Effect of Heat Stress on Grain Growth, Starch Synthesis and Protein Synthesis in Grains of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties Differing in Grain Weight Stability

The effect of heat stress on the components of grain weight was analysed in wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) varieties differing in grain weight stability. The wheat varieties PBW154, Sonalika and Hindi62 were raised in the field (New Delhi, India; 77°12' E, 28°40' N, 228.6 m a.s.l.) at three dates of sowing: 19 November 1992 (DOS I), 14 December 1992 (DOS II) and 18 January 1993 (DOS III). The late-sown crop (DOS III) experienced 6–8 °C warmer temperatures during grain development than the crop sown at the normal time (DOS I). The heat susceptibility index (S) revealed that grain weight was less susceptible to heat in Sonalika and PBW154 than in Hindi62. Heat stress reduced both the grain growth duration (GGD) and the grain growth rate (GGR). The grain weight reduction in PBW154 and Sonalika was mainly due to a reduction in GGR, while that of Hindi62 was due to a reduction in GGD. In vivo studies on starch and protein synthesis in excised endosperm at 15, 25 and 35 °C revealed that both processes were more thermotolerant in Hindi62 than in PBW154. The grain starch content was stable in Hindi62 while that in PBW154 was significantly reduced under heat stress. The grain nitrogen content at maturity increased in both varieties under heat stress. It was concluded that the heat susceptibility of grain weight in Hindi62 was mainly due to a reduction in GGD, although GGR, starch and protein synthesis were more thermotolerant in developing grains of Hindi62 than in those of PBW154.     

微囊藻毒素-LR对生菜非结构性碳水化合物代谢的影响

【目的】研究低质量浓度微囊藻毒素-LR（MC-LR）慢性暴露对生菜（Lactuca sativa）叶片及根系非结构性碳水化合物代谢的影响,为富营养化水体在生菜灌溉中的应用提供理论指导。【方法】以散叶生菜为试验材料,采用土培试验方法,设置不同质量浓度（0（对照组）,1,5,10,30 μg/L）MC-LR的水溶液灌溉生菜30 d,通过分析生菜叶片及根系中可溶性糖（葡萄糖、果糖和蔗糖）及淀粉含量、蔗糖和淀粉代谢相关酶活性的变化,探讨生菜非结构性碳水化合物代谢对MC-LR慢性暴露的响应。【结果】10和30 μg/L MC-LR组生菜对MC-LR的富集系数较5 μg/L MC-LR组分别显著上升10.85%和17.83%（P＜0.05）,而对MC-LR的转运系数分别显著下降17.46%和13.85%（P＜0.05）。与对照组相比,1 μg/L MC-LR组生菜净光合速率显著提高了9.17%（P＜0.05）,叶片中果糖含量及根系中葡萄糖含量和淀粉酶（AMS）活性分别显著增加了52.71%,19.13%和37.01%（P＜0.05）;5,10和30 μg/L MC-LR组生菜净光合速率提高,但差异不显著（P＞0.05）,叶片和根系中葡萄糖、果糖和蔗糖含量均显著增加（P＜0.05）,叶片中性转化酶（NI）活性分别显著降低了27.10%,38.01%和37.29%（P＜0.05）,淀粉合成酶活性分别显著增加20.92%,24.57%和30.28%（P＜0.05）,根系蔗糖合成酶、蔗糖磷酸合成酶（SPS）和AMS活性均显著增加（P＜0.05）。【结论】1 μg/L MC-LR水溶液灌溉对生菜叶片和根系中非结构性碳水化合物的分布和代谢影响较弱;而5～30 μg/L MC-LR水溶液灌溉通过促进生菜根系淀粉分解和蔗糖代谢活性,维持体内较高浓度的可溶性糖,从而提高生菜的抗逆性。     

Identification,Characteristics and Function of Phosphoglucomutase (PGM) in the Agar Biosynthesis and Carbon Flux in the Agarophyte Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis (Rhodophyta)

Agar is widely applied across the food, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, owing to its various bioactive functions. To better understand the agar biosynthesis in commercial seaweed Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis, the activities of four enzymes participating in the agar biosynthesis were detected, and phosphoglucomutase (PGM) was confirmed as highly correlated with agar accumulation. Three genes of PGM (GlPGM1, GlPGM2 and GlPGM3) were identified from the G. lemaneiformis genome. The subcellular localization analysis validated that GlPGM1 was located in the chloroplast and GlPGM3 was not significantly distributed in the organelles. Both the GlPGM1 and GlPGM3 protein levels showed a remarkable consistency with the agar variations, and GlPGM3 may participate in the carbon flux between (iso)floridoside, floridean starch and agar synthesis. After treatment with the PGM inhibitor, the agar and floridean starch contents and the activities of floridean starch synthase were significantly decreased; products identified in the Calvin cycle, the pentose phosphate pathway, the Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas pathway and the tricarboxylic acid cycle were depressed; however, lipids, phenolic acids and the intermediate metabolites, fructose-1,6-phosphate were upregulated. These findings reveal the essential role of PGM in regulating the carbon flux between agar and other carbohydrates in G. lemaneiformis, providing a guide for the artificial regulation of agar accumulation.     

