Breeding species for resistance to disease in the Iberian Peninsula.

Alders are widely distributed riparian trees in Europe, North Africa and Western Asia. Recently, a strong reduction of alder stands has been detected in Europe due to infection by species (Stramenopila kingdom). This infection causes a disease known as alder dieback, characterized by leaf yellowing, dieback of branches, increased fruit production, and bark necrosis in the collar and basal part of the stem.

Comparative Stem Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Pathways Associated with Drought Tolerance in Maritime Pine Grafts.

The maritime pine ( Ait.) is a highly valuable Mediterranean conifer. However, recurrent drought events threaten its propagation and conservation.

Maritime Pine Rootstock Genotype Modulates Gene Expression Associated with Stress Tolerance in Grafted Stems.

Climate change-induced hazards, such as drought, threaten forest resilience, particularly in vulnerable regions such as the Mediterranean Basin. Maritime pine ( Aiton), a model species in Western Europe, plays a crucial role in the Mediterranean forest due to its genetic diversity and ecological plasticity. This study characterizes transcriptional profiles of scion and rootstock stems of four graft combinations grown under well-watered conditions.

Correlating the above- and belowground genotype of Pinus pinaster trees and rhizosphere bacterial communities under drought conditions.

Increasing temperatures along with severe droughts are factors that may jeopardize the survival of the forests in the Mediterranean basin. In this region, Pinus pinaster is a common conifer species, that has been used as a model species in evolutionary studies due to its adaptive response to changing environments. Although its drought tolerance mechanisms are already known, knowledge about the dynamics of its root microbiota is still scarce.

Comprehensive analysis of the isomiRome in the vegetative organs of the conifer Pinus pinaster under contrasting water availability.

An increasing number of microRNAs (miRNAs) and miRNA-related sequences produced during miRNA biogenesis, comprising the isomiRome, have been recently highlighted in different species as critical mediators of environmental stress responses. Conifers have some of the largest known genomes but an extensive characterization of the isomiRome from any conifer species has been lacking. We provide here a comprehensive overview of the Pinus pinaster isomiRome expressed in roots, stem and needles under well-watered and drought conditions.

Molecular study of drought response in the Mediterranean conifer Ait.: Differential transcriptomic profiling reveals constitutive water deficit-independent drought tolerance mechanisms.

Adaptation of long-living forest trees to respond to environmental changes is essential to secure their performance under adverse conditions. Water deficit is one of the most significant stress factors determining tree growth and survival. Maritime pine ( Ait.

Analysis of DNA Cytosine Methylation Patterns Using Methylation-Sensitive Amplification Polymorphism (MSAP).

Different molecular techniques have been developed to study either the global level of methylated cytosines or methylation at specific gene sequences. One of them is the methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism technique (MSAP) which is a modification of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). It has been used to study methylation of anonymous CCGG sequences in different fungi, plants, and animal species.

Evidence of intense chromosomal shuffling during conifer evolution.

While recent advances have been gained on genome evolution in angiosperm lineages, virtually nothing is known about karyotype evolution in the other group of seed plants, the gymnosperms. Here we used high density gene-based linkage mapping to compare the karyotype structure of two families of conifers (the most abundant group of gymnosperms) separated around 290 million years ago: Pinaceae and Cupressaceae. We propose for the first time a model based on the fusion of 20 ancestral chromosomal blocks that may have shaped the modern karyotpes of Pinaceae (with n=12) and Cupressaceae (with n=11).

Genetic control of functional traits related to photosynthesis and water use efficiency in Pinus pinaster Ait. drought response: integration of genome annotation, allele association and QTL detection for candidate gene identification.

Background: Understanding molecular mechanisms that control photosynthesis and water use efficiency in response to drought is crucial for plant species from dry areas. This study aimed to identify QTL for these traits in a Mediterranean conifer and tested their stability under drought.

Results: High density linkage maps for Pinus pinaster were used in the detection of QTL for photosynthesis and water use efficiency at three water irrigation regimes.

Annotated genetic linkage maps of Pinus pinaster Ait. from a Central Spain population using microsatellite and gene based markers.

Background: Pinus pinaster Ait. is a major resin producing species in Spain. Genetic linkage mapping can facilitate marker-assisted selection (MAS) through the identification of Quantitative Trait Loci and selection of allelic variants of interest in breeding populations.

Isoschizomers and amplified fragment length polymorphism for the detection of specific cytosine methylation changes.

Different molecular techniques have been developed to study either the global level of methylated cytosines or methylation at specific gene sequences. One of them is a modification of the Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technique that has been used to study methylation of anonymous CCGG sequences in different fungi, plant and animal species. The main variation of this technique is based on the use of isoschizomers with different methylation sensitivity (such as HpaII and MspI) as a frequent cutter restriction enzyme.

Putative porin of Bradyrhizobium sp. (Lupinus) bacteroids induced by glyphosate.

Application of glyphosate (N-[phosphonomethyl] glycine) to Bradyrhizobium sp. (Lupinus)-nodulated lupin plants caused modifications in the protein pattern of bacteroids. The most significant change was the presence of a 44-kDa polypeptide in bacteroids from plants treated with the higher doses of glyphosate employed (5 and 10 mM).

New insights on glyphosate mode of action in nodular metabolism: Role of shikimate accumulation.

The short-term effects of the herbicide glyphosate (1.25-10 mM) on the growth, nitrogen fixation, carbohydrate metabolism, and shikimate pathway were investigated in leaves and nodules of nodulated lupine plants. All glyphosate treatments decreased nitrogenase activity rapidly (24 h) after application, even at the lowest and sublethal dose used (1.

Alterations induced by glyphosate on lupin photosynthetic apparatus and nodule ultrastructure and some oxygen diffusion related proteins.

The effects of glyphosate on protein metabolism, mesophyll cell ultrastructure and nodule ultrastructure and functioning of Lupinus albus cv. Multolupa inoculated with Bradyrhizobium sp. (Lupinus) were investigated.