Phloem sugars and amino acids as potential regulators of hordein expression in field grown malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The commercial quality of malting barley is dependent on the content and composition of grain proteins which are subjected to nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) control. In nutrient deficient soils, grain protein content is mainly a consequence of the remobilization efficiency. In order to evaluate the effect of N and S soil availability on phloem amino acid and sugar export rates and B- and C-hordein gene expression during grain filling, a factorial combination of N and S fertilization assay was carried out under field conditions. Besides, several carbon (C) and N metabolites were analyzed in leaves and spikes. We observed that, even under soil N and S availabilities that do not limit yield, N and S fertilization induced significant changes in N and C metabolism. N phloem remobilization was promoted by S fertilization independently of N fertilization and C remobilization was also promoted by S fertilization but only in N fertilized plants. The B- and C-hordein gene expression correlated positively with sugar and amino acid exudation rate, respectively. Our results suggest an important role of the export rate of sugars and amino acids in the regulation of grain prolamine expression.     

Amino acid composition of coagulable protein from tubers of 34 potato varieties and its relationship with protein content

Summary Samples of coagulable protein, from tubers of 34 varieties ofSolanum tuberosum, were analysed for amino acids. The coagulable protein was rich in most of the essential amino acids. The essential amino acid index ranged from 86 to 93. Methionine was the first limiting essential amino acid. Its content in coagulable protein was considerably higher than values reported in literature. Lysine content was very high, which makes the protein a valuable component for mixed feed. Arginine was the second limiting amino acid. The varietal differences in amino acid composition were small. There was no correlation between protein content and content of most of the essential amino acids. Breeding for increased protein content in potato may be expected to have little effect on the nutritional value of the protein. Selection can be directed to content of coagulable protein.

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Zusammenfassung Aus Knollen von 34 Sorten vonSolanum tuberosum mit grossen Unterschieden im Proteingehalt wurden Muster von koagulier-barem Protein hergestellt. Die Proteinmuster wurden auf Aminos?uren analysiert. Methionin und Cystin wurden mittels einer Methode von Moore (1963) (Tabelle 1) getrennt bestimmt. Das koagulierbare Protein weist hohe Gehalte bei den meisten essentiellen Aminos?uren auf (Tabelle 2). Der Index der essentiellen Aminos?uren (EAAI) reichte von 86 bis 93, was für ein Pflanzenprotein hoch ist. Methionin was die erste begrenzende essentielle Aminos?ure (Tabelle 3), aber sein Gehalt war bedeutend h?her als in der Literatur aufgeführt. Der Lysingehalt war sehr hoch, was das Protein zu einem wertvollen Bestandteil für Mischfutter macht. Arginin war die zweite begrenzende Aminos?ure. Zwischen Arginin- und dem Proteingehalt wurde eine signifikant negative Korrelation (r=−0,589) festgestellt. Dies ist wichtig. wenn das Protein im Futter für Geflügel, das einen hohen Argininbedarf hat, verwendet wird. Die sortenbedingten Unterschiede in der Zusammensetzung der Aminos?ure waren relativ klein (Tabelle 2). Es gab keine Korrelation zwischen Proteingehalt und dem Gehalt an den meisten essentiellen Aminos?uren (Tabelle 4). Der Züchtung auf erh?hten Proteingehalt in Kartoffeln wird nur wenig Einfluss auf den N?hrwert des Proteins haben. So kann die Auslese auf den Gehalt an koagulierendem Protein ausgerichtet werden.

