Alkylresorcinol content and homologue composition in durum wheat (Triticum durum) kernels and pasta products

The total alkylresorcinol (AR) content and relative homologue composition of 21 durum wheat (Triticum durum) kernel samples, as well as 5 pasta products and the corresponding flour mixtures, were determined. Durum wheat contained on average 455 microg/g ARs, and the average relative homologue composition was C17:0 (0.4%), C19:0 (14%), C21:0 (58%), C23:0 (21%), and C25:0 (6.5%). The homologue composition was found to be relatively consistent among samples, with durum wheat being different from common wheat by having a higher proportion of the longer homologues. No differences in content or homologue composition were observed in pasta products compared to flour ingredients, showing that alkylresorcinols are stable during pasta processing. The ratio of the homologues C17:0 to C21:0 was < or =0.02 for whole grain durum wheat products, which is different from those of common wheat (0.1) and rye (0.9).     

Preparation and characterization of long natural cellulose fibers from wheat straw

Long natural cellulose fibers with properties suitable for textile and composite applications have been obtained from wheat straw. This study aims to understand the potential of using wheat straw as a source for long natural cellulose fibers for textile, composite and other fibrous applications. The presence of wax on the outer layer of the straw and a unique zip-like structure that locks individual fibers makes it difficult to obtain fibers from wheat straw using the common methods of fiber extraction. A novel pretreatment with detergent and mechanical force followed by an alkaline treatment was used to obtain high quality fiber bundles. The structure and properties of the fibers are reported in comparison to common cellulose fibers, cotton, linen, and kenaf. Wheat straw fibers have coarser (wider width) single cells and lower crystallinity than cotton, linen, and kenaf. The breaking tenacity (force at break) of wheat straw fibers is similar to kenaf but lower than that of cotton and linen, % breaking elongation is similar to linen and kenaf but lower than cotton, and Young's modulus of the fibers is similar to cotton but lower than that of linen and kenaf.     

小麦秸秆纤维素均相醚化制备羧甲基纤维素工艺优化

为了利用小麦秸秆通过均相反应制备羧甲基纤维素(CMC,carboxymethyl cellulose),采用氢氧化钠和过氧化氢回流加热法制备小麦秸秆纤维素。以加入氧化锌的氢氧化钠/尿素/硫脲体系为溶剂,采用冻融循环法溶解小麦秸秆纤维素,利用正交试验获得了该溶解体系的最佳组成。在溶解了小麦秸秆纤维素的氢氧化钠/尿素/硫脲/氧化锌的体系中,以氯乙酸钠为醚化剂制备CMC,并对其进行红外光谱分析和取代度(degree of substitution,DS)测定。结果表明:在固液比为1∶20 g/mL,质量分数为10%NaOH,反应温度为85℃,回流3.5 h和固液比为1∶30 g/m L,质量分数为3%H_2O_2,反应温度为85℃,回流3 h处理小麦秸秆,纤维素提取率最高为84.61%,同时能较好的脱除半纤维素和木质素;最佳溶解体系为:质量分数为7%NaOH,11%硫脲,5%尿素,0.05%氧化锌,0℃时,最大溶解度为2.880 1 g。红外光谱试验表明小麦秸秆纤维素与微晶纤维素特征吸收峰基本一致,醚化反应生成的CMC与商品CMC的特征吸收峰基本一致。CMC的取代度受纤维素用量、温度和氯乙酸钠与纤维素葡萄糖单元(AGU,anhydroglucose unit)的摩尔比影响,随纤维素用量和氯乙酸钠与纤维素AGU的摩尔比增大而提高,随醚化温度的增加先增大(55℃)后降低。研究结果为以小麦秸秆为原料,经NaOH和H_2O_2处理获得纤维素,溶解在加入氧化锌的氢氧化钠/尿素/硫脲体系中,与氯乙酸钠经过均相醚化反应合成取代度较高的CMC提供参考。     

Starch Characteristics of Waxy and Nonwaxy Tetraploid (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) Wheats

