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Aims: There is a lack of therapies able to prevent anthracycline cardiotoxicity (AC). Remote ischaemic conditioning (RIC) has shown beneficial effects in preclinical models of AC., Methods: REmote iSchemic condItioning in Lymphoma PatIents REceiving ANthraCyclinEs (RESILIENCE) is a multinational, prospective, phase II, double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized clinical trial that evaluates the efficacy and safety of RIC in lymphoma patients receiving anthracyclines. Patients scheduled to undergo ≥5 chemotherapy cycles including anthracyclines and with ≥1 AC-associated risk factors will be randomized to weekly RIC or sham throughout the chemotherapy period. Patients will undergo three multiparametric cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) studies, at baseline, after the third cycle (intermediate CMR), and 2 months after the end of chemotherapy. Thereafter, patients will be followed up for clinical events over an anticipated median of ≥24 months. The primary endpoint is the absolute change from baseline in CMR-based left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The main secondary outcome is the incidence of AC events, defined as (1) a drop in CMR-based LVEF of ≥10 absolute points, or (2) a drop in CMR-based LVEF of ≥5 and <10 absolute points to a value <50%. Intermediate CMR will test the ability of T2 mapping to predict AC versus classical markers (left ventricular strain and cardiac injury biomarkers). A novel CMR sequence allowing ultrafast cine acquisition will be validated in this vulnerable population., Conclusions: The RESILIENCE trial will test RIC (a novel non-invasive intervention to prevent AC) in a cohort of high-risk patients. The trial will also test candidate markers for their capacity to predict AC and will validate a novel CMR sequence reducing acquisition time in a vulnerable population., (© 2024 The Author(s). European Journal of Heart Failure published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Society of Cardiology.)

Andromonoecy (i.e. the occurrence on individual plants of hermaphroditic and male flowers) is a rare sexual system among the angiosperms, regarded by some authors as a transitional stage from hermaphroditism to monoecy. Having discovered the occurrence of andromonoecy in Erophaca baetica (a Mediterranean shrubby legume with two subspecies), a novelty for Old World papilionoid legumes, we investigated the morpho-functional correlates and the geographical distribution of this phenomenon in the species. The relative frequencies of hermaphrodite and male flowers were determined in two field and 111 herbarium populations. Biomass allocation within flowers, pollen production and viability, pollen tube growth, nectar production and the temporal pattern of male flower production were also studied in two nearby southern Spanish populations. Virtually all of the studied populations were andromonoecious. Male flowers tended to appear at apical positions within the inflorescence, and became more abundant by the end of the flowering season. Male flowers were externally similar to hermaphroditic flowers (although with less biomass and smaller parts) and released equivalent amounts of pollen and nectar; however, their pollen germinated significantly better. Erophaca is the first example of an andromonecious Papilionoid in the Old World. Since the main difference among floral morphs in this species is functional (i.e. pollen germination rate) rather than morphological, andromonoecy is not readily noticeable, and very careful inspection may be required to reveal it. The potential effect of andromonoecy in enhancing outcrossing rate in this species is discussed., (© 2012 German Botanical Society and The Royal Botanical Society of the Netherlands.)

In a recent study (American Journal of Botany 97: 730-737), we described the first case of a tripartite association in natural conditions among a holoparasitic plant (Cytinus), its host Cistaceae species, and mycorrhizal fungi at an anatomical level. In a letter to the editor, Brundrett (American Journal of Botany 98: 595-596) commented on our manuscript and questioned our conclusions, arguing that they are not adequately supported by the data. We reject this point of view and believe that the controversy has arisen because of the parasitic way of life of Cytinus. We maintain and demonstrate that there is enough evidence in the data that we presented to confirm the existence of mycorrhizal associations in the Cytinus-Cistaceae complex, supporting the functionality of the tripartite association. Most holoparasitic plants have been considered as nonmycorrhizal. However, it is not advisable to be categorical in drawing conclusions about the mycorrhizal status of a group of plants that has not been fully studied.

Low fruit set is common in many plant species and may be caused by a variety of factors, such as predation, resource limitation or deficient pollination, or it may be an evolutionary strategy. In this paper, we investigate factors that affect fruit set in Aristolochia baetica (Aristolochiaceae), a Mediterranean pipevine found in southwest Spain. Fruit production was monitored in two populations over 4 years (2002-2005), and the causes of flower or fruit loss were determined. Experimental hand-pollinations were performed, and germinated pollen grains on the stigmas of open-pollinated flowers were quantified. Fruit set was always very low (4-14%). Floral abscission initially reduced reproductive output by more than 50%; then herbivory (6-12%) and fruit abortion (8-26%) caused further reductions. Given that the number of efficiently pollinated flowers was always higher than that of ripe fruits, and that xenogamous hand-pollination did not increase fruit set in relation to open-pollination, the final fruit production of A. baetica seems not to be pollen-limited. Fruit abortion of effectively pollinated flowers supports the idea that resource availability limits fruit set. In A. baetica, fruit abortion could lead to mate selection of the best quality fruits. Moreover, the initiated fruits that finally abort could also satiate predators, contributing to increase progeny fitness., (© 2010 German Botanical Society and The Royal Botanical Society of the Netherlands.)

