Chemical imaging: the distribution of ions and molecules in developing and mature wheat grain

The ability to combine topographical and in situ chemical analysis of individual cereal grains, without recourse to fractionation, offers an opportunity to determine the distribution of functionally- and nutritionally-important components. Three such technologies are reviewed, including immunolocation using monoclonal antibodies specific for different types of wheat prolamins, secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) to detect the presence of inorganic elements such as sodium and sulphur, and infrared (including Raman and Fourier-transform infrared [FT-IR]) microspectroscopy to determine the distribution of biopolymers across the grain. Immunolabelling has shown that the distribution of prolamin proteins changes across the endosperm, with the outer endosperm containing a much greater proportion of prolamins than the inner endosperm. SIMS has shown, for the first time, the presence of Na⁺ in the phytin granules and that sulphur is enriched at the boundary between the starch granules and the protein matrix. Raman microspectroscopy has been used to investigate the distribution of proteins and the phenolic compound, ferulic acid, across the grain, whilst FT-IR has been used to define the microheterogeneity of arabinoxylans in endosperm cell walls. These methods highlight how in situ analysis can yield new insights into grain composition and how this may be altered by environmental conditions during grain development.     

Proteomic analysis of the mature kernel aleurone layer in common and durum wheat

The aleurone layer (AL) is one of inner tissues removed from the grain with the wheat bran. It is the main source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants of potential nutritional value in the wheat kernel. The AL of three varieties of each of the two main species of wheat, Triticum aestivum (ABD) and Triticum durum (AB), were manually dissected and analysed using two-dimensional gel-based proteomics. A total of 1258 and 1109 Coomassie-stained spots were detected in the AL of representatives of the ABD and AB genomes. In two varieties (T. aestivum Chinese Spring and T. durum Bidi17), grown in two different years with full fungicide protection, no quantitative or qualitative (presence/absence) differences in spots were detected, suggesting that AL proteome is strongly genetically controlled. Comparison within and between species revealed a total of 339 AL significant protein spots. Among these spots, 30.8% differed within T. aestivum and 56.5% within T. durum varieties, whereas only 12.7% differed between the two species. Among the 142 AL proteins identified using MALDI-TOF and LC-MS/MS, 57% were globulin type storage proteins (Glo-3, Glo-3B, Glo-3C, Glo-2), 16.2% were involved in carbohydrate metabolism and 17.6% in defence/stress pathways. These variations in AL proteome are discussed.     

Enrichment of cookies with glutathione by inactive yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae): Physicochemical and functional properties

Cookie is one of the favorite cereal products which could be formulated by using various ingredients for enrichment. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the inactivate yeast cells addition to cookie formulation in terms of glutathione (GSH) content, antioxidant activities, physicochemical and sensorial properties. Also, the cookies were produced with GSH (pure, 98%) addition to compare the effects of inactive yeast GSH with pure GSH on revealed properties. According to results, The GSH contents and the antioxidant activities increased in dough and cookie samples with inactive yeast addition compared to control and pure GSH added dough and cookie samples. The increases in GSH contents and antioxidant activities were observed after baking in all samples. The pure GSH addition increased the moisture content, spread ratio and L* value while decreased the hardness and b* values of the cookies. The contrary results were obtained by inactive yeast addition in terms of the physicochemical properties where the protein content of the cookies increased with inactive yeast addition by approximately 25%. The loss of GSH content decreased while the antioxidant activities and nutritional value increased in cookies by inactivate yeast addition.     

肯尼亚与中国茶业比较

本文从植物遗传改良等因素比较了肯尼亚与中国的茶产业。中国茶区辽阔,生态条件多样化,各地分别适宜种植不同类型的茶树品种;而肯尼亚则受到较大制约。中国茶区分布在亚热带和温带的高海拔地区和平原地区,肯尼亚茶区则限于气温凉爽、雨量充沛而且降雨量分布均匀的高海拔地区。茶原产于中国,而且有数千年的茶树栽培历史。肯尼亚和中国两国的历史和气候条件不同,茶树品种的适应性亦有差异,种茶“传统”和生态条件使肯尼亚开发利用的茶树品种具有保守性,其茶树历史起源与印度类似。随着肯尼亚茶树品种的演变及挑战性的显现,有必要对其经验和教训进行回顾。本文同时概述了两国在茶产业管理结构、挑战性和茶树遗传改良的机遇,对两国在茶业技术及生物科学进步等有关信息交流等方面开展研讨。     

二代测序技术在水稻基因组学和转录组学研究中的应用

二代测序技术是测序技术的一次革命性突破,它具有高通量、高精度、低成本的优势,为水稻基因组学研究提供了新的研究方法和解决方案。概述了以使用合成法测序和连接法测序为原理的二代测序技术的特点和发展,并总结了其在水稻基因组学,包括结构基因组学和功能基因组学以及转录组学研究中的应用,并就当前测序技术的发展趋势作了展望。     

