Zinc biofortification of maize (Zea mays L.): Status and challenges

Zn deficiency is one of the leading health problems in children and women of developing countries. Different interventions could be used to overcome malnutrition, but biofortification is most impactful, convenient, sustainable and acceptable intervention. Maize is one of the major crops grown and consumed in the regions with prevalent Zn malnutrition; therefore, this is suitable target for Zn biofortification. Zn biofortification of maize could be achieved through agronomic and genetic approaches. Discussion of agronomic approaches with genetic approaches is prerequisite because soils in developing countries are deficit of Zn and availability of Zn in soils is mandatory for estimating the genetic responses of maize genotypes through genetic approaches. Seed priming, foliar and soil applications are agronomic tools for biofortification, but solo and combined applications of these treatments have different effects on Zn enrichment. Genetic approaches include the increase of Zn bioavailability or increase of kernel Zn concentration. Zn bioavailability could be increased by reducing the anti‐nutritional factors or by increasing the bioavailability enhancers. Kernel Zn concentration could be improved through hybridization and selections, whereas genetically engineered attempts for improving Zn uptake from soil, loading in xylem, remobilization in grains and sequestration in endosperm can further improve the kernel Zn concentration. Key challenges associated with dissemination of Zn biofortified maize are also under discussion in this draft. Current review emphasized all of above‐mentioned contents to provide roadmap for the development of Zn biofortified maize genotypes to curb the global Zn malnutrition.     

Intestinal phytase I: Detection and preliminary characterization of activity in the intestinal brush border membrane of hybrid striped bass Morone saxatilis × M. chrysops

While numerous studies have evaluated intestinal phytase activity in terrestrial monogastric species, little work has been conducted investigating the enzyme's activity in finfish. This experiment was conducted to determine if hybrid striped bass Morone saxatilis × M. chrysops possess intestinal phytase activity, and to perform a preliminary characterization of this activity in terms of pH, metal ion dependence and substrate kinetics. Hybrid bass do exhibit low levels of intestinal phytase activity. The activity has an acidic pH optimum between 3.5 and 4.5. Low concentrations of Mn²⁺ slightly enhance this activity. The divalent cations Mg²⁺ and Zn²⁺ were shown to either have no effect on the enzyme activity or to be inhibitory, particularly at high concentrations. The present results indicate that intestinal phytase activity in hybrid bass does follow Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with estimated K_m and V_max values of 2.5 mM phytate and 4.8 units mg⁻¹ protein, respectively. The physiologic significance of the enzyme's presence in hybrid striped bass is questionable due to the low activity as compared to terrestrial monogastrics, the acidic pH optimum and the low affinity the enzyme appears to have for phytate. These observations also raise the question of whether the intestinal phytase activity detected in hybrid bass is merely a manifestation of non-specific acid phosphatase activity. Further investigation is needed to determine the practical significance of phytase activity in hybrid bass in terms of phytate phosphorus utilization. Additional experiments should also be conducted which evaluate intestinal phytase activity in other important aquacultured finfish species. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Association of Phytate Formation with Grain Filling in Rice

The grain-filling characteristics of six rice varieties (combinations) and the relationships between their relative biochemistry composition during phytate synthesizing and grain plumpness were studied. Regarding results for ISHR1,ISHR2, R198 and JW21, with good grain plumpness, the two-step-filling in superior spikelets and inferior spikelets was not clear, while for ISHR3 and 559, with poor grain plumpness, it was very clear. From booting stage to flowering stage, the contents of phytate and inositol in varieties with good grain plumpness was obviously higher than those in varieties with poor grain plumpness. While at grain filling stage, the content of inorganic phosphorus in varieties with poor grain plumpness was obviously higher than that in varieties with good grain plumpness. The contents of phytate and inositol from booting stage to flowering stage was highly significantly correlated with the initial filling power (RO), the mean filling rate (RM) and grain filling percentage (PGF), and the content of inorganic phosphorus at grain filling stage was negatively significantly correlated with R0, FM and PGF. Furthermore, effective approach to improving grain filling was put forward.     

米糠植酸钠的制取及其产物分析

在综合研究了萃取剂,萃取温度及震荡时间等条件的基础上,经过萃取,超滤,沉淀等步骤从米糠中制备得到植酸钠粗品,并对其组分进行了分析;然后通过脱蛋白、离子交换树脂分离与吸附和诱导结晶等过程获得了植酸钠结晶纯品。用离子色谱,等离子光谱等的测试证明其纯度与国外标准品水平相当。用红外光谱和核磁共振对制备的植酸钠结晶纯品的结构进行了比较鉴定。     

