Changes in wheat seed germination ability,soluble carbohydrate and antioxidant enzyme activities in the embryo during the desiccation phase of maturation

Soluble sugar contents and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured in the embryo of wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds throughout the desiccation phase of maturation in 2003 and 2004 to investigate whether they were related to seed quality. Whatever the date of harvest after the end of filling, seeds tolerated artificial drying in the ears, and almost all of them germinated at 10 °C whereas they were dormant at 30 °C. Their sensitivity to 5 day accelerated ageing treatment (45 °C, 100% relative humidity) slightly decreased during desiccation. This phase of development was associated with an accumulation of sucrose and raffinose, and an increase in the raffinose/sucrose ratio in the embryo. Artificial drying in the ears resulted in an increase in both sugars, but especially raffinose, and in the maintenance of a high value (around 0.6–0.7) of the raffinose/sucrose ratio. Superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione reductase activities did not change markedly in the embryo after mass maturity. They were sufficiently active to maintain malondialdehyde and H₂O₂ contents at very low levels. No clear relationship existed between the antioxidant enzyme activities and seed quality, whereas seed tolerance to ageing seemed to be related to a high value of the raffinose/sucrose ratio.     

Applicability of lignins from different sources as antioxidants based on the protective effects on lipid peroxidation induced by oxygen radicals

Increasing evidence suggest that excessive concentrations of reactive oxygen species in the human body are involved in a number of pathological events and that oxidative damage to cell components may play an important pathophysiological role in many types of human diseases. Several studies have shown the possible benefits of antioxidants from plant sources in altering, reversing or forestalling the negative effects of oxidative stress.The study was designed to evaluate whether lignins prevent H₂O₂-induced lipid peroxidation. The protective effect of industrial lignins obtained from different sources against hydrogen peroxide induced oxidation was investigated in normal human red blood cells (RBCs). RBCs, preincubated with different amounts of lignins and challenged with hydrogen peroxide were analyzed for lipid peroxidation. The high molecular weight can be considered as one of the main factors decreasing the radical scavenging activity. When comparing different lignins the inhibitory effects against lipid peroxidation were notably related to their molecular weights. In this sense bagasse with the lowest Mn was the greatest antioxidant and lignosulfonate with the highest Mn was the lowest antioxidant lignin.These results open the possibility of new applications of lignins. The potential health benefits and industrial applications of lignins make them a promising research resource.     

Starch granules size distribution in superior and inferior grains of wheat is related to enzyme activities and their gene expressions during grain filling

Mature wheat endosperm contains A-, B-, C-type starch granules, and each class has unique physiochemical properties which determine the quality of starch. The dynamics of the starch granule size distribution, activities of starch synthases and expression of starch synthase encoding genes were studied in superior and inferior grains during grain filling. Compared with inferior grains, superior grains showed higher grain weight, contents of starch, amylose and amylopectin. The formation of A-, B-, C-type starch granules initiated at 4, 8, 20 DAF, respectively, and was well consistent with the temporally change patterns of starch synthase activities and relative gene expression levels. For instance, activities of soluble and granule-bound starch synthases (designated SSS and GBSS) peaked at 20 and 24 DAF. Genes encoding isoforms of starch synthases expressed at different grain filling periods. In addition, SS I was generally expressed over the grain filling stage; the SS II and SS III were expressed over the early and mid grain filling stage, and the GBSS I was expressed during the mid to late grain filling stage. In addition, the time-course changes in activities of starch synthases and expression of starch synthase encoding genes explained well the dynamics of the starch granule size distribution.     

