Variability of Nutritional and Cooking Quality in Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) as a Function of Genotype

Screening of natural biodiversity for the better quality traits are of prime importance for quality breeding programs. The objective of this investigation was to select candidate accession of bean having high concentrations of protein as well as macro and micro minerals with good cooking quality for use as parents in breeding programme for these compounds. Thirty-five accessions of bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L) were field grown and their seeds were analyzed for their cooking quality and nutritional composition. Wide variations were observed in most of the measurements e.g. protein (18.7–26.2%), iron (79.4–137.6 ppm) and hardness after cooking (4.65–9.88 Kg) suggesting that there are considerable levels of genetic diversity. Across all accessions the concentration of potassium was negatively correlated with protein (r = −0.43, P < 0.05). Concentrations of protein was significantly greater in accessions VIII, XIII and XIX compared to other accessions analyzed. Iron concentrations were greatest (137 ppm) in XIX and lowest (79 ppm) in XXVII. Lines with less cooking time were line III, X, XXVI, XXX and XXXI. Bean line XIX contains high protein (24.9%) with high zinc (33.3 ppm) and highest iron (137.6 ppm), but it has high hardness after cooking (7.32 kg). Four clusters were computed by cluster analysis that explained quite a good variation in the traits. The great variability for these attributes suggests that these selected accessions may be useful as parents in hybridization programs to produce bean with value-added traits. This information was also potentially useful for pulse breeders working on the development of new varieties.     

Modified crystal violet pectate medium (CVP) based on a new polypectate source (Slendid) for the detection and isolation of soft rot erwinias

Summary The selective-diagnostic crystal violet pectate (CVP) medium for the detection and isolation of soft rot erwinias was modified and improved to allow the use of a new source of sodium polypectate (Slendid type 440), as the previous polypectate (Bulmer) is no longer available. Two formulations were developed: CVP-S1 medium was less transparent but otherwise similar to the Bulmer polypectate-based CVP medium (CVP-B) except that NaOH was added and CaCl₂ concentration reduced. CVP-S2 medium was prepared by mixing equal volumes of two double strength preparations containing 1) polypectate and NaOH, and 2) all other ingredients, both sterilised separately. Although erwinia cavity formation was slower, it showed a number of advantages over CVP-B and CVP-S1 media, thereby facilitating colony/cavity detection and enumeration. These included the absence of precipitate, greater firmness and a reduced risk of liquefaction in the presence of large erwinia numbers, and a reduction in the number of saprophytic bacteria.     

The efficiency of the bulb and potato aphidRhopalosiphoninus latysiphon (Davidson) as a vector of potato virus V

Summary Experiments to test the ability ofRhopalosiphoninus latysiphon to transmit potato virus V showed a transmission rate of 16 per cent after only two weeks; this was maintained for a further two weeks, beyond which time the rate rose rapidly. A comparison of the mode of inoculation of PVV byR. latysiphon andMyzus persicae suggested that the mechanism may be similar for both species.     

小麦细胞色素P450(TaP450)基因的克隆与序列分析

细胞色素P450是一种多功能氧化酶,在植物体内担当着生物合成、代谢解毒以及抗逆等重要功能。本研究采用RACE方法从普通小麦中同源克隆到一个新的P450基因,命名为TaP450(Genbank No.KJ541960)。该基因基因组序列全长为2 643bp,含有2个外显子和1个内含子,cDNA全长为2 033bp,含有一个1 557bp的开放读码框,推导蛋白含518个氨基酸;序列分析发现其具有保守的P450结构域,但该蛋白与已报道的小麦P450蛋白序列有较大差异,表明它是小麦P450家族的新成员;蛋白结构特征分析发现,该蛋白的分子量为57.092kD,等电点为8.63,N端具有一个含29个氨基酸的跨膜结构和一个含22个氨基酸的信号肽,亚细胞定位分析表明该蛋白属于分泌蛋白。其在小麦叶片、茎、根与种子中均有表达,但在叶片和茎中表达量最高;在胁迫处理下,该基因的表达量均上调,且在盐胁迫处理下上调尤为显著,表明该基因与盐胁迫密切相关。     

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) contains a XIP-type xylanase inhibitor but none of the TAXI- and TLXI-types

