. celebensis from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Based on the comparative lengths of their continually growing maxillary canine teeth, the skulls were divided into five ‘age categories’ (A–E). Numerical and symbolic codes representing tooth wear were applied to each pillar (cusp region) of the mandibular and maxillary permanent third and fourth premolar teeth, and the first, second and third permanent molar teeth. There was no significant difference between the tooth wear patters of skulls in groups A and B, or in groups C and D, and so these were amalgamated. There was close correspondence in wear patterns between each side of the mouth in both species and in each age group. The wear patterns of the mandibular and maxillary teeth, although not identical, were very similar, as were the wear patterns of both species. In group A + B for both species tooth wear was relatively slight, with the M1 teeth experiencing most relative wear. There was almost no wear of the M3 teeth. In group C + D substantial wear of upper and lower M1 was evident. In group E more widespread wear of the cheek teeth was seen, with increased severity of M1 tooth wear, yet there was comparatively much less M2 and M3 tooth wear. The pattern of cheek tooth wear of the Babyrousa spp. was different from that shown by Sus scrofa. Differences in diet selection and processing were highlighted as potential contributing factors. The pattern of cheek tooth wear in male babirusa was not adequate for use to monitor their age.     

Aberrant growth of maxillary canine teeth in male babirusa (genus Babyrousa)

A worldwide survey of babirusa skulls curated in museum and private collections located 431 that were from adult males and had retained at least one maxillary canine tooth. Eighty-three of these skulls were identified as exhibiting aberrant maxillary canine tooth growth. Twenty-four of the skulls represented babirusa from Buru and the Sula Islands, and forty-five skulls represented babirusa from Sulawesi and the Togian Islands. The remaining series of fourteen babirusa skulls originally came from zoo animals. Fifteen skulls showed anomalous alveolar and tooth rotation in a median plane. Twenty-nine skulls had maxillary canine teeth that did not grow symmetrically towards the median plane of the cranium. Fourteen skulls showed evidence that the tips of one or both maxillary canine teeth had eroded the nasal bones. Twenty-one skulls had maxillary canine teeth that had eroded the frontal bones. The teeth of two skulls had eroded a parietal bone. One skull had two maxillary canines arising from an adjacent pair of alveoli on the left side of the cranium. Three skulls exhibited alveoli with no formed maxillary canine teeth in them. Analysis suggested that approximately 12% of the adult male babirusa in the wild experience erosion of the cranial bony tissues as a result of maxillary canine tooth growth. There was no skeletal evidence that maxillary canine teeth penetrate the eye.     

Enrichment and physiological characterization of an anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing bacterium ‘Candidatus Brocadia sapporoensis’

We successfully enriched a novel anaerobic ammonium-oxidizing (anammox) bacterium affiliated with the genus ‘Candidatus Brocadia’ with high purity (>90%) in a membrane bioreactor (MBR). The enriched bacterium was distantly related to the hitherto characterized ‘Ca. Brocadia fulgida’ and ‘Ca. Brocadia sinica’ with 96% and 93% of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence identity, respectively. The bacterium exhibited the common structural features of anammox bacteria and produced hydrazine in the presence of hydroxylamine under anoxic conditions. The temperature range of anammox activity was 20–45 °C with a maximum activity at 37 °C. The maximum specific growth rate (μ_max) was 0.0082 h^?1 at 37 °C, corresponding to a doubling time of 3.5 days. The half-saturation constant (K_S) for nitrite was 5 ± 2.5 μM. The anammox activity was inhibited by nitrite (IC₅₀ = 11.6 mM) but not by formate and acetate. The major respiratory quinone was identified to be menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The enriched anammox bacterium shared nearly half of genes with ‘Ca. Brocadia sinica’ and ‘Ca. Brocadia fulgida’. The enriched bacterium showed all known physiological characteristics of anammox bacteria and can be distinguished from the close relatives by its 16S rRNA gene sequence. Therefore, we proposed the name ‘Ca. Brocadia sapporoensis’ sp. nov.     

