The composition of grain and forage from glyphosate tolerant wheat MON 71800 is equivalent to that of conventional wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Glyphosate tolerant wheat MON 71800, simply referred to as MON 71800, contains a 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) protein from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4 (CP4 EPSPS) that has a reduced affinity for glyphosate as compared to the endogenous plant EPSPS enzyme. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the compositional equivalence of MON 71800 to its nontransgenic parent as well as to conventional wheat varieties. The compositional assessment evaluated the levels of proximates, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, secondary metabolites, and antinutrients in wheat forage and grain grown during two field seasons across a total of eight sites in the United States and Canada. These data demonstrated that with respect to these important nutritional components, the forage and grain from MON 71800 were equivalent to those of its nontransgenic parent and commercial wheat varieties. These data, together with the previously established safety of the CP4 EPSPS protein, support the conclusion that glyphosate tolerant wheat MON 71800 is as safe and nutritious as commercial wheat varieties.     

利用复合PCR方法同时检测三种转基因水稻

我国在转基因水稻研究方面处于国际领先地位,但由于研究材料扩散到商品化生产水稻中而引起的贸易纠纷时有发生。加强转基因水稻检测与监管,从源头控制转基因水稻基因扩散对于保障生物安全、促进米制品贸易有重要意义。本研究针对我国当前转基因水稻监管重点,结合已有相关检测方法标准,针对三种不同转基因水稻：抗虫水稻TT51-1、抗病水稻M12、抗除草剂水稻LLRICE62,以水稻内源基因RBE4为参照基因,建立转基因水稻四重复合PCR检测方法,可在同一反应体系中同时检测鉴定三种转基因水稻品系,检测限可达250个拷贝。利用此方法可快速地定性检测和鉴定转基因水稻TT51、M12、LL RICE62。     

Biochemical safety evaluation of transgenic rice seeds expressing T cell epitopes of Japanese cedar pollen allergens

Transgenic rice seeds, which express a hybrid peptide comprising seven predominant human T cell epitopes (7Crp) derived from Japanese cedar pollen allergens, have been shown to function as an effective edible vaccine for the control of pollen allergen-induced responses. In this study, we characterized biochemical properties of transgenic seeds expressing the 7Crp peptide. The levels of chemical compositions, such as carbohydrate, protein, lipid, amino acid, fatty acid, mineral, and vitamin, were substantially equivalent between transgenic 7Crp and its nontransgenic counterpart seeds. The contents of three major allergenic proteins in transgenic seeds were not enhanced by expression of the 7Crp peptide when compared with those of nontransgenic seeds. The 7Crp peptide expressed in seeds was susceptible to simulated gastric/intestinal fluids. N-Glycosylation was not observed in the 7Crp peptide sequence. These results indicate that transgenic 7Crp seeds are substantially equivalent to nontransgenic parental seeds except for the presence of the 7Crp peptide. Keywords: Food safety assessment; transgenic rice seed; edible vaccine; peptide-based immunotherapy; Japanese cedar pollinosis.     

Glyphosate-tolerant corn: the composition and feeding value of grain from glyphosate-tolerant corn is equivalent to that of conventional corn (Zea mays L.)

Glyphosate-tolerant (Roundup Ready) corn line GA21 has been developed by genetic modification to tolerate glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup herbicide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the compositional and nutritional safety of corn line GA21 compared to that of conventional corn. Compositional analyses were conducted to measure proximate, fiber, amino acid, fatty acid, and mineral contents of grain and proximate, fiber, and mineral contents of forage collected from 16 field sites over two growing seasons. The nutritional safety of corn line GA21 was evaluated in a poultry feeding study conducted with 2-day old, rapidly growing broiler chickens, at a dietary concentration of 50-60% w/w. Compositional analysis results showed that, except for a few minor differences that are unlikely to be of biological significance, the grain and forage of GA21 corn were comparable in their composition to that of the control corn line and to conventional corn. Results from the poultry feeding study showed that there were no differences in growth, feed efficiency, adjusted feed efficiency, and fat pad weights between chickens fed with GA21 grain or with parental control grain. These data taken together demonstrate that Roundup Ready corn is as safe and nutritious as conventional corn for food and feed use.     

