BackgroundMaritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton) grows in a range of different climates in the southwestern Mediterranean region and the existence of a variety of latitudinal ecotypes or provenances is well established. In this study, we have conducted a deep analysis of the transcriptome in needles from two P. pinaster provenances, Leiria (Portugal) and Tamrabta (Morocco), which were grown in northern Spain under the same conditions.ResultsAn oligonucleotide microarray (PINARRAY3) and RNA-Seq were used for whole-transcriptome analyses, and we found that 90.95 % of the data were concordant between the two platforms. Furthermore, the two methods identified very similar percentages of differentially expressed genes with values of 5.5 % for PINARRAY3 and 5.7 % for RNA-Seq. In total, 6,023 transcripts were shared and 88 differentially expressed genes overlapped in the two platforms. Among the differentially expressed genes, all transport related genes except aquaporins were expressed at higher levels in Tamrabta than in Leiria. In contrast, genes involved in secondary metabolism were expressed at higher levels in Tamrabta, and photosynthesis-related genes were expressed more highly in Leiria. The genes involved in light sensing in plants were well represented in the differentially expressed groups of genes. In addition, increased levels of hormones such as abscisic acid, gibberellins, jasmonic and salicylic acid were observed in Leiria.ConclusionsBoth transcriptome platforms have proven to be useful resources, showing complementary and reliable results. The results presented here highlight the different abilities of the two maritime pine populations to sense environmental conditions and reveal one type of regulation that can be ascribed to different genetic and epigenetic backgrounds.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2177-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Phenols are bioactive substances of great interest because of their involvement in plant physiology, their use in many industrial processes, and their impact on human health. This work aims to summarize the varied approaches to the phenolic analysis of chestnut (bark and wood of trunk and branches, leaves, catkins, burs, and fruit) and to collate the optimal conditions into an easy to follow and execute protocol. Phenolic compounds were extracted by solid–liquid extraction and separated by liquid–liquid extraction. Total phenols content was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu assay, condensed tannins by vanillin assay, and hydrolyzable tannins (gallotannins and ellagitannins) by high-performance liquid chromatography quantification of methyl gallate and ellagic acid following acid methanolysis. The lowest temperature for conservation (–80 ℃), lyophilization, and milling (liquid N2) were the most effective pretreatments for samples. For quantification of tannins, the use of water clearly reduced the sensitivity of the analysis of condensed tannins, whilst the more efficient degradation capacity of sulfuric acid improved the methanolysis of hydrolyzable tannins. These findings were validated using a range of chestnut tissues, and thus confirm the utility and effectiveness of this easy to implement, cost-effective, and efficient protocol.

Aim of study: To assess the effects of rearing system (extensive, ES; semi-extensive, SES) and feeds (grazed woodland, acorns, chestnuts, compound feed) on the performance, carcass traits and energetic balance of autochthonous Gochu Asturcelta pigs. Area of study: Asturias (Spain). Material and methods: In two successive years, a total of 58 immunocastrated Gochu Asturcelta pigs (25 females, 33 males), with an initial weight of 93.39 ± 3.36 kg and mean age of 6.82 ± 0.24 months, were randomly divided between ES and SES plots from July to December. ES pigs grazed woodland, acorns (Quercus robur L.) and chestnuts (Castanea sativa Mill.) and they were given additionally 1.5 kg compound-feed/pig·day. SES animals received only 2.5 kg compound-feed/pig·day. Chemical composition and metabolizable energy of feeds, energetic balance, growth performances and pig carcass traits were analysed. Main results: Acorns and chestnuts were both very close in their chemical composition, except for the polyphenol content and profile, and had a lower omega-6/omega-3 ratio than compound feeds. Live weight for the ES pigs was 25% lower and carcass weight 30% lower than for SES pigs (p<0.001). Total ME requirement (MJ/day) was lower in ES than in SES pigs. Research highlights: The productive and carcass parameters observed are a consequence of a lower energy intake for pigs in ES than in SES, it being necessary to drastically reduce the stocking rate to increase weight gain and to improve carcass traits when Gochu Asturcelta pigs are reared in ES.

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