Zinc biofortification of maize (Zea mays L.): Status and challenges

Zn deficiency is one of the leading health problems in children and women of developing countries. Different interventions could be used to overcome malnutrition, but biofortification is most impactful, convenient, sustainable and acceptable intervention. Maize is one of the major crops grown and consumed in the regions with prevalent Zn malnutrition; therefore, this is suitable target for Zn biofortification. Zn biofortification of maize could be achieved through agronomic and genetic approaches. Discussion of agronomic approaches with genetic approaches is prerequisite because soils in developing countries are deficit of Zn and availability of Zn in soils is mandatory for estimating the genetic responses of maize genotypes through genetic approaches. Seed priming, foliar and soil applications are agronomic tools for biofortification, but solo and combined applications of these treatments have different effects on Zn enrichment. Genetic approaches include the increase of Zn bioavailability or increase of kernel Zn concentration. Zn bioavailability could be increased by reducing the anti‐nutritional factors or by increasing the bioavailability enhancers. Kernel Zn concentration could be improved through hybridization and selections, whereas genetically engineered attempts for improving Zn uptake from soil, loading in xylem, remobilization in grains and sequestration in endosperm can further improve the kernel Zn concentration. Key challenges associated with dissemination of Zn biofortified maize are also under discussion in this draft. Current review emphasized all of above‐mentioned contents to provide roadmap for the development of Zn biofortified maize genotypes to curb the global Zn malnutrition.     

植酸酶基因PhyA对陆地棉产量性状的影响

在人工控制(培养基、水培、沙培)条件下,植酸酶基因PhyA具有分解利用培养基质植酸磷、提高磷素利用效率的功能,但在田间的表现目前尚未明确。在前期完成的PhyA转基因陆地棉新材料盆栽试验基础上,将其种植在田间条件下,研究PhyA基因对棉花产量性状的影响。结果表明,部分转基因棉花新材料的单株结铃数、铃重、衣分、籽棉产量、皮棉产量与野生型对照存在显著差异,PhyA在田间条件下具有改良转基因棉花部分产量性状的能力。在此基础上,遴选出2个转PhyA棉花优良新品系G3、G2,可用作今后转植酸酶基因棉花新品种培育的基础材料。     

乳酸处理小麦和玉米对其植酸磷和抗性淀粉含量的影响

文章旨在研究乳酸浸泡处理小麦和玉米对植酸磷、抗性淀粉及营养成分的影响。试验选择玉米、小麦和小麦+玉米(1∶1混合),分别在0、10和25g/kg乳酸中浸泡0、6、12、24和48h。然后直接分析样品的营养成分或在21℃下保存4周直至分析。结果显示:乳酸对小麦、玉米、小麦-玉米养分的影响随乳酸浓度和浸泡时间的增加而更加明显,培养48h后以25g/kg乳酸处理的影响最大。在25g/kg乳酸中浸泡48h后,玉米、小麦和小麦-玉米总磷含量降低9%(P<0.05),植酸磷含量分别降低24%、30%和25%(P<0.05)。浸泡48h后,小麦和小麦-玉米中植酸酶活性显著降低(P<0.05)。虽然乳酸处理对总淀粉含量无显著影响(P>0.05),但浸泡在25g/kg乳酸中,小麦的抗性淀粉含量增加了51%(P<0.05),而玉米和小麦-玉米的抗性淀粉含量分别降低了52%和19%(P<0.05)。综上所述,乳酸处理小麦和玉米可以有效降低谷物中植酸磷的含量。在本试验条件下,小麦和玉米在25g/kg乳酸中浸泡48h是降低植酸磷含量的最适方案。     

Evaluation of Phytase Enzyme with Chicks Fed Basal Diets Containing Different Soybean Meal Samples

