Correlation of Nitrogen Concentration with Dry-Matter Partitioning to Spikelets and Total Husk Volume on the Panicle in Japonica Rice

Summary

A rice husk restricts the grain development physically. We examined the correlation of the total husk volume on a panicle, a parameter of yield capacity, with the nitrogen concentration (per dry weight) and the dry weight of the above-ground part of the plant, using single-stem-trained japonica rice (cv. Nipponbare) plants. The growth of rice plants was regulated by shading at two levels and nitrogen application at three levels from about 40 days before the heading (about 10 days before the panicle initiation). The number of spikelets per dry weight of the above-ground part of the plant at the end of the spikelet differentiation stage was linearly correlated with the nitrogen concentration at that time. The ratio of the spikelet dry weight at heading to the dry weight of the above-ground part of the plant at the end of the spikelet differentiation stage increased as the nitrogen concentration increased at a low nitrogen concentration, but the increase of the ratio slowed down at a nitrogen concentration of 2%. Decrease in dry weight of the spikelet resulted in a decrease of lemma size. Therefore, the ratio of the total husk volume on a panicle to the plant dry weight at the end of spikelet differentiation stage also increased as the nitrogen concentration increased at a low nitrogen concentration, but the increase stopped at a nitrogen concentration of 2% in contrast to the ratio of the spikelet number to the dry weight of the plant. These results suggest that, to increase the total husk volume on a panicle by nitrogen application, dry-matter production must be increased by the nitrogen application.     

Physiological effects of dietary fibre of some Indian foods in rats

Physiological effects of feeding ragi, cowpea, brinjal, guava and fractions of ragi and cowpea were studied in rats. All the materials except ragi starch increased faecal weight with a concomitant decrease in the transit time (TT). The cotyledon portion of cowpea was more effective in decreasing TT than the testa portion. Whole cowpea and brinjal brought about changes in the caecal volume and content. Digestibility of fibre from the test materials showed a wide variation.     

Nutritional evaluation of the supplementary value of low-cost and locally available foods to a poor rice or ragi diet: IV. Calcium utilisation of five ragi-based combinations

The biological availability of calcium from six ragi-based diets was studied in comparison with skim milk and calcium lactate diets. The rats on skim milk and calcium lactate diets had higher absorption values and retention values when compared with the other test diets.Of the six ragi diets tested, the basal diet with the highest cereal content also had the highest level of calcium (215 mg Ca/100 g). Diet 5 was the next best, containing 201.6 mg/100 g. Positive correlations were observed between the calcium content of the diet, and mg calcium absorbed (r=+0.80,P<0.05), mg calcium retained (r=+0.87,P<0.05) or percentage calcium retained (r=0.86,P<0.05). Among the five supplemented ragi-based diets, however, diet 5 was found to result in the highest calcium retention levels when fed to rats. This may have been due to its higher quality protein compared with the other diets. The components of this combination were, in addition to the basal ragi diet, sweet potato, field beans, sesame, drumstick leaves, ground-nut flour, and cotton-seed flour.     

Growth rate,muscle protein composition,intestinal absorption of D-galactose and L-leucine and nitrogen balance in rats fed the raw legumeChamaecytisus proliferus L.

Growth rate, nitrogen balance, skeletal muscle nitrogen fractions and in vivo intestinal absorption of D-galactose (2 mM) and L-leucine (20 mM) have been measured in male growing rats (90–100 g initial body weight) fed 12% protein diets containing either casein (control) or the raw leafy legumeChamaecytisus proliferus L. (Western Canary Islands). As compared to control casein-fed rats, those fed the raw legume diet exhibited a significant reduction (P<0.01) in the rate of growth, nitrogen balance parameters, sarcoplasmic nitrogenous fraction of skeletal musculature and in vivo intestinal absorption of galactose and leucine; however, the non-protein nitrogenous fraction has been found significantly higher (P<0.01) than that of control animals, whereas the myofibrillar nitrogenous fraction remained unchanged. The possible nature of these findings is discussed.     

