Effects of reducing postprandial hyperglycemia and metabolism of acetate wheat starch on healthy mice

Abstract Recently, the acetate wheat starch (AWS) has been prepared by acetylation with an acetyl content of 2.42%, containing of rapidly digestible starch (RDS), slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) with 25.0%; 22.9% and 34.5%, respectively. In this study, this kind of starch was continuously evaluated with the postprandial blood glucose response and determined short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) metabolized from AWS in the gastrointestinal tract of healthy mice by HPLC. The result showed that the mice fed with AWS exhibited a very limited increase in blood glucose level and remained stable for 2 hours after meals efficiently comparing with the control group fed with natural wheat starch (NWS). Simultaneously, the content of SCFAs produced in the caecum of the mice fed with AWS was significantly higher than mice fed with NWS, especially with acetic and propionic acids by 28% and 26%, respectively. Thus, AWS has shown to limit the postprandial hyperglycemia in mice effectively through the resistance to amylase hydrolysis in the small intestine. When going into the caecum, it is fermented to form SCFAs providing a part of energy for the body's activities, avoiding rotten fermentation causing digestive disorders which are inherent restrictions of normal high cellulose and fiber food.

Genome-wide characterization of the abscisic acid-, stress- and ripening-induced (ASR) gene family in wheat (Triticum aestivum L)

BACKGROUND: Abscisic acid-, stress-, and ripening-induced (ASR) genes are a class of plant specific transcription factors (TFs), which play important roles in plant development, growth and abiotic stress responses. The wheat ASRs have not been described in genome-wide yet. METHODS: We predicted the transmembrane regions and subcellular localization using the TMHMM server, and Plant-mPLoc server and CELLO v2.5, respectively. Then the phylogeny tree was built by MEGA7. The exon-intron structures, conserved motifs and TFs binding sites were analyzed by GSDS, MEME program and PlantRegMap, respectively. RESULTS: In wheat, 33ASR genes were identified through a genome-wide survey and classified into six groups. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the TaASR proteins in the same group tightly clustered together, compared with those from other species. Duplication analysis indicated that the TaASR gene family has expanded mainly through tandem and segmental duplication events. Similar gene structures and conserved protein motifs of TaASRs in wheat were identified in the same groups. ASR genes contained various TF binding cites associated with the stress responses in the promoter region. Gene expression was generally associated with the expected group-specific expression pattern in five tissues, including grain, leaf, root, spike and stem, indicating the broad conservation of ASR genes function during wheat evolution. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed that several ASRs were up-regulated in response to NaCl and PEG stress. CONCLUSION: We identified ASR genes in wheat and found that gene duplication events are the main driving force for ASR gene evolution in wheat. The expression of wheat ASR genes was modulated in responses to multiple abiotic stresses, including drought/osmotic and salt stress. The results provided important information for further identifications of the functions of wheat ASR genes and candidate genes for high abiotic stress tolerant wheat breeding.

Screening and characterization of endophytic Bacillus and Paenibacillus strains from medicinal plant Lonicera japonica for use as potential plant growth promoters

Abstract A total of 48 endophytic bacteria were isolated from surface-sterilized tissues of the medicinal plant Lonicera japonica, which is grown in eastern China; six strains were selected for further study based on their potential ability to promote plant growth in vitro (siderophore and indoleacetic acid production). The bacteria were characterized by phylogenetically analyzing their 16S rRNA gene similarity, by examining their effect on the mycelial development of pathogenic fungi, by testing their potential plant growth-promoting characteristics, and by measuring wheat growth parameters after inoculation. Results showed that the number of endophytic bacteria in L. japonica varied among different tissues, but it remained relatively stable in the same tissues from four different plantation locations. Among the three endophytic strains, strains 122 and 124 both had high siderophore production, with the latter showing the highest phosphate solubilization activity (45.6 mg/L) and aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid deaminase activity (47.3 nmol/mg/h). Strain 170 had the highest indoleacetic acid (IAA) production (49.2 mg/L) and cellulase and pectinase activities. After inoculation, most of the six selected isolates showed a strong capacity to promote wheat growth. Compared with the controls, the increase in the shoot length, root length, fresh weight, dry weight, and chlorophyll content was most remarkable in wheat seedlings inoculated with strain 130. The positive correlation between enzyme (cellulose and pectinase) activity and inhibition rate on Fusarium oxysporum, the IAA production, and the root length of wheat seedlings inoculated with each tested endophytic strain was significant in regression analysis. Deformity of pathogenic fungal mycelia was observed under a microscope after the interaction with the endophytic isolates. Such deformity may be directly related to the production of hydrolytic bacterial enzymes (cellulose and pectinase). The six endophytic bacterial strains were identified to be Paenibacillus and Bacillus strains based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis and their physiological and biochemical characteristics. Results indicate the promising application of endophytic bacteria to the biological control of pathogenic fungi and the improvement of wheat crop growth.