Soybean meal contains approximately 0.62% total P of which 0.4% can be phytate P, which is considered less biologically available for poultry than other forms of P. Soybean meal is a key ingredient in poultry feeds and information is needed about the range of phytate P and nonphytate P in different soybean meals. The phytate P content of soybeans may vary due to climatic conditions, soil type and soybean variety. Previous research has shown that phytate P can be hydrolyzed in the gastrointestinal tract providing available P by adding a commercial phytase enzyme to poultry feed. The extent of phytate hydrolysis by dietary supplementation of phytase has been shown to vary depending on the type of dietary ingredients such as corn, soybean meal, canola meal, and wheat. Research is needed to determine if different commercially available soybean meals respond in a similar manner to a feed added phytase. Twenty-five soybean meal samples were collected from active soybean crushing plants in the United States and 18 of the samples were selected to evaluate the effect of a microbial phytase on phytate P disappearance using 5-d bioassays. The range of analyzed values in soybean meal samples for total P, phytate P, Ca, protein, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were 0.59 to 0.87, 0.32 to 0.42, 0.28 to 0.54, 40.44 to 51.69, and 7.78 to 16.09%, respectively. Bioassay results indicate that body weight, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio improved significantly (P < 0.05) in some of the groups fed diets with enzyme compared with groups fed the same diet with no added enzyme. The range of total P retention and phytate P disappearance for groups fed diets with no enzyme were 21.35 to 48.41 and 13.64 to 37.13%, respectively. The addition of phytase increased total P retention and phytate P disappearance from 56.81 to 68.62 and 76.18 to 94.08%, respectively. The results indicate no correlation among components (total P, phytate P, Ca, protein, and NDF) of soybean meal samples, percentage of phytate P disappearance, and percentage of total P retention for groups fed diets with and without added phytase.     

Soil Acidification as Affected by Phosphorus Sources and Interspecific Root Interactions between Wheat and Chickpea

A pot experiment was conducted to determine the effects of chickpea/wheat intercropping and two phosphorus (P) sources on soil acidification and to explore a new way of ameliorating soil acidification. Wheat and chickpea roots were grown in compartments separated either by a solid barrier to prevent any root interactions or by a nylon mesh (30 μm) to permit partial root interactions, or with no separation between the compartments. Two P sources were applied at 60 mg P kg^?1 soil either as sodium phytate or ferrous phosphate (FePO₄). The decline of soil pH after growing plants for 42 days was alleviated by supplying organic P or intercropping while receiving organic P. The ameliorating of soil acidification resulted mainly from a decrease in excess cations over anion uptake of both wheat and chickpea under phytate supply, compared to FePO₄ supply. The excess cation uptake of chickpea was reduced by root interactions.     

Phytate and phytase in fish nutrition

Phytate formed during maturation of plant seeds and grains is a common constituent of plant-derived fish feed. Phytate-bound phosphorus (P) is not available to gastric or agastric fish. A major concern about the presence of phytate in the aquafeed is its negative effect on growth performance, nutrient and energy utilization, and mineral uptake. Bound phytate-P, can be effectively converted to available-P by phytase. During the last decade, phytase has been used by aqua feed industries to enhance the growth performance, nutrient utilization and bioavailability of macro and micro minerals in fish and also to reduce the P pollution into the aquatic environment. Phytase activity is highly dependent on the pH of the fish gut. Unlike mammals, fish are either gastric or agastric, and hence, the action of dietary phytase varies from species to species. In comparison to poultry and swine production, the use of phytase in fish feed is still in an unproven stage. This review discusses effects of phytate on fish, dephytinisation processes, phytase and pathway for phytate degradation, phytase production systems, mode of phytase application, bioefficacy of phytase, effects of phytase on growth performance, nutrient utilization and aquatic environment pollution, and optimum dosage of phytase in fish diets.     

Dietary phytate (inositol hexaphosphate) regulates the activity of intestinal mucosa phytase

The role of dietary phytate (inositol hexaphosphate) in the regulation of intestinal mucosa phytase was investigated in chicks. Seven-day-old chicks were grouped by weight into six blocks of three cages with six birds per cage. Three purified diets [a chemically defined casein diet, a chemically defined casein diet plus sodium phytate (20 g/kg diet) and a chemically defined casein diet plus sodium phytate (20 g/kg diet) and microbial phytase (1000 units/kg diet)] were randomly assigned to cages within each block. Chicks were fed experimental diets from 8 to 22 days of age then killed, and duodenal mucosa and left tibia removed. Phytase activity in duodenal mucosa, growth performance and bone ash content were determined. Addition of phytate to the chemically defined casein diet reduced (p < 0.05) the V(max) of the duodenal brush border phytase, but the K(m) of the enzyme was not affected. Addition of phytate also reduced (p < 0.05) weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency and percentage ash. Addition of microbial phytase fully restored the feed efficiency (p < 0.05), but V(max) and body weight gain were only partially restored (p < 0.05). In conclusion, it would seem that dietary phytates non-competitively inhibit intestinal mucosa phytase.     