4种不同氮源对稻壳腐熟处理效果的研究

为寻求稻壳腐熟发酵的最佳氮源,通过单因素实验设计选取鸡粪、硫酸铵、硝酸铵、尿素4种材料作为稻壳腐熟处理氮源,研究稻壳发酵过程中物理化学性质及腐熟度变化情况,并进行育苗检验。结果表明,稻壳经过腐熟处理其理化性能有所改良,其含有的有机质、纤维素、可溶性糖得到不同程度的降解,腐熟发酵后稻壳基质趋于稳定。通过腐熟发酵过程及育苗实验综合分析得出,单一尿素作为稻壳腐熟氮源效果不理想,鸡粪作为稻壳腐熟氮源效果最好。     

Nutritional evaluation of the supplementary value of low-cost and locally available foods to a poor rice or ragi diet: V. Carotene utilisation of ten selected combinations

Carotene utilisation of combinations of ten low-cost local foods was tested in this investigation, along with two unsupplemented basal diets, one rice-based and the other ragi-based. Among the rice-based diets, diet 4 consisting of sweet potato, horse gram, sesame, amaranthus, and ground-nut flour came out as the best combination in terms of carotene utilisation with 64.20 µg retinol/g liver in rats. Next to diet 4, diet 5 was best in relation to the utilisation of carotene. Though its content of carotene was the lowest among the rice diets and it provided the lowest intake to the rats over a period of 21 days, its comparatively higher quality protein may have increased the utilisation of carotene from this diet.Among the ragi diets, diet 8 stood best with 57.30 µg retinol/g liver in rats. The components of this combination were sweet potato, field beans, sesame, drumstick leaves, ground-nut flour and cotton-seed flour as supplements to the basal ragi diet. Diet 11, which was adjudged to be the best in protein quality, ranked second among the ragi-based diets in carotene utilisation.     

In vitro availability of iron and zinc in white and coloured ragi (Eleusine coracana): role of tannin and phytate

White and brown ragi (Eleusine coracana) varieties were analysed for tannin, phytate phosphorus, total phosphorus, iron, ionisable iron, zinc and soluble zinc content. White ragi had no detectable tannin while in brown varieties it ranged from 351 to 2392 mg per 100 g. Germination brought about a progressive decrease in tannin and phytate phosphorus and an increase in ionisable ion and soluble zinc content of grain ragi. Both in raw and germinated grain, ionizable iron was significantly higher in white than in brown varieties. While ionisable iron was inversely correlated with the level of tannin and phytate phosphorus, soluble zinc was negatively correlated with phytate phosphorus. After extraction of tannin, ionisable iron of brown ragi rose by 85%. On the other hand, in white varieties, addition of tannin extracted from brown ragi, resulted in a 52–65% decrease in ionisable iron content. These studies indicated that poor iron availability in ragi as judged by its low ionisable iron content was due to the presence of tannin in the grain.     

Effects of amylose and wheat bran on the levels of blood serum urea nitrogen (BUN), other blood parameters,growth and fecal characteristics in rats

A basal diet (containing 20% soybean protein isolate) was supplemented with limiting amino acids (AA, methionine, threonine and tryptophan); wheat bran (WB, 24.3%); amylose (AM, 10%) or a combination of AA and WB or AM to investigate their effects on the levels of blood serum urea nitrogen (BUN), other blood parameters, growth and fecal characteristics in young rats. After 3 weeks feeding, supplementation of the basal diet with AA or WB resulted in improved growth (gain/food ratio) while the addition of AM had no effect on rat growth. Addition of WB to the basal diet had no effect on BUN while the addition of AA and AM caused about 20 and 12% reduction in BUN values, respectively. Rats fed the AA-AM diet had the lowest BUN values (42% lower than those fed the basal diet). Fresh volume, fresh weight, moisture and dry weight of feces in rats fed the WB diets were about four to five fold higher than in those fed the AM diets. The results suggested that BUN may not be a good predictor of growth and protein quality in diets containing AM or a source of dietary fiber (WB).     

