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.     

头足类分类鉴定的研究进展

头足类作为软体动物门中的重要组成,不仅具有很高的经济价值,而且还是海洋生态系统组成中不可或缺的一部分,加大对头足类的开发利用已成为世界各国的目标之一。头足类种类繁多,通常是抹香鲸等高等动物的重要饵料,因此其分类鉴定显得尤为重要。本文从方法和材料两个方面对头足类的分类鉴定进行了系统的回顾与总结。传统的外部形态学与生态学在头足类的分类鉴定已经相当成熟,耳石是头足类信息的良好载体,可作为种类和种群划分的主要依据;角质颚是头足类的主要摄食器官,具有稳定的形态特征、良好的信息储存以及耐腐蚀等特点,不同种类之间有着显著的差别,是分类鉴定的良好材料。头足类的分类鉴定要在发挥传统分类学优势的同时,加大分子水平上的研究力度,并将二者结合,相互佐证。此外,还应加强对头足类硬组织的研究和基础资料积累,并建立完整的数据库及检索系统,使其在分类鉴定中得到更加有效的应用。     

Polymerisation of gluten proteins in developing wheat grain as affected by desiccation

The breadmaking quality of wheat is affected by the composition of gluten proteins and the polymerisation of subunits that are synthesised and accumulated in developing wheat grain. The biological mechanisms and time course of these events during grain development are documented, but not widely confirmed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to monitor the accumulation of gluten protein subunits and the size distribution of protein aggregates during grain development. The effect of desiccation on the polymerisation of gluten proteins and the functional properties of gluten were also studied. The results showed that the size of glutenin polymers remained consistently low until yellow ripeness (YR), while it increased during grain desiccation after YR. Hence, this polymerisation process was presumed to be initiated by desiccation. A similar polymerisation event was also observed when premature grains were dried artificially. The composition of gluten proteins, the ratios of glutenin to gliadin and high molecular weight-glutenin subunits to low molecular weight-glutenin subunits, in premature grain after artificial desiccation showed close association with the size of glutenin polymers in artificially dried grain. Functional properties of gluten in these samples were also associated with polymer size after artificial desiccation.     

An efficient method to produce segregating populations in quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)

Quinoa offers a promising alternative for staple food, considering its outstanding nutritional value and tolerance to abiotic stresses. To develop breeding programmes in quinoa, a reliable crossing method for increasing the genetic variation is required. In the following study, we aimed to develop segregating populations in quinoa. We tested the efficiency of three different crossing methods (hand emasculation, warm water emasculation and no emasculation). Moreover we developed a two-stage selection strategy based on morphological traits and molecular markers for the selection of hybrid plants. We reported hand emasculation to be the most efficient crossing method, followed by warm water emasculation and no emasculation. Our results demonstrated that crosses in quinoa can be successfully performed, despite its complicated flower structure and high self-pollination rate. Additionally, we developed 30 segregating populations from crosses between accessions of different origins with varying phylogenetic relationship, which offers a promising perspective for quinoa breeding programmes in the future.     

Assessment of molecular detection of Fusarium circinatum in insects and passive spore traps in Pinus radiata plantations

Fusarium circinatum is the causal agent of pitch canker, a destructive disease that threatens natural and planted pine forests around the world. Although pitch canker has caused problems in Spain and Portugal, concerning Europe as a whole, the fungus is not established across the pine distribution area. Its dispersion by wind and/or insect vectors could nevertheless play a role in the colonization of currently uninfected stands. It is therefore crucial to develop monitoring tools for its detection. To this end, we assessed the molecular detection of the pathogen in environmental samples of bark beetles and passive spore traps, collected in two infected Pinus radiata plantations in Basque country, Spain. The spread pattern of F. circinatum was assessed by an experimental design that included insect and spore traps installed at the centre, at the edge and outside the plots. Our results showed that F. circinatum was detected in both types of samples, at almost all collection dates. In both type of samples, positive detections were mainly found at the centre of the plots, a lower proportion at the edge, and very few outside. This suggests that long‐distance dispersion of Fusarium circinatum does not rely on wind spore dispersal neither on insect flight. Our study also shows that molecular methods are a powerful tool to monitor the pathogen in environmental samples.     