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Résumé Dans le but d'étudier les protéines coagulables on a préparé des échantillons avec 34 variétés deSolanum tuberosum ayant de grandes différences dans leur teneur en protéines. A partir de ceux-ci on a effectué l'analyse des acides aminés. La méthionine et la cystine ont été évalués sèparément par la méthode de Moore (1963) (tableau 1). Les protéines coagulables avaient une teneur élevée pour la plupart des acides aminés indispensables (tableau 2). Leur index se situait entre 86 et 93, ce qui est élevé pour des protéines de plantes. La méthionine a été le premier acide aminé indispensable limitant (tableau 3) mais sa teneur était considérablement plus élevée que celle donnée dans la littérature. La teneur en lysine était très haute, faisant de ces protéines un constituant valable pour les aliments composés. L'arginine a été le second acide aminé limitant. Une corrélation négative (r=−0,589) entre l'arginine et le taux de protéines s'est avérée significative. On doit en tenir compte lorsque ces protéines sont utilisées comme aliments destinés aux volailles, qui nécessitent un taux élevé d'arginine. Les différences variétales en acides aminés ont été relativement faibles (tableau 2). Il n'existe pas de corrélation entre la teneur des protéines et la plupart des acides aminés indispensables (tableau 4). L'hybridation dans le but d'augmenter le taux de protéines dans les pommes de terre peut être considéré comme n'ayant que peu d'effet sur la valeur nutritionnelle de ces protéines. Aussi, la sélection peut être orientée vers l'amélioration de la teneur en protéines coagulables.

     

Variation in oil content and fatty acid profile of Calophyllum inophyllum L. with fruit maturity and its implications on resultant biodiesel quality

Variation in oil content and fatty acid profile (FAP) of Calophyllum inophyllum; a potential biodiesel feedstock species were studied at different maturity stages and biodiesel quality parameters were estimated based on the FAP. A steady increase in oil content was observed with maturity. Variation in palmitic (16:0) and linoleic (18:2) acids followed exactly opposite trends where palmitic acid content has decreased and linoleic acid content has increased 77 days after anthesis. Oleic acid (18:1) content has shown a steady increase. Stearic acid (18:0) content remained steady up to 68 days after anthesis and then felt slightly in 77 days after anthesis. Linoleic and eicosanoic acids were found to exist in low concentrations demonstrated very little compositional variation with fruit maturity. Estimated biodiesel parameters of all maturity stages were found to comply with industrial standards. Even though 48 days after anthesis had the most ideal FAP for biodiesel production, ∼77 days after anthesis is preferred point to harvest due to higher oil content.     

Enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activity of Melia azedarach L. naturalized in Anatolia and its phenolic acid and fatty acid composition

In the present study, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and tyrosinase inhibitory and antioxidant activities of the fruit and leaf extracts of Melia azedarach L. (Meliaceae) of Turkish origin were evaluated. Enzyme inhibitory activity of the extracts was tested in vitro using ELISA microplate reader. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was tested using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, ferrous ion-chelation, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Phenolic composition of the extracts was elucidated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fatty acid compositions of the fatty oils of the fruits and leaves were elucidated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The ethyl acetate extract from the leaves showed the highest inhibition against AChE (33.63 ± 1.40%) and BChE (92.89 ± 3.05%). The methanol extract from the leaves exerted the best antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging and FRAP assays, while the ethyl acetate extracts of the fruits and leaves had the most notable effect in metal-chelation assay.     

Growth and accumulation of caffeic acid derivatives in Echinacea angustifolia DC. var. angustifolia grown in hydroponic culture

In separate experiments conducted in 2007 and 2008, growth and accumulation of selected caffeic acid derivatives (CADs; i.e., caftaric acid, chlorogenic acid, echinacoside, caffeic acid, cynarin, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and cichoric acid) were determined in Echinacea angustifolia DC. var. angustifolia seedlings grown in hydroponic culture (floating raft system) at a density of 122 plant m⁻² (at planting). Plants were harvested 11 (2007) or 16 (2008) weeks after transplanting (i.e., 15 or 20 weeks after sowing). In both years, plants grew vigorously and at harvest approximately half of the plants under observation had developed one to three inflorescences. In 2008, the root yield (2940 kg ha⁻¹) harvested in nearly eight months from two consecutive hydroponic cultures was within the yield reported in the literature for field cultivations lasting two to four years. None of the selected CADs was found in the leaves, while the inflorescences (stem and capitulum) contained only caftaric acid and echinacoside at concentrations higher than the detection limits (0.05 mg g⁻¹ dry weight). Echinacoside, cynarin and chlorogenic acid were found in root tissues at concentrations ranging from 0.36 to 5.25 mg g⁻¹ dry weight. In all plant samples, echinacoside, which is the marker compound for E. angustifolia material, did not reach the minimum quality standard (10 mg g⁻¹ dry weight) for the production of standardized extract. We concluded that short-cycle, high-density greenhouse hydroponic culture stimulates plant growth and root production in E. angustifolia, but it does not ensure sufficient CADs accumulation in dried roots.     