辐射诱变育成系列糯稻的主要生物学特性

研究了经辐射诱变育成的糯稻不育系、保持系、恢复系和杂交糯稻的主要生物学特性,分析了杂交糯稻的稻米品质。结果表明,糯稻具有与原品种相同的生育期,相似的农艺性状、穗部和花器性状。糯不育系具有与原不育系相同的花粉不育特性。杂交糯稻保留了原杂交稻的产量水平和产量潜力,此外杂交糯稻具有与常规糯稻鄂荆糯6号相似的稻米品质。     

Composition of grain and forage from corn rootworm-protected corn event MON 863 is equivalent to that of conventional corn (Zea mays l.)

Insect-protected corn hybrids containing event MON 863 protect corn plants against feeding damage from corn rootworm (Diabrotica), a major North American insect pest. Corn event MON 863 contains a gene that expresses an amino acid sequence variant of the wild-type Cry3Bb1 insecticidal protein from Bacillus thuringiensis. The purpose of this study was to compare the composition of corn containing event MON 863 with that of conventional nontransgenic corn. Compositional analyses were conducted to measure proximates, fiber, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, folic acid, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin E, antinutrients, and certain secondary metabolites in grain and proximates and fiber content in forage collected from a total of eight field sites in the U.S. and Argentina. Compositional analyses demonstrated that the grain and forage of event MON 863 are comparable in their nutritional content to the control corn hybrid and conventional corn. These comparisons, together with the history of the safe use of corn as a common component of animal feed and human food, support the conclusion that corn event MON 863 is compositionally equivalent to, and as safe and nutritious as, conventional corn hybrids grown commercially today.     

Assessment of the nutritional values of genetically modified wheat, corn, and tomato crops

The genetic modification in fruit and vegetables could lead to changes in metabolic pathways and, therefore, to the variation of the molecular pattern, with particular attention to antioxidant compounds not well-described in the literature. The aim of the present study was to compare the quality composition of transgenic wheat ( Triticum durum L.), corn ( Zea mays L.), and tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) to the nontransgenic control with a similar genetic background. In the first experiment, Ofanto wheat cultivar containing the tobacco rab1 gene and nontransgenic Ofanto were used. The second experiment compared two transgenic lines of corn containing Bacillus thuringiensis "Cry toxin" gene (PR33P67 and Pegaso Bt) to their nontransgenic forms. The third experiment was conducted on transgenic tomato ( Lycopersicum esculentum Mill.) containing the Agrobacterium rhizogenes rolD gene and its nontransgenic control (cv. Tondino). Conventional and genetically modified crops were compared in terms of fatty acids content, unsaponifiable fraction of antioxidants, total phenols, polyphenols, carotenoids, vitamin C, total antioxidant activity, and mineral composition. No significant differences were observed for qualitative traits analyzed in wheat and corn samples. In tomato samples, the total antioxidant activity (TAA), measured by FRAP assay, and the naringenin content showed a lower value in genetically modified organism (GMO) samples (0.35 mmol of Fe (2+) 100 g (-1) and 2.82 mg 100 g (-1), respectively), in comparison to its nontransgenic control (0.41 mmol of Fe (2+) 100 g (-1) and 4.17 mg 100 g (-1), respectively). On the basis of the principle of substantial equivalence, as articulated by the World Health Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, these data support the conclusion that GM events are nutritionally similar to conventional varieties of wheat, corn, and tomato on the market today.     

Nondestructive prediction of total phenolics, flavonoid contents, and antioxidant capacity of rice grain using near-infrared spectroscopy

Phytochemicals such as phenolics and flavonoids, which are present in rice grains, are associated with reduced risk of developing chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. The phenolic and flavonoid compounds in rice grain also contribute to the antioxidant activity. Biofortification of rice grain by conventional breeding is a way to improve nutritional quality so as to combat nutritional deficiency. Since wet chemistry measurement of phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity are time-consuming and expensive, a rapid and nondestructive predictive method based on near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) would be valuable to measure these nutritional quality parameters. In the present study, calibration models for measurement of phenolic and flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacity were developed using principal component analysis (PCA), partial least-squares regression (PLS), and modified partial least-squares regression (mPLS) methods with the spectra of the dehulled grain (brown rice). The results showed that NIRS could effectively predict the total phenolic contents and antioxidant capacity by PLS and mPLS methods. The standard errors of prediction (SEP) were 47.1 and 45.9 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE) for phenolic content, and the coefficients of determination ( r (2)) were 0.849 and 0.864 by PLS and mPLS methods, respectively. Both PLS and mPLS methods gave similarly accurate performance for prediction of antioxidant capacity with SEP of 0.28 mM Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and r (2) of 0.82. However, the NIRS models were not successful for flavonoid content with the three methods ( r (2) < 0.4). The models reported here are usable for routine screening of a large number of samples in early generation screening in breeding programs.     

