Time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay for delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol as applied to early discrimination of Cannabis sativa plants.

In the cultivations of Cannabis, it is important to be able to distinguish fiber-type plants from drug-type plants by an easy observation of their phenotype. This study required the screening of many samples for their cannabinoid content. A simple and highly sensitive time-resolved fluoroimmunological method was developed for the determination of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol in the leaf extracts. The useful range of the calibration curve was between 10 pg and 25 ng of standard. Matrix effects were minimized by a high dilution of samples.     

Apical bud removal increased seed yield in hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)

In plants, apical dominance prevents the development of lateral shoots. It can be overwhelmed by apical bud defoliation, allowing numerous lateral buds to develop into more lateral branches carrying more fruits and possibly increasing seed yield. This study tested this hypothesis on five hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivars in a 2-year field experiment. In comparison to the intact ones, the defoliated plants developed several lateral shoots. The hemp seed yield was significantly influenced by the year of production, the apical bud removal, and the cultivar. The average two-year seed yield of the defoliated plants (715?±?47?kg/ha) was significantly higher than the yield of the intact plants (568?±?35?kg/ha). Absolutely the greatest effect of apical bud removal on the seed yield was observed for the cultivar ‘Novosadska konoplja’, where increase was 225?kg/ha (25%); a slightly smaller difference occurred for the cultivar ‘Uniko-B’ (183?kg; 30%), followed by ‘Juso-11’ (140?kg/ha; 27%) and ‘Bialobrzeskie’ (128?kg/ha; 29). Cultivar ‘Beniko’ presented the smallest difference with apical bud removal – 58?kg/ha (15%) yield increase We maintain that hemp producers can achieve a larger seed yield not only by selecting an appropriate cultivar and row distance but also by removing apical buds.     

Physicochemical and functional properties of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) protein isolate

The amino acid composition and physicochemical and functional properties of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) protein isolate (HPI) were evaluated and compared with those of soy protein isolate (SPI). Edestin, a kind of hexameric legumin, was the major protein component. HPI had similar or higher levels of essential amino acids (except lysine), in comparison to those amino acids of SPI. The essential amino acids in HPI (except lysine and sulfur-containing amino acids) are sufficient for the FAO/WHO suggested requirements for 2-5 year old children. The protein solubility (PS) of HPI was lower than that of SPI at pH less than 8.0 but similar at above pH 8.0. HPI contained much higher free sulfhydryl (SH) content than SPI. Differential scanning calorimetry analysis showed that HPI had only one endothermic peak with denaturation temperature (T(d)) of about 95.0 degrees C, attributed to the edestin component. The T(d) of the endotherm was nearly unaffected by 20-40 mM sodium dodecyl sulfate but significantly decreased by 20 mM dithiothreitol (P < 0.05). The emulsifying activity index, emulsion stability index, and water-holding capacity of HPI were much lower than those of SPI, and the fat adsorption capacity was similar. The data suggest that HPI can be used as a valuable source of nutrition for infants and children but has poor functional properties when compared with SPI. The poor functional properties of HPI have been largely attributed to the formation of covalent disulfide bonds between individual proteins and subsequent aggregation at neutral or acidic pH, due to its high free sulfhydryl content from sulfur-containing amino acids.     

Preliminary results of a German field trial with different hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) accessions

Hemp is one of the oldest crops in the world and can be used in very different ways. Hemp cultivation was forbidden in Germany since 1982. Since 1996 hemp with less than 0.3 per cent THC content can be grown. To evaluate the available genetic hemp resources 14 monoecious and 26 dioecious hemp varieties and strains were grown in the field in 1996 and analysed for morphological traits. A large variability was found for plant height at different dates, blooming time, stem diameter, fresh and dry weight and seed yield. Plant density and plant height at maturity were negatively correlated. The initial growth rate is only of minor importance. There was no interaction between genotype and sex for dioecious accessions, though differences between sex types were important.     