Utility of Genomic Analysis in Differentiating Synchronous and Metachronous Lung Adenocarcinomas from Primary Adenocarcinomas with Intrapulmonary Metastasis

Distinguishing synchronous and metachronous primary lung adenocarcinomas from adenocarcinomas with intrapulmonary metastasis is essential for optimal patient management. In this study, multiple lung adenocarcinomas occurring in the same patient were evaluated using comprehensive histopathologic evaluation supplemented with molecular analysis. The cohort included 18 patients with a total of 52 lung adenocarcinomas. Eleven patients had a new diagnosis of multiple adenocarcinomas in the same lobe (n = 5) or different lobe (n = 6). Seven patients had a history of lung cancer and developed multiple new tumors. The final diagnosis was made in resection specimens (n = 49), fine needle aspiration (n = 2), and biopsy (n = 1). Adenocarcinomas were non‐mucinous, and histopathologic comparison of tumors was performed. All tumors save for one were subjected to ALK gene rearrangement testing and targeted Next Generation Sequencing (NGS). Using clinical, radiologic, and morphologic features, a confident conclusion favoring synchronous/metachronous or metastatic disease was made in 65% of patients. Cases that proved challenging included ones with more than three tumors showing overlapping growth patterns and lacking a predominant lepidic component. Genomic signatures unique to each tumor were helpful in determining the relationship of multiple carcinomas in 72% of patients. Collectively, morphologic and genomic data proved to be of greater value and achieved a conclusive diagnosis in 94% of patients. Assessment of the genomic profiles of multiple lung adenocarcinomas complements the histological findings, enabling a more comprehensive assessment of synchronous, metachronous, and metastatic lesions in most patients, thereby improving staging accuracy. Targeted NGS can identify genetic alterations with therapeutic implications.     

Anthropometric dimensions provide reliable estimates of abdominal adiposity: A validation study

Abdominal fat accumulation is a major risk factor for cardiometabolic morbidity and mortality. The purpose of the study is to assess the possibility of developing accurate estimation equations based on body measurements to determine total abdominal (TFA), subcutaneous (SFA) and visceral fat area (VFA). Hungarian volunteers (n = 198) aged between 20 and 81 years were enrolled in the study, which was conducted between July and November 2014. All persons underwent anthropometric measurements and computer tomographic (CT) scanning. Sex-specific multiple linear regression analyses were conducted in a subgroup of 98 participants to generate estimation models, then Bland–Altman's analyses were applied in the cross-validation group to compare their predictive efficiency. The variables best predicting VFA were hip circumference, calf circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) for males (R² = 0.713; SEE = 5602.1 mm²) and sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), WHR, thigh circumference and triceps skinfold for females (R² = 0.845; SEE = 3835.6 mm²). The SFA prediction equation included SAD, thigh circumference and abdominal skinfold for males (R² = 0.848; SEE = 4124.1 mm²), body mass index and thigh circumference for females (R² = 0.861; SEE = 5049.7 mm²). Prediction accuracy was the highest in the case of TFA: hip circumference and WHR for males (R² = 0.910; SEE = 5637.2 mm²), SAD, thigh circumference and abdominal skinfold for females (R² = 0.915; SEE = 6197.5 mm²) were used in the equations. The results suggested that deviations in the predictions were independent of the amount of adipose tissue. Estimation of abdominal fat depots based on anthropometric traits could provide a cheap, reliable method in epidemiologic research and public health screening to evaluate the risk of cardiometabolic events.     

Trophic ecology of the Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea before and during the breeding season in the region of Bejaia (Algeria)

The diet composition of the Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea of the Babor Range is followed by analysis of faecal samples (90 faeces) before and during the breeding season 2010. The Grey Wagtail's diet varies depending on the stage of the breeding cycle at the southern edge of their breeding area in North Africa (Bejaia). The diet consists predominantly of aquatic preys (51.79%), with Coleoptera being the most frequent constituent (n = 331, 45.5%). During the pre-laying period (February–March), the diet was variable (91 prey-taxa and H’ = 3,36 bits) and preys of medium size (5 to 8 mm) were most common. During the incubation period (April–May), preys were mainly aquatic (60%) and larger (20 to 32 mm). At the end of the breeding season (June–July), there was a greater occurrence of terrestrial preys (31 aquatic versus 30 terrestrial taxa).     

Evaluación del efecto del sentido de coherencia en la carga percibida y en la adherencia a un programa psicoeducativo para cuidadores informales de personas dependientes

Introduction

The care of dependent persons is arduous, and requires time, energy, and physical effort on the part of caregivers. Personal characteristics, such as the sense of coherence (SOC), can influence the perceived burden and care giving.

