Measurement of genetic and environmental variation in barley (Hordeum vulgare) grain hardness

In this study, we assessed a broad range of barley breeding lines and commercial varieties by three hardness methods (two particle size methods and one crush resistance method (SKCS—Single-Kernel Characterization System), grown at multiple sites to see if there was variation in barley hardness and if that variation was genetic or environmentally controlled. We also developed near-infrared reflectance (NIR) calibrations for these three hardness methods to ascertain if NIR technology was suitable for rapid screening of breeding lines or specific populations. In addition, we used this data to identify genetic regions that may be associated with hardness. There were significant (p<0.05) genetic effects for the three hardness methods. There were also environmental effects, possibly linked to the effect of protein on hardness, i.e. increasing protein resulted in harder grain. Heritability values were calculated at >85% for all methods. The NIR calibrations, with R² values of >90%, had Standard Error of Prediction values of 0.90, 72 and 4.0, respectively, for the three hardness methods. These equations were used to predict hardness values of a mapping population which resulted in genetic markers being identified on all chromosomes but chromosomes 2H, 3H, 5H, 6H and 7H had markers with significant LOD scores. The two regions on 5H were on the distal end of both the long and short arms. The region that showed significant LOD score was on the long arm. However, the region on the short arm associated with the hardness (hordoindoline) genes did not have significant LOD scores. The results indicate that barley hardness is influenced by both genotype and environment and that the trait is heritable, which would allow breeders to develop very hard or soft varieties if required. In addition, NIR was shown to be a reliable tool for screening for hardness. While the data set used in this study has a relatively low variation in hardness, the tools developed could be applied to breeding populations that have large variation in barley grain hardness.     

Molecular aspects of cereal β-glucan functionality: Physical properties,technological applications and physiological effects

Cereals β-glucans are linear homopolysaccharides of consecutively linked (1→4)-β-d-glucosyl residues (i.e. oligomeric cellulose segments) that are separated by single (1→3)-linkages. β-Glucans display all the functional properties of viscous and gel forming food hydrocolloids combined with all the physiological properties of dietary fibres. This review focuses on the relationships between the molecular–structural characteristics of β-glucans and their physicochemical properties in aqueous dispersions and in food systems as well as their physiological functions in the gastro-intestinal tract. The physical properties of β-glucans, such as solubility and rheological behaviour in the solution and gel states, are controlled by their molecular features, such as their distribution of cellulosic oligomers, their linkage pattern and their molecular weight as well as by temperature and concentration. The technological and nutritional functionality of β-glucans is often related to their rheological behaviour. Incorporation of β-glucans into various products (bread, muffins, pasta, noodles, salad dressings, beverages, soups, reduced-fat dairy and meat products) showed that attributes, such as breadmaking performance, water binding and emulsion stabilising capacity, thickening ability, texture, and appearance appear to be related to the concentration, molecular weight and structure of the polysaccharide. The health benefits of β-glucans, such as reducing blood serum cholesterol and regulating blood glucose levels, are also correlated with the amount and molecular weight of the solubilised β-glucans in the gastro-intestinal tract.     

Effects of Cultivar and Environment on β-(1,3)-(1,4)-D-glucan Content and Acid Extract Viscosity of Spanish Barleys

The acid extract viscosities and β-glucan contents of ten two- and six-rowed barley cultivars grown at seven locations in three consecutive years in Spain were studied in the present work. The viscosities varied from 2·4 to 24·8 centistokes (cSt) and the mean value was 6·4 cSt. The average β-glucan content of barleys determined by HPLC was 3·5% with a range of 1·9–5·5%. Significant differences were found in both β-glucan content and acid extract viscosity between different cultivars, locations and years. The β-glucan contents and viscosities of winter cultivars were higher than those of spring. Cvs. Barbarrosa and Hatif de Grignon were the genotypes with the highest values for both parameters, while cv. Beka had the lowest viscosity and β-glucan content. Environmental factors influenced both parameters. The acid extract viscosities of barleys were correlated negatively with the amount of precipitation (r=−0·754;P<0·05). Barleys grown in wet and rainy areas (Girona and La Coruña) had lower viscosity values.     

Effect of indaziflam on microbial activity and nitrogen cycling processes in an orchard soil

Indaziflam is a preemergent herbicide widely used for the control of weeds in pecan (Carya illinoinensis) orchards in the southwestern region of the United States. Given the paucity of data regarding the effect of indaziflam on the biochemical properties of soils supporting pecan production, this study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different application rates of indaziflam on soil microbial activity, diversity, and biochemical processes related to nitrogen (N) cycling. During two consecutive growing seasons (2015 and 2016), soil samples were obtained from experimental mesocosms consisting of soil-filled pots where pecan saplings were grown and treated with indaziflam applied at two different rates (25 and 50 g active ingredient (ai) ha^-1, with the higher rate being slightly lower than the recommended field application rate of 73.1 g ai ha^-1). Soil samples were collected approximately one week before and one week after herbicide application for determination of soil microbial biomass and diversity, N mineralization, and β-glucosaminidase activity. Soil samples collected from the control mesocosms without herbicide application were treated in the laboratory with two rates of indaziflam (75 and 150 g ai ha^-1) to determine the immediate effect on microbial activity. No significant effect of herbicide treatment on soil respiration and microbial biomass was detected. The results showed a slight to moderate decrease in microbial diversity (7% in 2015 and 44% in 2016). However, decreased β-glucosaminidase activity with herbicide treatment was observed in soils from the mesocosms (33%) and soils treated with indaziflam in the laboratory (45%). The mineral N pool was generally dominated by ammonium after indaziflam application, which was consistent with the drastic decrease (75%) in nitrification activity measured in the laboratory experiment. The results of this study indicate that indaziflam, even when applied at higher than recommended rates, has limited effects on soil microbial activity, but may affect N cycling processes.     