Influence of dietary soybean trypsin inhibitors and DL-ethionine on sulfur amino acid adequacy of diets for young rats

Weanling male Wistar rats were fed 20% protein diets based on casein or either of two combinations of soy protein isolate and ground raw soy providing three levels of soybean trypsin inhibitors (SBTI; 0,448 and 808 mg of trypsin inhibited per 100g of diet respectively). DL-ethionine was included at three levels (0,0.05% and 0.10%) with each level of SBTI. After 4, 8 and 12 weeks ofad libitum feeding, diets containing SBTI without DL-ethionine were associated with decreases in weight gain, feed efficiency, serum cholesterol and serum urea nitrogen. Higher levels of triglycerides, glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) and altered serum free amino acid levels were also found. Increased dietary levels of DL-ethionine also resulted in deficits in growth and feed efficiency, decreased serum cholesterol, increased SGPT and similar alterations in serum free amino acids. Combination of dietary SBTI with DL-ethionine resulted in even greater growth deficits and serum cholesterol decreases as well as increases in SGPT and serum triglycerides and changes in serum free amino acid levels. Methionine deficiency in the young rats fed SBTI and DL-ethionine was indicated by the changes in serum amino acids and growth deficits. Moderation of some effects over the 12 week test period suggested decreased methionine requirements in the older rats.     

不同轻型基质对金钱树生长影响初报

采用单纯形-格子设计,将农林废弃物的椰糠、甘蔗渣、碳化稻壳、中药渣按体积比混合,得到35种轻型基质。结果表明,不同基质对金钱树的苗高、地径、根系生长、生物量有显著差异,经过综合评分,得出6种较好基质,分别为:100%椰糠;75%椰糠:25%碳化稻壳;50%甘蔗渣:50%中药渣;50%椰糠:50%中药渣;25%椰糠:50%碳化稻壳:25%中药渣;25%椰糠:25%甘蔗渣:25%碳化稻壳:25%中药渣。     

Variation in Seed Shape and Husk Color in Japanese Native Cultivars of Common Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench)

Abstract

The variation in seed shape and husk color was investigated in 56 Japanese native cultivars of common buckwheat. Analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the cultivars in seed shape characteristics and husk colors. The 1000-seed weight (1000-SW) ranged widely, from 20.4 to 39.0 g, among the cultivars. The cultivars collected from the Kanto region of the mainland had a large length and width of seed and heavy 1000-SW. On the other hand, the cultivars from the Chugoku and Shikoku regions of Japan had a small length and width of seed. The length and width of seeds showed a high positive correlation. The cultivars with a high 1000-SW showed a slight difference between length and width of seed and were typically the triangular type in seed shape. The length/width ratio (L/W) depended on the width rather than the length of seed, though both were negatively correlated with the L/W. Highly positive correlations were found among the L*, a* and b* husk color value. The L* showed a highly positive correlation with growth duration, and the husk color of the cultivars became more deep black as growth duration decreased. The husk color of the cultivars from the Kyushu region (long growth duration) was grayish brown, but that of the cultivars from Nagano Pref. (the shortest growth duration) was characterized as typically deep black. The cultivars collected at lower latitude regions tended to have a lighter color of husk than those from higher latitude regions. The cultivars from the Tohoku region showed a smaller variation for seed size characteristics and 1000-SW, and the cultivars from the Kyushu region showed a smaller variation for husk color.     