Properties of cast films from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) and soy protein isolates. A comparative study

The properties of cast films from hemp protein isolate (HPI) including moisture content (MC) and total soluble mass (TSM), tensile strength (TS) and elongation at the break (EAB), and surface hydrophobicity were investigated and compared to those from soy protein isolate (SPI). The plasticizer (glycerol) level effect on these properties and the interactive force pattern for the film network formation were also evaluated. At some specific glycerol levels, HPI films had similar MC, much less TSM and EAB, and higher TS and surface hydrophobicity (support matrix side), as compared to SPI films. The TS of HPI and SPI films as a function of plasticizer level (in the range of 0.3-0.6 g/g of protein) were well fitted with the exponential equation with coefficient factors of 0.991 and 0.969, respectively. Unexpectedly, the surface hydrophobicity of HPI films (including air and support matrix sides) increased with increasing the glycerol level (from 0.3 to 0.6 g/g of protein). The analyses of protein solubility of film in various solvents and free sulfydryl group content showed that the disulfide bonds are the prominent interactive force in the HPI film network formation, while in the SPI case, besides the disulfide bonds, hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions are also to a similar extent involved. The results suggest that hemp protein isolates have good potential to be applied to prepare protein film with some superior characteristics, e.g., low solubility and high surface hydrophobicity.     

Sources of resistance to downy mildew in narbon (Vicia narbonensis) and common (Vicia sativa) vetches

Downy mildew (Peronospora viciae (Berk) de Bary) is an important disease of vetches (Vicia spp.) in the Mediterranean Region. Narbon and common vetch germplasm accessions originating from different countries, and advanced breeding narbon vetch genotypes, were evaluated for reaction to downy mildew for two seasons under field conditions. In narbon vetch, there were resistant sources from both germplasm accessions and advanced genotypes. From the germplasm accessions, 25 accessions were resistant while from the advanced breeding genotypes, 10 had resistance, with 2–3 ratings. In common vetch, many accessions were highly resistant to downy mildew. These were widely distributed in different countries, mainly Turkey, Italy, Syria and Iran. In general, common vetch had higher sources of resistance than the narbon vetch accessions. These new sources of resistance to downy mildew will be incorporated into the forage legume improvement project in a continuous effort to identify cultivars suitable for replacing fallow in the cereal-based cropping systems.     

Differentiation between fiber and drug types of hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) from a collection of wild and domesticated accessions

Accessions of wild and domesticated hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) originating from Colombia, Mexico, California, Bolivia, Thailand, Afghanistan, Serbia, Hungary, south Africa and different regions of China, were studied by means of DNA polymorphisms in order to discriminate between drug and fiber types. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) was used to partition the total genetic variance within and among populations. The significance of the variance components was tested by calculating their probabilities based on 999 random permutations. AMOVA revealed 74 % variation among accessions and 26 % within accessions, all AMOVA variation was highly significant (P < 0.001). The cluster analysis of molecular data, grouped accessions into eight clusters and gave a matrix correlation value of r = 0.943, indicating a very good fit between the similarity values implied by the phenogram and those of the original similarity matrix. In this study, DNA polymorphisms could discriminate the fiber and drug types, and accessions were grouped in accordance to their classification and uses. In addition, seed size variation and micromorphological characters of seeds were studied by means of a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Seeds varied significantly in size, and were bigger in the fiber types. SEM analysis exhibited variation of micromorphological characters of seeds that could be important for discriminating the fiber or drug types.     

Genome-wide association study to identify chromosomal regions related to panicle architecture in rice (Oryza sativa)

Panicle architecture directly affects the grain yield of rice; meanwhile, crop domestication has increased the complexity of rice panicle size and branching pattern. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to investigate the genetic basis underlying panicle architecture using 183 rice accessions from around the world and a 7 K SNP array. Phenotyping was conducted at Texas A&M AgriLife Research Center in Beaumont, TX. GWAS was performed using MLM (Q?+?K) model using GAPIT software. At p-value?<?0.001, a total of 49 GWAS QTLs controlling various panicle architecture traits were mapped. Considering the recurring and linked SNPs across the panicle architecture traits, 42 independent QTL regions were identified. Among these, 27 QTL regions co-localized with known genes or previously reported QTLs or significant SNP markers, while 15 were potentially novel QTL regions. The results of our study offer useful information on genetic bases controlling panicle architecture in rice, which could be further validated and utilized for designing markers for use in markers assisted selection (MAS) in rice breeding programs.