水溶性烯丙孕素-磺丁基-β-环糊精包合物的制备及表征

旨在提高烯丙孕素原药在水中的溶解度,提高烯丙孕素原药的生物利用度,使用磺丁基-β-环糊精对烯丙孕素原药进行包合。本试验使用冷冻干燥法来制备烯丙孕素-磺丁基-β-环糊精包合物,以此来解决烯丙孕素在临床使用中因其水不溶性而受到限制及其使用后生物利用度低的问题,进而拓宽烯丙孕素的药用途径。通过傅里叶变换红外光谱法、热重分析法和显微镜成像法对所制得的烯丙孕素包合物进行表征,并用溶解度法对包合物进行溶解度测定。以包合物的收率和包合率为评价指标,筛选最优的包合物制备条件。结果显示：经筛选,包合物的最佳制备条件：在55℃,ALT与SBE-β-CD的投料摩尔比为1：6,包合时间为5 h,溶液pH为8,溶剂量为15 mL（当以ALT投药量为0.1 g时计）;以最优制备条件制备所得的包合物中ALT的平均包合率为（90.90±1.80）%（n=3）,平均载药量为（4.30±2.30）%（n=3）,包合物的收率为（93.19±1.67）%。经傅里叶变换红外光谱法、热重分析法和显微镜成像法对所制得的包合物进行表征,可证实成功制得包合物。溶解度法试验结果表明,形成包合物后,其溶解度较烯丙孕素原药提高了988.86倍,且该包合物稳定性好,可满足不同剂型的要求。磺丁基-β-环糊精对烯丙孕素原药具有较好的增溶作用,达到了增加药物溶解度的目的,且该制备方法简单,条件温和,易于产业化生产,有利于烯丙孕素的进一步开发利用。     

CSN3、CSN1S2和β-1g基因多态与西农萨能奶山羊产羔数的相关性研究

 首次利用PCR-RFLP技术探讨κ酪蛋白(CSN3)、αs 2酪蛋白(CSN1S2)和β-乳球蛋白（β-lg）基因多态与69只西农萨能奶山羊产羔数的相关性。结果表明：CSN3-TaqI位点与产羔数之间存在显著相关(P<0.05或P<0.01)，如TC基因型个体第1胎产羔数高于CC型（P<0.01），CC基因型个体第2胎产羔数高于CC型（P < 0.05）；CSN3-HindIII位点与产羔数之间不存在关联（P>0.05）；CSN1S2-Alw26I位点与产羔数间存在显著的相关性(P<0.05或P<0.01)，如NF基因型个体第1胎产羔高于NN型（P<0.05），NN基因型个体第4胎产羔数高于NF型(P<0.01)；β-lg-smaI位点与产羔数间不存在显著相关（P > 0.05）。结果提示CSN3和CSN1S2基因对奶山羊产羔数有显著影响, 从而推测酪蛋白基因可能与FecB基因连锁。因此，认为CSN3-TaqI和CSN1S2-Alw26I位点可作为奶山羊高产羔数标记辅助选择（MAS）的有效分子标记。     

响应面法优化辣椒碱β-环糊精包合物制备工艺

利用饱和水溶液法制备辣椒碱β-环糊精包合物,以包合率和包合物产率为评价指标,通过对包合温度、包合时间及配料比的考察,以响应面法优选最佳工艺条件。结果表明,辣椒碱β-环糊精包合物的最佳包合条件为包合温度50℃,包合时间为3 h,配料比为1∶1(摩尔比),此时包合物平均产率为53.97%,平均包合率为52.51%。采用响应面法可优化辣椒碱β-环糊精包合物的制备工艺,为辣椒碱药物制剂的研发提供借鉴。     

亚洲猫β-干扰素基因的克隆与分析

[目的]为猫干扰素类生物制品的研究奠定基础。[方法]根据NCBI上的猫IFN-β基因序列,设计1对特异引物。以从病死猫肝脏组织中提取的基因组DNA为模板,进行PCR扩增。将扩增产物回收后,与pUCm-T载体连接,并转化到大肠杆菌DH5α感受态细胞。通过PCR和双酶切对获得的质粒DNA进行鉴定后,进行序列分析和核苷酸、氨基酸序列同源性的比较。[结果]经PCR扩增,可获得一条561 bp的特异性条带。猫IFN-β基因已成功重组到载体中,获得阳性克隆。序列分析结果表明,亚洲猫IFN-β基因长561 bp,编码186个氨基酸,与已报道的猫IFN-β基因同源性达99.82%,而氨基酸序列未改变。[结论]该研究成功克隆了猫IFN-β基因,为进一步利用基因工程技术生产重组猫IFN-β基因及其生物学功能的研究奠定了基础。