The Role of Gluten Proteins in the Baking of Arabic Bread

Fractionation and reconstitution/fortification techniques were utilised to study the role of gluten in Arabic bread. Glutens from two wheat cultivars of contrasting breadmaking quality were fractionated by dilute HCl into gliadin and glutenin. Gluten, gliadin and glutenin doughs from the good quality flour had higher G ′ and lower tan δ values than those from the poor quality flour at all the frequencies examined. Interchanging the gliadin and glutenin fractions between the reconstituted flours showed that the glutenin fraction is largely responsible for differences in the breadmaking performance. Fortification of an average quality flour with the gliadin and glutenin fractions from the poor and good quality flours, at the levels of 1% and 2% (protein to flour mass), induced marked differences in the mechanical properties of bread. The resilience of the loaves was not adversely affected by the addition of gliadins and increased, with a concomitant significant (p<0·05) improvement in quality, at the 2% level of fortification with gliadins from the good quality flour. Addition of glutenin resulted in loaves with leather-like properties that became particularly apparent at the higher level of fortification; the observed deterioration in quality paralleled the increase in the elastic character of the doughs. It is suggested that highly-elastic doughs are not compatible with the rapid expansion of gases at the high-temperature short-time conditions employed in the baking of Arabic bread and that there exists a threshold in dough elasticity beyond which a rapid decline in quality takes place.     

Mechanical anisotropy in unidirectional glass fabric reinforced oligomeric siloxane modified polyester composites

In this study, the effect of incorporation of oligomeric siloxane into unsaturated polyester on mechanical behavior of unidirectional glass fiber/polyester composites has been investigated by means of tensile, flexural and short beam shear tests. The amount of oligomeric siloxane added into unsaturated polyester was in the range 1?C3 % by weight of the glass fabrics. Mechanical tests were conducted at different angles (0 °, 45 °, and 90 °) with respect to fiber direction. The higher siloxane content exhibited a tendency to have greater tensile, flexural and interlaminar shear strength values in machine direction, bias direction and cross direction. From Scanning electron microscopy images, the presence of polyester particles on the unidirectional glass fiber surface confirmed better adhesion.     

Complementary Analytical Platforms of NMR Spectroscopy and LCMS Analysis in the Metabolite Profiling of Isochrysis galbana

This study was designed to profile the metabolites of Isochrysis galbana, an indigenous and less explored microalgae species. ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LCMS) were used to establish the metabolite profiles of five different extracts of this microalga, which are hexane (Hex), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), absolute ethanol (EtOH), EtOH:water 1:1 (AqE), and 100% water (Aq). Partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS–DA) of the generated profiles revealed that EtOAc and Aq extracts contain a diverse range of metabolites as compared to the other extracts with a total of twenty-one metabolites, comprising carotenoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and amino acids, that were putatively identified from the NMR spectra. Meanwhile, thirty-two metabolites were successfully annotated from the LCMS/MS data, ten of which (palmitic acid, oleic acid, α-linolenic acid, arachidic acid, cholesterol, DHA, DPA, fucoxanthin, astaxanthin, and pheophytin) were similar to those present in the NMR profile. Another eleven glycerophospholipids were discovered using MS/MS-based molecular network (MN) platform. The results of this study, besides providing a better understanding of I. galbana’s chemical make-up, will be of importance in exploring this species potential as a feed ingredient in the aquaculture industry.     

Development of advanced fragrant rice lines from MR269 × Basmati 370 through marker-assisted backcrossing