     

The effect of selenium biofortification in alfalfa (Medicago sativa)

Abstract

Biofortification of agricultural productions is important to enhance the quality of the products. The aims of this research were to investigate the possibility of selenium biofortification of alfalfa in the calcareous and non-calcareous soils by applying fertilizers differently (control, soil application, inoculant of seleno-bacteria, foliar application, combined soil, and foliar applications of selenate). Morpho-physiological properties and nutritional responses, such as shoot dry weight, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, zinc, and iron concentration in the plant’s tissue were measured. In all parameters, the use of selenium sources in the calcareous soils had a significant effect compared with the control treatment. Among the methods and sources of selenium, foliar application of sodium selenate gave the best response. By the usage of this treatment, Se concentration was increased up to 112.5% and 182%, respectively, compared with the control treatment in non-calcareous and calcareous soil. According to the results, inoculant of selenium bacteria and sodium selenate are recommended as a natural way to selenium biofortification in alfalfa and to improve the quality of the produced forage. In addition, attention to the biological potential of the soil and the use of native soil bacteria is also recommended.     

低磷胁迫下箭筈豌豆和毛叶苕子根际过程的差异比较

采用我国北方两个豆科绿肥品种: 箭筈豌豆（Vicia sativa L.）与毛叶苕子（Vicia villosa Roth）,在控制条件下通过不同供磷处理的营养液培养,研究了不同绿肥作物适应低磷胁迫根际过程的差异,并揭示其高效利用磷的机理。试验通过分次取样的方法,测定了两种豆科作物在缺磷与供磷条件下的生物量、根系质子释放速率、根系有机酸分泌速率以及根表酸性磷酸酶活性的动态。结果表明,箭筈豌豆与毛叶苕子在生长前期对低磷胁迫的响应存在明显差异。箭筈豌豆主要靠增大质子释放量和提高酸性磷酸酶活性来适应低磷胁迫; 而毛叶苕子主要通过提高根冠比、扩大根系生物量来对外界环境中的缺磷状况做出响应,在缺磷时其根表酸性磷酸酶的活性显著提高。箭筈豌豆与毛叶苕子可通过协调根系形态和生理的适应性变化提高对磷的吸收。     

DDT and HCH Residues in Basmati Rice (Oryza sativa) Cultivated in Dehradun (India)

Organochlorine pesticides were used earlier for agricultureproduction. Their residues may still be present in soil and mayaccumulate in food crops, posing potential health problems to consumers. DDT, HCH, their isomers and metabolites were analyzedin samples of soil and rice plants collected from ten differentvillages of a well-known Basmati rice growing area in Dehradun.Residues of both pesticides were found in all samples ofsoil and different parts of rice plants except for a few grainsamples. Maximum residue was observed in husk and minimum ingrains. The average concentration of DDT in soil ranged from0.013 to 0.238 ppm. p,p′-DDE was the major metabolite (>63%). Theaverage concentration of DDT in rice grain varied from 0.002 to 0.040 ppm. o,p′-DDT was the main isomer (>93%). Theaverage concentration of HCH in soil ranged from 0.122 to 0.638 ppm. β-HCH was the predominant (43%) isomerfollowed by α-HCH (21%). The average HCH concentrationin rice grain ranged between 0.013 and 0.113 ppm. All four isomers were present in grains. The levels of DDT and CHCin grains were similar in magnitude as those from differentIndian states, but well below the maximum residue limit of 0.1 ppm for DDT and 0.05 ppm for HCH prescribed by the Government ofIndia and WHO/FAO. As such, the pesticide residue levels in thisexport commodity are not of hazardous nature.     