Mycorrhizae are widespread mutualistic symbioses crucial for the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. Not all plants associate with mycorrhizae; most parasitic plants have been suggested to be nonmycorrhizal because they have developed alternative strategies to obtain nutrients. In endophytic parasitic plants, whose vegetative bodies grow completely inside their mycorrhizal host roots, the opportunity for establishing a tripartite association seems evident, but information on these systems is lacking. In studying natural associations among the endophytic holoparasite Cytinus hypocistis, their Cistaceae host species, and associated mycorrhizal fungi, we found that mycorrhizae were associated with the hosts and the parasites, reaching high frequencies of colonization. In parasitic and host root tissues, mycorrhizal fungi spread in the parenchymatic cells by intracellular growth and formed hyphal coils and vesicles, while the cambium and the vascular tissues were never colonized. This report is the first on a tripartite association of an endophytic parasitic plant, its host, and mycorrhizae in natural conditions, representing a novel trophic interaction not previously reported within the angiosperms. Additional studies on the interactions occurring among these three players are needed because they may be crucial to our understanding of how this mutualistic-antagonistic system is functioning and evolving.

The pollination of Aristolochia involves the temporary confinement of visitors inside the flower. A literature review has shown that some species are visited by one or a few dipteran families, while others are visited by a wider variety of dipterans, but only some of these are effective pollinators. We observed flowering phenology and temporal patterns of pollinator attendance in diverse populations of Aristolochia baetica and A. paucinervis, two species that grow in SW Spain, frequently in mixed populations. The two species had overlapping floral phenologies, extended flowering periods and long-lived flowers. A. baetica attracted a higher number of visitors than A. paucinervis. Drosophilids and, to a lesser extent, phorids, were the main pollinators of A. baetica, whereas in A. paucinervis, phorids were the only pollinators. Attendance to A. paucinervis flowers by phorids in mixed populations was markedly lower than in pure populations. This effect was more evident in years with lower pollinator density. Our results suggest that A. baetica and A. paucinervis may compete for pollinators in mixed populations.

Northwest Africa is a major hotspot of plant biodiversity, but very little is known about the Quaternary range dynamics of plant species in this region. Here we investigate the range-wide population structure and phylogeography of Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica), an emblematic forest tree endemic to Morocco and Algeria. We genotyped 261 individuals from 11 populations using AFLP markers. Data were analyzed using both conventional F(ST)-based techniques and Bayesian clustering. Overall population differentiation was high (F(ST) = 0.25). Two major groups of populations were identified, one distributed through the Rif and Middle Atlas mountains in Morocco and the other through the Algerian Tell Atlas and Aurès mountains as well as the Middle Atlas. Combined molecular and fossil data indicate that C. atlantica survived the Last Glacial Maximum in at least three disjunct refugia along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, whereas the Middle Atlas, today the core of the species range, has been colonized relatively recently (<10000 yr BP). The colonization history of individual populations has left clear imprints in their present-day diversity, which may vary greatly even between nearby stands. Our study illustrates how integrating different data sources and analytical approaches can help elucidate complex range dynamics that would otherwise remain undeciphered.

We studied the relationships between self-incompatibility mechanisms and floral parameters in the genus Hypochaeris L. sect. Hypochaeris (consisting of H. glabra, H. radicata, H. arachnoidea, and H. salzmanniana). We assessed at intra- and interspecific levels (1) the self-incompatibility (SI) mechanism and its distribution among populations, (2) the relationship between SI and floral parameters, and (3) the relationship of SI to reproductive success. Hypochaeris salzmanniana is semi-incompatible, H. glabra is self-compatible, and H. arachnoidea and H. radicata are self-incompatible. Floral parameters differed among populations of H. salzmanniana: plants in self-compatible populations had fewer flowers per head, a smaller head diameter on the flower, and a shorter period of anthesis than self-incompatible populations. We also detected this pattern within a semi-compatible population of H. salzmanniana, and these differences were also found between species with different breeding mechanisms. Fruit to flower ratio in natural populations was generally high (>60%) in all species, regardless of breeding system. It is hypothesized that self-compatibility may have arisen through loss of allelic diversity at the S locus due to bottleneck events and genetic drift.

Fruit production and arrangement within the raceme were studied in two dioecious populations of Ceratonia siliqua (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae), an arboreal species that produces caulogenous racemes (emerging only from the old branches) with numerous flowers. Fruit production per raceme was low and similar between years and populations and even between individuals. During flowering, there were considerable flower losses from predation and lack of pollination. A mean of nine flowers per raceme began the transformation into fruits, of which 77% aborted. The final fruit production per raceme increased significantly following hand pollination, but was always very much lower than the availability of flowers in the raceme. The results suggest that fruit production of each raceme is limited by both availability of resources and a deficient pollination. In racemes setting fruit arrangement follows a definite pattern that remains constant between years and populations: fruit production was significantly higher in the apical zone of the raceme and lower in the basal zone. The pollinators of C. siliqua (flies and wasps) showed a clear preference for beginning their visits at the apex of a raceme. As a result, the pollen load deposited on the stigmas decreased from apex to base of the raceme. In most of the flowers situated in the central and basal zone of the raceme, the number of pollen grains deposited on their stigmas was lower than the number of their ovules. The high number of seeds in developed fruits suggests that the plant selectively aborts flowers that receive a smaller pollen load. The results indicate that the final pattern of fruit arrangement within the raceme is a direct result of pollinator activity.