Effect of Flour‐Blasting Brown Rice on Reduction of Cooking Time and Resulting Texture

Long‐grain nonparboiled, long‐grain parboiled, and American basmati‐type brown rice were bombarded with parboiled rice flour particles to create microperforations on the water‐resistant outer layer of the kernels. These microperforations in the treated rice significantly increased the rate of hydration. Optimum conditions to produce microperforations without removal of the bran included air pressure maintained at 413 kPa and a parboiled rice flour average particle size of 124 μm. The optimum blasting time was 40–60 sec, depending on the type of rice. The relative hardness of the fully cooked flour‐blasted rice was the same at half the cooking time of the untreated brown rice but % water absorption of the untreated flour‐blasted brown rice was higher because it required longer time to cook. Overall, untreated brown rice was ≈4.7% higher in % water absorption due to longer cooking time in comparison with the treated counterpart. The blasting treatment resulted in shorter cooking time and firmer and less gummy cooked rice as compared to freshly cooked untreated brown rice.     

Evaluation of compositional equivalence for multitrait biotechnology crops

Compositional analysis is an important tool in the evaluation of the safety and nutritional status of biotechnology-derived crops. As part of the comparative assessment of a biotechnology-derived crop, its composition is evaluated by quantitative measurement of the levels of key nutrients, antinutrients, and secondary metabolites and compared to that of conventional crops. To evaluate the effect of combining multiple biotech traits through conventional breeding, the forage and grain compositions of the double combinations MON 810 × NK603, MON 863 × MON 810, and MON 863 × NK603 and the triple combination MON 863 × NK603 × MON 810 were compared to their respective near-isogenic, conventional control hybrids. Overall, a total of 241 statistical comparisons between the multitrait biotechnology crop and its corresponding conventional controls were conducted. Of these comparisons 192 (79.7%) were not statistically significantly different (p > 0.05), and all 49 of the differences were within the 99% tolerance interval for commercial hybrids grown in the same field or related field trials. These data on combined trait biotechnology-derived products demonstrated that the forage and grain were compositionally equivalent to their conventional comparators, indicating the absence of any influence of combining insect protection and herbicide tolerance traits by conventional breeding on compositional variation.     

水稻籽粒碳氮代谢与品质性状间遗传相关性的研究

研究分析水稻籽粒C、N代谢与稻米主要品质性状间遗传相关性结果表明,水稻籽粒C、N代谢与稻米主要品质性状间有一定遗传相关性,提高可溶性糖含量,则糖氮比显著提高,糙米长、千粒重和直链淀粉含量显著降低;提高全N含量可能显著提高糙米厚和直链淀粉含量,而糖氮比、糙米长和千粒重随之显著降低;随糖氮比的提高,糙米厚、千粒重和直链淀粉含量将显著降低。种子、细胞质和母体植株3套遗传体系同时对成对性状的遗传相关性起作用,且各遗传体系在不同成对性状间的作用效果各异,可溶性糖含量与糙米宽、可溶性糖含量与糙米厚、全N含量与糙米长、全N含量与糙米厚等成对性状间遗传相关性主要受种子直接效应的控制;而可溶性糖含量与糙米长宽比、可溶性糖含量与千粒重、可溶性糖含量与直链淀粉含量、全N含量与糙米宽、全N含量与糙米长宽比、糖氮比与糙米宽、糖氮比与糙米厚等成对性状则以母体植株效应为主。     

Diagnostic techniques for cereals based on plant analysis I. Stage of plant development

Abstract

The feasibility of using plant nutrient analysis results in the development of quantitative models for the evaluation and control of the nutritional status and grain yield of lowland rice was studied in a growth chamber experiment. Rice plants were grown under varying basal applications of N, P, K as well as several topdressing levels of N. Concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg and Na in the above ground portions of the plants were measured four times during the growing period and at plant maturity.

Grain yield was closely related to the nutritional status of plants at 2.0 g Dry Hatter weight (DMw) per hill, as indicated by clear and reproducible relationships between the grain yield and concentrations of individual nutrient elements. Interactions between the various nutrient elements were minimum at this DMw. Therefore, 2.0 g DMw per hill was selected as a representative stage of plant development for identifying the reference values for the nutritional status of young rice plants for developing quantitative methods for the evaluation and control of nutritional status and yield.     

