Characterization of major and trace elements in sclerotium grains

Sclerotium grains in soil contain humus-metal complexes that are probably produced from fungal metabolites. The characterization of major elements in sclerotium grains collected from volcanic ash soils in Mt Myoko was examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, FT-IR spectrometry and CHN analysis, and the concentration of trace elements was determined by PIXE (particle induced X-ray emission spectrometer) analysis. The content of major elements, C, H, N, O and Al, was approximately 47.6, 3.32, 0.78, 30.2 and 1.4% by mass, respectively. Trace elements such as Ti, Cr, Mn, Cu, Zn, Br and Pb were detected in the grains at concentrations between 10 and 100 μg g⁻¹. Functional carbon groups for the whole grain were characterized by the dominance of O-alkyl C associated with aromatic C. The comparison between the surface and subsurface (matrix) of the grain showed that the concentrations of O, C and N were relatively greater on the surface of sclerotium grains than in the matrix. The proportion of carbon having C–O, C=O, and O–C=O bonds, O and N showed a tendency to decrease from the surface towards the matrix. The proportion of C assigned as C–C and/or C–H bonds had a tendency to increase towards the matrix associated with Al.     

Aluminum concentrations in sclerotia from a buried humic horizon of volcanic ash soils in Mt. Myoko,Central Japan

The morphology and chemical composition of fungal sclerotium-like grains collected from the buried humic horizon of volcanic ash soil in Mt. Myoko were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersion xray micro-analyzer (EDX), and electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA). A high C content, low level of Si and high concentration of Al characterized the grains considered to correspond to the sclerotia of Cenoccocum graniforme. The ²⁷Al MAS NMR spectrum of the sclerotia showed the existence of 6- and 4-coordinated Al. X-ray diffraction analyses supported the presence of amorphous Al (ex. Al-humus complex) in the sclerotia.     

Comparative proteomic analysis of mushroom cell wall proteins among the different developmental stages of Pleurotus tuber-regium

Cell wall proteins (CWPs) play a vital role in the development of the different morphological stages including mycelium, fruiting body, and sclerotium in mushrooms which are important human food sources. Using fractionation by detergents and reducing agents, mushroom cell wall fractions from the different developmental stages of Pleurotus tuber-regium (PTR) were prepared. Using one-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with LC-MS, there were 103, 91, and 48 noncovalently linked CWPs identified in the cell wall fractions of the PTR mycelium, fruiting body, and sclerotium, respectively. Comparing the CWPs in these cell wall fractions, 19 of them were in common, among which 17 belonged to the functional categories of translation, ribosomal structure, and biogenesis. This is the first study to provide important biochemical insights into the different developmental stages of PTR mediated by CWPs, and the identified CWPs helped to explain the morphological changes of PTR mushrooms during cultivation.     

立式轴流大豆育种脱粒机参数优化

为寻求对立式轴流大豆育种专用脱粒机的脱粒、分离与清选性能影响的结构与工作参数最优组合,对其进行了参数优化试验。采用二次回归正交旋转中心组合优化试验方法,以滚筒线速度、脱粒间隙、喂入量和植株体积含水率为影响因素,含杂率、破碎率、未脱净率、夹带损失率、飞溅损失率和沉积率为目标函数,对影响该机脱粒性能的结构与工作参数进行优化试验研究。结果表明:当植株体积含水率14%～20%,滚筒线速度6.5～8.3m/s,脱粒间隙为15mm,喂入量为2.4kg/min时,含杂率低于0.5%,破碎率低于1%,未脱净率低于2%,夹带损失率低于0.7%,飞溅损失率与沉积率为零。该研究可为立式轴流大豆育种专用脱粒机的产品定型设计提供依据。     

双胚苗水稻种子的扫描电镜观察

以同源四倍体双胚苗水稻品系(D07-04-01)及其衍生后代(01-04-01,D07-02-01,DP07-04-01)为研究材料,利用扫描电镜技术和X射线衍射技术对稻米的垩白性状、淀粉粒的形态特征和淀粉的晶体特性进行了初步研究。研究结果表明,与其他材料相比,双胚苗二倍体品系D07-02-01的垩白粒率、垩白度和垩白大小均最小,稻米的自然横断面中部无明显辐射状,裂痕少且浅,"粗短形"的不规则多边形胚乳细胞与淀粉粒分布均匀,多面体状淀粉粒呈现典型的晶体结构,数目多且排列致密,球形单粒淀粉粒和块状不规则的复粒淀粉体数目比较少,相对结晶度高,直链淀粉含量低,即外观品质和食味品质均比其他四倍体品系好。     

Mineralogical and chemical properties of weathered magnetite grains from lateritic saprolite

Magnetite grains in lateritic saprolite have altered in situ to porous hematite (martite) grains. Hematite occurs as relatively large (～ 1 μm) platy crystals, triangular arrays of small (0.01–0.05 μm) lathlike crystals and very small (< 100 Å) platy anhedral particles. Titanium increased in altered grains and may substitute for Fe³⁺ in hematite. Mn, V, Cr and Zn remained approximately constant whereas the Ni content decreased. Halloysite crystallized from soil solution within pores resulting in a marked increase in the Si and Al contents of grains.     