The effect of water stress on the antioxidant content, protective enzyme activities, proline content and lipid peroxidation in wheat seedling

An investigation was conducted to study the effect of water stress on the antioxidant content, protective enzyme activities, proline content and lipid peroxidation in wheat seedlings. Drought stress increases the amount of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), leading to metabolic disorders. It is now known that higher levels of activity-protective mechanisms render the cells more enduring against environmental stress including drought. Two widely cultivated cultivars of wheat in Iran, Sab. and N. Sar. were grown up according to the hydroponic method. Having reached the stage of 4-5 leaves growth; the plants were kept under 4, 8 and 12 bars potential resulting from using Polyethylene Glycol 8000 (PEG 8000). Hogland solution was used as the control. Then the amount of ascorbate, glutathione, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity, proline and lipid Peroxidation was measured in cut samples of the leaves. The result indicated an increase in the amount of Ascorbate and Glutathione as the stress was intensified in the case of Sab. Moreover, the reduced form of Ascorbate (ASC) and Glutathione (GSH) were higher in Sab. at 8 and 12 bars. The amount of Proline accumulation was considerably higher in Sab. than N. Sar. SOD activity, on the other hand, diminished at 8 and 12 bar levels. CAT activity is also regarded as a limiting factor. Lipid peroxidation was also geared up as the stress was intensified. These limiting factors rendered N. Sar. cultivar more sensitive to water stress resulting from PEG8000 compared to Sab.     

Distributions of phenolic compounds,yellow pigments and oxidative enzymes in wheat grains and their relation to antioxidant capacity of bran and debranned flour

In this study, the distribution of phenolic compounds and yellow pigments in wheat grains and their relation to the total antioxidant capacity of bran and debranned flour was investigated. Yellow pigments, the activity of lipoxygenase (LOX) and peroxidase (POX) enzymes were also determined. The bran fraction was found to contain significantly higher concentrations of phenolic acids, flavonoids and yellow pigments. The LOX activity was concentrated in endosperm and embryo, while the POX activity mostly concentrated in the bran fraction. The results suggest that the bran fraction of wheat would potentially provide naturally occurring antioxidants. From the health benefit point of view, a small level of bran incorporation to bread can be recommended to increase dietary fibre and phytonutrients in the diet.     

不同年代大豆品种苗期叶片保护酶活性及膜脂过氧化作用的研究

对吉林省1923年以来主栽的28个大豆品种苗期叶片保护酶活性及膜脂过氧化作用的研究表明，随着品种进化，过氧化物酶和超氧化物歧化酶活性呈上升趋势，分别提高了18.03％和21.20％。而丙二醛含量则呈下降趋势，降低了26.20%。这些特性可能与现代大豆品种抗逆性增强有关。     

Variation of wheat grain lipid fraction and its antioxidative status under the impact of delayed sowing

This study determined the profile of hydrophobic phytochemicals (steroid-like components and lipophilic phenolics) and antioxidant potential (DPPH and Rancimat tests) of wheat grain in relation to sowing date (standard vs. delayed) using six cultivars of Triticum aestivum wheat grown in Poland. The study found that “sowing time” generally had a low impact on sterols, carotenoids, squalene and total lipophilic phenolics in wheat grain. The highest impact of “sowing time” was noted for α-tocopherol, C19:0 alkylresorcinol and campesterol. Delayed sowing reduced their content by up to 9%. The antioxidant potential of grain extracts obtained by the use of water-saturated butanol (WSB) was mostly cultivar-dependent (depending on assay: DPPH 56.3% and Rancimat 75.1% of explained variation, respectively). Wheat grain WSB extracts increased rapeseed oil induction time by up to 21% and their antioxidant capacity was up to 1.24 μM TEg⁻¹.     

活性氧及膜质过氧化与花生抗黄曲霉侵染的关系

以抗感花生品种和种子为材料，采用人工接种方法，研究种子受黄典霉侵染前后活性氧和膜质氧化的动态变化。结果表明，黄曲霉侵染可诱导花生种子发生膜质过氧化反应，抗感品种间存在明显的差异。抗性品种的脂氧合酶活性、O2^-产生速率、H2O2和MDA含量等比感病品种提高的 速度快，发生量较大。但活性氧清除酶CAT和SOD活性变化不明显，使抗病品种膜质过氧发生较早且程度较高，表皮细胞发生及时性的过敏性反应坏死，抵御黄曲霉的穿透，达到抗黄曲霉侵染的目的。     

