Establishment techniques affect productivity,nutritive value and atmospheric N2 fixation of two sunn hemp cultivars

Nitrogen fertilization is a common practice for sustaining forage production in forage systems in southeastern United States. Warm-season annual legumes may be an alternative forage to warm-season perennial grasses that do not require N fertilization. Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) is a fast-growing, warm-season annual legume native to India and Pakistan. The objective of this 2-year study was to assess the herbage accumulation (HA), atmospheric N₂ fixation (ANF) and nutritive value of sunn hemp. Treatments were the factorial arrangement of two sunn hemp cultivars (“Crescent Sun” and “Blue Leaf”), three seeding rates (17, 28 and 39 kg seed/ha) and seed inoculation (inoculated or non-inoculated seeds), distributed in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Crescent sun had greater HA (3,218 vs. 1764 kg DM/ha) and ANF (41 vs. 25 kg N/ha). Blue leaf had greater crude protein (CP) (188 vs. 176 g/kg) and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentrations (564 vs. 531 g/kg) than crescent sun. Non-inoculated seed had greater CP than inoculated seed, 188 and 177 g/kg, respectively, and inoculation did not affect HA. Intermediate seeding rate (28 kg/ha) decreased HA (2002 kg DM/ha), while HA from high and low seeding rates (17 and 39 kg/ha, respectively) did not differ (2,863 and 2,615 kg DM/ha respectively). Planting non-inoculated crescent sun at 17 kg/ha seeding rate is a feasible management practice to produce sunn hemp in subtropical regions; however, inoculation should always be recommended for proper establishment.     

Compressive strength of Super Soft wheat endosperm

Wheat endosperm texture (hardness) largely determines end-product suitability. Since its development 25 years ago, the single kernel classification system (SKCS, a mechanical instrument that measures, among other properties, the force imparted on a kernel during crushing) has been used in breeding programs to differentiate soft wheats from hard wheats. Nominally, these have a soft to hard SKCS hardness index (HI) range of 25–75 (dimensionless units). However, in recent years, breeders have developed extremely soft (‘Super Soft’) lines having SKCS HI < 0. Until now, these very low SKCS HIs have not been corroborated with traditional methodologies that characterize mechanical strength. Herein, we report on the relationships between SKCS HI and three compressive strength properties (maximum stress, Young's modulus, and work) in Super Soft wheat. With respective correlation coefficients of 0.76, 0.66, and 0.75, we have found that the relationships between SKCS HI and compressive strength agree with prior research involving ordinary soft and hard wheats.     

Effect of aging at different temperatures on LAOS properties and secondary protein structure of hard wheat flour dough

The effects of aging from t = 0–108 h at two different temperatures (4 and 25 °C) on the non-linear viscoelastic rheological properties and secondary protein structure of hard wheat flour dough (HWD) were investigated using large amplitude oscillatory shear tests (LAOS) coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and SDS-PAGE. Storage (G') and loss (G'') moduli rapidly decreased during aging at 25 °C. Subjecting HWD to progressively longer aging times at 25 °C caused dramatic changes in the non-linear viscoelastic properties demonstrated by strain softening (negative values of e₃/e₁) and shear thinning (negative values of v₃/v₁) behavior. Elastic Lissajous curves of the unaged control dough showed clockwise turn and wider elliptical trajectories as dough aging proceeds especially at higher temperatures. Other non-linear LAOS parameters (G'_M-G''_L, η'_M-η'_L, S and T) supported that aging process at higher temperature caused a progressive change in dough structure from strain stiffening to strain softening behavior while dough samples aged at 4 °C showed fairly close behavior with the control dough sample. FTIR spectra indicated that the relative content of β-sheet and β-turn structures decreased while the content of α-helix structure increased for all dough samples as a result of dough aging. SDS-PAGE results supported the breakdown of high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) glutenin subfractions. Aging at the higher temperature of 25 °C decreased the HMW/LMW ratio from 0.77 to 0.59, while the ratio was 0.73 for the dough aged at 4 °C which is fairly close to the control sample. Our results show that the degradation rate of gluten/starch network was triggered by aging at higher temperature, longer aging time, and natural fermentation which resulted in increasing acidity and increase in endogenous proteolytic and amylolytic activity, and also increasing gluten solubility and break down of intermolecular disulfide bonds at acid pH.     

Supplementing white maize masa with anthocyanins: Effects on masa rheology and on the in vitro digestibility and hardness of tortillas

The aim of this work was to supplement masa made from nixtamalized white maize flour (NWMF) with anthocyanins (0.0, 0.03, 0.06 and 0.12 g/100 g of masa), and to evaluate the effects on the rheological properties of the masa and on color, staling, in vitro digestibility, and hardness of tortillas. Tortilla baking reduced the content of anthocyanins by about 10%. The color parameters of the tortillas added with anthocyanins was similar to that of tortillas made with blue maize. Attenuated total reflection ATR-FTIR spectra showed that the 1022/1047 peak ratio increased, indicative that retrogradation increased with storage time, but the ratio was significantly lower for tortillas with added anthocyanins than without them, and lower for higher anthocyanins concentration. Freshly made tortillas added with anthocyanins exhibited lower ready digestible (about 35%) and slowly digestible (about 20%), but higher resistant (about 45%) starch fractions. Tortillas with 0.12 g of anthocyanins showed significantly lower hardness than the control tortillas (without added anthocyanins). Both previous mentioned effects can be associated with retrogradation, which on turn could be linked to anthocyanins-starch complexes and inhibition of amylolytic enzymes.     