An investigation on the comparison of wet spinning and electrospinning: Experimentation and simulation

Polysulfonamide (PSA) has been widely used in many fields because of its excellent thermodynamic properties. In this study, PSA fibers were prepared separately via two different spinning ways, including conventional wet spinning and electrospinning. Fluid motion of wet spinning and electrostatic field of electrospinning were modeled using finite element analysis to investigate the spinning process. The properties of fabricated PSA fibers were characterized systematically by scanning electron microscope (SEM), fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravity analysis (TGA) and electronic strength tester. Based on the simulation and theoretical analysis of spinning process, it was found that the extruding force of the wet spinning is larger than that of the electrospinning. The larger extruding force makes the alignment of macromolecules inside fiber relatively uniform, and a higher proportion of crystallization happens. Accordingly, the mechanical properties and thermal stability of PSA fibers could be improved due to a higher proportion of crystallization. The experimental results of mechanical strength and TG test are coincided with the simulation results. PSA fiber prepared by wet spinning has better thermal stability and mechanical properties than that fabricated by electrospinning.     

LC-MS analysis reveals the presence of graminan- and neo-type fructans in wheat grains

This is the first study describing the fine structure of the main, individual fructan oligosaccharides present in wheat grains. Wheat grain fructan structure was investigated in developing wheat grains and in different tissues of mature grains with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Fructan oligosaccharides with a low degree of polymerization (<5) were mainly of the graminan- and inulin-type in developing wheat grains during the first week after anthesis. Starting from 14 days after anthesis, neo-type fructans, fructans with an internal glucose, were observed for the first time. Several neo-type fructan structures were identified and their portion in the total fructan pool gradually increased during grain development. In the mature kernel, almost no differences were noted between the fructan distributions of wheat flour and two wheat bran fractions enriched in either pericarp or aleurone tissue. Results are related to wheat fructan metabolizing enzymes and the nutritional implications are discussed.     

Growth and carbon economy of nodulated white clover in the presence and absence of combined nitrogen

An investigation of the carbon economy of single S184 white clover plants nodulated with an effective strain of Rhizobium trifolii growing on N-free nutrient solution and supplied with 150 parts/10⁶ N as NH₄NO₃ has shown that 10% more of the C fixed per day is available for growth in the plants supplied with combined N. The difference between the two groups of plants is a result of higher respiratory activity in the roots of plants growing exclusively on N₂. In terms of shoot growth, however, the difference in growth rate is likely to be less than 10%, because the rate of root growth is greater in the plants supplied with a moderate level of combined N. There is no evidence that NO^-₃ and CO₂ compete for photosynthetically produced reductant in the leaves of plants grown on N₂+NH₄NO₃, since no reduction in net photosynthesis was observed in plants assimilating combined N. An experiment carried out on detached leaflets of white clover grown on N₂ and on N₂+ NH₄NO₃ has shown that NO^-₃ -reducing activity is present in the leaflets of plants grown on N₂+ NH₄NO₃ but not in plants grown on N₂ and that the activity is light-dependent. Measurements of ¹⁴CO₂ respired in the light and dark by leaflets previously allowed to photosynthesize ¹⁴CO₂ showed that the ratio of ¹⁴CO₂ output in the light to ¹⁴CO₂ output in the dark was no higher in plants grown on N₂+ NH₄NO₃ than in plants grown on N₂. This observation is consistent with the finding that N source does not affect net photosynthesis in whole plants.     

浙东沿海单季中晚稻生产现状、问题和对策

水稻是浙东沿海最主要的农作物。近年来 ,随着全国性粮食供求形势的好转 ,宁波市开展了较大规模的种植业结构调整 ,单季稻面积不断增加。据统计 ,宁波市单季稻面积从１９９６年的１．８４万ｈｍ２ 增加到２０００年的５．０４万ｈｍ２。单季稻代替连作稻成为宁波、舟山等市水稻的最主要种植方式。由于自然条件、生产习惯和技术体系等原因 ,宁波市单季稻产量与其他地区相比存在着较大差距 ,加强单季稻生产技术的研究 ,提高其产量 ,对于保障粮食供给 ,增加农业效益具有重要意义。一、浙东沿海单季稻生产的历史和现状浙东地区的单季稻种植已有…     

Evidence for the existence of functional roots on potato tubers and stolons: Significance in water transport to the tuber

American Journal of Potato Research - Field observations of potato plants showed various types of roots. There were roots originating at the base of the main stem (basal roots); roots arising from...     

Vaughn and Lulai: Suberin stains comparison of fluorescent stains for the detection of suberin in potato periderm

Several fluorescent staining procedures to detect suberin in normal periderm of potato were assessed. Among the stains tested, treatment with the alkaloid fluorochrome berberine followed by counterstaining with crystal violet appears to be the most sensitive combination. Crystal violet increased contrast by quenching lignin fluorescence which is also present in the periderm cell walls. This technique may be useful for studying the role of suberin in disease resistance and wound healing of potato tubers and other tissues.     