羧甲基壳聚糖对小麦幼苗碳氮代谢相关酶活性的影响

为探讨羧甲基壳聚糖对小麦幼苗碳氮代谢的调控效果,以鲁麦22号为材料,利用0.2%羧甲基壳聚糖水溶液喷洒小麦幼苗,测定幼苗的NRA,GOGAT,RUBP羧化酶活性,光合速率和氨基酸含量的变化。使用羧甲基壳聚糖后,种子萌发后的7～15d内,NRA的活性始终比对照高30%～40%,GOGAT的活性比对照高15%～37.5%,游离氨基酸含量可提高10%左右,光合速率及RUBP羧化酶活性也比对照高。试验结果表明羧甲基壳聚糖对小麦幼苗的碳、氮代谢特别是对氮代谢具调节作用。     

Debranning of wheat prior to milling reduces xylanase but not xylanase inhibitor activities in wholemeal and flour

Debranning of wheat to remove the outer 7% of the kernel, prior to grinding or milling reduced xylanase activity in wheat wholemeal and wheat endosperm flour by up to 80 and 60%, respectively, whereas there was no significant reduction of xylanase inhibiting activity. Flours obtained after debranning and milling showed no major differences in moisture content, whereas ash content decreased and protein and arabinoxylan content decreased slightly with increasing debranning degree. Part of the xylanase activity in the flour was lost on addition of Triticum aestivum xylanase inhibitor (TAXI). Since TAXI specifically inhibits glycosyl hydrolase family 11 xylanases and since endogenous cereal xylanases belong exclusively to family 10, part of the xylanase activity in the flour is most likely of microbial origin. Debranning also significantly reduced alpha-amylase activities in wheat wholemeal and wheat flour. Debranning prior to milling can, therefore, impact on flour functionality.     

Validation of an extraction method for the quantification of soluble free and insoluble bound phenolic compounds in wheat by HPLC-DAD

Wheat is one of the three most widely grown grain crops and the most consumed in Europe. Wheat contains different phenolic compounds, mainly phenolic acids and flavonoids that are not evenly distributed in the wheat, being most abundant in the bran. These phenolic compounds are antioxidants against free radicals and other reactive oxygen species. Therefore, over the last few decades, there is a great interest to study and quantify these compounds present in wheat.This work proposes a HPLC-DAD method that allows a good separation of different phenolic compounds occurring as soluble free and insoluble bound compounds in wheat brand and flour. The extraction and the chromatographic conditions allowed the characterization of forty-two phenolic compounds, among phenolic acids (HBA, HCA, DFA and TFA), phenolic aldehydes, phenolic alcohols and flavonoids (flavones). This method is simple, sensitive, reproducible and accurate, and only a HPLC-DAD equipment is required. Thirty-four soluble and insoluble phenolic compounds can be quantified in wheat flour and brand. Hydroxytyrosol, a potent antioxidant compound, has been identified and quantified in wheat for the first time.     

磷对盐胁迫下玉米幼苗脂质过氧化特性及抗氧化酶活性的影响

采用水培试验,研究不同浓度磷对盐胁迫下玉米幼苗生长、叶片和根系中脂质过氧化特性及其抗氧化酶活性的变化.研究表明,盐胁迫下,增施磷可明显缓解盐胁迫对玉米幼苗生长的抑制,各器官含水量增加,改善植株体内的水分代谢状况.随磷含量增加,玉米幼苗叶片细胞膜透性逐渐降低,叶绿素含量增加,叶片和根系中SOD、CAT和POD活性明显增加...     

