Drought is one of the most severe environmental stress factors limiting crop yield especially when occurring during anthesis and seed filling. This terminal drought is characterized by an excess ...production of the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) which plays an important role during seed development and dormancy. All the genes putatively involved in ABA biosynthesis and inactivation in barley were identified and their expression studied during plant ontogeny under standard and drought-stress conditions to learn more about ABA homeostasis and the possible mode of cross-talk between source and sink tissues. Out of 41 genes related to ABA biosynthesis and inactivation 19 were found to be differentially regulated under drought stress in both flag leaves and developing seed during seed filling. Transcripts of plastid-located enzymes are regulated similarly in flag leaf and seed under terminal drought whereas transcripts of cytosolic enzymes are differentially regulated in the two tissues. Detailed information on the expression of defined gene family members is supplemented by measurements of ABA and its degradation and conjugation products, respectively. Under drought stress, flag leaves in particular contain high concentrations of both ABA and the ABA degradation products phaseic acid (PA) and diphaseic acid (DPA); whereas, in seeds, besides ABA, DPA was mainly found. The measurements also revealed a positive correlation between ABA level and starch content in developing seeds for the following reasons: (i) genes of the ABA controlled SnRK2.6 and RCAR/PP2C-mediated signal transduction pathway to the ABF transcription factor HvABI5 are activated in the developing grain under drought, (ii) novel ABA- and dehydration-responsive cis-elements have been found in the promoters of key genes of starch biosynthesis (HvSUS1, HvAGP-L1) and degradation (HvBAM1) and these transcripts/activity are prominently induced in developing seeds during 12 and 16 DAF, (iii) spraying of fluridone (an ABA biosynthesis inhibitor) to drought-stressed plants results in severely impaired starch content and thousand grain weight of mature seeds.
Among procyanidins (PC), monomers, such as catechin and epicatechin, have been widely studied, whereas dimer and trimer oligomers have received much less attention, despite their abundance in our ...diet. Recent studies have showed that as dimers and trimers could be important in determining the biological effects of procyanidin-rich food, understanding their bioavailability and metabolism is fundamental. The purpose of the present work is to study the stability of PC under digestion conditions, the metabolism and the bioavailability by using a combination of in vitro and in vivo models. Simultaneously, the matrix effect of a carbohydrate-rich food on the digestibility and bioavailability of PC is investigated. The results show a high level of stability of PC under gastric and duodenal digestion conditions. However, the pharmacokinetic study revealed limited absorption. Free forms of dimers and trimers have been detected in rat plasma, reaching the maximum concentration 1 h after oral intake of a grape seed extract.
Physico-chemical characteristics of milk are related to its composition for a particular animal species. Sheep milk contains higher levels of total solids and major nutrient than goat and cow milk. ...Lipids in sheep and goat milk have higher physical characteristics than in cow milk, but physico-chemical indices (i.e., saponification, Reichert Meissl and Polenske values) vary between different reports. Micelle structures in goat and sheep milk differ in average diameter, hydration, and mineralization from those of cow milk. Caprine casein micelles contain more calcium and inorganic phosphorus, are less solvated, less heat stable, and lose β-casein more readily than bovine casein micelles. Renneting parameters in cheese making of sheep milk are affected by physico-chemical properties, including pH, larger casein micelle, more calcium per casein weight, and other mineral contents in milk, which cause differences in coagulation time, coagulation rate, curd firmness, and amount of rennet needed. Renneting time for goat milk is shorter than for cow milk, and the weak consistency of the gel is beneficial for human digestion but decreases its cheese yield. Triacylglycerols (TAG) constitute the biggest part of milk lipids (nearly 98%), including a large number of esterified fatty acids. Sheep and goat milk also have simple lipids (diacylglycerols, monoacylglycerols, cholesterol esters), complex lipids (phospholipids), and liposoluble compounds (sterols, cholesterol esters, hydrocarbons). The average fat globule size is smallest (<3.5
