Physiological Responses of Men and Women to Barley and Oat Extracts (Nu‐trimX). I. Breath Hydrogen,Methane, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms

While consumption of diets high in fiber is perceived to result in undesirable gastrointestinal symptoms, the fermentation of undigested carbohydrate in the large intestine may, in fact, have beneficial health effects. In this study, we compared the effects of oats, barley, and their extracts with a glucose control for 24 hr on breath hydrogen and methane production as a marker of colonic fermentation and also assessed gastrointestinal symptoms. Nine men and 11 women (35–57 yr) consumed 1 g/kg of body weight of carbohydrate as glucose or 0.66 g/kg of body weight sugar and 0.33 g/kg of body weight as oat bran, barley flour, oat extract, or barley extract (Nu‐trimX) in a Latin square design. Expired alveolar breath samples were collected after instruction at fasting, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 24 hr after consumption of the test meals. All test meals increased breath hydrogen and methane (both P < 0.0001). Hydrogen, but not methane, responses to barley, oats, and extracts of each were higher (barley > oats, P < 0.05) than responses to glucose (P < 0.0001). Reported gastrointestinal symptoms were not related to specific test meals. Oats and barley, as well as their extracts, can be consumed in greater amounts by Americans to increase soluble fiber and lower fat intake, and thus lower risk factors for chronic disease.     

Preparation and Characterization of Films Using Barley and Oat β‐Glucan Extracts

Films for potential food use were prepared from aqueous solutions of β‐glucan extracted from hulled barley, hull‐less barley, and oats. The extracts (75.2–79.3% β‐glucan) also contained proteins, fat, and ash. Glycerol was used as a plasticizer. The films were translucent, smooth, and homogeneous in structure on both sides. Water vapor permeability of films prepared from 4% solutions of β‐glucan extracts were higher than those from 2% solutions, despite similar values for water vapor transmission rate. Mechanical properties were influenced by both β‐glucan source and concentration. The oat β‐glucan films showed higher tensile strength and water solubility, and lower color, opacity, and deformation values than those of barley. Films prepared from hull‐less barley cv. HLB233 remained intact upon immersion in water for 24 hr.     

Characterization of a Novel Resistant‐Starch and Its Effects on Postprandial Plasma‐Glucose and Insulin Responses

Objectives of this study were to understand the physicochemical properties of a novel resistant starch (RS) made by complexing high‐amylose maize starch VII (HA7) with palmitic acid (PA), and its effects on reducing postprandial plasma‐glucose and insulin responses. The HA7 starch was heat‐treated and debranched using isoamylase (ISO) to enhance the starch‐lipid complex formation. The RS content of the HA7 starch debranched with ISO and complexed with PA (HA7+ISO+PA) was 52.7% determined using AOAC Method 991.43 for dietary fiber, which was greater than that of the HA7 control (35.4%). The increase in the RS content of the HA7+ISO+PA sample was attributed to the formation of retrograded debranched‐starch and starch‐lipid complex. The postprandial plasma‐glucose and insulin responses of 20 male human‐subjects after ingesting bread made from 60% (dry basis) HA7+ISO+PA were reduced to 55 and 43%, respectively, when compared with those after ingesting control white bread (as 100%) containing the same amount of total carbohydrates. The results suggested that the HA7+ISO+PA can be used for the interventions of insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome, including diabetes and obesity.     

In Vitro Binding of Bile Acids by Rice Bran,Oat Bran,Barley and β‐Glucan Enriched Barley

The in vitro bile acid binding by rice bran, oat bran, dehulled barley, and β‐glucan enriched barley was determined using a mixture of bile acids at a duodenal physiological pH of 6.3. Six treatments and two blank incubations were conducted testing substrates on an equal protein basis. The relative in vitro bile acid binding of the cereal brans on an equal total dietary fiber (TDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) basis considering cholestyramine as 100% bound was rice bran 45 and 49%; oat bran 23 and 30%; dehulled barley 33 and 57%; and β‐glucan enriched barley 20 and 40%, respectively. Bile acid bindings on equal protein basis for the respective cereals were 68, 26, 41, and 49%. Bile acid binding by rice bran may account to a great extent for its cholesterol‐lowering properties, while bile acid binding by oat bran suggests that the primary mechanism of cholesterol lowering by oat bran is not due to the bile acid binding by its soluble fiber. Bile acid binding was not proportional to the soluble fiber content of the cereal brans tested. Except for dehulled barley, bile acid binding for rice bran, oat bran, and β‐glucan enriched barley appear to be related to their IDF content. Highest relative bile acid binding values for rice bran and β‐glucan enriched barley were observed on an equal protein basis, whereas highest values for dehulled barley were based on IDF. Data suggest that of all four cereals tested, bile acid binding may be related to IDF or protein anionic, cationic, physical and chemical structure, composition, metabolites, or their interaction with active binding sites.     