Manufacture of pasta products is paramount for durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum). The recent development of waxy durum wheat containing starch with essentially 100% amylopectin may provide new food processing applications and present opportunities for value‐added crop production. This investigation was conducted to determine differences in some chemical and functional properties of waxy durum starch. Starch was isolated from two waxy endosperm lines and four nonwaxy cultivars of durum wheat. One of the waxy lines (WX‐1) was a full waxy durum wheat whereas the other line (WX‐0) was heterogeneous, producing both waxy and nonwaxy seed. Effects on starch swelling, solubility, pasting, gelatinization, and retrogradation were examined. The full waxy starch had four times more swelling power than the nonwaxy durum starches at 95°C, and was also more soluble at three of the four temperatures used. Starch pasting occurred earlier and peak viscosities were greater for starches from both waxy lines than for the nonwaxy starches, but their slurries were less stable with continued stirring and heating. Greater energy was required to melt gelatinized waxy starch gels, but no differences were found in either refrigerated storage or freeze‐thaw retrogradation, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The results of this investigation showed some significant differences in the starch properties of the waxy durum wheat lines compared to the nonwaxy durum wheats.     

Comparative study of crude and purified cellulose from wheat straw

A sequential totally chlorine-free procedure for isolation of cellulose from wheat straw was proposed in this study. The dewaxed straw was pretreated with 0.5 M NaOH in 60% methanol at 60 degrees C for 2.5 h under ultrasonic irradiation for 0-35 min and sequentially posttreated with 2% H(2)O(2)-0.2% TAED at pH 11.8 for 12 h at 48 degrees C, which together solubilized 85.3-86.1% of the original hemicelluloses and 91.7-93.2% of the original lignin, respectively. The yield of crude cellulose ranged between 46.2 and 49.2% on a dry weight basis related to wheat straw, which contained 11.2-12.2% residual hemicelluloses and 2.5-2.9% remaining lignin. Further treatment of the corresponding crude cellulosic preparations with 80% acetic acid-70% nitric acid under the condition given yielded 36.8-37.7% of the purified cellulose, which contained minor amounts of bound hemicelluloses (2.5-2.8%) and was relatively free of associated lignin (0.1-0.2%). The isolated crude and purified cellulose samples were comparatively studied by FT-IR and CP/MAS (13)C NMR spectroscopy, and the relative crystallinity was also estimated. The final stage treatment with 80% acetic acid-70% nitric acid decreased the hemicelluloses and lignin associated in the crude cellulose but led to 3.1-5.4% degradation of the original cellulose; in addition, the purity of the obtained cellulose was high. However, it was found that the final stage treatment is not severe enough to cause decrystallization of cellulose. The thermal stability of the purified cellulose is higher than that of the corresponding crude cellulose.     

Spectrophotometric determination of yellow pigment content and evaluation of carotenoids by high-performance liquid chromatography in durum wheat grain

The so-called "yellow pigment" content of durum wheat has been used for a long time as an indicator of the color quality of durum wheat and pasta products. For decades the chemical nature of these pigments has been assigned to carotenoids, mainly to the xanthophyll lutein and its fatty acid esters. The chemical composition of the yellow pigments of eight German durum wheat cultivars was studied. Grains were milled on a laboratory mill. Pigment extraction of millstream fractions was performed according to the optimized ICC standard method 152 procedure, and the chemical composition of the extract was analyzed by isocratic reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography. all-trans-Lutein ranged from 1.5 to 4 mg kg(-1), and zeaxanthin was found in traces. No lutein esters and carotenes were detected. Surprisingly, the fraction of carotenoids of the complete yellow pigment content amounted to only 30-50% of the yellow pigment quantities, so there are still compounds in durum wheat not yet identified that contribute considerably to the yellow color of the grain extracts. The isolation and chemical identification of those pigments are under investigation.     

麦秸配施纤维素降解细菌对果园土壤有机碳库及生化特性的影响

  目的  研究果园土壤有机碳库及生化性质对小麦秸秆还田配施不同纤维素降解细菌的响应特点。  方法  以豫北碱性果园土壤为研究对象,采用室内培养法,以不添加麦秸及纤维素降解菌为对照（CK）,研究仅添加麦秸（S）及麦秸分别配施尼氏芽孢杆菌（Bacillus nealsonii,S + B）、科恩氏菌（Cohnella,S + C）、灿烂类芽孢杆菌（Paenibacillus lautus,S + P）处理对土壤有机碳含量、酶活性、速效养分含量及盐碱性的影响。  结果  培养100 d内有机碳矿化速率呈现先升高后下降的趋势,且与一级动力学模型高度拟合。麦秸配施纤维素降解菌处理的土壤有机碳矿化速率、累计矿化量及潜在可矿化碳含量均高于S处理。S + B处理的土壤总有机碳、微生物量碳、水溶性有机碳和易氧化有机碳含量分别比S处理提高10.14%、35.53%、26.27%和24.34%。麦秸配施纤维素降解菌提高土壤碳库管理指数和土壤酶活性,其中S + B处理的纤维素酶、碱性磷酸酶及脱氢酶活性均显著高于S处理。与仅添加麦秸相比,麦秸配施纤维素降解菌显著增加土壤速效氮、磷、钾及可交换性镁含量,降低可交换钙含量和pH值。土壤速效氮、磷及微生物量碳是影响有机碳矿化的主要因素。  结论  麦秸配施纤维素降解菌显著提高土壤有机碳库活度及含量,改善土壤生化性质,以尼氏芽孢杆菌的促进作用相对较高。     