Growth,liver composition,and calcium balance of rats fed sorghum supplemented with two levels of beans

A 35-day experimental study consisting of 28-day growth and 7-day calcium (Ca) balance periods was conducted to assess the effects of fibre and N ratios on growth and Ca balance of rats. Growth and Ca balance of rats (45–80 g) fed mixtures of cooked (CS) and uncooked (RS) sorghum and dehulled (DB) and undehulled (UB) bean were studied. The diets contained 10% protein. Casein served as the control protein. The control group ate more food except for the group fed the CS:DU (60:40) diets (P<0.05) had higher values for all parameters tested than the test groups. There were increases in food and Ca intakes, fecal Ca, weight gain, protein efficiency ration (PER), liver weight and composition except for the low moisture value for the CS:DS (60:40) group when N ratios were changed from 80:20 to 60:40. These results appear to indicate that fiber and N ratio had significant effects on growth liver composition and calcium balance of the rats.     

Rice husk biochar application to paddy soil and its effects on soil physical properties,plant growth,and methane emission

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the application of rice husk biochar on selected soil physical properties, rice growth, including root extension, and methane (CH₄) emissions from paddy field soil. Three replication experiments were conducted using outdoor pot experiments utilizing commercial rice husk biochar mixed with paddy soil at a rate of 0 (control), 2, and 4 % (weight biochar/weight soil) in which the rice was cultivated for 100 days under a continuously flooded condition. The physical properties of soils were analyzed before and after the growing periods. Some parameters of rice growth and CH₄ emissions of paddy soils were monitored weekly during the experiment. Root extension was also analyzed after harvesting. The experiments showed that the application of rice husk biochar improved the physical properties of paddy soils. It led to a decrease in bulk density and an increase in saturated hydraulic conductivity, including the total pore volume as well as the available soil water content. The shoot height of rice plants was significantly higher in soil amended with 4 % biochar than that in the control soil. However, other plant growth parameters and root extension were only slightly affected by the application. It was also found that amending soil with biochar led to a reduction of the total CH₄ emissions by 45.2 and 54.9 % for an application rate of 2 and 4 %, respectively, compared with the control. Our results showed that the higher the application rate, the stronger the effect of biochar was observed. More research is still necessary for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms.     

不同生物炭类型及添加量对土壤碳氮转化的影响

通过室内培养试验,研究不同生物炭类型(椰壳炭、稻壳炭、柠条炭)以及生物炭添加水平对不同土壤(砖红壤和水稻土)碳素转化的影响。结果表明,在施用等量尿素的情况下,随着生物炭添加量的增加土壤的有机碳含量显著提高。对土壤氮素转化的影响总体表现一致,土壤铵态氮含量逐渐减少,而硝态氮含量逐渐增加;添加1%、2%、5%生物炭的处理土壤NH_4~+-N含量分别比对照降低了13.3%~16.0%、18.6%~28.5%、51.1%~68.8%,NO_3~--N含量比对照提高了6.4%~13.3%、12.9%~19.7%、18.4%~22.7%,这可能与添加生物炭后土壤pH升高引起的氨挥发增加有关,然而其影响程度与土壤类型、生物炭类型和生物炭添加量密切相关。     

Nutritional and biological evaluation of tobacco leaf protein concentrate

A tobacco leaf protein concentrate (TLPC) from bidi tobacco leaves was prepared by a heat coagulation method which contained 52% protein and was free from nicotine and polyphenols. When TLPC was fed to weanling wistar albino rats to supplement 25% of the dietary protein, the growth of the animals was found to be comparable to control animals. Reproductive performance of male and female rats fed the TLPC supplemented diet was normal and no histopathological changes were seen in their tissues.     