Molecular Weight Distribution and (1→3)(1→4)-β-d-Glucan Content of Consecutive Extracts of Various Oat and Barley Cultivars

The content and molecular weight (MW) of β-glucan in extracts from a selection of oat and barley cultivars were compared using flow-injection analysis and high-performance size-exclusion chromatography. From 60 to 75% of the β-glucan was extracted from oat and waxy barley by hot water (90°C) containing heat-stable α-amylase, whereas just 50–55% was extracted from nonwaxy barley. Consecutive extractions with hot water and dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) extracted 65% (nonwaxy barley) or 75–80% (oat and waxy barley) of the total β-glucan. An extraction with sodium hydroxide and sodium borohydride (NaOH/NaBH₄) increased the percentage of β-glucan extracted to 86–100% but decreased the MW. The MW of β-glucan in the oat cultivars selected was significantly higher than those in the barley cultivars. The β-glucan extracted from the nonwaxy barley cultivars showed significantly higher peak MW than that from the waxy barley cultivars.     

Physiological and Biochemical Responses of French Bean to Excess Cobalt

ABSTRACT

French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cv. ‘Anupama’ was grown in refined sand at variable levels of cobalt (Co), i.e., 0.0001 (control), 0.05, 0.10, 0.20, 0.40, and 0.50 mM, supplied as cobalt sulfate. The symptoms of excess Co (0.50 mM) appeared at day 35. In addition to growth depression, the young leaves developed chlorosis from the apex leading toward the base; the chlorosis intensified, changed to necrosis, and the infected leaves dried and withered. Under excess Co (> 0.0001 mM), the flowers produced were fewer in number, smaller, and many failed to mature, leading to lower seed yield. Excess Co (> 0.0001 mM) decreased the biomass, seed yield (number and weight), concentration of chlorophyll, Hill reaction activity, and activity of catalase, and deteriorated the quality of produce (sugars, starch, and protein nitrogen (N)), but it increased the concentration of phenols and activity of certain enzymes, i.e., peroxidase, ribonuclease, and acid phosphatase. The concentration of Co in various parts of French bean increased with an increase in Co supply and that of iron (Fe) decreased concomitantly. The values of threshold of toxicity and toxicity of Co were 26 and 72 μg g^?1 in young leaves of French bean, respectively.     

薄壳山核桃幼苗对干旱胁迫的生理生化响应

为探究薄壳山核桃幼苗对干旱胁迫的适应能力,本试验以一年生薄壳山核桃幼苗为材料,采用盆栽控水试验,设置正常供水(CK)、轻度干旱胁迫(LD)、中度干旱胁迫(MD)和重度干旱胁迫(SD)4种水分处理梯度,测定相关生理生化指标并分析叶片超微结构。结果表明,在干旱胁迫50 d时,随着干旱程度加剧,叶绿素a含量呈下降趋势,CK的叶绿素a含量分别是LD和MD的1.22和1.35倍;MD叶片气孔大量闭合,关闭密度达236个·mm^-2;LD和MD的净光合速率(Pn)较CK分别下降了17.16%和58.42%。此外,渗透调节物质含量在干旱胁迫下显著提高,其中LD和MD的可溶性蛋白含量较CK分别增加了141.68%和204.17%。在干旱胁迫50 d时,MD幼苗的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性达到峰值,为367.93 U·mg^-1prot,而过氧化物酶(POD)活性较干旱胁迫20 d出现下降。各水分梯度处理下,LD幼苗长势最好;MD叶片叶绿体结构破坏严重,基粒片层模糊不清;SD幼苗死亡,故为满足幼苗生长需要,应保证种植地土壤含水量达到田间持水量的35%以上。本研究...     