μm) in sheep milk followed by goat and cow milk. Five fatty acids (C10:0, C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, and C18:1) account for >75% of total fatty acids in goat and sheep milk. Levels of the metabolically valuable short and medium chain fatty acids, caproic (C6:0) (2.9%, 2.4%, 1.6%), caprylic (C8:0) (2.6%, 2.7%, 1.3%), capric (C10:0) (7.8%, 10.0%, 3.0%), and lauric (C12:0) (4.4%, 5.0%, 3.1%) are significantly higher in sheep and goat than in cow milk, respectively. Principal caseins (CN) in goat, sheep and cow milk are α
s1-CN, α
s2-CN, β-CN and κ-CN. The main forms of caprine and ovine caseino-macropeptides (CMP), which are the soluble C-terminal derivatives from the action of chymosin on κ-casein during the milk clotting process of cheesemaking, have been identified and are a good source of antithrombotic peptides. Sheep and goat milk proteins are also important sources of bioactive angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides and antihypertensive peptides. They can provide a non-immune disease defence and control of microbial infections. Important minor milk proteins include immunoglobulins, lactoferrin, transferrin, ferritin, proteose peptone, calmodulin (calcium binding protein), prolactin, and folate-binding protein. Non-protein nitrogen (NPN) contents of goat and human milks are higher than in cow milk. Taurine in goat and sheep milk derived from sulphur-containing amino acids has important metabolic functions as does carnitine, which is a valuable nutrient for the human neonate. Mineral and vitamin contents of goat and sheep milk are mostly higher than in cow milk.
In order to promote the use of mushrooms as source of nutrients and nutraceuticals, several experiments were performed in wild and commercial species. The analysis of nutrients included determination ...of proteins, fats, ash, and carbohydrates, particularly sugars by HPLC-RI. The analysis of nutraceuticals included determination of fatty acids by GC-FID, and other phytochemicals such as tocopherols, by HPLC-fluorescence, and phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids and ascorbic acid, by spectrophotometer techniques. The antimicrobial properties of the mushrooms were also screened against fungi, Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. The wild mushroom species proved to be less energetic than the commercial sp., containing higher contents of protein and lower fat concentrations. In general, commercial species seem to have higher concentrations of sugars, while wild sp. contained lower values of MUFA but also higher contents of PUFA. α-Tocopherol was detected in higher amounts in the wild species, while γ-tocopherol was not found in these species. Wild mushrooms revealed a higher content of phenols but a lower content of ascorbic acid, than commercial mushrooms. There were no differences between the antimicrobial properties of wild and commercial species. The ongoing research will lead to a new generation of foods, and will certainly promote their nutritional and medicinal use.
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► Seven acid-insoluble lignin fractions were successively isolated with aqueous ethanol, alkali, and alkaline ethanol from the dewaxed bamboo (Neosinocalamus affinis). ► The ...successive treatments resulted in a total yield of acid-insoluble lignin fractions of 10.06%, corresponding to release of 62.25% original lignin from the cell walls. ► The lignin fractions extracted with 0.5 and 1.0M NaOH had a predominance of β-O-4′ (over 80% of all linkages), followed by low amounts of β-β′, β-5′, β-1′ linkages, and p-hydroxycinnamyl alcohol end groups. ► The lignin side chains were found to be partially acylated at the γ-carbon with p-coumarate and/or acetate groups.
A sequential process with the combination of ethanol and alkali aqueous solutions was utilized to extract lignin from bamboo (Neosinocalamus affinis), a potential lignocellulosic material. In this case, the successive treatments of dewaxed bamboo with 70% ethanol at 80°C, 0.2 and 0.5M NaOH, 70% ethanol containing 0.6M NaOH, and 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0M NaOH at 50°C, resulted in a total yield of acid-insoluble lignin fractions of 10.06%, corresponding to release of 62.25% original lignin from the cell walls. The lignin fractions obtained were then characterized by GPC, FT-IR, NMR spectroscopy, and sugar analysis. As compared to the alkali lignin fractions, the ethanol-soluble lignin fraction had a relatively higher molecular weight (2670g/mol) and the content of carbohydrates primarily consisted of glucose 2.01% and xylose 1.90%. This suggested that the carbohydrate chains linked to lignin may increase the hydrodynamic volume of lignin and therefore increase the apparent molecular weight of the ethanol-soluble lignin. HSQC spectra analysis revealed that the alkali lignin fractions consisted mainly of β-O-4′ linkages combined with small amounts of β-β′, β-5′, β-1′ linkages, and p-hydroxycinnamyl alcohol end groups. Furthermore, minor amounts of esterified p-coumaric and ferulic acids were also detected in the lignins isolated.
