Acetylation of intact white rice grains to alter the physicochemical properties

The effect of acetylation of milled rice grains of selected varieties (TDK 8, YRW 4, Reiziq, Amber 33, and SHZ 2) with varying apparent amylose contents (3.8–26.6%) on their physicochemical properties was investigated. Milled rice samples were treated with different acetic anhydride concentrations (0.004–0.04 g per 100 g of milled rice samples in 225 mL of water). Results showed that glutinous (TDK 8), very low amylose (YRW 4) and low amylose containing varieties (Reiziq) were prone to acetylation even with 0.004 g of acetic anhydride. X-ray diffraction patterns showed an increase in the crystallinity in acetylated samples and formation of V-type crystals, suggesting the possible interaction of acetic anhydride with starch. Acetylation of rice grains resulted in reduced peak and final viscosities and gel strength, particularly in glutinous (TDK 8) and very low amylose (YRW 4) rice. Differential calorimetric study showed that acetic anhydride treatment resulted in reduced thermal transition temperatures and enthalpy of all varieties. Although increase in the retrogradation thermal temperatures was observed, the enthalpy of retrogradation was reduced with increasing acetylation, suggesting that the extent of starch retrogradation was lower in all varieties with more prominent reduction in the glutinous type. Furthermore, the texture of cooked acetic anhydride treated rice grains was less hard and showed more adhesiveness. This study demonstrated that the acetylation of rice grains (instead of flour) was successfully achieved, showing the potential of applying acetylation to alter the textural, pasting, thermal and retrogradation properties of rice.     

籼稻背景下导入Wx~(in)等位基因改良稻米食味和理化品质

水稻Wx~b等位基因已广泛用于籼稻的品质改良,但携带该等位基因的一些籼稻米饭往往偏软,仍需进一步改良。为明确籼稻背景下导入Wxin等位基因对稻米食味品质和理化品质的效应,分别以携带Wxin的IR64和携带Wx~b的9311为供体,以携带Wxa的籼稻SIR3611 (3611)为受体,基于分子标记辅助选择,通过杂交和连续回交的方式构建了3611背景下携带Wxin和Wx~b的近等基因系。系统比较了不同近等基因系间的农艺性状以及稻米的食味和理化品质。结果表明,近等基因系与受体亲本3611的主要农艺性状基本接近,无显著差异。NIL(Wxin)稻米的表观直链淀粉含量较亲本3611极显著下降而胶稠度极显著增加。NIL(Wx~b)稻米表观直链淀粉含量最低且与之对应的胶稠度最高。近等基因系NIL(Wxin)和NIL(Wx~b)稻米的食味值较亲本极显著提高。NIL(Wx~(in))和NIL(Wx~b)稻米的GBSSI丰度与对应的表观直链淀粉含量具有明显的正相关。稻米粉的黏滞性谱、热糊化特性和晶体结构与直链淀粉含量显著相关性。本研究为在我国籼稻品种品质改良中有效利用Wxin等位基因提供了重要依据。     

马铃薯块茎淀粉组分高效检测体系的建立及应用

马铃薯块茎淀粉组分(直链/支链淀粉比AM/AP)影响淀粉特性以及决定其在食品和其他工业上的应用。AM/AP的测定对其合理利用以及选育特异淀粉组分的专用品种等具有重要意义。采用96孔板双波长法对马铃薯不同AM/AP比率标准样品进行测试,发现当测试样品AM/AP比率超过制作标准曲线的AM/AP比率(33.3%)时,测试结果明显高估直链淀粉含量。基于96孔板的碘染分析,建立了马铃薯AM/AP比率和最大吸收峰下波长的标准曲线:y=601.88x0.0215,R2=0.9999。该方法进一步提高了测试准确度和应用范围。利用该方法测试了198个马铃薯品种(系)以及高直链淀粉组分的转基因块茎,明确了收集的马铃薯品种(系)的直链淀粉组成范围为17.4%~33.3%。新建立的马铃薯淀粉组分测试方法为高效准确筛选遗传育种材料以及改良淀粉组分株系提供了方便。     

Identification and verification of quantitative trait loci for eating and cooking quality of rice (Oryza sativa)

This study was conducted to identify new quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that have stable effects for eating and cooking quality (ECQ) of rice. Three recombinant inbred line populations of indica rice were each planted in two years. Three traits for ECQ, amylose content (AC), gel consistency (GC) and alkali spreading value (ASV), were measured for QTL analysis. A total of 13 QTLs were detected, including four for AC, six for ASV and three for GC. Two QTLs, qGC4 in the interval RM16252–RM335 on the short arm of chromosome 4 and qGC6.2 in the Alk region, were validated in a population derived from a residual heterozygote that was homozygous at the major locus Wx. In the absence of segregation at the Wx locus, qGC4 and qGC6.2 had additive effects of 2.46 and 8.18 mm, respectively, offering a potential for improving GC property of rice varieties. Comparison between qGC4 and previous results suggests that qGC4 is likely a new QTL for GC, providing a candidate for gene cloning and functional characterization.     