Improvement of growth and gymnemic acid production by altering the macro elements concentration and nitrogen source supply in cell suspension cultures of Gymnema sylvestre R. Br

Gymnema sylvestre is an important medicinal plant which bears bioactive compound namely gymnemic acids. The present work deals with optimization of cell suspension culture system of G. sylvestre for the production of biomass and gymnemic acid and we investigated effects of macro elements (NH₄NO₃, KNO₃, CaCl₂, MgSO₄ and KH₂PO₄ - 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0× strength) and nitrogen source [NH₄⁺/NO₃⁻ ratio of: 0.00/18.80, 7.19/18.80, 14.38/18.80, 21.57/18.80, 28.75/18.80, 14.38/0.00, 14.38/9.40, 14.38/18.80, 14.38/28.20 and 14.38/37.60 (mM)] of Murashige and Skoog medium on accumulation of biomass and gymnemic acid content. The highest accumulation of biomass (165.00 g l⁻¹ FW and 15.42 g l⁻¹ DW) was recorded in the medium with 0.5× concentration of NH₄NO₃ and the highest production of gymnemic acid content was recorded in the medium with 2.0× KH₂PO₄ (11.32 mg g⁻¹ DW). The NH₄⁺/NO₃⁻ ratio also influenced cell growth and gymnemic acid production; both parameters were greater when the NO₃⁻ concentration was higher than that of NH₄⁺. Maximum biomass growth (159.72 g l⁻¹ of FW and 14.95 g l⁻¹ of DW) was achieved at an NH₄⁺/NO₃⁻ ratio of 7.19/18.80, and gymnemic acid production was also greatest at the same concentration of NH₄⁺/NO₃⁻ ratio (11.35 mg g⁻¹ DW).     

Effect of non-lethal low phytic acid mutations on grain yield and seed viability in rice

Low phytic acid (LPA) crops have recently been considered as a potential way to combat nutritional and environmental issues related to seed phytic acid phosphorus (PA-P). Although, a number of LPA mutant lines have been developed in various crops, they are often featured with lower grain yield and seed viability compared with wild type (WT) parents. We recently developed several LPA mutant lines in rice with PA-P reductions varying from 33.8% to 63.6%. In this study, the performance of grain yield and seed viability of these mutants were investigated. Four of the five mutant lines had 12.5–25.6% reductions in grain yield compared to the corresponding WT parental lines. The reduction in grain weight, varying from 5.4% to 10.7%, was found to be the main causative factor of yield reduction. Similarly, LPA mutants had inferior seed viability to their corresponding WT parent varieties; all mutant lines had a significantly lower simplified vigour index (seed germination rate × seedling dry weight) than their parents, with reductions of 7.8–26.3%, although some mutant lines had similar germination rates as their WT parents. The two mutant lines, which had similar germination rates as their WT parent, however, had significantly lower field emergence rates. More pronounced differences of simplified vigour index were observed after artificial aging treatments between four LPA lines from their WT parents, implying that LPA rice seeds were more susceptible to storage than WT. The yield and yield-related traits of F₂ plants and F₃ lines from three crosses were evaluated; the results showed that while LPA was associated with significantly lower grain yield and grain weight than WT sibs, there were also LPA plants and lines that out-performed WT controls. These results implied that the negative effect of LPA mutations on grain yield might be reduced or minimized through cross and selection breeding. The implications of these findings were discussed with regard to LPA rice breeding and potential commercial production.     