Oral pathology patterns in late farmers of the Central Andes: A comparative perspective between coastal and highland populations

Aiming at future comparisons with earlier hunter-gatherers or transitional populations, this paper intends to characterize and describe the oral pathology pattern of late agriculturalists from Central Andes dating to the Late Intermediate Period (LIP) and Inca periods (1000–1532 CE), and identify differences and/or similarities between coastal and highland populations. Although the botanical inventories of the LIP suggest carbohydrate-rich diets and similar components, it has been hypothesized that coastal and highland populations had, nevertheless, substantially different oral pathology patterns. We evaluated 14 indicators of oral pathology from Los Pinos (n = 200) and Armatambo (n = 25) sites in the Central Coast and two chronological phases from Laguna de los Cóndores site (LC-Inca, n = 23; and LC-LIP, n = 55), in the Peruvian northern highlands. The results showed a recurrent pattern of oral pathologies characterized by cervical caries (above 30%), extra-occlusal caries (above 60%), high rates of gross-gross caries, high frequency of ante mortem tooth loss, and signals of periodontal disease among these four populations. The diets of the coast were slightly more abrasive than those of the highlands. Oral pathology patterns were compatible with a slightly more cariogenic diet in the coast than in the highlands. In all four populations, those patterns were modulated by other common factors such as consumption of fermented drinks (maize beer – chicha) and the coca leaf chewing habit.     

Induction Chemotherapy Has No Prognostic Value in Patients with Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Chronic Hepatitis B Infection in the IMRT Era

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of induction chemotherapy (IC) followed by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) over CCRT alone in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and chronic hepatitis B infection in the intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) era is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 249 patients with stage T1-2 N2-3 or T3-4 N1-3 NPC and chronic hepatitis B infection treated with IMRT were retrospectively reviewed. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to balance covariates; 140 patients were propensity-matched (1:1 basis). Survival outcomes in the IC + CCRT and CCRT groups were compared using the Kaplan–Meier method, log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: No significant survival differences were observed between IC + CCRT and CCRT (5-year overall survival, 88.3% vs. 82.2%; P = .484; disease-free survival, 73.9% vs. 75.2%; P = .643; distant metastasis-free survival, 84.1% vs. 85.1%; P = .781; and locoregional failure-free survival, 87.9% vs. 85.1%; P = .834). After adjusting for known prognostic factors in multivariate analysis, IC was not an independent prognostic factor for any outcome (all P > .05); subgroup analysis based on T category (T1-2/T3-4), N category (N0-1/N2-3), and overall stage (III/IV) confirmed these results. The incidence of hepatic function damage in the IC + CCRT and CCRT groups was not significantly different. CONCLUSION: IC + CCRT leads to comparable survival outcomes and hepatic function damage compared to CCRT alone in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC with chronic hepatitis B infection in the IMRT era. Further investigations are warranted.     

Integrated Analysis Identifies Molecular Signatures and Specific Prognostic Factors for Different Gastric Cancer Subtypes

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. As an effective and easily performed method, microscopy-based Lauren classification has been widely accepted by gastrointestinal surgeons and pathologists for GC subtyping, but molecular characteristics of different Lauren subtypes were poorly revealed. METHODS: GSE62254 was used as a derivation cohort, and GSE15459 was used as a validation cohort. The difference between diffuse and intestinal GC on the gene expression level was measured. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed for both subgroups. Hierarchical clustering and heatmap exhibition were also performed. Kaplan-Meier plot and Cox proportional hazards model were used to evaluate survival grouped by the given genes or hierarchical clusters. RESULTS: A total of 4598 genes were found differentially expressed between diffuse and intestinal GC. Immunity- and cell adhesion–related GOs were enriched for diffuse GC, whereas DNA repair– and cell cycle–related GOs were enriched for intestinal GC. We proposed a 40-gene signature (χ² = 30.71, P < .001) that exhibits better discrimination for prognosis than Lauren classification (χ² = 12.11, P = .002). FRZB [RR (95% CI) = 1.824 (1.115-2.986), P = .017] and EFEMP1 [RR (95% CI) = 1.537 (0.969-2.437), P = .067] were identified as independent prognostic factors only in diffuse GC but not in intestinal GC patients. KRT23 [RR (95% CI) = 1.616 (0.938-2.785), P = .083] was identified as an independent prognostic factor only in intestinal GC patients but not in diffuse GC patients. Similar results were achieved in the validation cohort. CONCLUSION: We found that GCs with different Lauren classifications had different molecular characteristics and identified FRZB, EFEMP1, and KRT23 as subtype-specific prognostic factors for GC patients.     