Effect of soil cadmium concentration on three Chilean durum wheat cultivars in four environments

Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var durum) is a species that accumulates cadmium (Cd). Durum wheat cultivars differ in their absorption ability of Cd; therefore, identifying and selecting genetic material with low Cd accumulation reduces human exposure to this toxic element. In the present study, Cd concentration was evaluated in three Chilean durum wheat cultivars (Llareta-INIA, Corcolén-INIA, and Lleuque-INIA) grown in four Chilean locations with varying concentrations of Cd in soils. The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of these durum wheat cultivars to different doses of cadmium in terms of grain yield; Cd concentration in different plant tissues (grain, straw, roots); soil Cd concentration was also evaluated. Results show that grain yield was not affected by soil Cd; differences in Cd concentration in plant tissues were generally associated with location, cultivar, and soil Cd concentration. Grain Cd concentration in all three cultivars was classified in the low accumulation category for this metal; ‘Lleuque-INIA’ noted as having a very low accumulation.     

CO2浓度升高对小麦秸秆性质、数量及其分解的影响

在江都FACE平台上观测了常N水平下大气CO2浓度升高对小麦秸秆数量和性质的影响,并利用稻季淹水培养试验研究了CO2浓度升高引起的小麦秸秆量和质的改变对其腐解和土壤微生物量碳的影响,结果表明:CO2浓度升高显著降低了麦秸中N含量,导致麦秸C/N和木质素/N比显著增加,但对麦秸其他生化组成——可溶物、半纤维素、纤维素、木质素和酚含量均无影响;CO2浓度升高引起的小麦秸秆性质改变对麦秸及其含C物质的分解均无显著影响,但显著减缓了含N物质的分解;若将收获的麦秸全部还田,CO2浓度升高引起的小麦秸秆量的增加也没有显著影响麦秸及其含C、N物质的分解。由于高CO2浓度导致的麦秸性质改变对土壤微生物量碳无显著影响,这也是CO2浓度升高引起麦秸性质变化幅度太小不足以影响麦秸及其含C物质分解的主要原因。     

Pasta made from durum wheat semolina fermented with selected lactobacilli as a tool for a potential decrease of the gluten intolerance

A pool of selected lactic acid bacteria was used to ferment durum wheat semolina under liquid conditions. After fermentation, the dough was freeze-dried, mixed with buckwheat flour at a ratio of 3:7, and used to produce the "fusilli" type Italian pasta. Pasta without prefermentation was used as the control. Ingredients and pastas were characterized for compositional analysis. As shown by two-dimensional electrophoresis, 92 of the 130 durum wheat gliadin spots were hydrolyzed almost totally during fermentation by lactic acid bacteria. Mass spectrometry matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight and reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography analyses confirmed the hydrolysis of gliadins. As shown by immunological analysis by R5-Western blot, the concentration of gluten decreased from 6280 ppm in the control pasta to 1045 ppm in the pasta fermented with lactic acid bacteria. Gliadins were extracted from fermented and nonfermented durum wheat dough semolina and used to produce a peptic-tryptic (PT) digest for in vitro agglutination tests on cells of human origin. The whole PT digests did not cause agglutination. Affinity chromatography on Sepharose-6-B mannan column separated the PT digests in three fractions. Fraction C showed agglutination activity. The minimal agglutinating activity of fraction C from the PT digest of fermented durum wheat semolina was ca. 80 times higher than that of durum wheat semolina. Pasta was subjected to sensory analysis: The scores for stickiness and firmness were slightly lower than those found for the pasta control. Odor and flavor did not differ between the two types of pasta. These results showed that a pasta biotechnology that uses a prefermentation of durum wheat semolina by selected lactic acid bacteria and tolerated buckwheat flour could be considered as a novel tool to potentially decrease gluten intolerance and the risk of gluten contamination in gluten-free products.     