The Deterioration of Eating and Cooking Quality Caused by High Temperature During Grain Filling in Early-Season indica Rice Cultivars

The effect of temperature during grain filling on eating and cooking quality of early-season indica rice was investigated by using four cultivars with different amylose content. Starting from flowering stage until maturity, the plants of all cultivars were subjected to two temperature treatments, referred as optimum (mean daily air temperature, 22 °C) and high (32 °C) temperature regimes. The results showed that the effect of high temperature on apparent amylose content and gel consistency in milled rice was cultivar-dependent. Under high temperature, amylose content increased for cv. Jiayu353 and remained little changed for cv. Guangluai4, which had intrinsically higher amylose content, and decreased for cv. Zhefu49 and cv. Jiazao935, which had lower amylose content. By contrast, high temperature reduced or kept stable gel consistency values for cultivars with higher amylose content and increased gel consistency values for those with lower amylose content. Moreover, high temperature significantly increased the gelatinization temperature of all cultivars. Pasting profiles and X-ray diffraction pattern of rice were also affected by temperature. The results suggest that high temperature during grain filling change the component and crystalline structure of starch and result in deterioration of eating and cooking quality for early-season indica rice.     

Developing gene-tagged molecular markers for functional analysis of starch-synthesizing genes in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The granule-bound starch synthase(GBSS), starch branching enzymes 1 (SBE1)and 3 (SBE3) are major enzymes involved in starch biosynthesis in rice endosperm. Available sequences of Sbe1 and Sbe3 genes encoding corresponding SBE1 and SBE3 have been used to identify homologous regions from genome databases of both the indica rice 93-11 and the japonica rice Nipponbare. Sequence diversities were exploited to develop gene-tagged markers to distinguish an indica allele from a japonica allele for both Sbe1 and Sbe3 loci. With these newly developed gene-tagged markers and available Wx gene markers, the roles of these starch-synthesizing genes (Sbe1, Sbe3, and Wx) in determining amylose content (AC) in the rice endosperm were evaluated using a double-haploid (DH)population derived from a cross between the indica rice cv. Nanjing11 and the japonica rice cv. Balilla. Only the Wx and Sbe3 loci had significant effects on the AC variation. On average, indica Wx ^a genotypes showed ∼9.1% higher AC than japonica Wx ^b genotypes, while indica Sbe3 ^a genotypes showed ∼1.0% lower AC than japonica Sbe3 ^b genotypes. A significant interaction was also observed between Wx and Sbe3 loci whereby the amylose content was 0.3% higher in Sbe3 ^a than Sbe3 ^b genotypes in the presence of the Wx ^a allele, but it was lower by 2.3% in the presence of the Wx ^b allele. Overall, polymorphisms at the Wx and Sbe3 loci together could account for 79.1% of the observed AC variation in the DH population. The use of gene-tagged markers in marker-assisted selection and gene functional analysis was also discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A Rapid Test Procedure for Estimating the Amylose Content of Pea Starch *)

Rapid estimation of the amylose content of pea starch is of particular importance in breeding for pea starches high in amylose. An amylose test for starch in fresh potato tubers was adapted for use with high-amylose pea flour. Wavelengths for photometric detection were slightly changed, and the iodine concentration could be reduced. Defatting of the flour was not necessary. Reproducibility of the analyses was good (s% <3; n = 95). Variability of amylose content was investigated for different potato, barley and pea varieties. An analysis of the F4-generation of a crossing experiment with peas underlined the specific suitability of this rapid test method for supporting breeders' activities.     

广西早籼品种(组合)的稻米品质状况及改良目标

广西多数早籼品种(组合)的糙米率、精米率、粒长、粒形、糊化温度、胶稠度、蛋白质含量等指标。达到了农业部(NY122-86)二级优质食用稻米标准。但完整米率的达标率偏低,胚乳的垩白程度偏大,垩白粒率偏高,直链淀粉含量偏高,米粒的蒸煮延长性差。今后,早籼稻的品质育种应把提高完整米率,降低直链淀粉含量和提高胚乳的透明度作为品质改良的主攻目标。     

Evaluation of the waxy endosperm trait in proso millet (Panicum miliaceum)*

The entire USDA‐ARS maintained collection of 650 accessions of proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) was evaluated for the presence of accessions with waxy (amylose‐free) endosperm starch. Six accessions, five of which derived from mainland China, were identified. Segregation ratios for waxy endosperm were evaluated in F₂ and F₃ populations derived from crosses between two waxy accessions, PI 436625 (Lung Shu 16) and PI 436626 (Lung Shu 18), and several wild‐type accessions. The waxy trait was found to be under the control of duplicate recessive alleles at two loci, herein designated wx‐1 and wx‐2. Wild‐type alleles at these loci were designated Wx‐1 and Wx‐2. Iodine‐binding revealed a mean grain‐starch amylose concentration of 3.5% in waxy lines and 25.3% in wild‐type proso. Expression of the granule‐bound starch synthase (waxy protein) in waxy lines was reduced to approximately one‐tenth that of wild‐type accessions. The waxy accessions identified now are available for the introgression of this trait into breeding lines adapted to the Great Plains of North America.