Effects of pretreatment with microbial phytase on phosphorous utilization and growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

This study was to assess effects of the pretreatment in all‐plant based diets with microbial phytase on phosphorous utilization and growth performance of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Pretreatment trials were conducted using phytase at graded doses to determine the optimal dose of phytase. Available phosphorus (P) levels increased significantly with the increased doses of phytase and the dose of 1000 U kg^?1 was most efficient. Based on the pretreatment trials, plant based diets for Nile tilapia were formulated by pretreating with phytase at 1000 U kg^?1. Experimental diets were supplemented with graded levels of mono calcium phosphate (MCP) at 25, 18.75, 12.5, 6.25 and 0 g kg ^?1 diet. In addition, there were three controls: one phytase control, one inorganic P control and one pretreatment control. The results showed that diets pretreated with phytase gave better growth performance, feed conversion ratio and protein efficiency ratio of Nile tilapia compared with the phytase control diet and pretreatment control diet (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in growth performance of Nile tilapia between the inorganic control diet and phytase pretreated diets supplemented with MCP at 25, 18.75 and 12.5 g kg^?1 (P > 0.05), which resulted in significantly better performance than those at 6.25 and 0 g kg^?1 (P < 0.05). Dietary interaction effects of phytase were observed for phosphorus retention efficiency and phosphorus load. Apparent digestibility coefficient of P (ADCp) was improved significantly by phytase pretreatment (P < 0.05). No significant difference was detected on ADC of crude protein among all experimental diets (P > 0.05).     

青霉植酸酶生产条件及纯化的研究

青霉培养液的原始pH值为5.5时，植酸酶大量地产生，酶活性高，在青霉的生长过程中，维持培养液pH的不降低会抑制青霉的生长，植酸钙可促进植酸酶活性的提高，粗酶液经硫酸铵分级沉淀，再经SephadexG-100凝胶过滤，洗脱液有2个具有酶活力的蛋白峰，植酸酶被纯化了3.3倍，比活力达71.3U/mg。     

中型褐壳产蛋鸡饲粮非植酸磷适宜水平的研究

用20周龄的商品代北京红开产蛋鸡150只进行饲养试验和磷代谢试验，研究饲粮非植酸磷水平对20－40周龄阶段蛋鸡产蛋性能、蛋及蛋壳品质、血清生化特性和饲粮植酸磷表观消化利用率的影响，进而从多方面综合评价中型褐壳产蛋鸡的饲粮非植酸磷适宜水平，同时测定产蛋鸡对饲粮植酸磷的消化能力。试鸡按完全随机设计以体重随机分为5个处理组，分别喂以含非植酸磷0．20％、0．25％、0．30％、0．35％和0．40％及含钙量均为3．5％的玉米一豆粕型饲粮。饲粮非植酸磷水平对鸡的产蛋率、蛋重、产蛋量、采食量、饲料效率、蛋壳强度、蛋品哈氏单位、蛋形指数、血清白蛋白、球蛋白和碱性磷酸酶（AKP）活性无明显影响（P＞0．18），而对蛋壳厚（P＜0．04）、蛋壳重（P＜0．07）及植酸磷表观消化率（P＜0．05）有显著影响。蛋壳厚、蛋壳强度及蛋壳重 0．20％非植酸磷水平组最大，此时鸡对饲粮植酸磷的表观消化率高达70．5％，但随饲粮非植酸磷水平的增加，上述4项指标均恒定降低，在0．30％－0．40％非植酸磷水平，蛋壳厚（P＜0．04）和蛋壳重（P＜0．07）明显降低，在0．25％和0．40％时植酸磷表观消化率分别比0．20％水平组降低17．7T和21．4个百分点（P＜0．05）。结果表明，北京红中型褐壳产蛋鸡在20－40周龄阶段的饲粮非植酸磷水平以0．20％（实测值为0．23％）为宜；中型褐壳产蛋鸡对饲粮植酸磷有很强的消化能力。