Structural Changes of Starch Molecules in Barley Grains During Germination

The germination of barley grains is an important step in malt production for beer brewing. This study examines the changes in starch molecular structure in barley grains under optimal conditions for sprouting. Two barley varieties were tested: Schooner and Grimmett, which are low and moderate dormancy grains, with >90 and <5% of grains germinating within two days in sprouting conditions, respectively. The barley grains were germinated in humid conditions after being soaked in excess water for 24 h. The grain weight and starch content of Schooner decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with germination time, whereas those of Grimmett showed no significant changes (P > 0.05). The starch chain‐length distributions, analyzed from enzymatically debranched starch molecules with size‐exclusion chromatography, indicated that the shorter amylopectin branches of Schooner were degraded at a faster rate than its longer amylopectin branches, which was also confirmed by the decreasing degree of branching with germination time. The changes in starch molecular structure of Grimmett grains were less apparent. The results of this study showed that barley grains containing shorter starch chains can produce sugars more quickly, which indicates that starch structure can serve as one of the specifications when selecting barley grains for brewing.     

不同钾肥对虎奶菇菌核产量与氨基酸含量的影响

运用灰色系统理论,探讨了不同K肥相同含K量添加培养料栽培虎奶菇菌对产量与不同种类氨基酸总量的影响。结果表明,以硝酸钾为K肥对虎奶菇菌核产量与氨基酸含量影响的关联度最大,其次为氯化钾处理,硫酸钾处理关联度最小,这与栽培试验结果相一致。     

化学预处理提高酒糟生物质酶解糖化效果

为促进酒糟生物质的酶解糖化,筛选适宜的预处理方法,以脱除木质素,提高综纤维素（纤维素和半纤维素之和）保留率为目标,研究比较了酸-超声波耦合（ultrasound-assisted acid pretreatment,UAAP）、液氨（pretreatment by soaking in aqueous ammonia,PSAA）、碱性双氧水（alkaline hydrogen peroxide pretreatment,AHPP）和酸性亚硫酸氢盐（bisulfite pretreatment,BP）4种预处理法对酒糟化学组分、结构特性和酶解得率的影响。结果表明,与其余3种方法相比,BP法处理后酒糟的纤维素和半纤维素保留率最高,分别为84.59%和84.87%,即综纤维素保留率为84.68%。与未处理酒糟（unpretreatment,UP）相比,4种方法预处理后酒糟的综纤维素酶解得率分别提高了49.12%（酸-超声波,UAAP）、55.48%（液氨,PASS）、92.79%（碱性双氧水,AHPP）和99.15%（酸性亚硫酸氢盐,BP）,其中BP法对酒糟酶解糖化的促进作用最有效。扫描电镜（scanning electron microscope,SEM）和X-衍射（X-ray differaction,XRD）结果显示,酒糟经不同方法预处理后表观结构发生了明显变化,木质纤维网络结构遭到破坏,表面呈现无规则或形状各异的膨松状态,沟壑明显,孔隙率增加,比表面积增大,有利于提高水解酶的可及性。化学组分和结构特性的变化说明酒糟的酶解得率与综纤维素的保留、木质素的去除、表面微观形貌变化以及纤维素结晶度等因素直接相关。总之,酸性亚硫酸氢盐（BP）法是适用于酒糟生物质糖化预处理的一种有效可行方法。     

Relationship between Norway Spruce Status and Soil Water Base Cations/Aluminum Ratios in the Czech Republic

There is a concern that soil acidification by acidic deposition, along with the resulting depletion of the labile pool of nutrient cations (e.g. Ca, Mg) and enhanced leaching of Al from soil may contribute to forest dieback. The molar ratios of Ca/Al or (Ca+Mg+K)/Al in the soil solution have been widely used as a criterion for risk of tree damage due to acidification. Intensity and quality of the crown and branch structure transformation due to formation of secondary shoots in successive series is a very sensitive indicator of long-term tree damage, and the subsequent regenerative processes. Soil water chemistry and crown structure transformation of Norway spruce were observed at 16 forest plots within the Czech Republic with the following results: parameters, expressing degradation processes in the crown (defoliation of primary structure), regeneration processes (percentage of secondary shoots) or synthetic stages of crown structure transformation showed high correlation with soil water (Ca+Mg+K)/Al ratio in organic horizons. No relationships were found for mineral horizons. The correlations between soil water and crown status parameters were considerably stronger when using the (Ca+Mg+K)/Al ratio rather than the Ca/Al ratio.     

