Increasing the utilisation of sorghum,millets and pseudocereals: Developments in the science of their phenolic phytochemicals,biofortification and protein functionality

There is considerable interest in sorghum, millets and pseudocereals for their phytochemical content, their nutritional potential and their use in gluten-free products. They are generally rich in a several phenolic phytochemicals. Research has indicated that the phenolics in these grains may have several important health-promoting properties: prevention and reduction of oxidative stress, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive and cardiovascular disease prevention. However, increased research on the actual health-promoting properties of foods made from these grains is required. Biofortified (macro and micronutrient enhanced) sorghum and millets are being developed through conventional breeding and recombinant DNA technology to combat malnutrition in developing countries. Enhanced nutritional traits include: high amylopectin, high lysine, improved protein digestibility, provitamin A rich, high iron and zinc, and improved mineral bioavailability through phytate reduction. Some of these biofortified cereals also have good agronomic characteristics and useful commercial end-use attributes, which will be important to their adoption by farmers. Knowledge of the structure of their storage proteins is increasing. Drawing on research concerning maize zein, which shows that it can produce a visco-elastic wheat-like dough, it appears that the storage proteins of these minor grains also have this potential. Manipulation of protein β-sheet structure seems critical in this regard.     

Characterization of new photosynthesis-inhibiting imidazolidine derivatives. 2. Interpretation of pre-emergence herbicidal performance from photosyghesis-inhibiting activity and soil adsorption coefficient

Ruling factors governing pre-emergence herbicidal activity were analysed for 16 photosynthesis-inhibiting 5-hydroxy-3-methyl-2–oxo-imidazolidine-1-carboxamide derivatives. Herbicidal performance was quantified by the reduction in area of experimental weed vegetation, measured by a computer-aided image analysis system. A system for fluorometric estimation of photosynthesis inhibitor concentration in aqueous solution greatly facilitated determination of the soil adsorption coefficients (K_d). Maximum herbicidal performance was found for N-sec-butyl-5-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-oxo-imidazolidine-1-carboxamide, a compound with the second lowest soil adsorptivity and average photosynthesis-inhibiting activity. A multiple regression analysis suggested that herbicidal performance of the soil-applied imidazolidine derivatives was determined by a balance between K_d and photosynthesis-inhibiting activity. In the present experimental system, however, the main influence was attributed to K_d.