Fragrance in rice is an appealing attribute to consumers. The increasing demand for fragrant rice highlights the need to develop fragrant rice variety that suit the preference of local consumers in addition to reduce fragrant rice imports. Marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) was employed to develop advanced fragrant rice lines from the cross between MR269 and Basmati 370. MR269 is a Malaysian high-yielding rice variety but non-fragrant and was used as recurrent parent whereas Basmati 370 is a well-known fragrant traditional rice variety and was used as donor parent for the fragrance gene. Two generations of backcrosses and a generation of selfing were conducted to introgress the fragrance gene and restore the recurrent parent genome in the backcross progenies. As a result, 14 advanced fragrant rice lines were developed. These advanced fragrant rice lines carried homozygous alleles for the fragrance gene, similar to Basmati 370. The average recovery of recurrent parent genome was 88.4%. Besides being fragrant, the advanced fragrant rice lines also had most of the morphological and agronomical traits similar to MR269. Grain quality of the advanced fragrant rice lines in terms of gelatinization temperature, amylose content and gel consistency are also similar to both parents. Besides, the advanced fragrant rice lines had 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline content similar to Basmati 370. MABC approach applied in this study has successfully introgressed the fragrance gene and accelerated the recovery of recurrent parent genome in advanced fragrant rice lines, therefore these lines can be delivered to the farmers and consumers for use in due time.     

Some productive characteristics and body measurements of Norduz goats of Turkey

Productive characteristics and body measurements of Norduz goats, a native genetic resource in Turkey, were measured. The animals studied were brought from natural habitats to the farm of the Animal Science Department of Agricultural Faculty, Yüzüncü Yıl University. Least squares means of withers height (WH), body length (BL), chest width at back of withers (CWBW), chest depth (CD), chest girth (CG) and leg girth (LG) of Norduz does were 65.9 ± 1.08, 67.2 ± 1.08, 21.1 ± 0.88, 30.8 ± 0.62, 88.9 ± 1.78 and 60.4 ± 1.28 cm, respectively. Least squares means of body weights after parturition of does were 41.3 ± 2.01 kg. The means of lactation length and lactation milk yield were 226. ± 7.2 days and 347 ± 40.1, respectively. Twinning rate, fertility, fecundity, litter size and litter size at weaning were 30%, 98%, 1.27, 1.30 and 1.28, respectively. Means of WH, BL, CWBW, CD, CG, LG and body weights of Norduz bucks were 73.9 ± 2.61, 75.6 ± 2.23, 21.4 ± 0.67, 33.9 ± 1.15, 95.0 ± 2.34, 69.8 ± 2.69 cm and 58.7 ± 3.91 kg, respectively.     

Isolation of pigeon herpes encephalomyelitis virus in Saudi Arabia

A virus was isolated from the brains of pigeons suffering from nervous disorders in different localities of the Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The new isolate caused a high morbidity, ranging from 33% to 50%, and a mortality rate which reached 40%.The virus produced pinpoint greyish pock lesions on the chorioallantoic membrane of embryonated hens' eggs and induced syncytial formation followed by rounding and lysis of the cells in chicken embryo fibroblast cultures. Virus infectivity was significantly reduced following treatment by 20% ether or chloroform. The isolated virus was identified as pigeon herpes encephalomyelitis virus by serum-neutralization, agar gel diffusion and fluorescent antibody staining techniques.     

Dynamics of glucose in the haemolymph of female giant freshwater prawn,Macrobrachium rosenbergii,influences reproductive and non‐reproductive moulting cycles

Glucose, when measured in haemolymph, has been found to reflect a useful predictor of energetic investment. This study evaluated the pattern of glucose in the haemolymph, with an attempt to gain a better insight into the role of glucose as nutritional source of ovarian development and energy reserves during reproductive and non‐reproductive moulting cycles. The haemolymph of female giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, was obtained at eight different moulting stages, and levels of glucose were determined using an enzymatic colorimetric glucose‐oxidase method in parallel with a histological examination of ovarian development. Glucose levels were relatively low (0.15 ± 0.02 mg mL^?1) at D₀ stage, an abrupt increase (0.52 ± 0.13 mg mL^?1) during premoult D₁ stage and declined (0.32 ± 0.10 and 0.31 ± 0.09 mg mL^?1) during premoult D₂ and D₃ stages, respectively; thereafter, a slight increase (0.43 ± 0.09 mg mL^?1) occurred at post‐moult A stage. The progression of ovarian growth, marked by an increasing gonadosomatic index (GSI) pattern during the reproductive moulting cycle (C₀–D₃ stages), was directly proportionate to fluctuations in glucose levels. GSI was significantly positively correlated with glucose (R = 0.40; P < 0.05). In contrast, glucose was notably higher at post‐moult A and premoult D₂ stages during non‐reproductive moulting cycle, the period during which glucose is crucial for exoskeletal chitin synthesis. At this particular stage, a negative correlation between body weight and glucose (R = ?0.36; P < 0.05) was observed. The dynamics of glucose in the haemolymph of female M. rosenbergii correlated with ovarian growth, which signify that glucose as nutritional source for vitellogenesis, and affects the body weight of this species.     