Starch characteristics and their influences on in vitro and pig prececal starch digestion

The main objective of this research was to study the characteristics of starch granules and their influences on in vitro and pig prececal starch digestion of corn, dehulled barley, wheat, and potato. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the starch endosperm structure in the parent material as well as in vitro starch digestion. The results showed that corn starch granules were polyhedral, with a diameter ranging from 2 to 10 μm, whereas those of dehulled barley and wheat were spherical, with a diameter ranging from 5 to 20 μm. Potato had the largest starch granules among starch sources reported herein, with oval spheres of 10-50 μm in diameter. In vitro starch hydrolysis showed that starch granules of corn degraded faster than the starch of dehulled barley and wheat, with the potato starch being degraded the slowest. The in vivo digestibility trial using ileal-cannulated pigs confirmed the starch degradation of grains. The in vitro (x, %) and in vivo (y, %) digestibility were highly correlated [y = 6.5304x - 538.48 (R(2) = 0.9924)]. On the basis of the results, in vitro starch hydrolysis might be useful in predicting in vivo prececal starch digestibility. The digestion kinetic characteristics of different starch sources might be employed to evaluate the starch digestive rate at the pig ileum.     

土壤薄片中石英颗粒分布的分形特征

土壤中石英颗粒的粒度分布对揭示母质来源和模拟土壤结构等具有重要意义。本文根据石英的光学性质,利用数字图像处理技术提取土壤薄片中的石英颗粒信息,并应用分形维数来表征土壤薄片中石英颗粒的分布特征。采集免耕和翻耕处理下土壤样品并制作成土壤薄片,利用偏光显微镜和数字图像处理技术提取土壤薄片中石英颗粒,应用Sigma ScanPro5软件统计了石英颗粒的数量、大小和形状等信息,研究土壤薄片中石英颗粒的数量分形特征;并分析了其同石英颗粒数量、面积和平均半径等的关系。结果表明石英颗粒的数量分布具有明显的分形特征,分形维数在1.60～2.18之间,分形维数同薄片中石英颗粒的总面积和平均半径呈负相关。免耕处理下表层土壤石英颗粒的数量分形维数高于底层,而翻耕处理下则呈相反的趋势。免耕和翻耕措施下土壤薄片中石英颗粒的数量分形维数在0～5和10～15cm层次之间没有显著差异,但是在20～25cm层次,翻耕处理分形维数高于免耕处理,说明耕作措施会加速土壤矿物质的风化和破碎并改变石英颗粒在土壤剖面中的分布。     

拮抗菌DG1的鉴定及其对大白菜菌核病菌的抑制作用研究

为减少化学农药的使用,丰富生物防治菌株资源库,在分离大白菜菌核病菌的过程中,筛选到一株对其具有抑制作用的拮抗菌,命名为DG1.本研究通过形态观察、生理生化特征检测及16S rDNA序列分析,对拮抗菌DG1进行种属鉴定;通过测量菌落直径,研究DG1发酵液及挥发性物质对大白菜菌核病菌的抑制作用;通过平板对峙法测定拮抗菌DG...     

Mobilization of aluminium, iron and silicon by Picea abies and ectomycorrhizas in a forest soil

Weathering of soil minerals is a key determinant of ground and surface water quality and is also important in pedogenic and rhizosphere processes. The relative importance of biotic and abiotic studies in mineral weathering, however, is poorly understood. We investigated the impact of Picea abies seedlings, an ectomycorrhizal fungus and humic acid on the solubilization of aluminium (Al), iron (Fe) and silicon (Si) in an E horizon forest soil over 10 months. Elemental budgets were constructed based upon losses in drainage water, accumulation in plants and changes in the pools of exchangeable ions. Plants and mycorrhizas or both had a significant effect on the total amounts of Al, Fe and Si mobilized from the soil. Significantly larger amounts of Al and Fe were recovered in plants than those lost in drainage water, whereas the opposite trend was true for Si. The continual addition of dissolved organic matter to the soil in the form of humic acid had an effect only on mobilization of Fe, which increased due to larger plant uptake and an increase in the exchangeable pool. The mobilization of Fe and Si were positively correlated with hyphal length, soil respiration and concentrations of oxalate in the soil solution, and mobilization of Al was strongly correlated with plant weight. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that most fungal hyphae were associated with mineral surfaces with little occupation of cracks and micropores within mineral grains. Evidently ectomycorrhizas have important impacts on mineral dissolution and the chemistry of forest soils.     