鸡对植酸磷利用率的研究

给3周龄肉鸡、6周龄肉鸡和30周龄蛋鸡分别喂以植酸磷水平为0.18％和0．24％的玉米-豆粕饲粮,研究肉鸡和蛋鸡对饲粮植酸磷的表现消化率。结果表明,蛋鸡植酸磷表现消化率比肉鸡高,而6周龄的肉鸡比3周龄的肉鸡高。     

植酸酶基因PhyA对陆地棉产量性状的影响

在人工控制(培养基、水培、沙培)条件下,植酸酶基因PhyA具有分解利用培养基质植酸磷、提高磷素利用效率的功能,但在田间的表现目前尚未明确。在前期完成的PhyA转基因陆地棉新材料盆栽试验基础上,将其种植在田间条件下,研究PhyA基因对棉花产量性状的影响。结果表明,部分转基因棉花新材料的单株结铃数、铃重、衣分、籽棉产量、皮棉产量与野生型对照存在显著差异,PhyA在田间条件下具有改良转基因棉花部分产量性状的能力。在此基础上,遴选出2个转PhyA棉花优良新品系G3、G2,可用作今后转植酸酶基因棉花新品种培育的基础材料。     

Isolation of a Phytase-Producing Bacterial Strain from Agricultural Soil and its Characterization and Application as an Effective Eco-Friendly Phosphate Solubilizing Bioinoculant

In the present study, we isolated from agricultural soils, a Bacillus strain designated SD01N-014, expressing high-level extracellular phytase activity and investigated its potential to be used as a soil phosphate-solubilizing bioinoculant to improve soil phosphorus (P) availability and thus enhance plant growth. Soil inoculation test showed that being as an inoculant, SD01N-014 substantially enhanced soil P nutrition. Pot experiments showed that when applied to soils, SD01N-014 is capable of colonizing maize seedling roots, increasing plant-available P levels in the rhizosphere and promoting seedling growth. High tunnel trials with different vegetable plants demonstrated that SD01N-014 as a soil inoculant greatly promoted plant growth and was positively correlated with inoculum sizes. Together, these results indicate that SD01N-014 holds promising potential as a cheap, viable and eco-friendly alternative to chemical P fertilizers for increasing soil fertility and crop production in sustainable farming.     

Seed phosphorus remobilization is not a major limiting step for phosphorus nutrition during early growth of maize

Phosphorus (P) is the least mobile nutrient in the soil as compared to other macronutrients and therefore frequently limits crop growth. During germination and early growth, seed‐phytate hydrolysis and seed‐P remobilization is the major P source for developing seedlings. The objective of this paper was to investigate whether seed‐P hydrolysis and remobilization of nonphytate P are sufficient for seedling P nutrition during early growth stages of maize. A large part of initial maize endogenous seed P reserves are mainly in the form of phytate. Till 70 cumulated degree days after sowing, nearly all the phytate (98%) was hydrolyzed and caused an increase in nonphytate P in seeds. Phytate hydrolysis and remobilization of nonphytate P was the main source of P supply for the newly growing seedlings and was not a limiting step for seedling P nutrition during the first four weeks of early growth.     

Non‐phytate phosphorus requirements and efficacy of a genetically engineered yeast phytase in male lingnan yellow broilers from 1 to 21 days of age

This experiment was conducted to investigate the requirement of non‐phytate phosphorus (nPP) and efficacy of a genetically engineered yeast phytase in performance and tibia characteristics by male Lingnan Yellow broilers from 1 to 21 days of age. A total of 2640 1‐day‐old male chicks were randomly allotted to one of 11 dietary treatments, which consisted of six replicate floor pens with 40 birds per pen. All treatments had the same levels of all nutrients except for phosphorus and phytase. The control group (treatment 1) was fed the basal diet without dicalcium phosphate or phytase supplementation. Dietary concentrations of nPP were 0.11%, 0.19%, 0.27%, 0.35%, 0.43%, 0.51% and 0.59% respectively for treatments 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, through addition of dicalcium phosphate (chemistry grade) to the basal diet. Diets 8–11 were supplemented with a genetically engineered yeast phytase 250, 500, 750 U/kg and a commercial phytase product 500 U/kg in basal diet respectively. The results showed that 0.46% and 0.51% nPP were required for maximum body‐weight gain and optimum tibia development indicators respectively. However, 0.59% nPP had a negative effect on bird growth. The equivalency value of the genetically engineered yeast phytase was estimated to be 874 U/kg to liberate 0.1% nPP.     

Phosphorus characterization of manure composts and combined organic fertilizers by a sequential‐fractionation method

Characterization of the forms of phosphorus (P) in organic soil amendments was conducted by sequential P fractionation. More than 60% of total P was inorganic P (P_i). The major P_i forms in the cattle‐manure composts were NaHCO₃‐ and HCl‐extractable P fractions. HCl‐extractable P_i was the predominant P form and a considerable proportion of the total P was present in the HCl‐extractable organic P fraction in the poultry manure composts and combined organic fertilizers.