Light quality is highly important for growth control of in vitro plant cultures. Here, we investigated the effect of blue light (BL), red light (RL) and combined red and blue light (RBL) on in vitro ...cassava growth. Our results indicate that RL facilitated radial elongation of cassava and increased stomatal conductance as well as glucose, sucrose, fructose and starch content in leaves and cellulose content in the stem. It also enhanced SOD and POD activities but decreased the stomatal density and chlorophyll and carotenoid content in leaves. In addition, RL leads to shorter palisade cells, denser chloroplasts and more starch granules. These phenotypic changes were inverted following BL treatment. The expression levels of photosynthesis-related genes MeLHCA1, MeLHCA3, MePSB27-2, MePSBY, MePETE1 and MePNSL2 in leaves were at their lowest following RL treatment, while the expression levels of MePSB27-2, MePSBY, MePETE1 and MePNSL2 were at their highest after BL treatment. The phenotypic changes after RBL treatment were between the values observed for the RL and BL treatments alone. Moreover, the responses of SC8 and SC9 cassava varieties to light quality were largely conserved. As such, we believe that the results of this study lay the foundation for controlling the in vitro growth of cassava seedlings by light quality.
Fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) are short-chain carbohydrates that can be poorly absorbed by the small intestine and may have a wide range of effects on ...gastrointestinal processes. FODMAPs include lactose, fructose in excess of glucose, fructans and fructooligosaccharides (FOS, nystose, kestose), galactooligosaccharides (GOS, raffinose, stachyose), and sugar polyols (sorbitol, mannitol). This paper describes an analytical approach based on HPLC with ELSD that quantifies the major FODMAPs in 45 vegetables and 41 fruits. Sorbitol and/or mannitol were measured in 18 vegetables (range = 0.09-2.96 g/100 g of fw), raffinose and/or stachyose in 7 vegetables (0.08-0.68 g/100 g of fw), and nystose and/or kestose in 19 vegetables (0.02-0.71 g/100 g of fw). Apple, pear, mango, clingstone peach, and watermelon all contained fructose in excess of glucose. Sorbitol was measured in 15 fruits (0.53-5.99 g/100 g of fw), mannitol was found in 2 fruits, and nystose or kestose was measured in 8 fruits. Understanding the importance of dietary FODMAPs will be greatly assisted by comprehensive food composition data.
•Allelochemicals are eco-friendly materials having a significant role in weed control.•In the current study, 43 compounds were identified representing 98.98% of total methanolic extract ...composition.•The main chemical components obtained were Palmitic acid (17.50%), Palmitoleic acid (14.32%) and Oleic acid (13.83)•This study could provide an understanding about the process of weed-weed interaction for eco-friendly weed management strategy.
Allelochemicals are eco-friendly and play a significant part in weed control. In this regard, an in-vitro investigation was performed to evaluate the phytotoxic potential of Nicotiana. plumbaginifolia Viv. on Senna sophera (L.) Roxb., Chenopodium album L., Senna tora (L.) Roxb. and Setaria viridis L. The experiment is aimed to assess the impact of leaf leachate of the allelopathic plant on the biochemical parameters (chlorophyll, carbohydrate, protein and proline content) of recipient weeds. The treatments showed a retarding effect on the biochemical events. Carbohydrate and proline content were increased in test plants whereas protein and chlorophyll content declined in comparison to the control. Aqueous leachates proved to be more suppressive than organic fractions on weeds viz; S. sophera and C. album were suppressed more as compared to S. tora and S. viridis. The GC–MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometry) analysis showed the incidence of different phytochemical entities in the leaf methanolic extract of leaf of N. plumbaginifolia. Forty three compounds were identified representing 98.98% of total methanolic extract composition. The main chemical components were Palmitic acid (17.50%), Palmitoleic acid (14.32%), Oleic acid (13.83), Phytol (8.46%), Neophytadiene (5.47%) and Solasodine (4.23%). The allelopathy of the volatile allelochemicals may perform a vital part in inhibiting the competitive ability of weed species and be one of the alternatives to control weed infestation.