Transgenic rice plants expressing human CYP1A1 remediate the triazine herbicides atrazine and simazine

The human cytochrome P450 CYP1A1 gene was introduced into rice plants (Oryza sativa cv. Nipponbare). One-month-old CYP1A1 plants grown in soil clearly showed a healthy growth and tolerance to 8.8 microM atrazine and 50 microM simazine, but nontransgenic plants were completely killed by the herbicides. Although transgenic and nontransgenic plants metabolized the two herbicides into the same sets of compounds, CYP1A1 plants metabolized atrazine and simazine more rapidly than did control plants. In small-scale experiments, residual amounts of atrazine and simazine in the culture medium of CYP1A1 plants were 43.4 and 12.3% of those in control medium; those of nontransgenic Nipponbare were 68.3 and 57.2%, respectively. When cultivated in soil with 2.95 microM atrazine and 3.15 microM simazine for 25 days, CYP1A1 plants eliminated 1.3 times more atrazine and 1.4 times more simazine from the soil than did control plants. Thus, CYP1A1 rice plants make it possible to remove atrazine and simazine more rapidly from the culture medium and soil than can nontransgenic Nipponbare.     

Zinc biofortification in rice: leveraging agriculture to moderate hidden hunger in developing countries

A restricted dietary range and a deficit of essential minerals such as zinc (Zn) characterize the diets of under-nourished people. Zn deficiency is a global nutritional problem and intensity of the issue is even severe in developing countries. Cereal grains are key to fulfill a person’s daily energy requirements, but they have very low grain Zn concentrations, especially when grown in Zn-deficient soils. Zinc deficiency can be addressed in several ways viz., nutritional diversification, food enrichment and biofortification. Several limitations regarding nutritional diversification and food enrichment favored Zn biofortification as a perpetual solution of malnutrition. Among the potential biofortification options to rectify Zn deficiency, plant breeding approaches and agronomic biofortification offers major advantage. Current review appraised the possible role of Zn in plants, its uptake, translocation and partitioning efficiencies in cereal grains that is driven by various agronomic, breeding and biotechnological approaches. Moreover, review also discussed Zn application methods, Zn-phosphate hostility and indicators of Zn bioavailability which may improve Zn-use efficiency in rice. There is a genuine need to integrate Zn in rice production systems by using agronomic and conventional breeding tools. Likewise, agronomic biofortification is economically sustainable and practically adoptable solution to overcome the Zn deficiency issue in rice.     

Comparison of the nutritional profile of glyphosate-tolerant corn event NK603 with that of conventional corn (Zea mays L.)

The composition of glyphosate-tolerant (Roundup Ready) corn event NK603 was compared with that of conventional corn grown in the United States in 1998 and in the European Union in 1999 to assess compositional equivalence. Grain and forage samples were collected from both replicated and nonreplicated field trials, and compositional analyses were performed to measure proximates, fiber, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamin E, nine minerals, phytic acid, trypsin inhibitor, and secondary metabolites in grain as well as proximates and fiber in forage. Statistical analysis of the data was conducted to assess statistical significance at the p < 0.05 level. The values for all of the biochemical components assessed for corn event NK603 were similar to those of the nontransgenic control or were within the published range observed for nontransgenic commercial corn hybrids. In addition, the compositional profile of Roundup Ready corn event NK603 was compared with that of traditional corn hybrids grown in Europe by calculating a 99% tolerance interval to describe compositional variability in the population of traditional corn varieties in the marketplace. These comparisons, together with the history of the safe use of corn as a common component of animal feed and human food, support the conclusion that Roundup Ready corn event NK603 is compositionally equivalent to, and as safe and nutritious as, conventional corn hybrids grown commercially today.     

