Kernel vitreousness and protein content: Relationship,interaction and synergistic effects on durum wheat quality

Four sets of durum samples were used in this study to further understand the interrelationships among hard vitreous kernels (HVK), protein content, and pigment concentration, with a focus on the interaction and synergistic effects of protein content and vitreousness on durum quality. HVK level increases with higher protein content in the range of 9.5–12.5%, but this relationship is less evident in durum samples with high protein content (12.5–14.5%). Both protein content and kernel vitreousness can significantly affect durum milling quality. White starchy kernels (WSK) in low protein durum have a very detrimental impact on milling and pasta processing quality, but high protein content can mitigate the adverse impact of WSK on durum quality. Although protein content plays a dominant role, higher HVK might contribute positively to pasta firmness. There was no significant difference in yellow pigment content between HVK and WSK. However, pigment loss from semolina to dough was higher for WSK than HVK. Despite the difference in protein content, HVK and WSK have little difference in gluten strength. The monomeric protein was preferentially accumulated in HVK. The glutenin proteins of HVK and WSK were similar in the ratios of 1Bx/1By and HMW/LMW-GS.     

Characteristics of starch synthesis and grain filling of common buckwheat

The common buckwheat ‘cv. Fengtian 1’ (FT1), ‘cv. Yuqiao 4’ (YQ4), ‘cv. Dingtian 2 (DT2)’, and ‘cv. Tongliao (TL)’ were selected to investigate the characteristics of starch synthesis and grain filling. The chlorophyll and chlorophyll a/b contents of leaves in the third stem showed a steady downward trend with the growth of common buckwheat. Whereas, FT1, YQ4 and DT2 showed higher chlorophyll content than that of TL at 7d and 14d. The activity of soluble starch synthase(SSS) and adenosine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase (ADPGP) in the four tested varieties showed a rapid upward trend until 14 days after heading but then rapidly decreased until 21 days after heading. The average adenosine diphosphate glucose pyrophosphorylase activities of FT1, YQ4 and DT2 were higher than TL, while the average soluble starch synthase activities were similar among the four tested varieties. Consistently, the four tested varieties showed rapid accumulation of starch, amylose, and amylopectin during the prefilling stage, but no difference of starch content was found at maturity. The filling process of the four common buckwheat varieties exhibited an “S” curve. The Richards equation was utilized to evaluate the grain-filling process of common buckwheat. YQ4 showed the largest values of initial growth power (R₀). The time reaching the maximum grain-filling rate (t_max.G) of FT1 was the longest, and the maximum grain-filling rate (G_max) of DT2 was the fastest.     

Responses of glutamine synthetase activity and gene expression to nitrogen levels in winter wheat cultivars with different grain protein content

Glutamine synthetase (GS) plays a central role in plant nitrogen (N) metabolism, which improves crops grain protein content. A pot experiment in field condition was carried out to evaluate GS expression and activity, and grain protein content in high (Wanmai16) and low grain protein (Loumai24) wheat cultivars under two N levels (0.05 and 0.15 g N kg⁻¹ soil). High nitrogen (HN) resulted in significant increases in GS1 and GS2 expression at 10 days after anthesis (DAA), and higher GS activity during the entire grain filling stage. HN also significantly increased yield, grain protein content and protein fraction (except for glutenin of Luomai24) in two wheat cultivars, which indicated that it increased grain yield and protein content by improving nitrogen metabolism. Wanmai16 showed higher grain protein content, gliadin and glutenin content, and had higher expression level of GS2 both in flag leaves and grains at early grain filling stage. However, Luomai24 had greater yield and higher expression level of GS1. The difference expression of GS2 and GS1 genes indicates they had various contributions to the accumulation of protein and starch in wheat grains, respectively. The results suggest that GS2 would be serving as a potential breeding target for improving wheat quality.     