Phenotypic and allelic variation for wort protein Z in Australian and Canadian barleys

Protein Z is a major component in beer foam. Two-dimensional electrophoresis was used to analyze wort proteins of two Australian (Buloke and Commander) and two Canadian (CDC Meredith and Bentley) varieties. The Canadian barley contained more abundant proteins from MW 40–45 kDa (pI 5 to 7). These proteins were identified as either protein Z4 or protein Z7 using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Full-length gene of protein Z4 and Z7 were sequenced from Canadian and Australian barleys. Sequence differences were identified in the coding region and upstream regions of the two genes, resulting in protein sequence and expression variations. Molecular markers were designed according to the indels in the upstream regions of protein Z4 and Z7 genes. These markers were highly correlated to wort protein Z content in Canadian and Australian varieties. The Canadian barleys contained ‘high level’ genotypes for protein Z4 and Z7 while most Australian barleys had ‘low level’ genotypes for protein Z4, Z7 or both. The markers identified in this study provide a valuable tool for the selection of protein Z alleles in marker-assisted breeding. Total protein Z content was assessed using different steeping conditions, and increasing air-rest time increased protein Z content in 15 varieties.     

Glycemic index of boiled BARLEYmax® in healthy Japanese subjects

BARLEYmax® is a unique barley rich in dietary fiber and resistant starch, which are considered to decrease the risk of developing type II diabetes mellitus. In this study, we evaluated the postprandial glycemic response for boiled BARLEYmax and determined its glycemic index in a Japanese population. Eleven healthy subjects were administered a 50 g/150 mL glucose drink twice and boiled BARLEYmax containing 50 g available carbohydrate after a wash-out period. Postprandial blood glucose, its change from baseline over 90 min, and the incremental area under the curve for BARLEYmax were statistically lower than those for the glucose drink. The glycemic index of the BARLEYmax was 24.3 (standard error of the mean, 3.5). These results suggest that in Japanese individuals, boiled BARLEYmax contributes to improving the postprandial glycemic response, which is one of the possible risk factors for the development of type II diabetes mellitus.     

Impact of ethanol,succinic acid,and the combination thereof at levels produced during sponge fermentation on hard wheat,soft wheat,and durum wheat farinograph rheology

The sponge and dough mixing process is one of the most common in the world, yet the mechanistic understanding of this process has yet to be sufficiently explored. In this study, aqueous solutions of ethanol, succinic acid, and their combination were prepared at concentrations intended to replicate fermentation times of 3, 4 and 6 h. These solutions were added to a farinograph mixer to make dough using hard wheat, soft wheat, and durum wheat flour. The results indicate that these yeast metabolites (ethanol, succinic acid) impact the mixing resistance, peak mixing value, and dough mixing stability in each of the flour types, likely primarily affected by the ratios of gliadin to glutenin and LMW glutenin in each flour type. Results suggest a stabilizing non-covalent interaction imparted by gliadin at peak mixing time, a stabilizing effect of HMW glutenin during break down, and synergistic effects of ethanol and succinic acid that leads to a faster rate of breakdown in later stages of mixing. It also suggests an increase in mixing resistance when acidulants are added to durum wheat dough. Taken together, this study adds new insights on the sponge and dough mixing process in a way that has not previously been conducted.     

The effects of sodium reduction on the mechanical properties of doughs made from flours with a range of strengths using a mixograph

To devise strategies for meeting Health Canada's target for reduced-sodium bread production, relationships between dough formula (i.e., red spring wheat flour, salt (NaCl) and water content) and dough mechanical properties were examined. Mixograph energy to peak (ETP), peak height (PKH), and peak bandwidth (PBW) were used to define changes in the properties of doughs induced by sodium reduction. ETP measurements indicated that dough strength characteristics were less responsive to sodium reduction as water content was increased. ETP was a good indicator of the cultivar-dependent response of doughs to sodium reduction, with doughs made from stronger flours being more sensitive to sodium reduction. According to ETP results, sodium reduction led to a decrease in flour strength discrimination. Sodium reduction at NaCl contents below ~1.5% led to more obvious changes in dough mixing characteristics (indicated by the ratio of PBW to PKH). Mixograph analyses of dough tolerance to sodium reduction will guide wheat breeding programs to select cultivars suitable for reduced sodium breadmaking.     

Effects of superheated steam processing on common buckwheat grains: Lipase inactivation and its association with lipidomics profile during storage

Superheated steam (SS) at 170 °C for 5 min was used to inactivate lipase of common buckwheat grains in this study, which effectively retarded lipid hydrolytic rancidity and maintained lipid nutrition of common buckwheat. Higher stabilities based on lower free fatty acid accumulation and lipase activity were observed in SS-treated buckwheat samples during storage. Meanwhile, SS could suppress oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) in buckwheat, significantly retard the increase of saturated fatty acids and the decrease of polyunsaturated fatty acids during storage. Moreover, the lipidomics profile results indicated that SS processing could retard the increased hydrolysis and oxidation of sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and lysophosphatidic acid during storage, while regulate the content of galactolipids. Thus, SS processing could effectively inactivate lipase, suppress UFA oxidation, change glycerolipids and glycerophospholipids subclass metabolism, and consequently retard hydrolytic rancidity and the loss of lipid nutrition in buckwheat during storage. SS processing was proved to effectively protect the quality of buckwheat during storage for the first time.