A xylanase inhibitor of the xylanase-inhibiting protein (XIP) type was detected in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) whole meal using Western blot and immunoprobing with polyclonal anti-XIP antibodies. No detectable levels of Triticum aestivum xylanase inhibitor (TAXI) and thaumatin-like xylanase inhibitor (TLXI) type xylanase inhibitors were present. Trichoderma longibrachiatum xylanase affinity chromatography (AC) was used for the purification of sorghum XIP. Biochemical characteristics and protein sequence data show that sorghum XIP strongly corresponds to wheat (T. aestivum L.) XIP-I. Like wheat XIP-I, it inhibits both glycoside hydrolase family (GH) 10 and 11 xylanases, indicating that the XIP-I active site residues are well conserved in sorghum XIP. However, in contrast to wheat XIP-I, the inhibitor is unable to affect Aspergillus niger GH 11 xylanase activity. Its specific inhibition activities towards the other xylanases tested are comparable to those of wheat XIP-I. Based on the available sorghum expressed sequence tag (EST) database, XIP is expressed in sorghum in different tissues and developmental stages. Also expression in the presence of several plant hormones and under biotic as well as abiotic stress conditions is suggested.     

An evaluation of the effect of Bacillus cells and Bacillus spores in association with cowpea granules as starter cultures for the fermentation of African oil bean (Pentaclethra macrophylla Bentham) to `ugba'

Studies on the improvement of the traditional production of `ugba',a protein-rich fermented African oil bean seed product, were undertaken,by developing starter cultures of Bacillus subtilis cells andspores in association with cowpea granules. The viability of the cellsin association remained stable at 94.5% for 6 months at 30 <sup>°</sup>C and for up to 10 months at 4 <sup>°</sup>C while the viability of the sporesin association remained stable at ca. 96% for up to 10 months at both4 and 30 <sup>°</sup>C. The starter cultures resulted in high increases inprotease activity from ca 2.8 mg N/min to about 51.6 ± 0.4 mg N/minin 48 h and a corresponding increase in amino-nitrogen content of ca2.0 ± 0.2 mg N 100 g dry matter (DM) to ca 18.5 ± 0.3 mg N/100g (DM) during the same period. Changes in the protease activity of thenatural process were gradual and increased from 3.0 mg N/min to 38.0 ±0.8 mg N/min after 5 days of fermentation. The maximum amino nitrogencontent of `ugba' produced by the starter cultures (18.5 ± 0.3 mgN/100 g DM) after 2 days was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than themaximum amino nitrogen content (12.5 ± 0.8 mg N/100 g DM), of `ugba'obtained by the natural process. `Ugba' produced by the starter cultureswere well accepted and compared favorably with the natural product.     

小麦干旱胁迫对黏虫取食及食物利用效率的影响

为了解小麦干旱对食叶害虫黏虫食物利用效率的影响,采用PEG-6000模拟干旱处理小麦植株,设置对照(0g·mL-1)、低(0.05g·mL-1)、中(0.1g·mL-1)和强(0.2g·mL-1)4个干旱胁迫水平,以盆栽小麦饲喂黏虫幼虫,观察黏虫取食及食物利用效率。协方差分析表明,干旱胁迫对黏虫幼虫的体质量、取食量有显著影响,但对食物利用量没有显著影响。与对照相比,强干旱胁迫下黏虫取食量减少10.4%,幼虫体质量增加量减少10.6%。经食物利用指数方法分析,干旱胁迫显著影响黏虫的近似消化率和食物转化率,强干旱胁迫下食物转化率较对照减小了8.0%,近似消化率增加10.5%;干旱胁迫对其他食物利用指数均无显著影响。以上结果说明,小麦中度和强度干旱胁迫可对黏虫营养利用效率造成不良影响。     

Growth,hormonal status and protein turnover in rats fed on a diet containing peas (Pisum sativum L.) as the source of protein

The inclusion of peas (Pisum sativum L.) as the source of protein in the diet of growing rats brings about a reduction in growth rate as well as the impairment in the liver, muscle and spleen weights as compared with casein fed controls. Also, a fall in plasma glucose, triglycerides and protein was observed in the legume fed animals, while no changes in cholesterol levels were found. Furthermore, the rats fed on the diet containing peas showed lower levels of plasma insulin, corticosterone, IGF-I and T₄ as compared with casein controls. Liver and muscle total protein (mg) and total DNA (mg) were markedly decreased in the legume fed animals, but DNA/g, protein/DNA and RNA/protein ratios were similar in both dietary groups. Likewise, liver and muscle fractional synthesis rates were similar in the casein and legume groups, while the whole body protein synthesis is assumed to be lower in the legume fed animals due to differences in body weights. It is concluded that animals fed on a diet containing peas (Pisum sativum L.) as the only source of protein showed less adverse effects than those found with other legumes such asVicia faba L. orPhaseolus vulgaris L., in which protein quality, antinutritional factors and nutrient availability could be involved.