大强度间歇游泳运动对青年肥胖女性减肥效果的研究

目的：探讨大强度间歇游泳运动对青年肥胖女性减肥的效果。方法：20名自愿参加青年肥胖女性随机分为对照组和实验组各10名，实验组进行12周4次/周大强度间歇游泳运动，运动方案为以85%VO2max强度完成200m游、再以55%VO2max强度完成100m游、间歇休息3min为一组，重复6组；在运动计划实施前和12周结束时采用ZEUS9.9身体成分分析仪测定受试者身体成分。结果：与对照组或运动前比较，实验组青年肥胖女性的体重、BMI、腰围、臀围、WHR、体脂%、身体脂肪、内脏脂肪和皮下脂肪均出现极显著性或显著性减少（P<0.01，P<0.05)，而肌肉量和蛋白质量则出现显著性增加 (p<0.05）。结论：大强度间歇游泳运动对青年肥胖女性有明显的减肥效果。     

Crop structure in winter oats and the effect of nitrogen on quality-related characters

The relationship between panicle structure and oat grain quality characteristics was examined in a winter oat (Avena sativa) experiment, cv. Gerald, fertilized with 80 and 200 kg/ha N. Spikelets on each whorl were counted and separated into primary, secondary, and tertiary grains, which were counted and weighed, and the kernels extracted manually and weighed. Tiller and whorl rank had relatively small effects on weight per grain and kernel content. Nitrogen application significantly increased weight per primary and secondary grain on the main stem and T1, the first tiller, while spikelet and grain numbers increased only on T1. However, weight per grain and kernel contents in all whorls on both the main stem and T1 were not significantly affected by nitrogen. Although kernel contents were significantly affected by nitrogen application on some occasions, increases and decreases were less than 2.5%. Across the whole plant, numbers of primary and secondary grains increased at the higher nitrogen application, but weight per primary grain and kernel contents were unaffected. However, weight per secondary grain significantly increased at the higher nitrogen application, thus improving uniformity of grain size which is of value to millers.     

Seed growth of three perennial ryegrass cultivars sown on two dates and treated with trinexapac ethyl straw shortener

First‐year crops of diploid perennial ryegrass (cvs. Meridian, Bronsyn and Grasslands Impact) were sown on 1 April and 14 May 2008. Applications of trinexapac ethyl (TE) plant growth regulator at 0, 200 and 400 g a.i. ha^?1 were used to shorten stems to examine the impact of seed growth. Seed filling followed a consistent sigmoidal growth pattern with a lag phase of 127°C days, and linear duration of 390°C days. Time to 95% of final seed weight was 517°C days. Seed yield increases from TE were from higher numbers of first‐grade seeds m^?2, achieved by a higher rate of seed filling during the linear phase of 0·115 mg per °C day per spike. For all cultivars, the maximum stem dry weight occurred at 310–400°C days post‐anthesis, which suggest the stem was a strong sink. As seeds developed, their demand for assimilate increased and they drew more from the stem. At harvest, stem weights from TE treatments were 25% heavier than at anthesis, while untreated ‘Bronsyn’ and ‘Grasslands Impact’ stems were similar to those at anthesis. Thus, stems treated with TE contributed assimilates to increase seed yield but were still a net sink with assimilates in the stem at harvest. Trinexapac ethyl rate induced an inverse relationship between seed yield and stem height. This showed that competition for assimilate between stems and growing seeds limited the seed yield. Management or genetic factors that reduce stem height are likely to increase seed yields of perennial ryegrass.     