镉胁迫下小麦根系的生理生态变化

本文通过水培和砂培两种方法 ,研究了镉胁迫下小麦 (TriticumaestivmL .)根系的生理生态变化。通过研究镉对小麦根系生长发育状况 ,根系活力 ,根系对矿质元素的吸收 ,探讨镉胁迫下植物根系的生理生态效应。研究结果表明 :镉影响根系的长度、生物量、体积和根系活力。Cd2 + 在低浓度 (处理浓度低于 5mg/L)作用下 ,随处理浓度的升高 ,刺激小麦根系的长度、生物量、体积相应地升高 ;当处理浓度高于相应浓度时 ,根长度、生物量、体积相应随浓度升高而降低。镉胁迫下根系活力受到抑制。水培和砂培中 ,镉对根系的影响趋势一致 ,但是影响幅度有差异。砂培好于水培。镉影响小麦根对矿质元素的吸收 ,Ca、Cu、Fe、K、Mg、Mn、Na、Zn吸收情况不太一致。Ca、Cu、Fe、Mg、Mn、Na的吸收量随Cd2 + 浓度升高而增加 ,K、Zn的吸收量随Cd2 + 浓度升高而减少     

Physiological Responses of Transgenic merA-TOBACCO (Nicotiana tabacum) to Foliar and Root Mercury Exposure

Plants expressing a modified bacterial mercury reductase, merA, are highly resistant to Hg(II) toxicity as a result of the enzymatically catalyzed electrochemical reduction of Hg(II) to the much less toxic and volatile Hg(0). merA expression may allow plants to manifest a suite of responses to mercury exposure, making them more capable than wild-type plants of interacting with and removing mercury from contaminated soil or water. We have engineered merA-expressing Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco) as a model plant for examining these responses. Mercury resistance was demonstrated by germinating and growing merA tobacco seeds on semi-solid medium spiked with a HgCl₂ concentration acutely toxic to wild-type plants. On similar growth medium, merA plant roots penetrated a highly concentrated, localized Hg(II) zone of HgS (cinnibar) more readily than wild-type roots. In hydroponic medium spiked with HgCl₂, merA plants maintained higher evapotranspiration activity than wild-type plants. The ability of merA Hg(II)-reductive activity to counter typical plant-catalyzed Hg(0) oxidation to Hg(II) was demonstrated by a lower net foliar absorption of atmospheric Hg(0) than wild-type plants. Mercury translocation through merA plants was examined through reciprocally grafted merA and wild-type tobacco grown on HgCl₂-spiked hydroponic medium. Elevated mercury concentrations in wild-type shoots grafted to merA roots suggest the vertical movement of mercury within merA tissues or plants may be facilitated by dynamic balance between native Hg(0) oxidation and MerA-catalyzed Hg(II) reduction. These experiments demonstrate that merA-engineered tobacco plants display an array of tissue-level and whole-plant attributes which should allow for more efficient mercury extraction and processing compared to the wild-type.     

Some Physiological Responses of Black-Eyed Pea to Iron and Magnesium Nanofertilizers

Key players in photosynthesis, iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg), in nano and common forms were considered for foliar application of black-eyed pea. Factorial experiments in three replicates were designed based on completely randomized blocks containing Fe (0, 0.25, and 0.5 g L^?1; in two forms: nano and common) and Mg (0, 0.5 g L^?1 nano, and 0.5 g L^?1 common). The elements were applied 56 and 72 days after sowing over the leaves, and data were collected after day 85. Iron had significant effect on yield, leaf Fe content, stem Mg content, plasma membrane stability, and chlorophyll content. The greatest effect was obtained by two treatment combinations of 0.5 g L^?1 common Fe + 0.5% nano-Mg and 0.5 g L^?1 common Fe + 0.5 g L^?1 common Mg. In general, almost all analyzed traits were improved by foliar application of these two elements, probably as a result of more efficient photosynthesis.     

Measurement of Wheat Hardness by Seed Scarifier and Barley Pearler and Comparison with Single‐Kernel Characterization System

A new procedure based on a seed scarifier (SS) for measuring wheat hardness was described and investigated along with methods using a barley pearler (BP) and the single kernel characterization system (SKCS). Hardness measured by SS and BP is expressed as a percentage of kernel weight remaining after abrading and defined as abrasion resistance index (ARI). For a given sample weight, increased abrading time decreased ARI but improved the ability to differentiate variation among samples. The effect of sample moisture was also statistically significant. For improved performance of SS and BP, based on distinct patterns of relationships between surface removal rates and surface removal levels among soft and hard wheats, a combination of parameters that produces ARI values in the range of 80–20, and a run for a set of reference material are recommended. Differences in measured hardness values from SS, BP, and SKCS existed within a wheat group, but they were very much method‐dependent. Nevertheless, all methods were able to differentiate variations between soft and hard wheat groups. Because of low cost, durability, simplicity, repeatability, and aforementioned ability, SS and BP, although limited by lack of standardization and calibration procedures, can still be useful for grain hardness measurement, particularly when and where instruments for contemporary popular methods such as SKCS and near‐infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy are not readily available.     