Revisiting the use of hydroxyethyl starch solutions in equine fluid therapy

The last decade has led to major shifts in opinions on the use of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions in fluid therapy, specifically in human patients with sepsis. The majority of evidence documenting adverse effects of HES solutions on coagulation and renal health come from studies in people. However, these findings have led to investigation into the safety of HES solutions in veterinary species. While there are now studies investigating the effects of HES solutions on coagulation and renal health in dogs, cats and horses, information regarding long-term follow-up, clinical significance of these changes and use of these solutions in critically ill animals is still lacking. The information presented here serves to review the physiology of oncotic pressure and the rationale behind colloid use, specifically HES solutions. Additionally, the foundation of arguments against the use of HES and the available literature regarding HES use in animals will be summarised.     

Glycaemic and insulinaemic responses to feeding hay with different non-structural carbohydrate content in control and polysaccharide storage myopathy-affected horses

The aim of this study was to determine whether the glycaemic/insulinaemic responses to hay with non-structural carbohydrate (NSC, soluble carbohydrate) of 17% (HC), 10% (MC) or 4% (LC) differs in control horses and whether these responses differ between control and horses with polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM). Five clinically normal control horses and seven PSSM horses, all unfit and of Quarter Horse breeding (age 9.4 ± 3.4 years, body condition score range: 4.5-6). A crossover design compared the HC and LC hay, with horses randomly assigned to hay type for 5 days, and all horses fed the MC hay during washout, after which the diets were switched. Horses were fed 1.5% BW (as fed) divided into 2 feeding per day, no grain. On morning of the fifth day of each block (seventh day for washout), horses were given 0.5% BW in hay, blood was drawn before and every 30 min for 5 h after feeding, and the rate of intake was measured. Whole blood glucose and plasma insulin were measured. The intake rate was significantly higher for HC. In control horses, the insulin area under the curve (6891.7 ± 3524.2 HC vs. 1185.4 ± 530.2 LC) was significantly higher than LC. Polysaccharide storage myopathy horses had significantly higher glycaemic and insulinaemic responses to HC vs. LC, however; the magnitude of insulin response was lower and glucose response higher in PSSM vs. control horses. Results suggest that insulin responses can differ significantly with the NSC content of hay. Feeding hay with 17% NSC produces elevations in insulin that could be detrimental for PSSM horses.     

7种能量饲料淀粉降解率的研究

以6头装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的浏阳去势黑山羊为实验动物,利用瘤胃尼龙袋技术研究大麦、大米、高粱、荞麦、小麦、小米、玉米等7种常用谷物饲料淀粉在羊瘤胃内的降解率规律。结果表明各种饲料淀粉有效降解率(%)顺序为:大麦>小麦>玉米>大米>荞麦>高粱>小米。其中以大麦的淀粉有效降解率最高达97.05%,小米的最小为36.43%,其它依次为96.28%、55.37%、45.23%、44.10%、42.58%。     

Microbial protein formation of different carbohydrates in vitro

The aim of this study was to investigate the microbial protein yield of different pure carbohydrates to contribute to a more precise prediction of the microbial protein formed in the rumen. In a first experiment, sucrose, wheat starch, microcrystalline cellulose and citrus pectin were incubated for 8 and 24 hr in the modified Hohenheim gas test (HGT) system (3 runs × 2 syringes) including gas production, ammonia and short‐chain fatty acid concentration measurements. Ammonia values were used for estimation of the microbial protein formation. In a second experiment, the same substrates were incubated for 96 hr in the HGT system (2 runs × 3 syringes) and gas production was measured after 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 30, 36, 48, 60, 72 and 96 hr of incubation to obtain the fermentation kinetics and the time of half‐maximal gas production (t_1/2) of the substrates. The substrates differed considerably in their fermentation kinetics, and therefore, comparison on the basis of t_1/2 was chosen as the most meaningful. At t_1/2, microbial protein yield [g/kg dry matter] was higher for cellulose than for sucrose and pectin and higher for starch than for sucrose. The microbial protein expressed in g/L gas production was higher for starch and cellulose than for sucrose and pectin at t_1/2. Effects of carbohydrates related to ruminal pH may remain undetected in in vitro trials.