The Banana MaWRKY18, MaWRKY45, MaWRKY60 and MaWRKY70 Genes Encode Functional Transcription Factors and Display Differential Expression in Response to Defense Phytohormones

SERGIO GARCIA LAYNES VIRGINIA AURORA HERRERA VALENCIA Lilia Guadalupe Tamayo Torres VERONICA LIMONES BRIONES FELIPE ALONSO BARREDO POOL FRAY MARTIN BAAS ESPINOLA Ángel Gabriel Alpuche Solís CARLOS ALBERTO PUCH HAU SANTY PERAZA ECHEVERRIA (2022, [Artículo])

"WRKY transcription factors (TFs) play key roles in plant defense responses through phytohormone signaling pathways. However, their functions in tropical fruit crops, especially in banana, remain largely unknown. Several WRKY genes from the model plants rice (OsWRKY45) and Arabidopsis (AtWRKY18, AtWRKY60, AtWRKY70) have shown to be attractive TFs for engineering disease resistance. In this study, we isolated four banana cDNAs (MaWRKY18, MaWRKY45, MaWRKY60, and MaWRKY70) with homology to these rice and Arabidopsis WRKY genes. The MaWRKY cDNAs were isolated from the wild banana Musa acuminata ssp. malaccensis, which is resistant to several diseases of this crop and is a progenitor of most banana cultivars. The deduced amino acid sequences of the four MaWRKY cDNAs revealed the presence of the conserved WRKY domain of ~60 amino acids and a zinc-finger motif at the N-terminus. Based on the number of WRKY repeats and the structure of the zinc-finger motif, MaWRKY18 and MaWRKY60 belong to group II of WRKY TFs, while MaWRKY45 and MaWRKY70 are members of group III. Their corresponding proteins were located in the nuclei of onion epidermal cells and were shown to be functional TFs in yeast cells. Moreover, expression analyses revealed that the majority of these MaWRKY genes were upregulated by salicylic acid (SA) or methyl jasmonate (MeJA) phytohormones, although the expression levels were relatively higher with MeJA treatment. The fact that most of these banana WRKY genes were upregulated by SA or MeJA, which are involved in systemic acquired resistance (SAR) or induced systemic resistance (ISR), respectively, make them interesting candidates for bioengineering broad-spectrum resistance in this crop."

Banana Transcription factor WRKY Defense phytohormones Salicylic acid Methyl jasmonate SAR ISR Broad-spectrum resistance BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA GENÉTICA GENÉTICA

Functional characterization and cellular dynamics of the CDC-42 - RAC - CDC-24 module in neurospora crassa

CYNTHIA LIZZETH ARAUJO PALOMARES (2011, [Artículo])

Rho-type GTPases are key regulators that control eukaryotic cell polarity, but their role in fungal morphogenesis is only beginning to emerge. In this study, we investigate the role of the CDC-42 - RAC - CDC-24 module in Neurospora crassa. rac and cdc-42 deletion mutants are viable, but generate highly compact colonies with severe morphological defects. Double mutants carrying conditional and loss of function alleles of rac and cdc-42 are lethal, indicating that both GTPases share at least one common essential function. The defects of the GTPase mutants are phenocopied by deletion and conditional alleles of the guanine exchange factor (GEF) cdc-24, and in vitro GDP-GTP exchange assays identify CDC-24 as specific GEF for both CDC-42 and RAC. In vivo confocal microscopy shows that this module is organized as membrane-associated cap that covers the hyphal apex. However, the specific localization patterns of the three proteins are distinct, indicating different functions of RAC and CDC-42 within the hyphal tip. CDC-42 localized as confined apical membrane-associated crescent, while RAC labeled a membrane-associated ring excluding the region labeled by CDC42. The GEF CDC-24 occupied a strategic position, localizing as broad apical membrane-associated crescent and in the apical cytosol excluding the Spitzenkörper. RAC and CDC-42 also display distinct localization patterns during branch initiation and germ tube formation, with CDC-42 accumulating at the plasma membrane before RAC. Together with the distinct cellular defects of rac and cdc-42 mutants, these localizations suggest that CDC-42 is more important for polarity establishment, while the primary function of RAC may be maintaining polarity. In summary, this study identifies CDC-24 as essential regulator for RAC and CDC-42 that have common and distinct functions during polarity establishment and maintenance of cell polarity in N. crassa. © 2011 Araujo-Palomares et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

CDC24 protein, guanine nucleotide exchange factor, protein Cdc42, Rac protein, unclassified drug, cell cycle protein, fungal protein, membrane protein, multiprotein complex, protein Cdc42, Rac protein, allele, apical membrane, article, assay, cell me BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA MICROBIOLOGÍA MICROBIOLOGÍA

Plantas usadas para tratar la litiasis renal o cálculo renal en la región centro del estado de Yucatán, México