包膜控释掺混尿素对双季稻生长及氮素利用率的影响

为了比较常规分次施肥和包膜控释掺混尿素对双季稻生长及氮素利用率的影响,在田间条件下,研究了不同施肥处理对双季稻分蘖数、叶绿素含量、各个生育期植株含氮量、稻草稻谷产量及氮素利用率等因素的影响。结果表明：（1）在早稻上,控释掺混尿素处理的以上各测试指标均高于常规分次施氮肥处理,各指标两处理之间差异均不显著（P〈0.05）。控释掺混尿素的氮肥利用率为40.08%,显著高于常规分次施氮肥的32.47%,而一次基施氮肥的利用率只有19.50%。（2）在晚稻上,常规分次施氮肥处理的稻谷产量高于控释掺混尿素处理,差异不显著（P〈0.05）,其他各项测试指标均低于控释掺混尿素处理。控释掺混尿素和常规分次施氮肥的氮素利用率分别为39.91%、39.58%,二者显著高于一次基施氮肥的28.14%。由此可见,科学合理的施用包膜控释掺混尿素可以提高双季稻生产的经济效益,提高氮素利用率,减少资源的浪费,保护土壤生态环境。     

富铁水稻研究进展

本文简述了水稻品种间铁含量的差异性及其遗传控制,综述了采取提高铁绝对含量及增加其生物有效性开展富铁水稻的研究进展,包括常规育种、诱变育种、转基因技术。对富铁水稻研究中存在的问题及诱变技术在该方面的应用前景也作了探讨。     

Storage Stability of Flour‐Blasted Brown Rice

Brown rice was blasted with rice flour rather than sand in a sand blaster to make microperforations so that water could easily penetrate the brown rice endosperm and cook the rice in a shorter time. The flour‐blasted American Basmati brown rice, long‐grain brown rice, and parboiled long‐grain brown rice samples were stored in Ziploc storage bags under atmospheric conditions and in vacuum‐packed bags. They were periodically tested for over 10 months for changes in water absorption, free fatty acid (FFA), peroxide value (POV), viscosity changes of flour using the Rapid ViscoAnalyser (RVA), and texture of whole cooked kernel using a texture analyzer during cooking. Flour‐blasted brown rice absorbed less water but needed less cooking time than its counterpart that was not flour‐blasted. There was an increase in FFA, POV, peak viscosity (PV), final viscosity (FV), breakdown viscosity (BD), and setback viscosity (SB) during storage of flour‐blasted brown rice for 300 days, but no change was observed in texture (hardness, gumminess) and water absorption. The combined coefficient of correlation (including all types of rice) between FFA and FV is r = 0.86 and between FFA and SB is r = 0.90 at P < 0.0001.     

Comparison of Nutritional and Physicochemical Quality of Rice Under Organic and Standard Production Systems

Growing interest in sustainable agriculture has prompted this study aiming to evaluate nutritional content of rice grain produced from an organic production system. Here, we grew nine quality rice cultivars under organic methods in the wet and dry seasons, and the nutritional values, grain quality, and physiological parameters were compared with respective cultivars grown under the standard cultivation method (SCM). Obtained results revealed that the yield and plant height were lower, but tillering capacity was higher, in the organic field compared with the standard one. The organic crop showed significantly lower contents of protein and phytate compared with reference values under the SCM. Antioxidative capacity and its responsible phytochemicals such as phenolics, flavonoids, and γ‐oryzanol were also significantly higher under organic cultivation than under the SCM. Among physicochemical characteristics, apparent amylose content, gel consistency, and area and perimeter of grain were also higher in the organic crops, but hulling quality, milling quality, head rice recovery, and all other cooking qualities were at par. Higher crude oil and lower total protein content of rice bran were observed in the organic crop, but ash, fiber, and moisture contents did not vary significantly in these two cultivation systems.     

花后增温对双季优质稻产量和品质的影响

为明确未来气候变暖对双季优质稻产量和稻米品质的影响,采用开放式主动增温系统,早稻以金早47(常规籼稻)、两优287(杂交籼稻),晚稻以象牙香珍(常规籼稻)、万象优华占(杂交籼稻)和甬优5550(籼粳杂交稻)为试验材料,研究花后增温对双季优质稻产量和稻米品质的影响。结果表明,花后増温(早稻1.29℃,晚稻1.73℃)对早晚稻产量均无显著影响。增温条件下,早稻加工品质和垩白粒率均无显著变化,垩白度平均提高了16.0%;晚稻糙米率、整精米率、垩白粒率和垩白度分别平均提高了1.8%、3.5%、30.3%和27.2%;早晚稻蛋白质含量平均提高了6.27%,但直链淀粉含量平均降低了3.53%,淀粉颗粒的平均粒径提高了0.09 μm。增温对稻米RVA谱特征值的影响在季别和品种间存在较大变异。综上,花后增温对早晚稻产量无显著影响,有利于改善稻米的加工品质和营养品质,但降低了稻米的外观品质。本研究结果为未来气候变暖下双季优质稻的优质丰产栽培提供了理论依据。