Living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers in the presence of iodomethyl methyl ether and zinc iodide

Living cationic polymerization behaviors of isobutyl vinyl ethers (IBVE), initiated by iodomethyl methyl ether (IMME)/zinc iodide (ZnI₂) have been investigated. The polymerization was carried out at 0, −15, and −30°C in toluene. It was found that the rate of polymerization increased as the IMME concentration increased and decreased as temperature decreased. 100% conversion was always achieved without exception. Furthermore, the number-average molecular weight of polymers increased in direct proportion to monomer conversion. The molecular weights of polymers were in good agreement with the theoretical values, calculated on the basis that one polymer chain was formed by one IMME molecule and the values of polydispersity index are always less than 1.2, revealing the living nature. The living nature was also confirmed by synthesis of poly(IBVE-b-TBVE) by subsequent monomer addition of t-butyl vinyl ether (TBVE).     

大豆高脂肪组合F3代脂肪含量遗传及亲本相关性研究

为研究大豆高脂肪组合早世代脂肪含量的遗传规律。选择高产或高脂肪的7个大豆亲本,采用NCII设计,配成8个杂交组合。结果表明：F3代脂肪含量的变异与双亲脂肪含量的差异有关,双亲的差异越大,F3代脂肪含量的变异程度也越大。双亲脂肪含量均高,且双亲熟期差异较大,F3代出现高脂肪材料的几率高。F3代脂肪含量与双亲的差值呈负相关,但不显著;与父本的脂肪含量呈极弱的正相关;与母本脂肪含量及中亲值呈一定的正相关,但也不显著。在F2代中,母本脂肪含量及中亲值与F2代脂肪含量呈极显著的正相关,但F3代已经不显著了。说明母本脂肪含量及中亲值对后代脂肪含量的影响在逐代减弱。     

2021年春季气候变化对新疆棉花生长影响及中期管理建议——以阿拉尔垦区为例

2021年新疆春季气候变化异常,阶段性气温偏低,降水偏多,光照不足,气候稳定性差,低温、寒潮和局地大风、沙尘暴、冰雹、强降水等灾害性天气频发,对棉花播种出苗和幼苗生长产生了不利影响,幼苗普遍迟发、苗弱,代表早发指标的"四月苗""五月蕾"棉田比例大幅降低.针对棉花迟发、弱苗,提出划分类型、分类管理、组成专家组开展巡回指导...     

Cracking the Cytotoxicity Code: Apoptotic Induction of 10-Acetylirciformonin B is Mediated through ROS Generation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction

A marine furanoterpenoid derivative, 10-acetylirciformonin B (10AB), was found to inhibit the proliferation of leukemia, hepatoma, and colon cancer cell lines, with selective and significant potency against leukemia cells. It induced DNA damage and apoptosis in leukemia HL 60 cells. To fully understand the mechanism behind the 10AB apoptotic induction against HL 60 cells, we extended our previous findings and further explored the precise molecular targets of 10AB. We found that the use of 10AB increased apoptosis by 8.9%–87.6% and caused disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) by 15.2%–95.2% in a dose-dependent manner, as demonstrated by annexin-V/PI and JC-1 staining assays, respectively. Moreover, our findings indicated that the pretreatment of HL 60 cells with N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), a reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger, diminished MMP disruption and apoptosis induced by 10AB, suggesting that ROS overproduction plays a crucial rule in the cytotoxic activity of 10AB. The results of a cell-free system assay indicated that 10AB could act as a topoisomerase catalytic inhibitor through the inhibition of topoisomerase IIα. On the protein level, the expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-xL and Bcl-2, caspase inhibitors XIAP and survivin, as well as hexokinase II were inhibited by the use of 10AB. On the other hand, the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax was increased after 10AB treatment. Taken together, our results suggest that 10AB-induced apoptosis is mediated through the overproduction of ROS and the disruption of mitochondrial metabolism.     

Effects of raw soy flour feeding in weanling pigs: comparison with rats and monkeys

Feeding of raw and heated soy flour (RSF & HSF) for 4 or 8 weeks to weanling swine was compared with feeding of casein diets. There was essentially no growth in pigs fed RSF, whereas body weight increased 4.5 fold over 8 weeks with either casein or HSF. No change in pancrease weight as percent body weight was found in any group in either experiment. Both total pancreatic RNA and DNA were decreased in RSF groups, although RNA and DNA/mg pancreas were increased by the RSF diets. Total pancreatic protein, as well as protein/mg, were decreased in RSF-fed pigs compared to casein and HSF. Pancreatic trypsin, chymotrypsin, lipase, and amylase, and fecal trypsin were decreased in RSF-fed pigs to varying degrees compared to either HSF or casein. HSF and casein performance was equivalent in all parameters measured. Results of these experiments are compared with results of feeding similar diets to rats and monkeys.