Structural and thermal characterization of wheat straw pretreated with aqueous ammonia soaking

Production of renewable fuels and chemicals from lignocellulosic feedstocks requires an efficient pretreatment technology to allow ready access of polysaccharides for cellulolytic enzymes during saccharification. The effect of pretreatment on wheat straw through a low-temperature and low-pressure soaking aqueous ammonia (SAA) process was investigated in this study using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (Py-GC/MS), solid and liquid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and thermogravimetry/differential thermogravimetry (TG/DTG) to demonstrate the changes in lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose structure. After treatment of 60 mesh wheat straw particles for 60 h with 28-30% ammonium hydroxide (1:10 solid/liquid) at 50 °C, sugar recovery increased from 14% (untreated) to 67% (SAA treated). The FTIR study revealed a substantial decrease in absorbance of lignin peaks. Solid and liquid state NMR showed minimal lignin structural changes with significant compositional changes. Activation energy of control and pretreated wheat straw was calculated according to the Friedman and ASTM methods and found to be decreased for SAA-treated wheat straw, from 259 to 223 kJ/mol. The SAA treatment was shown to remove significant amounts of lignin without strongly affecting lignin functional groups or structure.     

不同表面处理麦秸秆对木塑复合材料性能的影响

为提高麦秸秆纤维与聚丙烯(polypropylene,PP)基体的界面结合力,采用复合处理法对麦秸秆纤维进行表面处理:先分别用NaOH、乙酸溶液浸泡、水热处理、蒸汽爆破和微波等方法对麦秸秆纤维进行预处理,再复合偶联剂法处理麦秸秆纤维;用熔融共混、模压成型方法制备麦秸秆/废弃PP木塑复合材料,探讨了麦秸秆不同表面处理方法制备PP木塑复合材料力学性能和吸湿吸水性能;用体视显微镜对不同处理的麦秸秆及木塑复合材料拉伸断面进行观察。结果表明:经复合处理的麦秸秆与PP木塑复合材料力学性能和吸湿吸水性能均优于单纯使用偶联剂处理的麦秸秆与PP木塑复合材料;NaOH和乙酸复合处理的复合材料力学性能和抗吸湿吸水性能较好,水热和蒸汽爆破复合处理的复合材料次之。麦秸秆经复合处理后,表面变粗糙,秸秆纤维和PP基体的界面黏合性得到改善。该文研究结果对通过麦秸秆纤维表面处理提高麦秸秆/废弃PP木塑复合材料的性能有重要的实际意义。     

淹水条件下FACE处理的水稻以及小麦秸秆的分解及产物

Winter wheat and rice straw produced under ambient and elevated CO2 in a China rice-wheat rotation free-air CO2 enrichment (FACE) experiment was mixed with a paddy soil at a rate of 10 g kg-1 (air-dried), and the mixture was incubated under flooded conditions at 25 ℃ to examine the differences in decomposition as well as the products of crop residues produced under elevated CO2. Results showed that the C/N ratio and the amount of soluble fraction in the amended rice straw grown under elevated CO2 (FR) were 9.8% and 73.1% greater, and the cellulose and lignin were 16.0% and 9.9% lesser than those of the amended rice straw grown under ambient CO2 (AR), respectively. Compared with those of the AR treatment, the CO2-C and CH4-C emissions in the FR treatment for 25 d were increased by 7.9% and 25.0%, respectively; a higher ratio of CH4 to CO2 emissions induced by straw in the FR treatment was also observed. In contrast, in the treatments with winter wheat straw, the CO2-C and CH4-C productions, the ratio of straw-induced CH4 to CO2 emissions, and the straw composition were not significantly affected by elevated CO2, except for an 8.0% decrease in total N and a 9.7% increase in C/N ratio in the wheat straw grown under elevated CO2. Correlation analysis showed that the net CO2-C and CH4-C emissions from straw and the ratio of straw-induced CH4 to CO2 emissions were all exponentially related to the amount of soluble fraction in the amended straw (P < 0.05). These indicated that under flooded conditions, the turnover and CH4 emission from crop straw incorporated into soil were dependent on the effect of elevated CO2 on straw composition, and varied with crop species. Incorporation of rice straw grown under elevated CO2 would stimulate CH4 emission from flooded rice fields, whereas winter wheat straw grown under elevated CO2 had no effect on CH4 emission.     