Comparison of Different Types of NIR Instruments in Ability to Measure β‐Glucan Content in Naked Barley

Importance of β‐glucan in human nutrition is mirrored in numerous approval applications registering β‐glucan containing products as health beneficial products in accordance with forthcoming EU Health Claims Regulation. In comparison to other cereals, barley contains considerable amounts of β‐glucan. Naked barley is of particular interest because it circumvents the costs and loss of beneficial substances related to dehusking. In this study, the potential of near‐infrared spectroscopy as an accurate, fast and economic method of determination of β‐glucan in naked barley was appraised. Four different near‐infrared instruments were used to analyze 107 barley samples, in both whole grain and milled form. Importantly, both black and purple pericarp samples, which are of additional nutritional interest due to high anthocyanin content, and waxy samples, which show an extraordinary high β‐glucan content could be analyzed within the same calibration set as the normal samples. All tested dispersive near‐infrared reflection instruments showed suitability for supervision of breeding experiments and β‐glucan monitoring in food industries (R² > 0.78). Common, industrially used near‐infrared transmission instruments also provided reasonable results, although only suitable for rough selection according to β‐glucan levels. On the other hand, the Fourier transform near‐infrared reflection instrument was able to perform analytical analyses (R² = 0.96–0.98).     

Oat Tocols: Saponification vs. Direct Extraction and Analysis in High‐Oil Genotypes

Tocols are natural antioxidants that occur in grains that may benefit human and animal health. Therefore, it is important to accurately measure their concentrations in foods and feeds and to determine how genetics and growing environment can influence their levels. The first objective was to evaluate saponification versus direct extraction for the analysis of tocols in oat (Avena sativa L.). The second was to determine the effects of growing environment, hulled versus hulless phenotype, and genetic background on tocol concentration, and to see whether tocol and lipid concentrations were associated. For the first objective, oat grain samples from two locations were either extracted by saponification or directly with methanol, and extracts were analyzed by HPLC. The saponification method increased yield by ≈25% and was less time‐consuming, so it was adopted for the second objective. For the second objective, oat genotypes were developed by crossing high‐oil parents from Iowa State University with hulled and hulless cultivars adapted to arid Western environments. These were grown at Aberdeen and Tetonia, ID, and the tocols and lipid concentrations were analyzed at Madison, WI. There were significant effects of growing environment, genotype, and the presence or absence of hulls on tocol concentrations. Tocol and lipid concentrations were not correlated. Progeny of crosses involving the genotype IA91098‐2 had tocol concentrations that exceeded both parents.     

Isolation and Characterization of Water‐Extractable Arabinoxylan from Hull‐less Barley Flours

A new procedure was developed for the isolation of highly purified water‐extractable arabinoxylan (WE‐AX) from hull‐less barley flour. It included inactivation of endogenous enzymes, removal of proteins with silica gel, and removing β‐glucans, arabinogalactan‐peptides, and starch fragments by enzyme or solvent precipitation steps. WE‐AX recovered by this isolation procedure represented, on average, 47% of all WE‐AX present in hull‐less barley flour. Purified WE‐AX from flour of different hull‐less European barley cultivars contained 84.9–91.8% AX and showed small structural differences. The apparent peak molecular weight of the purified WE‐AX was 730,000–250,000, and the arabinose‐to‐xylose ratio was 0.55–0.63. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that the levels of un‐, O‐2 mono‐, O‐3 mono‐, and O‐2,O‐3 disubstituted xylose residues were 59.1–64.7%, 8.2–10.0%, 5.7–10.6%, and 17.6– 23.1%, respectively, and the ratio of di‐ to monosubstituted xylose was 0.90–1.54. Both O‐3 mono‐ and disubstituted xylose residues occurred isolated or next to disubstituted xylose residues in the WE‐AX chain.     