Grain number and grain weight in wheat lines contrasting for stem water soluble carbohydrate concentration

In wheat, the ability to store and remobilise large amounts of stem water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) to grain constitutes a desirable trait to incorporate into germplasm targeted to regions with frequent terminal drought. The main aim of this paper was to examine the relationships between WSC storage, grain number and grain weight across several environments. A small set of recombinant inbred lines (2–4) contrasting in stem WSC were grown in six field trials where water availability, sowing date and/or N level were manipulated, with line yields ranging from 400 to 850 g m⁻² across experiments. Biomass, N and WSC concentration (WSCc, mg g⁻¹ dry weight) and amount (WSCa, g m⁻²) were monitored. A resource-oriented area-based model [Fischer, R.A., 1984. Growth and yield of wheat. In: Smith, W.H., Bante, S.J. (Eds.), Potential Productivity of Field Crops Under Different Environments. International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, pp. 129–154] and intrinsic rates of organ growth were used to investigate the consequences on grain number of potential competition between spike and stem around flowering.     

Changes in some enzyme activities and browning rate of apricots during storage

Samples of two apricot cultivars grown in central Hungary were picked at canning maturity and stored for ten days at 5°C and 85% relative humidity in normal atmosphere. The initial rate of enzymatic browning (BA), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activities as well as o-dihydroxy phenol (ODP) concentration of the fruit flesh were assayed at picking and after five and ten days of storage. During storage, BA decreased and POD activity increased. PPO activity and ODP concentration varied irregularly: the trends of the variations differed with cultivar but were similar for the two characteristics.(Cegled Research Station of the Research Institute of Fruits and Ornamental Plants, Budapest, Hungary), Cegled     

Effect of extrusion processing on the soluble and insoluble fiber,and phytic acid contents of cereal brans

The health benefits associated with dietary fiber have resulted in it now being used in virtually all food product categories, including many products which are manufactured using extrusion processing. The objective of the present study was to determine if extrusion processing affected phytic acid, and soluble and insoluble fiber contents. The effect of screw speeds of 50, 70, and 100% of maximum rotations per minute (% MRPM) on these components was investigated. A BI-EX Model DNDG-62/20D co-rotating intermeshing self-cleaning twin-screw extruder, manufactured by Bühlerag, CH-9240, Uzwil, Switzerland, was used to process wheat, oat and rice brans. It was found that extrusion did not affect the insoluble fiber content of wheat bran; however, a decrease in this component was observed in rice and oat brans. The effect on rice bran insoluble fiber was greatest at screw speeds of 50 and 70% MRPM. This occurred in oat bran at 50% MRPM. Soluble fiber content increased in all brans after extrusion, except ER₁₀₀. For oat and rice bran soluble fibers, the greatest increase occurred at 50 and 70% MRPM, while for wheat bran this occurred at 70 and 100% MRPM. Extrusion did not affect the phytate content of the cereal brans.     

高光、水分和盐胁迫下小麦光合特性和抗氧化酶系统的比较

为了解植物光合机构及抗氧化酶系统对高光、水分及盐胁迫的适应机制,比较分析了光强1 800 μmol·m^-2·s^-1、20% 聚乙二醇（PEG-6000）和0.3 mol·L^-1 NaCl处理下小麦叶绿素荧光以及抗氧化酶活性的变化。结果表明,与对照相比,高光胁迫、水分胁迫和盐胁迫下小麦叶片相对含水量、总蛋白含量以及叶绿素含量均下降,以水分胁迫效应最显著,盐胁迫次之。三种胁迫均显著降低了小麦叶片的光合速率、气孔导度、蒸腾速率、PSII最大光化学效率（F_v/F_m）及电子传递率（ETR）,而显著增加胞间CO₂浓度、非光化学淬灭（NPQ）、脯氨酸及可溶性糖含量,也以水分胁迫效应最显著。三种胁迫下小麦叶片内的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）及过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性随胁迫时间的延长呈现不同的变化趋势。其中,SOD活性在三种胁迫下均呈先升后降的趋势;POD活性在高光和水分胁迫下先升后降,而在盐胁迫下呈上升趋势;CAT活性在高光和盐胁迫下呈上升趋势,而在水分胁迫下呈下降趋势。以上结果表明,在三种环境胁迫中,水分胁迫给小麦带来的伤害最严重,盐胁迫次之,高光胁迫最轻。 此外,小麦抗氧化酶系统在高光胁迫、水分胁迫及盐胁迫下应答机制不同。     

