New Genotypes of Basella rubra and Basella alba Acclimatized and Bred at Vegetable Research and Development Station Buzău

Basella alba is an underutilized plant with great food and medicinal potential, newly acclimatized in Romania at Vegetable Research and Development Station (VRDS) Buzau. For over 10 years, the Genetic, Breeding and Biodiversity Laboratory has studied a number of 12 genotypes from Basella spp. of these, two accessions (L5 and L8) showed distinct phenotypic feature. The experience has been done in randomized blocks with three replications, and the number of plants analyzed for each variant was 50. On L8 accession, the anthocyanin coloration was not present, unlike accession L5 which features a strong anthocyanin coloration, especially along the stem and on the dorsal side of the leaf. Specifically B. alba var. rubra shows a leaf width of 14.8 cm and a weight of 20 g, and the B. alba shows a leaf width of 21.4 cm and a weight of 27.5 g. Basella alba recorded the highest percentage in dry matter in the smallest leaves, namely 7.69% and Basela alba var. rubra registered the highest percentage in dry matter also in the small leaves, of 7.98%. The aim of this study was to assess the morphological traits in order to patent a new acclimatized species in Romania. The study was finalized with one variety (L5) that has been successfully qualified for DUS test (Distinction, Uniformity and Stability) and soon will be registered in the Official Catalogue of Species and Varieties of Cultivated Plants.

Hemiscrotal agenesis with complete testicular descent in Van der Woude syndrome: a new phenotypic feature

Van der Woude syndrome (VWS) and popliteal pterygium syndrome (PPS) spectrum are due to genetic variants in the IRF6 which phenotypically has been known to manifest with midline defects such as cleft lip and palate in VWS and additional nail, limb and genital anomalies in PPS. We report a case of VWS with the previously unrecognised phenotypic feature of hemiscrotal agenesis. While bifid scrotum has been reported in the more severe PPS, neither VWS nor PPS have previously noted hemiscrotal agenesis as part of the phenotypic picture. Hemiscrotal agenesis without evidence of any genetic anomaly has only been reported four times in the literature to date with two of these being accompanied by complete testicular descent. Treatment options include topical androgen application and/or scrotoplasty to allow for adequate testicular thermoregulation and development to occur.