•Potato response to cold may depend on the balance regulation between the activity of the saccharolytic enzymes – vacuolar invertase PAIN-1 and sucrose synthase SUS4, and the ability of the vacuolar ...invertase inhibitor INH2 to block PAIN-1.•Neither the expression of INH2 or PAIN-1 alone, nor their co-expression can serve as a sign of CIS-resistance in potatoes.•The co-expression profile of INH2, PAIN-1, and SUS4 can serve as an expression marker for potato resistance to cold stress or CIS.•SUS4 expression level, rather than PAIN-1 and INH2 expression, may be associated with potato resistance to cold stress and CIS.
Wild tuber-bearing species are commonly used as a source of valuable traits to develop new potato cultivars. One of the trends in potato breeding is elimination of cold-induced sweetening, which depends on the balance between activities of saccharolytic enzymes (vacuolar invertase PAIN-1 and sucrose synthase SUS4 that hydrolyze sucrose) and vacuolar invertase inhibitor INH2 that regulates the PAIN-1 activity. To clarify the mechanisms underlying cold resistance, we investigated INH2 polymorphism and tissue-specific expression, and co-expression profiles of INH2, PAIN-1, and SUS4 in wild tuber-bearing potatoes and Solanum tuberosum cultivars. Novel INH2 homologs were identified in eight wild species and four cultivars. Structural analysis predicted an N-terminal signal peptide and showed that nucleotide and amino acid polymorphisms (13.09% and 18.91%, respectively) did not affect the INH2 tertiary structure, suggesting that the INH2 function may be conserved in potato both at the intra- and inter-specific levels. INH2 and PAIN-1 mRNA were detected in buds, flowers, leaves, stems, roots, and tubers of S. tuberosum cv. Nadezhda, showing the highest (INH2) and lowest (PAIN-1) levels in the roots. During cold storage, tubers of four cultivars accumulated glucose and fructose, while the sucrose content changed insignificantly; INH2, PAIN-1, and SUS4 co-expression patterns in freshly harvested and cold-stored tubers differed among the cultivars. Cold exposure also caused distinct effects on INH2, PAIN-1, and SUS4 co-expression patterns in the leaves of four wild species differing in cold resistance. These data indicate that cold response in potato may depend on specific combinations of INH2, PAIN-1, and SUS4 activities.
Lodging resistance can be improved by enhancing the mechanical strength of culms, and culm carbohydrates could improve this mechanical strength. Culm carbohydrates can regulate development of the ...culm and affect its toughness.
The present study determines the relationship between lodging and carbohydrate content in oat culms. Field experiments were conducted in alpine regions in 2017 and 2018 using three oat varieties with different lodging resistance. Lodging‐related morphological characteristics were directly determined and culm carbohydrate content and enzyme activity related to cellulose synthesis and sucrose metabolism were evaluated with ultraviolet spectrophotometry.
Results showed that the lower the gravity height or the lower ratio of gravity height to plant height, the stronger the lodging resistance of the varieties. Higher culm nonstructural (NSC) and structural (SC) carbohydrate content contributed to the ability of culms to resist lodging, especially the content of cellulose and sucrose. PCA showed that sucrose metabolism and SC content were closely related to lodging resistance. Correlation analysis showed that the lodging index (LI) was significantly negatively correlated with NSC. Sucrose content was highly and significantly positively correlated with NSC. Additionally, the activities of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and sucrose synthase (SS) were highly and significantly positively correlated with sucrose and cellulose content.
The relationship between field characters and oat lodging, as well as the regulatory mechanism of carbohydrate content on lodging resistance of the culm are discussed.
The morphological characteristics and carbohydrate content of 3 oat cultivars with different lodging resistance were determined, and results showed that gravity height and the ratio of gravity height to plant height, the content of cellulose and sucrose were significantly correlated related to lodging resistance.
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