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of Intratumoral Voxel Heterogeneity as a Potential Response Biomarker: Assessment in a HER2+ Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Xenograft Following Trastuzumab and/or Cisplatin Therapy

We evaluated magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) voxel heterogeneity following trastuzumab and/or cisplatin in a HER2+ esophageal xenograft (OE19) as a potential response biomarker. OE19 xenografts treated with saline (controls), monotherapy, or combined cisplatin and trastuzumab underwent 9.4-T MRI. Tumor MRI parametric maps of T1 relaxation time (pre/post contrast), T2 relaxation time, T2* relaxation rate (R2*), and apparent diffusion coefficient obtained before (TIME0), after 24 hours (TIME1), and after 2 weeks of treatment (TIME2) were analyzed. Voxel histogram and fractal parameters (from the whole tumor, rim and center, and as a ratio of rim‐to‐center) were derived. Tumors were stained for immunohistochemical markers of hypoxia (CA-IX), angiogenesis (CD34), and proliferation (Ki-67). Combination therapy reduced xenograft growth rate (relative change, ? +0.58 ± 0.43 versus controls, ? +4.1 ± 1.0; P = 0.008). More spatially homogeneous voxel distribution between the rim to center was noted after treatment for combination therapy versus controls, respectively, for contrast-enhanced T1 relaxation time (90th percentile: ratio 1.00 versus 0.88, P = 0.009), T2 relaxation time (mean: 1.00 versus 0.92, P = 0.006; median: 0.98 versus 0.91, P = 0.006; 75th percentile: 1.02 versus 0.94, P = 0.007), and R2* (10th percentile: 0.99 versus 1.26, P = 0.003). We found that combination and trastuzumab monotherapy reduced MRI spatial heterogeneity and growth rate compared to the control or cisplatin groups, the former providing adjunctive tumor response information.     

Differential protein expression for geothermal Agrostis scabra and turf-type Agrostis stolonifera differing in heat tolerance

Heat stress is a major factor limiting the growth of cool-season grasses in warm climatic regions by affecting many physiological processes, including protein metabolism. Protein degradation often occurs with increasing temperatures, but certain specific proteins such as heat shock proteins (HSPs) may be induced or enhanced in their expression under supraoptimal temperatures. The objectives of this study were to determine the critical temperature that causes protein induction or degradation in two Agrostis grass species differing in heat tolerance and to compare protein profiles between the two species under different temperature regimes. Plants of heat-tolerant Agrostis scabra and two cultivars of heat-sensitive Agrostis stolonifera (‘L-93’ and ‘Penncross’) were exposed to constant day/night temperatures of 20, 30, 35, 40, or 45 °C for 14 d. Leaf photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), chlorophyll and carotenoid contents, and soluble protein content declined with increasing temperatures. The decreases were the least severe for A. scabra, intermediate for ‘L-93’, and the most severe for ‘Penncross’, indicating interspecific and intraspecific variations in heat tolerance in Agrostis species. Protein degradation was observed at 30–45 °C in both cultivars of A. stolonifera, and at 40–45 °C in A. scabra.HSPs were induced or enhanced at 35–45 °C in ‘L-93’ and A. scabra, and at 40–45 °C in ‘Penncross’. Immunoblotting also revealed stronger expressions of HSP60 and HSP70 in A. scabra or ‘L-93’ than in ‘Penncross’ at 35–45 °C after 3 d. The results suggested the superior heat tolerance of Agrostis grass species and cultivars could be attributed to the early induction of HSPs, particularly small molecular weight (23 kDa), at a lower level of heat stress and the maintenance of protein thermostability, particularly high-molecular weight proteins (83 kDa and large units of Rubisco).     

