No abstract

HighlightsThe expression of two genes TRAIL, death receptor, and Caspase-8, associated with extrinsic pathway, up-regulated upon treating with P. harmala L.’s seed extract suggesting that the extract induces mainly on apoptosis extrinsic pathway.The pro-apoptotic genes, BH3 multidomain, Bax (Bcl-2-associated X protein) and Bak (Bcl-2 homologous antagonist/killer) caused permeability in mitochondrial membrane which was inhibited by anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-2, Bcl-xl.As a consequence of binding BH3-only proteins (BID, BIM (Bcl-2-like protein 11), BAD (Bcl-2-associated death promoter), and PUMA to anti-apoptotic proteins, their activities were inhibited.Both p53 and p21 were up-regulated in treated cells with P. harmala’s seed extract, hence p53 as transcription regulator up-regulated Bax, Puma and TRAIL.As long as the expression of anti-apoptosis Bcl-2 gen reduced dramatically, an over-expression in apoptosis genes, Bax and Puma, was monitored indicating activation of intrinsic apoptosis pathway.The results confirm the positive effect of P. harmala L.’s extract in inducing apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cell line in both intrinsic/extrinsic apoptosis pathways and also in blocking cell cycle life.

The high oleic sunflower has a high potential for industrials use (oleochemistry and biodiesel). A sustainable development of agriculture can be achieved through the production of high oleic sunflower oil for use in green chemistry. In such a way will it be possible to create secure jobs in agriculture as well as in new industries, especially in rural communities.

High temperature enhances the oleic acid content in the oil of normal cultivars but conflicting results are reported on temperature effects on oleic acid content in HO cultivars: either no effect or an increase in oleic acid content with temperature. To investigate the effects of temperature on HO genotypes under natural field conditions, a three-year field trial was conducted using two sowing dates and three HO genotypes (two inbred lines and one hybrid). To compare our results with previous works, growing degree-days (GDD) were computed (base temperature ¼ 6°C). GDD accumulated during the "flowering -25 days after flowering" period influenced fatty acid composition of seed. Oleic and linoleic acid contents were affected by accumulated GDD in two HO genotypes (one inbred line and the hybrid). There was an increase of about 3% in oleic acid content as response to more high GDD accumulated. Their content was not modified by GDD in the other inbred line. There was a genotype  environment interaction that we suppose depending on modifier genes. These genetic factors affected oleic acid content. This indicated the importance of breeding targeted to select hybrids with a stable oleic acid content and higher than 90%. Saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic) were also influenced by temperature, and there was genetic variability among genotypes.

In the framework of a bilateral project Italy -Romania (University of Udine and IC), an experiment was established at the University of Udine Experiment Station in order to: i) evaluate the genetic variability of the tested genotypes for Sclerotinia basal stem and head infection; ii) to test two new alternative screening methods against white head rot; iii) to investigate possible relationships among the different tests; iiii) to find resistance-associated fragments by AFLP analysis.The following tests were used: 1) basal stem infection, 2) ascospore head infection, 3) mycelium culture filtrate injection and 4) oxalic acid injection into the back face of the head.The segregation of responses between resistant and susceptible controls displayed the suitability of mycelium and ascospore tests adopted and the independence of the two tolerance mechanisms.Conversely, tests 3 and 4 showed a poor discrimination of the controls and a complete lack of relationships with mycelium and ascospore infections. Sunflower reaction against S. sclerotiorum may not be restricted to resistance to oxalic acid, but may involve other physiological mechanisms.The inbred line 28R (coming from H. argophyllus wild species) was not only most tolerant against both, basal stem and white head rot infections, but also it gave the best performance in oxalate and culture filtrate tests highlighting a specific resistance to oxalate.