Phytoestrogenic compounds in alfalfa sprout (Medicago sativa) beyond coumestrol

Coumestrol has long been known as the phytoestrogenic compound in alfalfa. However, it has been demonstrated that the ethyl acetate extract of alfalfa sprout (AEA) attenuated the disease severity and increased survival and life span of autoimmune-prone MRL-lpr/lpr mice. Coumestrol, on the contrary, decreased the survival. This study thus aimed to isolate and identify phytoestrogenic compounds other than coumestrol in AEA. AEA was fractionated and separated by successive silica gel chromatography and preparative HPLC. The activity of collected fractions was tracked by a transactivation assay for ERα and ERβ, respectively. In addition to coumestrol, liquiritigenin, isoliquiritigenin, loliolide, and (4S,6S)- and (4R,6S)-4-hydroxy-6-pentadecyltetrahydropyr-2-one were isolated and chemically identified. Except for loliolide, these compounds showed higher transactivation via ERβ than via ERα. The maximal activation via ERα of coumestrol reached 80% that of 1 nM 17β-estradiol (E(2)), whereas the activations of the remaining five compounds as well as AEA ranged from 8 to 49%. In addition, isoliquiritigenin, loliolide, and (4S,6S)- and (4R,6S)-4-hydroxy-6-pentadecyltetrahydropyr-2-one, but not coumestrol, preferentially inhibited 1 nM E(2) induced ERα activation, compared to that ERβ activation. The selectivity of these phytoestrogens might account for the difference between the effects of AEA and coumestrol in autoimmune-prone MRL-lpr/lpr mice observed previously.     

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) growth,yield and quality response to nitrogen fertilization in a non-circulating hydroponic system

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of nitrogen fertilization rate on growth and quality of leafy lettuce grown during the winter season in non-circulating hydroponic system. Plants were subjected to seven nitrogen (N) concentrations, i.e. 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 mg L^?1 N using ammonium nitrate. Nitrogen treatments did not have a significant effect on leaf fresh and dry mass, root fresh and dry mass, number leaves and leaf area. Leaf ascorbic acid and total phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity peaked at 100 and 120 mg L^?1 N, whereas leaf chlorophyll concentration linearly increased with increasing N application. The results indicate that a solution N concentration of 100 and 120 mg L^?1 may be sufficient to improve growth, yield and quality parameters of leafy lettuce grown in non-circulating hydroponic system.     

Metabolic response of Medicago sativa to severe nutrient imbalances and disturbances under field conditions

Our experiments were focused on the metabolic footprint of mineral‐nutrient availability under field conditions. While there are multiple factors potentially blurring such footprints, we hypothesized that physiological and metabolic adaptations of established plants are particularly important mechanisms under field conditions. To study respective differences between young and established plants and to study the impact of disturbances on the adaptive capacity of established plants, we analyzed Medicago sativa plants of different age from plots with marked differences in the levels of soil mineral nutrients established in a long‐term fertilization experiment. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to determine metabolite profiles of sink and source leaves of plants in an early state of development (“young plants”), just before the first harvest (“established plants”), and a short time after the second harvest (“regrowing plants”). Metabolite profiles from young plants were markedly responsive to soil mineral nutrients and resembled respective profiles from controlled conditions, demonstrating that overall variability of growth and sampling conditions had relatively little importance for the metabolite profiles recorded. In the case of established plants, however, we observed only little impact of availability of mineral nutrients on metabolite profiles. This low metabolic responsiveness of plants was partially lost after severe disturbances (removal of the plant shoot). Metabolite profiling, in summary, is able to detect a metabolic footprint of mineral‐nutrient availability in young plants under field conditions and may provide information about the ability of older plants to partially uncouple their metabolism from the environment. In addition, it is also possible to determine the impact of disturbances on this ability of the plant organism.     