Changes in the content of free sulphydryl groups during postharvest wheat and flour maturation and their influence on technological quality

The main aim of this study was to determine the changes in free sulphydryl content during postharvest wheat and flour maturation. The content of free sulphydryl groups was determined from wet gluten over 50 days of wheat postharvest maturation and over 14 days of flour maturation by varying incubation temperatures (30 and 37 °C) and incubation times (0, 45, 90 and 135 min). The amount of free sulphydryl groups increased during postharvest wheat and flour maturation as well as with the increase in temperature and gluten incubation time. The additional aim of this study was to find the interrelation between the content of free sulphydryl groups and selected parameters of technological quality by means of Principal Component Analysis. During wheat/flour maturation, the strengthening of protein structure was observed manifested by the increase in gluten index and Mixolab protein network weakening (C2), and changes in dough resistance as well. The incubation temperature of 37 °C affected the weakening of protein structure manifested by the decrease in gluten index and resistance, and increase in extensibility. Strong differentiation of examined varieties in terms of selected quality indicators was observed upon pre-defined maturation period, probably due to the expression of their intrinsic properties.     

Changes in the content of free sulphydryl groups during postharvest wheat and flour maturation and their influence on technological quality

The main aim of this study was to determine the changes in free sulphydryl content during postharvest wheat and flour maturation. The content of free sulphydryl groups was determined from wet gluten over 50 days of wheat postharvest maturation and over 14 days of flour maturation by varying incubation temperatures (30 and 37 °C) and incubation times (0, 45, 90 and 135 min). The amount of free sulphydryl groups increased during postharvest wheat and flour maturation as well as with the increase in temperature and gluten incubation time. The additional aim of this study was to find the interrelation between the content of free sulphydryl groups and selected parameters of technological quality by means of Principal Component Analysis. During wheat/flour maturation, the strengthening of protein structure was observed manifested by the increase in gluten index and Mixolab protein network weakening (C2), and changes in dough resistance as well. The incubation temperature of 37 °C affected the weakening of protein structure manifested by the decrease in gluten index and resistance, and increase in extensibility. Strong differentiation of examined varieties in terms of selected quality indicators was observed upon pre-defined maturation period, probably due to the expression of their intrinsic properties.     

水分胁迫下玉米叶片光合作用、脂质过氧化及超微结构变化的关系

研究了不同耐旱性品种在不同生育时期水分胁迫下叶片光合作用和呼吸作用、脂质过氧化作用、膜系统伤害、叶肉细胞超微结构变化之间的关系。在各生育时期水分胁迫下，光合作用和呼吸作用强度下降，SOD活性降低，脂质过氧化作用增强，膜透性增加，叶肉细胞的细胞器和质膜遭到严重破坏。结果表明，水分胁迫下脂质过氧化作用增强是造成细胞内膜系统紊乱和伤害的原因，而超微结构的破坏造成光合作用和呼吸作用的降低是导致作物减产的生理因素。     

Changes in the carbohydrates and nitrogenous components during germination of proso millet,Panicum miliaceum

Since germination has been found to increase the nutritive qualities of grains, proso millet, a minor millet, was allowed to germinate for 1–7 days and analysed for protein fractions, free amino acids, lysine, tryptophan, methionine, non-protein nitrogen, starch, and sugars. Overnight soaking and germination up to 7 days significantly increased the free amino acids and total sugars while the content of dry weight and starch decreased. Increases in albumin and globulin and large decreases in prolamin accompanied sprouting. The percent protein in germinated grains was higher than in the initial grain as a result of dry matter loss during germination. Further, there was an increase in lysine, tryptophan and non-protein nitrogen contents during germination. No change was noticed in methionine content.