基于S基因序列分析新型猪流行性腹泻病毒的遗传演化

最近，笔者实验室在青藏高原地区发现两种新亚型藏猪源猪流行性腹泻病毒（PEDV），为进一步调查新型PEDV是否在四川腹泻猪群中存在或流行，对实验室2018-2019年保存的116份猪腹泻粪便或肠组织样本进行PEDV的检测及其纤突蛋白基因（spike）分子特征研究。结果表明：腹泻样本的PEDV检出率为42.2%（49/116，95% CI=33.1%~51.8%），并获得了13条完整的S基因序列，全长为4 149~4 170 bp，序列相似性为94.2%~99.9%，其中SWUN-H3-CH-SCYA-2019的S基因与藏猪源新G1亚群PEDV的序列相似性高达97.0%~98.6%。遗传演化研究结果表明13株PEDV S基因划分为G1和G2大群，其中SWUN-H3-CH-SCYA-2019位于藏猪源新G1亚群；SWUN-19-CH-SCZY-2018、SWUN-4-CH-SCXC-2018、SWUN-1-CH-SCNJ-2019和SWUN-3CH-CH-SCZG-2019位于G2亚群中一个独立的分支，且与藏猪源新G2亚群毒株有着较近的亲缘关系。为了进一步研究13株PEDV的演化过程，以贝叶斯进化分析软件包（BEAST）进行分歧时间估算，结果表明SWUN-H3-CH-SCYA-2019的分歧时间约为2012.3年，早于藏猪源新G1亚群其余毒株的最早分歧时间（2015.7年）；SWUN-4-CH-SCXC-2018、SWUN-19-CH-SCZY-2018和SWUN-3CH-CH-SCZG-2019的分歧时间约为2014.2年，早于G2亚群的藏猪源毒株2014.7年，所有藏猪源PEDV的分歧时间均晚于四川毒株。本研究在四川地区首次发现了藏猪源PEDV，并且从毒株的分歧时间推断青藏高原的藏猪源PEDV来源于四川，为新型PEDV分子遗传进化的监测提供了依据。     

花生荚果发育及其调控研究进展

花生是重要的油料与经济作物，在农业种植业结构调整中发挥重要作用。荚果是花生的收获器官，深入 研究花生荚果发育及其调控，可以为高产育种提供理论依据。本文从花生荚果发育过程和内外限制因素的调控作 用，并结合激素、营养元素、遗传学研究以及DNA、RNA等分子调控机制，综述了近年来花生荚果发育相关的研究进 展，为后续研究提供参考。     

Screening of Human CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 Inhibitors from Seaweed In Silico and In Vitro

Phenolic compounds and carotenoids are potential inhibitors of cytochrome P450s. Sixteen known compounds, phenolic compounds and carotenoids from seaweed were examined for potential inhibitory capacity against CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 in silico and in vitro. Morin, quercetin, and fucoxanthin inhibited the enzyme activity of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 in a dose-dependent manner. The IC₅₀ values of morin, quercetin, and fucoxanthin were 41.8, 22.5, and 30.3 μM for CYP1A2 and 86.6, 16.1, and 24.4 μM for CYP3A4, respectively. Siphonaxanthin and hesperidin did not show any significant effect on CYP1A2, but they slightly inhibited CYP3A4 activity at high concentrations. In silico modeling of CYP’s binding site revealed that the potential inhibitors bound in the cavity located above the distal surface of the heme prosthetic group through the 2a or 2f channel of CYPs. This study presents an approach for quickly predicting CYP inhibitory activity and shows the potential interactions of compounds and CYPs through in silico modeling.     

Inheritance and molecular mapping of restorer‐of‐fertility (Rf) gene in A2 hybrid system in pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan)

Inheritance of fertility restorer gene in pigeonpea was studied using F₂ and BC₁F₁ populations derived from cross AL103A × IC245273. It was found to be controlled by single dominant gene. Out of 228 SSR primer pairs, 33 primer pairs showed parental polymorphism, while four primers were found polymorphic in bulk segregant analysis (BSA). These four primers viz., CcM 1615, CcM 0710, CcM 0765 and CcM 1522 were used for genotyping of F₂ population and were found to be placed at 3.1, 5.1, 28.1 and 45.8 cM, respectively. Two of them, CcM 1615 and CcM 0710, evinced clear and unambiguous bands for fertility restoration in F₂ population. The Rf gene was mapped on linkage group 6 between the SSR markers CcM 1615 and CcM 0710 with the distances of 3.1 and 5.1 cM, respectively. The accuracy of the CcM 1615 was validated in 18 restorers and six maintainer lines. The marker CcM 1615 amplified in majority of male restorer lines with a selection accuracy of 91.66%.