Low molecular weight organic acids released from roots of durum wheat and flax into sterile nutrient solutions

Knowledge of the composition and quantity of organic substances released from roots of different plant species is necessary for understanding the chemical and biological processes in the rhizosphere. The present study was undertaken to quantify low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs) released from roots of five cultivars/lines of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum L.): Kyle, Sceptre, DT618, DT627, and DT637 and four cultivars/ lines of flax (Linum usitatissiumum L.): Somme, Flanders, AC Emerson, and YSED 2. Plants were grown in sterile nutrient solution cultures and amounts of organic acids exuded by roots were analyzed by gas chromatography. The LMWOAs varied significantly among both durum wheat and flax cultivars and oxalic, malonic, fumaric, succinic, acetic, malic, citric and tartaric acids were detected in root exudates of both species. Generally, oxalic and acetic acids were predominant in durum wheat exudates and oxalic, acetic and malic acids were predominant in flax root exudates. High oxalic acid concentrations occurred in root exudates of durum wheat cultivars DT627 and DT637, and flax cultivar YSED 2. Compared with the other durum wheat cultivars, Kyle released the lowest total amount of LMWOAs, whereas among the flax cultivars, YSED 2 had the highest total amount of acids secreted from roots. The data showed that the release of LMWOAs from roots was cultivar dependent. The results provide valuable background information for studying the role of root exudates in soil‐plant relationships.     

Inheritance of manganese efficiency in durum wheat

Manganese (Mn) deficiency is a widespread problem on the alkaline soils, particularly for durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum), which is more sensitive than either bread wheat or barley. The existence of considerable genetic variation in current germplasm of durum wheat (a relative yield of 58% in Stojocri 2 compared to 15% in check cv Yallaroi) and the development of a consistent selection criterion (Mn content of 35‐day‐old seedlings) has made breeding for Mn efficiency feasible. The development of Mn‐efficient durum wheat would be facilitated if the mode of inheritance was well understood. F1 hybrid, F2, and F2‐derived families from a cross between Stojocri 2 (moderately efficient) and Hazar (inefficient) were studied under controlled‐environment conditions. F1 hybrid was intermediate to the parents, indicating incomplete dominance and dependence on external Mn concentration. Analysis of 110 F2 and 220 F3 single plants (including 20 F2‐derived F3 families) showed that the observed variance was in agreement with the expected variance of a population segregating for two genes. Chi‐square analysis of the segregation ratios of F3 families also supported the digenic segregation hypothesis. Currently Stojocri 2 is used in a breeding program for the transfer of Mn efficiency to commercial varieties, by backcrossing (two backcrosses retain about 88% of recurrent parent genotype).     

Legume–barley intercropping stimulates soil N supply and crop yield in the succeeding durum wheat in a rotation under rainfed conditions

Legume–cereal intercropping is increasingly being appreciated in dryland areas, where severe climatic conditions and intensive agricultural practices, generally dominated by continuous cereal cultivation, determine depletion of soil nutrient resources and decline of soil fertility. This research aimed to assess whether and to what extent a newly introduced legume-based intercropping system is able to ameliorate the biological fertility status of an arable soil in a way that is still noticeable during the succeeding durum wheat cropping season in terms of changes in bacterial community structure, soil C and N pools, and crop yield. A field experiment was carried out under rainfed conditions in Southern Italy on a sandy clay loam soil cultivated with durum wheat following in the rotation a recently established grain legume (pea, faba bean)–barley intercropping. Soil chemical, biochemical and eco-physiological variables together with compositional shifts in the bacterial community structure by LH-PCR fingerprinting were determined at four sampling times during the durum wheat cropping season. Soil fertility was estimated by using a revised version of the biological fertility index. Results showed that even though the microbial biomass was significantly altered, the preceding legume intercrops stimulated C-related functional variables thus leading to an increased release of mineral N, which was larger in crop treatments succeeding pea-based than faba bean-based intercropping. The increased N made available in soil enabled the succeeding durum wheat to achieve an adequate grain yield with a reduced N-fertilizer use. Soil type and environmental conditions rather than crop treatments were major determinants of bacterial community structure. The biological fertility status was not varied, suggesting that in intensively managed rainfed areas long-term crop rotations with intercropped legumes are needed to consistently ameliorate it.     