Cassava-soy weaning food: Biological evaluation and effects on rat organs

Weaning food was formulated using a cassava product, `Tapioca' (TAP), supplemented with roasted – sproutedsoybeans (SS), with and without additional (10%)malted sorghum flour (MS). Biological evaluation wascarried out on the formulations using 4–5 week oldweanling albino rats, with Cerelac (a commercialmaize-milk weaning food) as the control diet. Therewere increases in growth rate of rats fed with boththe test and control diets. There were no significant(p > 0.05) differences between the test diets andcontrol diet in true digestibility values. Thebiological value (BV) and net protein utilization(NPU) values for the formulated diets were above therecommended minimum values. The weight of organs(small intestine, pancreas, liver and heart) of ratsfed TAP + SS and TAP + SS + MS based diets were nothigher than those of organs of rats fed Cerelac. Itwas concluded that cassava products could potentiallybe employed successfully in the preparation of weaningfoods of comparable quality to available commercialbrands.     

不同基质对中苗期红掌生长及体内氮、磷、钾、钙、镁养分吸收利用的影响

通过不同体积比的粗砂、椰衣、椰糠、花生壳、谷壳的组合对中苗期红掌品种“热情”的处理,研究了不同基质配比对中苗期红掌植株的生长以及N、P、K、Ca、Mg养分吸收利用的影响,结果表明：配方为V椰糠∶V谷壳∶V花生壳＝2∶1∶1的栽培基质其各项理化性状更优,且最有利于中苗期红掌的生长及干物质的积累;中苗期红掌地上部及地下部N、P、K、Ca、Mg的利用率之间无显著规律性,但上述元素的积累量也在配方为V椰糠∶V谷壳∶V花生壳=2∶1∶1的栽培基质上最高。     

Growth,blood chemistry and histology of rats fed zincsupplemented rapeseed protein concentrates

Two rapeseed protein concentrates (RPC) supplemented with zinc oxide were fed to male and female rats at two levels providing approximately half or all of the protein in a purified basal diet containing 20% protein (N×6.25). Control groups were given either a purified basal diet with casein or a laboratory chow diet. After 16 weeks, there were no significant (P<0.05) differences in body weight except the male rats fed the casein control diet had higher body weights than did other male rats. No significant differences were observed in organ weights including thyroids, hematology, bone marrow differential counts, serum glucose, urea nitrogen, total protein, albumin/globulin ratio, cholesterol, transaminases or alkaline phosphatase. The levels of serum vitamins A and E of females fed some of the RPC diets were less than in those fed the caseincontrol diet, but equal to those in females fed laboratory chow diet. Females fed either RPC or casein in the semi-purified diets, which contained zinc oxide, exhibited kidney calcification.Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, No. 112; Food Research Institute, No. 420.     

Comparison of two methods for determining in vitro intestinal absorption of nutrients using rats fed different diets

Absorption of sucrose, glucose, leucine and aspartate was studied using intestinal everted sac of rats fed on french bean diets namely PDR-14, HUR-137 and HUR-15 using casein as a control. Absorption of nutrients was monitored spectrophotometrically and by¹⁴C radio assay of metabolites using scientillation counting. The absorption pattern of amino acids was found to be similar but of glucose and sucrose differed. Glucose was found to be more absorbed than sucrose in spectrophotometer assay and the pattern reversed in radio assay. Absorption of sucrose and leucine were higher by rats fed on HUR-137 diet and similarly, more aspartate was absorbed when fed on HUR-15 diet as demonstrated by both the methods. Rats fed on HUR-137 diet exhibited higher glucose absorption as shown by spectrophotometric assay, but rats on HUR-15 diet by radio assay. Absorption of nutrients differed significantly between casein and french beans.     

Bioavailability of tryptophan in selected foods by rat growth assay

Tryptophan bioavailabilities were estimated in 16 protein sources using 10 day rat growth assays with casein as the reference protein. Growth responses of rats fed test food diets were compared to growth responses of rats fed basal diets with graded levels of tryptophan ranging from 50 to 100 mg of tryptophan/100 g diet. Estimates of tryptophan availabilities were 85–100% for all products except whole wheat cereal (73%) and pinto beans (59%). Results of a previous study on lysine availability indicated that poor response to pinto beans was due either to poor digestibility or to the presence of some unidentified growth inhibitor.