We describe a new vanilla species growing in sympatry with Vanilla planifolia Jacks. ex Andrews (Orchidaceae) in the province of Limón, Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The morphology of the reproductive and vegetative organs observed on vines cultivated under shade-house, the nuclear (Internal Transcribed Spacer) and plastid (matK) nucleotide sequences, as well as the contents of aromatic compounds measured in ripe fruits, show that this species is close to but distinct from V. planifolia. The name V. sotoarenasii M.Pignal, Azofeifa-Bolaños & Grisoni sp. nov. is proposed for this new Vanilla species endemic in Costa Rica. It is especially distinguished from V. planifolia by a reduction of about 30% of the size of the fruits and flowers, by a divergence of ITS sequences for at least two species-conserved nucleotides compared to seven other species of the V. planifolia group, and by the presence of anisic compounds and low content of phenolic compounds (including vanillin) in the fruits. These results confirmed the extension of the area of distribution of V. planifolia southward to Costa Rica, where a recent speciation process occurred. Because of its particular agronomic and aromatic properties, V. sotoarenasii sp. nov. could represent a valuable biological resource for the vanilla industry.

This investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of two cytokinins: 6-benzilaminopurine (BAP) (6.5 mg l-1) and kinetin (K) (2.5 mg l-1), as well as the growth inhibitor abscisic acid (ABA) (1.0 mg l-1) on the in vitro tuberization capacity of two potato varieties: Atlantic and Alpha. The basal culture medium MS (1962) was used as a control. The responses were different between varieties. In cv. Atlantic, the analysis of the number (NM), weight (WM) and diameter (DM) of microtubers indicated that the addition of growth regulators did not affect induction and development of microtubers. However, when BAP was used, a non-significant increment of 41 % was observed in the number of the microtubers compared to the control treatment, from 2.6 to 4.4. The addition of cytokinins and ABA to the medium did not have a significant impact on the development of microtubers. In cv. Alpha the cytokinins used without ABA increased the number of microtubers, which were larger and heavier than those of the control treatment. In this variety, ABA significantly reduced the values of the NM, WM and DM variables. The exogenous action of cytokinins in the culture medium is likely to have caused an endogenous hormonal imbalance in the Atlantic and Alpha genotypes which interfered with their innate microtuberization ability, a result that was even more evident for cv. Alpha, which showed the need to continue optimizing protocols of genotype-specific systems in potato tissue culture to increase yield and seed quality.

Antimicrobial resistance poses a growing threat to human health, yet its implications for wildlife remain a subject of ongoing research. River otters inhabiting the Peñas Blancas River face exposure to various anthropogenic activities in their habitat, potentially leading to the accumulation of antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) with unknown consequences for their health. This study aimed to identify specific ARGs in otter feces from this river basin, employing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), DNA sequencing of ARGs, and phylogenetic analysis techniques. Over the period from 2019 to 2022, we collected 102 fecal samples from otters through the Peñas Blancas River watershed, spanning its upper and middle basins. We assessed the bacterial presence via the 16S rRNA gene through qPCR analysis and screened for 12 ARGs. Sequences of 16 ARG-positive samples were subsequently analyzed using Maximum-likelihood-base taxonomic placement. In total, 56 samples tested positive for the 16S rRNA gene, with 24 exhibiting at least one ARG. Notably, three samples showcased a “multi-resistance microbiome”. qPCR analyses identified seven distinct ARGs: tetB (in 26.8 % of the samples), sulI (21.4 %), sulII (21.4 %), qnrS (10.7 %), tetQ (8.9 %), tetW (7.1 %), and tetA (3.6 %). Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the taxonomic association of all detected ARGs, which were compared with The Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database. Our findings underscore the importance of comprehending the spread of ARGs in wildlife populations, with river otters serving as potential sentinels for ARG dissemination. Moreover, they highlight the potential impact of anthropogenic activities on the health of aquatic ecosystems, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to mitigate antimicrobial resistance in natural environments.