用于复合材料的小麦秸秆纤维性能及制备工艺

针对目前中国小麦秸秆利用率不高以及燃烧秸秆所带来的环境污染问题,该文研究了利用稀烧碱溶液处理小秸秆以制备用于复合材料的小麦秸秆纤维的性能及制备工艺,研究了氢氧化钠溶液质量分数、液固比、处理温度和处时间等工艺参数与小麦秸秆纤维失重率的关系,并对所制备的小麦秸秆纤维的强伸性能、表面性能进行了测试。结果明,小麦秸秆经稀烧碱溶液处理(氢氧化钠质量分数4%、液固比30mL/g、处理温度100℃、处理时间60min)后制的小麦秸秆纤维力学性能与原样相比没有明显损伤,但内、外表面结构均变得疏松,比表面积增大,滴水接触角变小从而提高了聚合物聚乳酸对秸秆纤维的浸润性能,提高了二者之间界面的粘结性。该研究结果为利用小麦秸秆制备秸纤维增强聚乳酸复合材料提供参考。     

Distribution of Peroxidases in Durum Wheat (Triticum durum)

A biochemical study of the main durum wheat milling fractions (bran, embryo, and semolina) showed that peroxidases (POD) were present in multiple forms in the kernel and appeared to be tissue specific: one form for the embryo, one for the endosperm, one for the subaleuronic layer, and one for the outer layers. Large varietal differences were found regarding both the composition and the POD activity. POD activity, detected by diaminobenzidine, was found mainly in the cell wall of the subaleurone layer and inside some specific, differentiated cells of the embryo. Immuno‐localization with antibodies of durum wheat POD showed the presence of POD in several layers of the pericarp (epidermis) and the seed coat (testa), in the embryo, and also in the endosperm. In this latter tissue, the staining intensity decreased gradually from the outer layers toward the center of the kernel. The localization of POD in durum wheat kernel suggests specific functions for different forms.     

Purification and characterization of a lipoxygenase enzyme from durum wheat semolina.

Purification of a lipoxygenase enzyme from the cultivar Tresor of durum wheat semolina (Triticum turgidum var. durum Desf) was reinvestigated furnishing a new procedure. The 895-fold purified homogeneous enzyme showed a monomeric structure with a molecular mass of 95 +/- 5 kDa. Among the substrates tested, linoleic acid showed the highest k(cat)/K(m) value; a beta-carotene bleaching activity was also detected. The enzyme optimal activity was at pH 6. 8 on linoleic acid as substrate and at pH 5.2 for the bleaching activity on beta-carotene, both assayed at 25 degrees C. The dependence of lipoxygenase activity on temperature showed a maximum at 40 degrees C for linoleic acid and at 60 degrees C for bleaching activity on beta-carotene. The amino acid composition showed the presence of only one tryptophan residue per monomer. Far-UV circular dichroism studies carried out at 25 degrees C in acidic, neutral, and basic regions revealed that the protein possesses a secondary structure content with a high percentage of alpha- and beta-structures. Near-UV circular dichroism, at 25 degrees C and at the same pH values, pointed out a strong perturbation of the tertiary structure in the acidic and basic regions compared to the neutral pH condition. Moreover, far-UV CD spectra studying the effects of the temperature on alpha-helix content revealed that the melting point of the alpha-helix is at 60 degrees C at pH 5.0, whereas it was at 50 degrees C at pH 6.8 and 9.0. The NH(2)-terminal sequence allowed a homology comparison with other lipoxygenase sequences from mammalian and vegetable sources.     

Degradation of lignin in wheat straw during growth of the oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) using off-line thermochemolysis with tetramethylammonium hydroxide and solid-state (13)C NMR.

The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) is widely cultivated on wheat straw (Triticum aestivum); however, there is a need to better understand the relationship between the chemical composition of the compost and mushroom growth. Wheat straw was degraded over a period of 63 days by P. ostreatus during which time it was sampled at weekly intervals. Off-line thermochemolysis with tetramethylammonium hydroxide and solid-state (13)C NMR were then used in the molecular characterization of the undegraded wheat straw and the degraded samples. The degraded wheat straw samples had a lower proportion of syringyl- to guaiacyl-derived moieties and cinnamyl- to guaiacyl-derived moieties than the undegraded control. There were increases in both guaiacyl and syringyl acid to aldehyde ratios with composting time, which showed that side-chain oxidation has been mediated by P. ostreatus. The (13)C NMR spectra confirmed the increase in carboxyl content but indicated that the overall lignin and methoxyl contents remained relatively constant, although some nonsystematic variations were observed. The spectra also showed a decrease in amorphous noncellulosic polysaccharides in relation to the crystalline cellulose upon degradation.