PEDRO ALEJANDRO VIL LALOBOS PERERA DANIELA ALEJANDRA MARTINEZ NATAREN MIGUEL ANGEL MUNGUIA ROSAS MARIA TERESA CASTILLO BURGUETE (2023, [Artículo])

En la actualidad, la medicina tradicional ofrece una alternativa terapéutica viable en pacientes principalmente del medio rural, donde está más arraigada y existen pocos recursos económicos e infraestructura para el tratamiento de enfermedades. En el estado de Yucatán la flora medicinal ha sido una opción importante para tratar la litiasis renal. Se presentan las principales plantas usadas como remedios para tratar la litiasis renal en la región centro de Yucatán, así como su proceso de preparación.

CONOCIMIENTO TRADICIONAL FLORA NATIVA HUERTOS FAMILIARES KRUGIODENDRON FERREUM MEDICOS TRADICIONALES RHAMNACEAE BIOLOGÍA Y QUÍMICA CIENCIAS DE LA VIDA BIOLOGÍA VEGETAL (BOTÁNICA) ECOLOGÍA VEGETAL ECOLOGÍA VEGETAL

The input reduction principle of agroecology is wrong when it comes to mineral fertilizer use in sub-Saharan Africa

Gatien Falconnier Marc Corbeels Frédéric Baudron Antoine Couëdel leonard rusinamhodzi bernard vanlauwe Ken Giller (2023, [Artículo])

Can farmers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) boost crop yields and improve food availability without using more mineral fertilizer? This question has been at the center of lively debates among the civil society, policy-makers, and in academic editorials. Proponents of the “yes” answer have put forward the “input reduction” principle of agroecology, i.e. by relying on agrobiodiversity, recycling and better efficiency, agroecological practices such as the use of legumes and manure can increase crop productivity without the need for more mineral fertilizer. We reviewed decades of scientific literature on nutrient balances in SSA, biological nitrogen fixation of tropical legumes, manure production and use in smallholder farming systems, and the environmental impact of mineral fertilizer. Our analyses show that more mineral fertilizer is needed in SSA for five reasons: (i) the starting point in SSA is that agricultural production is “agroecological” by default, that is, very low mineral fertilizer use, widespread mixed crop-livestock systems and large crop diversity including legumes, but leading to poor soil fertility as a result of widespread soil nutrient mining, (ii) the nitrogen needs of crops cannot be adequately met solely through biological nitrogen fixation by legumes and recycling of animal manure, (iii) other nutrients like phosphorus and potassium need to be replaced continuously, (iv) mineral fertilizers, if used appropriately, cause little harm to the environment, and (v) reducing the use of mineral fertilizers would hamper productivity gains and contribute indirectly to agricultural expansion and to deforestation. Yet, the agroecological principles directly related to soil fertility—recycling, efficiency, diversity—remain key in improving soil health and nutrient-use efficiency, and are critical to sustaining crop productivity in the long run. We argue for a nuanced position that acknowledges the critical need for more mineral fertilizers in SSA, in combination with the use of agroecological practices and adequate policy support.

Manure Crop Yields Smallholder Farming Systems Environmental Hazards CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA BIOLOGICAL NITROGEN FIXATION LEGUMES NUTRIENT BALANCE SOIL FERTILITY AGROECOLOGY YIELD INCREASES LITERATURE REVIEWS

Riesgo psicosocial en estudiantes de escuelas secundarias de Yucatán, México

MARIA DE LOURDES PINTO LORIA EFRAIN DUARTE BRICEÑO MARIA FERNANDA PARADA DAVILA (2019, [Artículo])

El objetivo de este estudio fue describir los factores o conductas de riesgos psicosociales presentados en los adolescentes. Se exploraron variables como el tipo de familia, noviazgo, conducta sexual, consumo de alcohol y trabajo según el sexo y región geográfica (urbana, maya y costera) donde se ubican las escuelas incluidas. El tipo de tipo de estudio fue de encuesta, transversal de campo. Participaron 305 alumnos de escuelas secundarias públicas de Yucatán, 153 mujeres (50.1%) y 152 hombres (49.8%), con una media de edad de 13 años. Se elaboró un Cuestionario Semiestructurado de Riesgo Psicosocial (CSRS). Los datos se analizaron mediante el uso frecuencias, descriptivos, análisis de contenido y estadística inferencial utilizando la prueba de χ2. Los adolescentes de la región costera presentaron los puntajes más significativos en actividad sexual temprana, consumo de alcohol, trabajar y recibir pago por ello y, problemas familiares y sociales. Se encontraron diferencias por sexo, donde los varones son los que de manera temprana comienzan su actividad sexual. Se señala la importancia fomentar las habilidades para la vida en la escuela y prevenir dichos riesgos