Breeding for increased grain protein and micronutrient content in wheat: Ten years of the GPC-B1 gene

To provide food and nutrition security for a growing world population, continued improvements in the yield and nutritional quality of agricultural crops will be required. Wheat is an important source of calories, protein and micronutrients and is thus a priority to breed for improvements in these traits. The GRAIN PROTEIN CONTENT-B1 (GPC-B1) gene is a positive regulator of nutrient translocation which increases protein, iron and zinc concentration in the wheat grain. In the ten years since it was cloned, the impacts of GPC-B1 allelic variation on quality and yield traits have been extensively analyzed in diverse genetic backgrounds in field studies spanning forty environments and seven countries. In this review, we compile data from twenty-five studies to summarize the impact of GPC-B1 allelic variation on fifty different traits. Taken together, the results demonstrate that the functional copy of the GPC-B1 gene is associated with consistent positive effects on grain protein, Fe and Zn content with only marginally negative impacts on yield. We conclude that the GPC-B1 gene has the potential to increase nutritional and end use quality in a wide range of modern cultivars and environments and discuss the possibilities for its application in wheat breeding.     

A new lean no time test baking method with improved discriminating power

In response to customer concerns related to gluten strength in commercial baking, the Canadian Grain Commission assessed whether the Canadian Short Process (CSP) test bake method was generating useful data related to intrinsic strength of wheat varieties. Assessment of CSP loaf volume data for Canadian variety trials spanning 2003 to 2013 showed very little correlation with dough strength parameters as measured by farinograph and extensigraph. A lean no time (LNT) test baking method was developed that can better discriminate genotypes and provide objective indicators of the effect of intrinsic dough strength on baking quality. From early method development, through method validation and verification using diverse sets of samples targeting different Canadian wheat classes and grown in three different crop years, results showed the LNT method to be more discriminating and easily adopted by other laboratories. In 2015, the LNT method was adopted as the method of choice in future Canadian variety registration trials. The LNT method is fast, simple and well-suited to high throughput test baking conditions encountered in the evaluation of large numbers of breeder lines. A new objective parameter, loaf top ratio, was also introduced and found to correlate well with dough strength and dough handling properties.     

大丽轮枝孢激活蛋白对小麦旗叶面积及其光合特性和籽粒产量的影响

为明确大丽轮枝孢激活蛋白（Verticillium Dahliae Asp-f2 Like，简称VDAL）对冬小麦旗叶面积、花后光合特性及籽粒产量的影响，于2017-2018和2018-2019年两个小麦生长季，以强筋冬小麦品种藁优2018为材料，在河北藁城设置大丽轮枝孢激活蛋白种子包衣，并在大田条件下设置春三叶（倒四叶）露尖（S3）、春四叶（倒三叶）露尖（S4）、春五叶（倒二叶）露尖（S5）、春六叶（旗叶）露尖（S6）以及孕穗期（SB）叶面喷施VDAL和全生育期不喷施VDAL（S0）6个处理，以不包衣且不喷施为对照（CK），分析了VDAL对小麦旗叶面积、花后光合特性和产量的影响。结果表明，S4和S5处理显著（P＜0.05）增加了旗叶的长或宽，从而增大了叶面积。S4、S5和S6处理可以维持旗叶花后较高水平的净光合速率。各喷施处理的籽粒产量均有不同程度的提高，与CK相比，两年间S4处理的籽粒产量均显著（P＜0.05）提高，2018-2019年，S5处理的穗粒数和籽粒产量也显著（P＜0.05）提高。综上，采用VDAL种子包衣，并于春生4~5叶龄喷施VDAL，可以增加旗叶面积和旗叶花后净光合速率，提高穗粒数和千粒重，从而达到增加产量的目的。     

不同密肥条件下通粳981产量构成因子分析

[目的]探明不同生产条件下穗数、粒数、粒重对产量的影响。[方法]对通粳981在不同密度和肥料条件下形成的产量及其构成因子进行回归、相关和通径分析。[结果]穗数、粒数和粒重对产量均有极显著的增产效应,其增产效应从大到小依次为穗数、粒数、粒重,其中穗数对产量起主要作用;但在基本苗较多或施N量较大的情况下,穗数和粒数的增产作用都很重要。[结论]农业生产中可针对不同生产栽培条件,从产量构成因子中明确主攻目标,合理制定栽培技术措施,提高产量。