“Head-to-Side-Chain” Cyclodepsipeptides of Marine Origin

Since the late 1980s, a large number of depsipeptides that contain a new topography, referred to as “head-to-side-chain” cyclodepsipeptides, have been isolated and characterized. These peptides present a unique structural arrangement that comprises a macrocyclic region closed through an ester bond between the C-terminus and a β-hydroxyl group, and terminated with a polyketide moiety or a more simple branched aliphatic acid. This structural pattern, the presence of unique and complex residues, and relevant bioactivity are the main features shared by all the members of this new class of depsipeptides, which are reviewed herein.     

Effect of alkaline treatment (‘akanwu’) and supplementary value of corn or crayfish on the protein quality of breadfruit (Treculia Africana)

The effect of treatment and supplementary value of corn (C) or crayfish (CR) on the protein quality of breadfruit (Treculia Africana) flours were studied in eighteen young rats. The 7030 or 701515 (Protein basis) combinations of breadfruit flours and corn or crayfish or both provided 1.6g N/100 g diet for the 35 day study. The addition of akanwu to the cooking water reduced cooking time and crude protein and saved fuel. The addition of akanwu and replacement of CR with C was not beneficial as judged by the parameters tested except for the wt. gain and PER. On the other hand, when crayfish was the only source of supplementary protein (30%) to breadfruit cooked without akanwu there were increases in all parameters tested over those with added akanwu except for the N intake, wt. gain, and PER.These results appear to suggest that addition of akanwu to TA was detrimental to its protein utilization and that TA appears to be an economic source of N in areas where it is a staple. Based on the results of this study, one would suggest that the use of akanwu as a tenderizer should be seriously looked into before further use.     

Mutagenic Improvement of Shattering Characteristic of the Restorer Line of a Hybrid Rice “Xieyou 9308”

The newly developed hybrid rice combination "Xieyou 9308" (Xieqingzao A/T9308) has been regarded as a super-high-yielding rice variety, of which the yield potential reached as high as 12 t/ha. However, its high shattering characteristic (as high as 60%) has limited its wider application. In the current experiment, a non-shattering mutant line, M9308, was developed from T9308 by gamma irradiation. Comparisons were made but no marked differences were found between T9308 and M9308 as well as between their F1 hybrids crossed to Xieqingzao A for major agronomic and grain quality characters as well as resistance to diseases. Genetic analysis indicated that the non-shattering character of M9308 was governed by a single recessive gene.     

Properties of Starch and Protein of “Hattan-Type Varieties” of Rice Suitable for Brewing Original Hiroshima Sake

Abstract

By successive crossing using Hattan-type varieties originating from “Hattanso” as a parent, “Hattan-type varieties” of rice suitable for brewing the original Hiroshima sake have been bred. In this study, the difference in the properties of starch and protein among the Hattan-type varieties was examined. Six Hattan-type varieties, Hattanso, Hattan No.10, Hattan No.35, Hattan No.40, Hattan-nishiki No.1 and Hattan-nishiki No.2, were used. As the properties of starch, amylose content, pasting properties and gelatinization properties were examined. The pasting and gelatinization properties were examined using a rapid viscoanalyzer (RVA) and a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. As the properties of protein, the compositional ratio of two types of protein bodies (PB-II/PB-I) was analyzed. However, no significant differences in the above properties were observed among these Hattan-type varieties. The above properties of starch and protein in Hattanso seem to be retained in all of these varieties. In these varieties, breeding might not have been aimed at improvement of the properties of starch and protein.     

Is the nutritive value of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) related to the accumulated forage mass?

The aim of this work was to investigate whether neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and dry‐matter digestibility (DMD) are related to tall fescue accumulated forage mass (AFM) and to assess the relevance of environmental variables to predict the nutritive value of tall fescue swards. Three experiments were carried out in Pergamino, Argentina. To obtain swards with different amounts of AFM, two N levels and two irrigation regimes were applied in the spring after sowing and the autumn of the next year. In spring and autumn, AFM, NDF and DMD were measured every 10–12 days. In spring, NDF increased from 503 to 604 g kg^?1, DMD decreased from 684 to 558 g kg^?1 and AFM increased from 0·64 to 2·82 t DM ha^?1. In autumn, NDF decreased from 543 to 442 g kg^?1, DMD increased from 591 to 681 g kg^?1 and AFM increased from 0·35 to 1·10 t DM ha^?1. The results show that the nutritive value of tall fescue through the year is not related to the accumulation of dry matter of the sward. Nutritive value is determined by the reproductive stage in late spring and early summer, the fate of photosynthates at different times of the year and the synthesis of non‐digestible compounds.     

Development of Rice “Seed-Mats” Consisting of Hardened Seeds with a Cover of Soil for the Rice Transplanter

Conventional seedling mats for rice transplanters in Japan are heavy to carry, and much labor is required to collect, wash and store the nursery boxes. In addition, seeding time overlaps with the labor peak in spring. To reduce such labor, we developed a “seed-mat” consisting of hardened rice seeds (Oryza sativa L.) glued onto a molded rice-hull mat with a cover of soil glued on. Seed hardening, which is done by soaking seeds in water at 15ºC for 5 d followed by drying, and heating of the seeds at 50ºC for 5 or 7 d, reduced the time to 50% germination (T₅₀). In dormant seeds, the heating before the hardening enhanced the effect of the hardening more than the heating after the hardening. Seed hardening increased the dry weight of the shoots from the seed-mats. Covering the mat with soil also increased the percentage of seedling emergence, shoot length, number of leaves and shoot dry weight of the seed-mats. The hardened seeds maintained short T₅₀ and 95% or higher germination for 120 d at room temperature. In the seed-mat, the hardened seeds maintained 95% or higher seedling emergence for 208 d. In conclusion, superior seed-mats could be produced using the procedure involving both seed hardening and cover of soil. The seed-mats can be prepared in winter and stored until seedling-raising period in spring. By the seed-mats, seedling mats can be prepared for the rice transplanter without using nursery boxes, which take up storage space and require much labor.     

Gamification of farmer-participatory priority setting in plant breeding: Design and validation of “AgroDuos”

Participatory methods to characterize farmers’ needs and preferences play an important role in plant breeding to ensure that new varieties fulfill the needs and expectations of end users. Different farmer-participatory methods for priority setting exist, each one responding differently to trade-offs between various requirements, such as replicability, simplicity, or granularity of the results. All available methods, however, require training, academic skill, and staff time of specially qualified professionals. Breeding and variety replacement may be accelerated by empowering non-academic organizations, such as NGOs and farmer organizations, to carry out farmer-participatory priority setting. But for this use context, currently no suitable method is available. A new method is needed that demands relatively low skill levels from enumerators and respondents, engages farmers without the need for extrinsic incentives, and gives statistically robust results. To achieve these objectives, we followed principles of “gamification” in the design of AgroDuos, a choice experiment that resembles a card game and that involves pairwise ranking of variety traits. We tested the method in a pilot with 39 farmers in Honduras to define their trait priorities for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.). To validate our results, we independently carried out conjoint analysis, an established method for priority setting in plant breeding. We found that AgroDuos produced valid and useful results while enabling rapid, easy, and engaging data collection. Challenges persist concerning local adaptation and data analysis by non-specialist staff, which may be resolved in the future by providing templates and online support.