Abstract.BACKGROUND: Berries such as Rubus has caught the attention of scientists and consumers because of their nutritional quality. Furthermore, the presence of phenolic compounds specifically anthocyanins have added potential of antiaging, anticarcinogenic and antioxidant properties to the fruit. Gene expression studies have demonstrated the importance of flavonoids and their biosynthetic pathways, further increasing the research interests alternative and natural sources for these compounds. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this work was to analyze the level of expression of ␤-Actin as a control gene, RuANS gene encoding for anthocyanin synthase and RuMYB10 gene encoding for a transcription factor involved in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in Rubus niveus. METHODS: To investigate the expression of the genes, the polymerase chain reaction with reverse transcription (RT-qPCR) was performed and the Qubit ® fluorometry equipment for standard curve data. RESULTS: The ANOVA at 95% classified the genes into three homogeneous groups whose means are not statistically different in the gene expression, with an F = 0.46, a p = 0.6348. The results were generated in average: gene ␤-Actin: 174,65 ng/mL, which has greater concentration, followed by the RuMYB10 gene: 167.43 ng/mL and finally the gene RuANS with 163,55. CONCLUSIONS: The Rubus niveus specie presents a level of similar expression among the three analyzed genes.

Manuscrito recibido el 6 de septiembre de 2013. Aceptado, tras revisión, el 12 de noviembre de 2013. ResumenEl presente trabajo fue desarrollado en el Cantón Rumiñahui, provincia de Pichincha, Ecuador. El objetivo fue evaluar tres concentraciones nitrógeno de las sales Murashige y Skooog (MS) en el medio de cultivo, en las fases de enraizamiento in vitro y adaptación a sustrato de Rubus glaucus. La dosis de 4,88mM de nitrógeno en el medio presentó el mayor número de raíces con un promedio de 3,72 raíces por planta, mayor longitud de raíz con 1,8cm de largo, mayor porcentaje de enraizamiento tanto in vitro como en sustrato, con un promedio de 78 % y 100 % respectivamente. Además, resultó en los menores niveles de estrés de la planta, medidos en el índice del contenido de clorofila y actividad del fotosistema II o fluorescencia variable. Los resultados muestran que la disminución de los nitratos a la mitad, fue un factor determinante en el incremento de plantas enraizadas. Palabras claves:Rubus glaucus (Benth), cultivo in vitro, enraizamiento, adaptación a sustrato, nitrógeno. AbstractThis work was developed in canton Rumiñahui, Pichincha province, Ecuador. The objective of this work was to evaluate three nitrogen concentrations of Murashige and Skooog salts (MS) in the culture medium, during the stages rooting in vitro and substrate adaptation of Rubus glaucus. The 4.88mM dose of nitrogen in the medium had the highest number of roots with an average of 3.72 roots per plant, increased root length of 1.8cm long, percentage of rooting in vitro and in substrate, with an average 78 % and 100 % respectively. Also resulted in lower levels of plant stress, measured in the index of chlorophyll content and photosystem II activity or variable fluorescence. The results show that the half of nitrates was a major factor in increasing rooted plants.

Vaccinium floribundum Kunth, a wild native species of berry in Ecuador, presents a lot of phenolic compounds, specifically anthocyanins; hence it is considered a natural nutraceutical due to all its nutritional properties. The comparison of the expression of genes is involved in the biosynthesis pathway of anthocyanin of several populations. The aim of the research was to analyze the expression levels of three genes involved in the biosynthesis of anthocyanin in this species collected in two areas of the province of Pichincha: Machachi population of the Mejía canton, with geographic coordinates 0 ° 31′04.8 ″ S 78 ° 37′07.4 ″ W and altitude 3200 meters above sea level, and Pintag population of the Quito cantón, with geographic coordinates 0 ° 24′00.0 ″ S 78 ° 24′00.0 ″ W and altitude 3000 meters above sea level. The gene expression analysis was performed using the quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique and reverse transcription (RT-qPCR). For the population of Machachi, the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene had an average concentration of 648.59 ng/µL, followed by the chalcone synthase gene with 143.71 ng/µL, then by the dihydroflavonol 4-reductase gene with 59.58 ng/µL and finally by the anthocyanin synthase gene with 39 ng/µL. For the population of Pintag, the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene has an average concentration of 667.32 ng/µL, followed by the chalcone synthase gene with 157.22 ng/µL, then by the dihydroflavonol 4-reductase gene with 60.42 ng/µL, and finally by the anthocyanin synthase gene with 44.40 ng/µL. Each gene has a similar expression level in both populations, but there are differences when comparing the expression level among genes. Many enzymes, structural genes, and regulatory elements have been observed as transcription factors involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis.

Efecto del carbón activado en la germinación y brotación in vitro de Citrus limon (L.) y su dinámica de crecimiento. Effect of activated charcoal on in vitro germination and shoot multiplication of Citrus limon (L.) and its growth dynamics.Efecto del carbón activado en la germinación y brotación in vitro de Citrus limon (L.) y su dinámica de crecimiento.Effect of activated charcoal on in vitro germination and shoot multiplication of Citrus limon (L.) and its growth dynamics.