Hot‐Water Solubilities and Water Sorptions of Resistant Starches at 25°C

Resistant starches (RS) were prepared from wheat starch and lintnerized wheat starch by autoclaving and cooling and by cross‐linking. Heat‐moisture treatment also was used on one sample to increase RS. The experimental resistant starches made from wheat starch contained 10–73% RS measured as Prosky dietary fiber, whereas two commercial resistant starches, Novelose 240 and 330, produced from high‐amylose maize starch, contained 58 and 40%, respectively. At 25°C in excess water, the experimental RS starches, except for the cross‐linked wheat starch, gained 3–6 times more water than the commercial RS starches, and at 95°C gained 2–4 times more. Cross‐linked RS4 wheat starch and Novelose 240 showed 95°C swelling powers and solubilities of 2 g/g and 1%, and 3 g/g and 2%, respectively. All starches showed similar water vapor sorption and desorption isotherms at 25°C and water activities (a_w) < 0.8. At a_w 0.84–0.97, the resistant starches made from wheat starch, except the cross‐linked wheat starch, showed ≈10% higher water sorption than the commercial resistant starches.     

Induced maturation and fertilized egg production of the red‐spotted grouper,Epinephelus akaara,using adaptive physiology of photoperiod and water temperature

As a preliminary investigation into the effects of environmental factors on gonadal development using adaptive physiological characteristics, we examined the involvement of photoperiod and water temperature in the ovarian development of the red‐spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara. During October 2014 (non‐breeding season), the photoperiod and water temperature were adjusted to 12L:12D and 18°C respectively. Every 3 weeks, daylight was increased as follows a 13L:11D and 14L:10D in the photo‐thermal treatment group, and the control group was maintained under natural conditions. After 9 weeks, water temperature was increased to 23°C in the photo‐thermal treatment group. In photo‐thermal treatment group, GSI increased significantly after 9 weeks (1.36 ± 0.19) and 12 weeks (3.31 ± 0.20) compared with the control group. At 12 weeks after photo‐thermal treatment, all fishes matured into ovaries containing late vitellogenic oocytes. The expression of FSHβ and LHβ mRNAs also increased significantly. However, in the control group, the ovarian development was maintained at an immature stage. Based on these results, we demonstrate that exposure to long photoperiod and high water temperature can induce the sexual maturation of immature red‐spotted grouper during the non‐breeding season.     

Analysis of QTL responsible for grain iron and zinc content in doubled haploid lines of rice (Oryza sativa) derived from an intra-japonica cross

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) related to the grain iron and zinc contents of brown rice were mapped by using a doubled haploid population derived from an intra-japonica cross between 'Hwaseonchal' and 'Goami 2'. QTL–QTL, background–QTL, and background–background interactions and candidate genes that affect grain iron and zinc contents were preliminarily identified. Twenty-one iron- and zinc-related QTL were found. The major-effect QTL qFe7 and qZn7 provided the highest contribution to phenotypic variance for grain iron and zinc contents. The colocation of zinc- and iron-related QTL on chromosomes 1, 4, 7 and 11 may account for the strong correlation between iron and zinc contents. A region on chromosome 7 and epistatic interaction between loci on chromosomes 2 and 10 affected iron content. qZn7 and qZn11.3 exerted additive effects on zinc content. Eleven iron- and zinc-related candidate genes colocated with qFe7, qZn7 and the region on chromosome 7 with an additive effect on iron content. The major-effect QTL identified here may be useful for breeding biofortified rice.     

Exploring the key drivers of forest flammability in wet eucalypt forests using expert-derived conceptual models

Landscape Ecology - Fire behaviour research has largely focused on dry ecosystems that burn frequently, with far less attention on wetter forests. Yet, the impacts of fire in wet forests can be...     

A single gene transfer of gibberellin biosynthesis gene cluster increases gibberellin production in a Fusarium fujikuroi strain with gibberellin low producibility

Fusarium fujikuroi, the causative agent of bakanae disease in rice, produces many kinds of secondary metabolites. Recently, two phylogenetic subgroups (F and G groups) of Japanese F. fujikuroi have been identified and found to have differences in their gibberellin (GA) and fumonisin production. G-group F. fujikuroi produces large amounts of GA, but is a fumonisin nonproducer. F-group produces large amounts of fumonisin, but is a GA low or nonproducer. We investigated the cause of low GA production in the F-group. Genetic mapping suggests that low GA production in the F-group strain Gfc0825009 is due to a GA gene cluster for GA biosynthesis. Analysis of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the genes in the GA gene cluster showed >98.4% homology between the F-group strain Gfc0825009 and the G-group strain Gfc0801001. Following a 7-day culture under low nitrogen conditions, we found that expression of P450-1, P450-4, and P450-2 in the cluster increased in the G-group strain and not in the F-group strain. We hypothesized that complementation by GA genes in the G-group strain would be required to increase GA production in the F-group strain. However, we found that this occurred with a single gene complementation of DES, P450-1, P450-4, or P450-2. Simultaneous increase in the expression of P450-1, P450-4, and P450-2 were detected in the complementary transformants. Moreover, the same phenomenon was observed by reintegration of its own P450-1. Our results suggest the presence of unknown regulatory mechanisms of the GA gene cluster in F. fujikuroi.     

藏北野生驯化早熟禾的生产性能和品质评价

基于藏北地区饲草缺乏和草地植被退化等问题,开展野生牧草资源的开发利用研究,驯化筛选适宜藏北高寒区种植的优质乡土早熟禾。选取西藏野生的中亚早熟禾（Poa litwinowiana）、渐尖早熟禾（P. attenuata）和冷地早熟禾（P. crymophila）为材料,以国审栽培品种青海冷地早熟禾（P. crymophila cv. Qinghai）为对照,在海拔4 512m环境条件下完成田间种植,分析比较不同早熟禾的生长特性和营养品质。结果显示,随生育期推进,供试材料地上生物量、株高、中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维含量呈现逐渐增加的现象,粗蛋白质和粗脂肪含量下降。乳熟期3种材料的地上生物量均显著（P<0.05）高于对照品种,其根系生物量大小排序为渐尖早熟禾>中亚早熟禾>冷地早熟禾>对照;冷地早熟禾的粗蛋白含量显著（P<0.05）高于渐尖早熟禾,渐尖早熟禾的酸性洗涤纤维和中性洗涤纤维含量最低。采用熵权赋值法的灰色系统理论对乳熟期不同早熟禾生产性能及营养品质指标进行综合评价,优劣顺序为渐尖早熟禾>冷地早熟禾（野生种）>中亚早熟禾>青海冷地早熟禾（栽培种）。     

Selection and Molecular Characterization of Soybeans with High Oleic Acid from Plant Germplasm of Genebank

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - Altering soybean fatty acid profiles to improve soybean oil quality has long been time goal of soybean researchers. Soybean oil with elevated oleic acid...     

Variations of Saponarin Content in Young Barley Leaves Illuminated with Different Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs)

Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology - In this study, the effect of light on the regulation of flavonoid production in young barley leaves (YBLs) was investigated. YBLs following germination...