New sources of resistance to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumber mosaic virus</Emphasis> in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Capsicum annuum</Emphasis>

Background

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) is the most serious virus disease affecting chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) worldwide and the absence of natural resistance makes management of CMV outbreaks difficult. The characterization of improved sources of resistance to CMV in chilli would facilitate the development of commercially acceptable chilli varieties with adequate levels of CMV resistance. A total of 30 chilli genotypes were evaluated for their reaction to CMV in field and artificial inoculated conditions during 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. Large differences were observed among genotypes for disease incidence, severity indexes, and yield losses. Based on observed data, genotype CA23 (Noakhali) was identified as resistant, while CA12 (Comilla-2) was categorized as moderately resistant to CMV both in natural and inoculated conditions. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay absorbance values of samples taken from CMV-infected leaves corresponded well with visible viral symptoms for these genotypes. The identified C. annuum CA23 and CA12 genotypes represent previously undescribed and potentially useful sources of CMV resistance.

     

Socio-economic factors influencing marketing of non-timber forest products in tropical lowland rainforests of south-western Nigeria§

A number of factors persist to constrain the non-timber forest products (NTFPs) market and, by extension, its potential to contribute meaningfully to livelihood development and poverty reduction objectives. To better utilise the potential of NTFPs, it is important to have a better understanding of the key factors governing the success and failure of NTFPs trade. This paper reports on the market constraints and socio-economic factors that influence trade in five top-priority NTFPs within the tropical lowland rainforests of south-west Nigeria. The NTFPs investigated were bush mango (Irvingia gabonensis), African walnut (Plukenetia conophora), chew-stick (Massularia acuminata), fever bark (Annickia chlorantha) and bush pepper (Piper guineense). Field data were collected in 10 villages located within and around Omo and Shasha forest reserves using a household questionnaire survey. The results showed that seasonality, poor transport, lack of storage facilities and market information were the four main constraints influencing marketing and trade in the NTFPs. In addition, the level of education, gender (sex), household income, ethnicity, distance to the market and access to roads significantly influenced market knowledge and information among households involved in the trade of NTFPs. There is need to improve on the limited source of NTFPs information, enhance skills for product transformation, build innovative storage facilities, and develop the process of domestication and integration in traditional land-use systems.     

Improved nitrogen status enhances zinc and iron concentrations both in the whole grain and the endosperm fraction of wheat

This study was conducted to assess the role of increasing N supply in enrichment of whole grain and grain fractions, particularly the endosperm, with Zn and Fe in wheat. The endosperm is the most widely consumed part of wheat grain in many countries. Plants were grown in the greenhouse with different soil applications of N and Zn and with or without foliar Zn spray. Whole grain and grain fractions were analyzed for N, P, Zn and Fe. Increased N supply significantly enhanced the Zn and Fe concentrations in all grain fractions. In the case of high Zn supply, increasing N application enhanced the whole grain Zn concentration by up to 50% and the endosperm Zn by over 80%. Depending on foliar Zn supply, high N elevated the endosperm Fe concentration up to 100%. High N also generally decreased the P/Zn and P/Fe molar ratios in whole grain and endosperm. The results demonstrate that improved N nutrition, especially when combined with foliar Zn treatment, is effective in increasing Zn and Fe of the whole grain and particularly the endosperm fraction, at least in the greenhouse, and might be a promising strategy for tackling micronutrient deficiencies in countries where white flour is extensively consumed.