A Scanning Electron Microscopy Study of a Calcium‐Polygalacturonate Network in the Presence of Aluminum: A Model to Investigate Soil‐Root Interface Processes

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of aluminum (Al³⁺) on a calcium‐polygalacturonate (Ca‐PG) network used as a soil‐root interface model. Calcium‐PG networks were exposed to Al³⁺ solutions at different concentrations (100, 200, 400, and 800 µM) at pH 3.50. In the present study, the scanning electron microscopy technique was used to evaluate morphological variations induced by Al³⁺sorption. Results showed how aluminum (Al) sorption induces conformational changes of the Ca‐PG complex. The Ca‐PG complex shows a regular structure with a honeycomb‐like pattern. Interlacing fibrils form a porous system, which can easily allow sorption and/or passage of nutrients as well as toxic elements. As Al becomes the predominant reticulating ion, the pores decrease in size and lose their regular shape. The scanning electron micrographs have in fact shown that Al sorption damages the Ca‐PG complex, leading to its collapse; the Ca‐Al‐PG networks exhibit an irregular uneven structure.     

Comparative micromorphology of some soil types of Lower Egypt

A comparative micromorphological study was carried out on typical profiles of six soil types that represent major soil regions of Lower Egypt. The macro- and micromorphology of each soil profile is described and the main physical and chemical data are given. The mode of occurrence and organization patterns of the fabric elements (plasma, skeleton grains, and voids) and units (s-matrix, pedological features, and peds) are systematically discussed at the different fabric levels (plasmic fabric, plasma-skeleton grains fabric and basic, elementary, primary, and secondary structure). It was found that most of the soil profiles were apedal. The main pedological features were sesquioxidic and/or carbonate nodules and gypsic crystallaria. The plasmic fabric, in general, was argillasepic but was vo-or skel-masepic in the clayey soil types. The plasma-skeleton grains fabric was mainly porphyroskelic. The basic structure included vughy and planar types, and the elementary and primary structures included glaebular, crystallaric and subcutanic types. Only the heavy clayey horizons showed secondary structures such as platy to subrounded blocky peds. Micromorphological features are discussed in relation to soil-forming processes.     

Milling of rice grains. The degradation on three structural levels of starch in rice flour can be independently controlled during grinding

Whole polished rice grains were ground using cryogenic and hammer milling to understand the mechanisms of degradation of starch granule structure, whole (branched) molecular structure, and individual branches of the molecules during particle size reduction (grinding). Hammer milling caused greater degradation to starch granules than cryogenic milling when the grains were ground to a similar volume-median diameter. Molecular degradation of starch was not evident in the cryogenically milled flours, but it was observed in the hammer-milled flours with preferential cleavage of longer (amylose) branches. This can be attributed to the increased grain brittleness and fracturability at cryogenic temperatures, reducing the mechanical energy required to diminish the grain size and thus reducing the probability of chain scission. The results indicate, for the first time, that branching, whole molecule, and granule structures of starch can be independently altered by varying grinding conditions, such as grinding force and temperature.     

Aluminum inhibition of NADH‐linked electron transfer by corn root plasma membranes

Vesicles enriched in right‐side‐out plasma membranes were isolated from corn roots by a modified two‐phase partition method. Using reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide as electron donor, isolated vesicles were capable of reducing both ferricyanide and oxygen. At pH 6.0, the presence of Al inhibited both reduction processes to a similar extent. This result indicates that these two reduction processes share at least one common step that is sensitive to Al. Inhibition was not associated with a change in the structure of the membrane domain, as revealed by fluorescence polarization of membrane incorporated probes. These results are the first indications that the electron transfer processes of plasma membranes are sensitive to the presence of Al.     

Microstructure and Composition of Digitaria exilis Stapf (acha): A Potential Crop

Microstructure of the mature caryopsis of Digitaria exilis Stapf was studied by light and scanning electron microscopy and compared to chemical composition. The general structure of the caryopsis was similar to that of other grains, notably the millets. Thin bracts (the palea and lemma) and two glumes encased the caryopsis which consists of the thin, compressed layers of pericarp, testa, and cuticle surrounding the endosperm and embryonic tissues. The endosperm consisted of a single layer of aleurone cells and the starchy endosperm. The aleurone layer was thin over most of the starchy endosperm and thicker at the junction of the embryo and starchy endosperm. Aleurone cells contained lipid droplets and protein bodies. The cell contents of the starchy endosperm consisted of simple, polyhedral starch granules, lipid droplets, and protein bodies. Protein bodies were more abundant toward the periphery, and diminished toward the central portion of the starchy endosperm. Cells in certain regions of the embryo contained few, small, spherical starch granules and an abundance of protein bodies. Protein bodies containing phytic acid inclusions were located in the scutellum of the embryo. Compositional analyses revealed that the grain contained 8.2% protein, 2.1% fat, 0.48% fiber, and 1.4% ash.