Microenzymatic Evaluation of Oat (Avena sativa L.) β‐Glucan for High‐Throughput Phenotyping

Oats (Avena sativa L.) have received significant attention for their positive and consistent health benefits when consumed as a whole grain food, attributed in part to mixed‐linkage (1‐3,1‐4)‐β‐d ‐glucan (referred to as β‐glucan). Unfortunately, the standard enzymatic method of measurement for oat β‐glucan is costly and does not provide the high‐throughput capability needed for plant breeding in which thousands of samples are measured over a short period of time. The objective of this research was to test a microenzymatic approach for high‐throughput phenotyping of oat β‐glucan. Fifty North American elite lines were chosen to span the range of possible values encountered in elite oats. Pearson and Spearman correlations (r) ranged from 0.81 to 0.86 between the two methods. Although the microenzymatic method did contain bias compared with the results for the standard streamlined method, this bias did not substantially decrease its ability to determine β‐glucan content. In addition to a substantial decrease in cost, the microenzymatic approach took as little as 6% of the time compared with the streamlined method. Therefore, the microenzymatic method for β‐glucan evaluation is an alternative method that can enhance high‐throughput phenotyping in oat breeding programs.     

Physiological Responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosa rubiginosa</Emphasis> to Saline Environment

The aim of this work was to analyse the response of Rosa rubiginosa to salinity induced by different concentrations of sodium chloride and calcium chloride (0, 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM). Besides salt accumulation and pH changes, other parameters were investigated including photosynthetic activity, leaf water content, the dynamics of necrosis and chlorosis appearance and leaf drying. The study was complemented with microscopic analysis of changes in leaf anatomy. R. rubiginosa was more sensitive to the salinity induced by calcium chloride than by sodium chloride. Plant response to salinity differed depending of the salt concentration. These differences were manifested by higher dynamics of necrosis and chlorosis appearance and leaf drying. CaCl₂ showed greater inhibition of the photosynthetic apparatus and photosynthetic activity. Treatment with CaCl₂ caused more visible deformation of palisade cells, reduction in their density and overall reduction in leaf thickness. The study demonstrated higher accumulation of CaCl₂ in the soil, and thus greater limitations in water availability resulting in reduced leaf water content and quicker drying of leaves as compared with NaCl-treated plants.     

Glycemic Response to Oat Bran Muffins Treated to Vary Molecular Weight of β‐Glucan

Oat bran muffins, containing 4 or 8 g of β‐glucan per two‐muffin serving, were prepared with or without β‐glucanase treatment to produce a range of β‐glucan molecular weights from 130,000 to just over 2 million. Following an overnight fast, the glycemic responses elicited by the untreated and treated muffins was measured in 10 healthy subjects and compared with a control whole wheat muffin. Taken all together, the 4‐g β‐glucan/serving muffins reduced blood glucose peak rise (PBGR) by 15 ± 6% compared with the control. The 8‐g β‐glucan/serving muffins had a significantly greater effect (44 ± 5% reduction compared with the control, P < 0.05). The efficacy of the muffins decreased as the molecular weight was reduced from a 45 ± 6% reduction in PBGR (P < 0.05) for the untreated muffins (averaged of both serving sizes) to 15 ± 6% (P < 0.05) for muffins with the lowest molecular weight. As the molecular weight was reduced from 2,200,000 to 400,000, the solubility of the β‐glucan increased from a mean of 44 to 57%, but as the molecular weight was further decreased to 120,000, solubility fell to 26%. There was a significant correlation (r² = 0.729, P < 0.001) between the peak blood glucose and the product of the extractable β‐glucan content and the molecular weight of the β‐glucan extracted.     

Physiological Responses of Calcium-Efficient and Calcium-Inefficient Tomato Genotypes to Differential Bacterial Wilt Conditions

Bacterial wilt (BW) disease, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, can severely limit tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) production in southern United States. Tomato genotypes display variable responses to BW disease. The physiological mechanism underlying BW resistance is not well understood. In this study, experiments were conducted to compare two tomato genotypes, PI117566 [calcium (CA)–efficient] and PI109315 (Ca-inefficient), for wilting, shoot growth, final fresh weight, and shoot Ca concentrations when inoculated with R. solanacearum. The inoculation concentration of R. solanacearum varied from 0 to 10⁸ colony forming units/ml. Genotype PI109315 appear to be more BW-resistant compared with genotype PI117566 under sufficient Ca conditions. Furthermore, we found that genotype PI109315 had greater shoot growth and final fresh weight than genotype PI117566. These findings implied that Ca-efficient tomato genotypes may not play a key role in BW resistance of tomato under sufficient Ca conditions because Ca efficiency showed no effect on the suppression of BW.