2D and 3D CT Radiomics Features Prognostic Performance Comparison in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

OBJECTIVE: To compare 2D and 3D radiomics features prognostic performance differences in CT images of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHOD: We enrolled 588 NSCLC patients from three independent cohorts. Two sets of 463 patients from two different institutes were used as the training cohort. The remaining cohort with 125 patients was set as the validation cohort. A total of 1014 radiomics features (507 2D features and 507 3D features correspondingly) were assessed. Based on the dichotomized survival data, 2D and 3D radiomics indicators were calculated for each patient by trained classifiers. We used the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) to assess the prediction performance of trained classifiers (the support vector machine and logistic regression). Kaplan–Meier and Cox hazard survival analyses were also employed. Harrell's concordance index (C-Index) and Akaike's information criteria (AIC) were applied to assess the trained models. RESULTS: Radiomics indicators were built and compared by AUCs. In the training cohort, 2D_AUC = 0.653, 3D_AUC = 0.671. In the validation cohort, 2D_AUC = 0.755, 3D_AUC = 0.663. Both 2D and 3D trained indicators achieved significant results (P < .05) in the Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression. In the validation cohort, 2D Cox model had a C-Index = 0.683 and AIC = 789.047; 3D Cox model obtained a C-Index = 0.632 and AIC = 799.409. CONCLUSION: Both 2D and 3D CT radiomics features have a certain prognostic ability in NSCLC, but 2D features showed better performance in our tests. Considering the cost of the radiomics features calculation, 2D features are more recommended for use in the current study.     

Thymic tumors and results of radiotherapy

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) for treatment outcomes and prognostic factors on survival.

Genetic diversity and population structure of a protected species: Polygala tenuifolia Willd

Polygala tenuifolia Willd. is an important protected species used in traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers were employed to characterize the genetic diversity in wild and cultivated P. tenuifolia populations. Twelve primer combinations of AFLP produced 310 unambiguous and repetitious bands. Among these bands, 261 (84.2%) were polymorphic. The genetic diversity was high at the species level: percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL) = 84.2%, Nei's gene diversity (h) = 0.3296 and Shannon's information index (I) = 0.4822. Between the two populations, the genetic differentiation of 0.1250 was low and the gene flow was relatively high, at 3.4989. The wild population (PPL = 81.9%, h = 0.3154, I = 0.4635) showed a higher genetic diversity level than the cultivated population (PPL = 63.9%, h = 0.2507, I = 0.3688). The results suggest that the major factors threatening the persistence of P. tenuifolia resources are ecological and human factors rather than genetic. These results will assist with the design of conservation and management programs, such as in natural habitat conservation, setting the excavation time interval for resource regeneration and the substitution of cultivated for wild plants.     

Prognostic value of circulating levels of stem cell growth factor beta (SCGF beta) in patients with Chagas’ disease and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Chagas’ disease (CD) often leads to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and during its chronic stage hematopoietic stem or progenitor cells are involved in its pathological process. However, it is not clear whether stem cell growth factor (SCGF) beta can be regulated in patients with CD and idiopathic DCM. In present study, we aim to investigate the plasma SCGF beta concentration and its correlation with echocardiographic parameters and clinical outcome.In this prospective cohort study, SCGF beta levels were quantified in patients with CD (n = 94), DCM (n = 48), and control healthy subjects (n = 25). In comparison with healthy subjects, no statistical difference can be detected in NYHA classes I–II patients. However, SCGF beta was significantly increased in advanced heart failure patients (NYHA III–IV), compared to CD patients without heart failure. There was no group difference between CD and DCM. However, despite this significant increase in advanced heart failure patients, SCGF beta had no significant correlation with echocardiographic parameters, and it cannot be used as a prognostic marker for mortality and heart transplantation.To our best knowledge, this is the first report of SCGF beta in heart failure patients. Although it is significantly increased in advanced heart failure patients caused by CD or DCM, its prognostic value for end points is minor.     

Positive Expression of Programmed Death Ligand 1 in Peritumoral Liver Tissue is Associated with Poor Survival after Curative Resection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Recurrence or metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is mainly intrahepatic after curative resection, demonstrating that the peritumoral environment is important but often neglected. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in intratumoral liver tissues is a poor prognosis factor whose impact is removed after curative resection. However, PD-L1 expression remains in the peritumoral liver tissues and its distribution and prognostic value are still not clear. METHODS: We assessed the expression of PD-L1 by immunohistochemistry in peritumoral liver tissues from 90 HCC patients who underwent curative hepatectomy. The results were validated in an independent cohort of additional 90 HCC patients. RESULTS: We found PD-L1 positive expression in 31.11% (28/90) of peritumoral tissues. Peritumoral PD-L1 expression was associated with a significantly worse overall survival (OS) (P = .000) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P = .001) compared to the negative expression group. Additionally, peritumoral PD-L1 positivity significantly correlated with vascular invasion and a lower albumin level (≤35 g/L). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models both revealed peritumoral PD-L1 as an independent prognostic factor for OS (HR = 2.853, P = .002) and DFS (HR = 2.362, P = .003). The prognostic value of PD-L1 positivity was validated in the independent data set. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest PD-L1 expression in peritumoral hepatocytes is an independent prognostic factor for OS and DFS. This implies that future anti-cancer therapy should target not only residual tumor cells but also the “soil” for promoting tumor growth. Peritumoral PD-L1 could be a good target for adjuvant therapy after hepatectomy.     

