Life histories in Mediterranean pines are well known to be closely related to different fire and disturbance regimes. Variation in these factors is also reflected in reproductive strategies at the specific and intraspecific level. Specifically, the onset of reproduction is a crucial stage for any organism because it has profound implications on fitness. In this paper we focus on the intraspecific variation and plasticity in the threshold size for reproduction and reproductive allocation in two Mediterranean pines, assessed at the onset of reproduction, when trade-offs between reproduction and growth are expected to be greater. Replicated common garden provenance and progeny trials of Aleppo pine and Maritime pine were used to estimate genetic parameters for reproduction and vegetative growth, as well as variation in plasticity in reproductive strategies at the intraspecific level. In both species, high variation among populations was found for both threshold size for reproduction and for reproductive allocation. Reproductive allocation was also highly variable within populations and showed moderate to high values of heritability and high coefficients of additive genetic variation. These results indicate a high genetic control of these reproductive traits, while high additive genetic variation is maintained, allowing to face selective pressures. Moreover, reproductive strategies although plastic, showed low genotype × environment interaction, and intraspecific variation was highly consistent across trial sites both at the population and the family levels. The former data confirm the strong genetic control of reproductive traits in these species. Finally, the fact that Aleppo pine starts its reproductive phase as female while Maritime pine can start reproducing either as male or female deserves further attention.Key words: Pinus halepensis; Pinus pinaster; genetic variability; plasticity; trade-offs; early reproductive strategies; threshold size for reproduction. Resumen Variación en asignación reproductiva temprana en ensayos multi-localidad de pino carrasco y pino negralLas estrategias de historia vital en pinos mediterráneos están estrechamente ligadas a diversos regímenes de incendios y perturbaciones. A su vez, la variabilidad de esos factores también se ve reflejada en las estrategias reproductivas a niveles inter e intraespecíficos. Concretamente, el comienzo de la reproducción es una etapa crucial para cualquier organismo debido a su profunda influencia en su adaptación al medio. Este trabajo se enfoca en el estudio de la variabilidad intraespecífica y la plasticidad en el tamaño umbral de reproducción y la asignación reproductiva en dos pinos mediterráneos. El estudio se realizó durante el comienzo de la fase reproductiva, momento en que se estima que la compensación entre reproducción y crecimiento es de mayor importancia. Se utilizaron ensayos multi-sitio de procedencias y progenies de pino carrasco y pino negral para estimar los parámetros genéticos de caracteres reproductivos y de crecimiento ...

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Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is an important grain legume in tropical and subtropical regions. It requires low resource inputs and has a high nutritional value. Therefore, cowpea can play an important role in the development of agriculture. In southern Mexico, Mayan farmers have conserved and developed cowpea landraces for centuries. Nevertheless, information on their genetic diversity, conservation status and potential use is minimal. To generate information toward sustainable use, management and conservation of this species, we evaluated the genetic diversity and structure of 20 cowpea landraces from southeast Mexico using 10 inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) molecular markers. These ISSR markers generated 68 loci with a 67.7% polymorphism rate and average polymorphic information content of 0.36. The results of Bayesian assignation and the UPGMA analysis suggest the formation of two main groups defined by their genetic origin in southeast Mexico. High levels of genetic structure were found with a moderate level of genetic diversity distributed mainly between landraces. Low levels of intra-landrace variability were observed. Two landraces (P5 and P12) from Calakmul resulted in the high levels of genetic diversity. The selected markers were efficient at assessing genetic variability among Mexican cowpea landraces, providing valuable information that can be used in local conservation and participatory breeding programmes.

The coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei, is serious limitation in organic coffee production in Sao Tome Island in the Gulf of Guinea, limited information regarding this species seasonal phenology on the islands limits the implementation of biological control.In the present study, seven coffee plantations were monitored over two years to describe infestation patterns, penetration rates into coffee berries, and mortality by the entomopathogenic fungus,Beauveria bassiana in two coffea species (C. arabica L.and C. canephoraPierre ex A. Froehner), according to 30-tree sampling of fruits following the CENICAFE method. The results revealed that the borer position within the berries, infestation, and green berries with Beauveria bassianawere significantly affected by coffee variety. The infestation mean across all seven sites was (11.5±3.5% mean ± standard error (SE)), with two sites showing mean infestation <5%. The highest infestation and Beauveria bassianarates per branch monthly were observed in C. arabica L. (Red Caturra, Bourbon and Red Catuai), compared with C. canephoraPierre ex A. Froehner (Robusta) in the months of lower rainfall. Borer immature stages (eggs, larvae and pupae) and adults were found throughout the sampling period. No CBB predator and parasitoids were observed in the survey. The population level and developmental rate indicated that the coffee borer met favorable environmental conditions in the studied areas and control measures are required for reducing damage.

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