The Vicia sativa L. aggregate (Fabaceae) in Southern Brazil

V. sativa L. sensu strictu was introduced in Rio Grande do Sul (Southern Brazil) by Italian settlers and is nowadays cultivated for forage in backyards and fields. V. angustifolia L. is a widespread highly polymorphic naturalized ruderal. Both taxa grow sympatrically and morphologically transitional types are often found. We analyzed 37 accessions of V. sativa, V. angustifolia, intermediate types, and V. cordata Wulf. ex. Hoppe from Rio Grande do Sul, for karyotypes, corolla and legume color, seed color pattern, pod constrictions and phenological development. Karyotypes allowed a clear distinction between the taxa: V. sativa (2n=12) had a metacentric marker chromosome, V. angustifolia and intermediate types (2n=12) only acrocentric chromosomes and V. cordata presented 2n=10. Flowering and fruiting periods were shorter for V. sativa than for V. angustifolia, which was separated into early and late flowering groups. Qualitative characters separated the taxa by Jaccard coefficients into three groups: V. sativa at 0.5 similarity level, V. angustifolia and intermediate types at 0.6 and V. cordata joined V. sativa at 0.12. Our results show that karyotypes and a range of qualitative characters are diagnostic for the aggregate represented in Southern Brazil.     

Evaluating the quality of protein from hemp seed (Cannabis sativa L.) products through the use of the protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score method

The macronutrient composition and the quality of protein of hemp seed and products derived from hemp seed grown in Western Canada were determined. Thirty samples of hemp products (minimum 500 g), including whole hemp seed, hemp seed meal from cold-press expelling, dehulled, or shelled, hemp seed and hemp seed hulls, were obtained from commercial sources. Proximate analysis, including crude protein (% CP), crude fat (% fat) and fiber, as well as full amino acid profiles, were determined for all samples. Protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) measurements, using a rat bioassay for protein digestibility and the FAO/WHO amino acid requirement of children (2-5 years of age) as reference, were conducted on subsets of hemp products. Mean (±SD) percentage CP and fat were 24.0(2.1) and 30.4(2.7) for whole hemp seed, 40.7(8.8) and 10.2(2.1) for hemp seed meal, and 35.9(3.6) and 46.7(5.0) for dehulled hemp seed. The percentage protein digestibility and PDCAAS values were 84.1-86.2 and 49-53% for whole hemp seed, 90.8-97.5 and 46-51% for hemp seed meal, and 83.5-92.1 and 63-66% for dehulled hemp seed. Lysine was the first limiting amino acid in all products. Removal of the hull fraction improved protein digestibility and the resultant PDCAAS value. The current results provide reference data in support of protein claims for hemp seed products and provide evidence that hemp proteins have a PDCAAS equal to or greater than certain grains, nuts, and some pulses.     

Silicon‐induced cadmium resistance in rice (Oryza sativa)

Silicon (Si)‐induced cadmium (Cd) tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa L.) was investigated by analyzing Cd uptake, growth, and physiological parameters. Silicon treatments (0.0, 0.2, or 0.6 mM) were added to 6 d–old seedlings, and Cd treatments (0.0 or 5.0 μM) were added to 20 d–old seedlings. Parameters determined included: maximum net CO₂ assimilation (A_max), stomatal conductance (g_smax), and transpiration (E_max) rates at varying intercellular CO₂ concentrations (C_i). Also measured were chlorophyll fluorescence, growth, and Cd‐uptake parameters. Results showed a Si‐induced inhibition of Cd uptake. However, 0.2 mM or 0.6 mM Si treatment concentrations did not differentially inhibit Cd uptake or differentially alleviate Cd‐induced growth inhibition, despite a significant increase in tissue Si concentration due to 0.6 mM Si treatment compared to 0.2 mM Si treatment. Additionally, photosynthesis and chlorophyll‐fluorescence analysis showed that treatment with Cd significantly inhibited photosynthetic efficiency. Interestingly, the addition of 0.2 mM Si, more so than the addition of 0.6 mM Si, significantly alleviated the inhibitory effects of Cd toxicity on photosynthesis and chlorophyll‐fluorescence parameters. Our results suggest that 0.2 mM Si could be close to an optimum Si‐dose requirement for the alleviation of toxicity symptoms mediated by moderate (5 μM) Cd exposure.