Fungal interaction between Trichoderma spp. and Pleurotus ostreatus on the enriched solid media with licorice Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract

The aim of this study is to investigate the antifungal activity of mycelia of Pleurotus ostreatus (white oyster mushroom) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root extract against three undesirable fungi. They are Trichoderma spp., Trichoderma harzianum I and Trichoderma harzianum II which was tested on PSA (potato sucrose agar) medium enriched with licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root extract (PSA-G media) using three concentrations (0.05, 0.10 and 0.20 g/L) in alone and dual cultures. Trichoderma spp. showed less mycelial growth of 8.75, 9.17 and 9.50 mm/day on PSA-G0.05, PSA-G0.1 and PSA-G0.2 respectively compared with 10.25 mm/day on fresh PSA (control) in dual culture. The best mycelial growth inhibition was recorded on PSA-G0.2 (14.97%) by T. harzianum II in alone culture opposite 63.72% in dual ones. The lower mycelial growth rate of T. harzianum I was 17.75 mm/day on PSA-G0.1 (0.10 g/L). In dual culture, overgrowth time of T. harzianum I had 5 days compared as approx. 6 days in alone culture. Generally, when the concentration of licorice extract increased, the mycelial growth rate of the undesirable fungi decreased. Also, all PSA-G media, especially PSA-G0.2, indicated low growth averages compared with the control (fresh PSA) against the pathogen while this concentration encourages growth of oyster mushroom. Also, this concentration reduced the density of sporulation of green molds; therefore, this concentration can be applied to reduce influence this pathogen in cultivation farm.     

Impact of temperature on olive (Olea europaea L.) pollen performance in relation to relative humidity and genotype

Olive varieties ‘Koroneiki’, ‘Kalamata’, ‘Mastoidis’ and ‘Amigdalolia’ were employed in two experiments for 3 years to assess the effect of temperature on olive pollen germination and tube growth in relation to relative humidity and genotype. Pollen samples were subjected to pre-incubation at 10, 20, 30 or 40 °C in combination with decreased air relative humidity – 80, 40, 30 or 20%, respectively – for 24 h to simulate temperature stress that is observed during pollen dispersal; and subsequently in vitro cultured. In the second experiment, pollen was exposed at 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C for 24 h in vitro to evaluate pollen response in conditions of water and nutrients availability and to determine the optimum pollen germination and tube growth temperatures for each cultivar. The highest pre-incubation temperature treatment (40 °C) prevented pollen germination in ‘Koroneiki’ and ‘Mastoidis’, with the less affected varieties (‘Amigdalolia’ and ‘Kalamata’) having average germination percentages of only 7.6 and 2%, respectively. Pre-incubation at 30 °C had a negative impact on pollen germination in ‘Koroneiki’ (?65%), ‘Kalamata’ (?20%) and ‘Amigdalolia’ (?72%) compared to the control (20 °C). Pollen pre-incubation at 40 °C decreased significantly the pollen tube length in ‘Kalamata’ (?50%) and ‘Amigdalolia’ (?52%). In the second experiment, in vitro pollen germination increased after incubation at 25 °C for ‘Koroneiki’ (+6%), ‘Mastoidis’ (+52%), ‘Kalamata’ (+10%) and ‘Amigdalolia’ (+10%) compared to the control (20 °C). At 30 °C germination percentages for ‘Mastoidis’, ‘Kalamata’ and ‘Amigdalolia’ were 8, 6 and 14% higher, respectively, compared to the control (20 °C). Pollen tube length also increased with incubation temperature for all of the studied cultivars. Based on the cumulative stress response index (CSRI) that was calculated for high temperature stress the varieties were classified: ‘Mastoidis’ and ‘Kalamata’ as tolerant and ‘Koroneiki’ and ‘Amigdalolia’ as intermediate at 30 °C while all studied cultivars were sensitive at 40 °C. The observed strong genotype-differentiated response in high and low temperature stress could be exploited by plant breeders towards producing new tolerant olive varieties.