Alimentos integrais / Foods Integrals

Introdução: Alimento integral é aquele que não teve sua estrutura modificada no processo de industrialização e manteve as vitaminas, os minerais e as fibras. Objetivo: Verificar evidências do uso dos alimentos integrais na prevenção e tratamento de doenças. Métodos: Busca sistematizada da literatura, por meio de busca eletrônica de artigos que avaliem o uso de alimentos integrais na terapêutica médica. Resultados: Encontramos uma revisão sistemática com 10 estudos com pouca qualidade metodológica e de curta duração. Esse estudo evidenciou uma diminuição significativa do colesterol total e do LDL-colesterol (lipoproteína de baixa densidade), sem influência na glicemia, peso corpóreo, pressão arterial e triglicérides, no grupo suplementado com alimentos integrais. Encontramos um ensaio clínico randomizado com 18 meses de acompanhamento, no qual o grupo que ingeriu alimentos integrais teve perda de peso com diminuição significativa da circunferência abdominal, sem perda significativa de vitaminas, minerais e fibras. Conclusão: Pelos estudos apresentados, os efeitos redutores do colesterol e do LDL-colesterol estão demonstrados em estudos de curta duração. Há necessidade de mais estudos com boa qualidade metodológica para verificarmos em longo prazo todas as alterações metabólicas e consequentes benefícios circulatórios.

Cultivares de trigo duplo propósito submetidos ao manejo nitrogenado e a regimes de corte / Dual-purpose wheat cultivars submitted to nitrogen fertilization and cutting regimes

Avaliaram-se a produção e a qualidade da forragem em cultivares de trigo duplo propósito submetidos a doses de nitrogênio e a regimes de corte. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso com três repetições. Os tratamentos constituíram-se de quatro cultivares de trigo duplo propósito - BRS Figueira, BRS Umbu, BRS Guatambu e BRS Tarumã -, cinco doses de nitrogênio - 0, 45, 90, 135 e 180kg ha-1 - e três manejos de corte - sem corte, um e dois cortes. As variáveis avaliadas foram: produção de forragem, relação de folhas, proteína bruta, digestibilidade in vitro da matéria orgânica e nutrientes digestíveis totais. A adubação nitrogenada apresentou comportamento linear crescente sobre a produção de massa e proteína da forragem e não houve efeito sobre as demais variáveis. A produção de forragem aumentou no segundo corte e sua qualidade decresceu. Os resultados quantitativos e qualitativos da forragem foram distintos entre os cultivares. Os cultivares de trigo duplo propósito de ciclo mais longo apresentaram maior qualidade forrageira e menor produção de forragem.

Production and quality of forage were evaluated in four dual-purpose wheat cultivars submitted to nitrogen fertilization and cutting regimes. The experimental design was randomized blocks with three replicates. The treatments consisted of four dual purpose wheat (BRS Figueira, BRS Umbu, BRS Guatambu, and BRS Tarumã), five nitrogen doses (0, 45, 90, 135, and 180kg ha-1 ), and three cutting managements (no cuts, one and two cuts). The studied variables were: forage production, leaf ratio, crude protein, in vitro digestibility of organic matter and total digestible nutrients. The nitrogen fertilizer showed a linear increase on the fodder yield and protein and there was no effect on other variables. Forage production increased in the second harvest and its quality decreased. The quantitative and qualitative results of the forage were different among cultivars. The longer cycle dual-purpose wheat had higher nutritional quality and lower forage production.

Screening of wheat varieties and associated bacterial population in old alluvial soil of Burdwan, West Bengal.

In order to screen out the best variety of wheat (Triticum aestivum) out of eight varieties (viz., HP 1633, BW 11, NW 1014, Sonalika, HUW 468, K 9107, HP 1731 and HUW 234), a field experiment was conducted (from Dec. 2002 to April 2003) in a randomized block design replicated thrice at Crop Research and Seed Multiplication Farm, Burdwan University, West Bengal, India. Various morpho physiological parameters viz., plant population, length of shoot and root, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), leaf area ratio (LAR), leaf area duration (LAD), net assimilation rate (NAR), yield attributes viz., length of panicles, number of grains per panicle, grain yield, straw yield, pigment content in flag leaf (chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll and carotenoid content) were estimated and analyzed statistically Soil bacterial populations were also estimated in the fallow land before sowing of seeds and after harvesting of crop. The HUW 468 variety records higher grain yield, maximum panicle length and maximum chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll content.

Determinación de deoxinivalenol (DON) en trigo, cebada y maíz y su relación con los niveles de mohos totales, Fusarium spp: porcentaje de colonización y actividad de agua / Determination of deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat, barley and corn and its relationship with the levels of total molds Fusarium spp: infestation percentage, and water activity

Cincuenta muestras de cereales incluyendo 30 de trigo (10 de trigo duro rojo de primera, 10 de trigo suave rojo de invierno y 10 trigo durum ámbar), 10 de cebada y 10 de maíz (5 de maíz blanco y 5 de maíz amarillo) fueron analizadas para determinar mediante TLC los niveles de deoxinivalenol (DON), metabolito secundario tóxico producido por especies de Fusarium. El aw de las muestras, la micoflora externa e interna y los niveles de Fusarium spp., fueron también investigados. Los resultados reflejaron que el mayor grado de infección (12-80 por ciento) y el mayor contaje de mohos totales (3,9 Log UFC/g) fueron detectados en trigo, mientras que los mayores niveles de Fusarium spp. (2,3 Log UFC/g) fueron detectados en maíz blanco. Deoxinivalenol fue detectado en trigo y cebada, pero no en maíz. Las muestras de trigo suave rojo de invierno presentaron los mayores niveles de DON (3,2 ug/g), estando este valor encima de los límites permitidos por la FDA. No se encontró correlación entre los contajes de mohos totales, Fusarium spp., grado de infestación, aw y niveles de Don. Estos resultados sugieren que hay que extremar las medidas de control a fin de evitar la importación de cereales contaminados