Modeling nutrient and water productivity of sorghum in smallholder farming systems in a semi-arid region of Ghana

The CERES-sorghum module of the Decision Support System for Agro-Technological Transfer (DSSAT) model was calibrated for sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) using data from sorghum grown with adequate water and nitrogen and evaluated with data from several N rates trials in Navrongo, Ghana with an overall modified internal efficiency of 0.63. The use of mineral N fertilizer was found to be profitable with economically optimal rates of 40 and 80 kg N ha⁻¹ for more intensively managed homestead fields and less intensively managed bush fields respectively. Agronomic N use efficiency varied from 21 to 37 kg grain kg⁻¹ N for the homestead fields and from 15 to 49 kg grain kg⁻¹ N in the bush fields. Simulated grain yield for homestead fields at 40 kg N ha⁻¹ application was equal to yield for bush fields at 80 kg N ha⁻¹. Water use efficiency generally increased with increased mineral N rate and was greater for the homestead fields compared with the bush fields. Grain yield per unit of cumulative evapo-transpiration (simulated) was consistently higher compared with yield per unit of cumulative precipitation for the season, probably because of runoff and deep percolation. In the simulation experiment, grain yield variability was less with mineral N application and under higher soil fertility (organic matter) condition. Application of mineral N reduced variability in yield from a CV of 37 to 11% in the bush farm and from 17 to 7% in the homestead fields. The use of mineral fertilizer and encouraging practices that retain organic matter to the soil provide a more sustainable system for ensuring crop production and hence food security.     

Carbohydrate degrading enzyme production by plant pathogenic mycelia and microsclerotia isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina through koji fermentation

The ability of hydrolytic enzyme production by two different isolates of Macrophomina phaseolina was studied on apple pomace as a substrate for solid state fermentation (SSF). Initial moisture level, temperature and fermentation period was optimized so as to achieve higher output. Among the two different isolates, microsclerotial (MphP) and mycelial (MphM), MphP was observed as a potential source of different hydrolytic enzymes as compared to MphM. MphP gave higher enzyme activities (IU/gram dry substrate (gds): filter paper cellulase (FPase) activity 196.21 ± 16.3 (120 h), carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) 279.34 ± 28.25 (72 h), β-glucosidase (BGL) 129.82 ± 12.41 (96 h), xylanase 2527.88 ± 46.15 (120 h), and amylase 2780.72 ± 38.13 (96 h), respectively at 70% (v/w) IML. The incubation temperature was also found to have impact on the enzyme production ability of Macrophomina strains. The higher enzyme activities were achieved (IU/gds) as follows FPase 276.13 ± 25.02 (40 °C, 120 h), CMCase 278.11 ± 24.47 (35 °C, 144 h), BGL 189.47 ± 15.05 (30 °C, 144 h), xylanase 3845.77 ± 43.38 (35 °C, 144 h) and amylase activity of 3309.45 ± 29.22 (35 °C, 120 h), respectively using MphP at 70% (v/w) IML. This study reports for the first time the potential of carbohydrate degrading enzyme bioproduction by different isolates of M. phaseolina.     

Superfine grinding improves functional properties and antioxidant capacities of bran dietary fibre from Qingke (hull-less barley) grown in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau,China

The effect of particle size of hull-less barley (HLB) bran DF on antioxidant and physicochemical properties was investigated. HLB bran and extracted DF was ground by regular and superfine grinding, their particle sizes were determined using laser diffraction method. The results showed that superfine grinding could significantly pulverize DF particles to micro-scale; the particle size distribution was close to a Gaussian distribution. The soluble DF in HLB bran was increased effectively with superfine grinding. Insoluble DF with submicron scale showed increased total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). With particle size reduction, the water retention capacity (WRC), swelling capacity (SC), oil binding capacity (OBC), and nitrite ion absorption capacity (NIAC) were significantly (p < 0.05) increased and the water holding capacity (WHC) had no significant change. A kind of health beneficial DF with higher soluble DF content, WRC, SC, OBC, NIAC and antioxidant activity was obtained using superfine grinding.