HUMANIDADES Y CIENCIAS DE LA CONDUCTA Adolescentes Factor o conducta de riesgo psicosocial Estudiantes de secundaria Región geográfica

Maize ZmBES1/BZR1-3 and-9 transcription factors negatively regulate drought tolerance in transgenic arabidopsis

Fuai Sun XUECAI ZHANG Haoqiang Yu (2022, [Artículo])

BZR1s CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA ARABIDOPSIS DNA BINDING PROTEINS PLANT PROTEIN TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS DROUGHT GENE EXPRESSION REGULATION GENETICS MAIZE METABOLISM TRANSGENIC PLANTS ABIOTIC STRESS

Farmers’ perspectives as determinants for adoption of conservation agriculture practices in Indo-Gangetic Plains of India

Ajay Kumar Mishra ML JAT (2022, [Artículo])

Understanding the farmer's perspective has traditionally been critical to influencing the adoption and out-scaling of CA-based climate-resilient practices. The objective of this study was to investigate the biophysical, socio-economic, and technical constraints in the adoption of CA by farmers in the Western- and Eastern-IGP, i.e., Karnal, Haryana, and Samastipur, Bihar, respectively. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was administered to 50 households practicing CA in Western- and Eastern-IGP. Smallholder farmers (<2 ha of landholding) in Karnal are 10% and Samastipur 66%. About 46% and 8% of households test soil periodically in Karnal and Samastipur, respectively. Results of PCA suggest economic profitability and soil health as core components from the farmer's motivational perspective in Karnal and Samastipur, respectively. Promotion and scaling up of CA technologies should be targeted per site-specific requirements, emphasizing biophysical resource availability, socio-economic constraints, and future impacts of such technology.

Smallholder Farmers Agents of Change Technology Diffusion Climate-Smart Practices CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA SMALLHOLDERS SOCIAL STRUCTURE IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY CLIMATE-SMART AGRICULTURE CONSERVATION AGRICULTURE

Agroecology and systems analysis for sustainable agriculture

Santiago Lopez-Ridaura (2022, [Artículo])

Multi-Criteria Tradeoffs Synergies CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA AGROECOLOGY INDICATORS SUSTAINABILITY FARMING SYSTEMS

Strategies steering intensification pathways of farmers in central Malawi

Carl Timler Jeroen Groot Sieglinde Snapp Pablo Tittonell (2023, [Artículo])

Smallholder farmers face many challenges to improve their livelihoods and food security. Intensification of agricultural production can help to achieve these goals. Yet farmers are highly heterogenous in their strategies towards intensification, potentially following unsustainable intensification pathways. Using Q Methodology, we ascertain different strategies regarding farm improvement and intensification of smallholder farmers in the Dedza and Ntcheu Extension Planning Areas in Central Malawi. These strategies were associated to coherent sequential choices as expressed in “managerial intensification pathways” (MIPs). Three main strategies emerged: Seed Saving Peasants, Aspirant Modern Farmers and Entrepreneurial Business(wo)men. These were subsequently linked to four MIPs. Seed Saving Peasants focus strongly on local seed systems and post-harvest protection of grains, but also allocate more labour to improving crop residue use and manure quality, thus pointing to a labour-oriented MIP. Aspirant Modern Farmers willingly adopt hybrid seeds and inorganic fertilizers but require more extension support; these farmers follow a technology-oriented MIP. Entrepreneurial Business(wo)men are early adopters of new technologies and benefit from improved access to market information and suppliers of new technologies and follow a sustainable technology-based or techno-ecological intensification pathway. This study shows that strongly contrasting perspectives on intensification exist among smallholders and it is expected that their preferred intensification choices will have diverging impacts on the sustainability of their farms. A diversity of extension, advice and incentive instruments will be needed to support farmer decision making towards sustainably intensified farms.

Smallholder Farmers Q Methodology CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA SMALLHOLDERS STRATEGIES SUSTAINABLE INTENSIFICATION

El lobo marino de California (Zalophus californianues) y su relación con la pesca en la región de las Grandes Islas, Golfo de California, México

Alfredo Zavala González (1999, [Tesis de doctorado])

El lobo marino de California (Z. californianus) se ha usado desde épocas prehispanicas en aguas mexicanas. En el México Prehispanico los nativos lo utilizaban en bajo nivel. Durante el México Colonial e Independiente, el mayor uso de lobos marinos fue por

The California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) has been utilized in Mexican waters for many years. During the Prehispanic Period, native people used sea lions to a very small extent. The Colonial and Independent Periods showed a higher use of sea lions

Tiburón, Golfo de California, Lobo marino de California, Ciencias del mar CIENCIAS AGROPECUARIAS Y BIOTECNOLOGÍA CIENCIAS AGRARIAS PECES Y FAUNA SILVESTRE PECES Y FAUNA SILVESTRE