Evaluación de galletas a base de harina de quinua(Chenopodium quinoa) y maíz (Zea mays) empleandodiferentes hidrocoloides / Evaluation of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and corn (Zea mays) flour-basedcookies using different hydrocolloids

Introducción: La quinua (Chenopodium quinoa), es un pseudocereal andino, el maíz (Zea mays L.) es uno de los principales cultivos del mundo, en la antigüedad se empleaba para la alimentación de las personas de sectores rurales y para dieta animal, ambos cereales tienes las propiedades para poder ser industrializados en el área de repostería como es el caso de las galletas Objetivo: Evaluar las formulaciones de galletas a base de harina de quinua (chenopodium quinoa) y maíz (zea mays) empleando diferentes hidrocoloides Materiales y métodos: Para la elaboración de las galletas se empleó un Diseños Completamente al Azar (D.C.A), con modelo factorial AxB, donde Factor A= Tipo de harina (quinua y maíz), Factor B= Hidrocoloides Resultados: La concentración del 60 % harina de quinua + harina de maíz 40 % + goma xantana, situó los mejores valores para las características fisicoquímicas. Sin embargo, el T5= 40 % harina de quinua + harina de maíz 60 % + goma xantana, obtuvo la mejor valoración en los perfiles sensoriales (color, textura, sabor y aceptabilidad), en cuanto a los análisis microbiológicos no se encontró presencia de E. coli, levaduras y mohosConclusión: En cuanto los resultados fisicoquímicos, se demostró que los tratamientos presentaron una humedad dentro de límites permisibles por la Norma Técnica Ecuatoriana INEN 2 085:2005. Galletas, Requisitos. Por su parte, el T2 resalto en el contenido de proteína (8.12 %) y carbohidratos (64.46 %). El T5 obtuvo mejores atributos sensoriales, Así mismo el análisis microbiológico presentó ausencia en E. coli, levaduras y mohos.(AU)

Introduction: Quinoa is a pseudocereal of high nutritionalvalue, rich in proteins, lipids, fiber, vitamins and gluten-free.On the other hand, corn is a cereal that is characterized by itshigh production and commercialization. In ancient times, it was used to feed people in rural areas and for animal feed. Itis important to point out that both cereals have the propertiesand characteristics to be used as raw material in the elabora-tion of food products.Objective: To evaluate the physicochemical and sensorycharacteristics of quinoa (C. quinoa) and corn (Z mays) flour-based cookies using different hydrocolloids.Materials and methods: For the production of the cook-ies, a completely randomized design (CRD) was used with anA*B factorial model, where factor A = quinoa flour/corn flourratio and factor B = hydrocolloids.Results: The concentration of 60% quinoa flour + 40%corn flour + xanthan gum gave the best values for the physic-ochemical characteristics. However, T5, which corresponds to40% quinoa flour + 60% corn flour + xanthan gum, obtainedthe best evaluation in the sensory profiles (color, texture, fla-vor and acceptability). In terms of microbiological analysis, noE. coli, yeasts or molds were found. For this reason, the safetyof the raw material and the final product is guaranteed.Conclusion: As for the physicochemical analyses, thetreatments presented a moisture content within the limits es-tablished by the Ecuadorian Technical Standard INEN 2085,requirements for cookies. Therefore, it is concluded that byincluding 60% quinoa flour + 40% corn flour + xanthan gum,the protein (8.12%) and carbohydrate (64.46%) content in-creased considerably. While the use of 40% quinoa flour +60% corn flour + xanthan gum allowed intensifying the sen-sory attributes, obtaining the best results. In addition, it wasdetermined that the raw material and final product is innocu-ous and free of microorganisms, being suitable for human consumption.(AU)

Spring applied phosphorus loss with cover crops in no-till terraced field.

Cover crops (CC) can improve phosphorus (P) cycling by reducing water related P losses and contributing to P nutrition of a rotational crop. This is particularly important in claypan soils with freeze-thaw cycles in early spring in the Midwest U.S. This 4-year study (2019-2022) examined the impact of CC monoculture and mix of CC species on P losses from a fertilizer application, and determined the P balance in soil compared to no cover crop (noCC). The CC mix consisted of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), radish (Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. Sativus), and turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. Rapa) (3xCCmix) in 2019 and 2021 before corn, and cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) was planted as monoculture before soybean in 2020 and 2022. The 3xCCmix had no effect on total phosphorus (TP) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (PO4-P) concentration or load in 2019 and 2021. Cereal rye reduced TP and PO4-P load 70% and 73%, respectively, compared to noCC. The variation in soil moisture, temperature, and net precipitation from fertilizer application until CC termination affected available soil P pools due to variability in CC species P uptake, residue decomposition, and P loss in surface water runoff. Overall, the P budget calculations showed cereal rye had 2.4 kg ha-1 greater P uptake compared to the 3xCCmix species which also reduced P loss in water and had greater differences in soil P status compared to noCC. This study highlights the benefit of CCs in reducing P loss in surface runoff and immobilizing P through plant uptake. However, these effects were minimal with 3xCCmix species and variability in crop residue decomposition from different CC species could affect overall P-soil balance.

Response of tef yield and yield components to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers.

The challenge facing Ethiopian farmers are the combination of low soil fertility and reduced agricultural productivity. The study aimed to quantify nitrogen and phosphorus-containing fertilizers for tef production in Sekota and Lasta-Lalibela districts, using four nitrogen and three phosphorus levels from urea and triple super phosphate sources. The Results showed that nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers significantly affected tef yield and yield components. Application of nitrogen at the rate of 92 kg ha-1 increased tef grain yield by 131.01%, 87.78% and 182.23% in Woleh, Sayda and Lasta Lalibela districts, respectively, compared to control treatment. Similarly, 23 kg ha-1 phosphorus increased tef grain yield by 7.42 and 8.52% in Woleh and Lasta Lalibela, respectively. In Lalibela and Woleh, the application of 92 kg N ha-1 resulted in a maximum net benefits of 2099.6 and 2007 United States Dollar (USD) respectively. Furthermore, in Sayda, the application of 92 kg N ha-1 and 23 kg P2O5 ha-1 yielded a net benefit of 1812.55 USD. The marginal rate of return (MRR) from these applications was 539.6% in Lalibela, 781% in Woleh and 352.44% in Sayda. Therefore, application of 92 N and 23 kg P2O5 ha-1 is appropriate for maximum tef production in Sekota and Lasta districts of Amhara region. Further research and extension services should focus on promoting the adoption of these optimized fertilizer practices among smallholder farmers to maximize the sustainable production of tef.

Variations in grain yield and nutrient status of different maize cultivars by application of zinc sulfate.

Although maize is sensitive to zinc (Zn) deficiencies, the responses of maize cultivars to the foliar application of Zn sulfate (ZnSO4) may vary significantly. Here, we quantified the responses of grain yields and nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) absorption to ZnSO4 using 22 modern maize cultivars. The results revealed that 40.9% of the cultivars were not affected by foliar ZnSO4, whereas only 45.5% of the cultivars responded positively to ZnSO4, which was evidenced by increased grain numbers and shortened bald tip lengths. The impact of Zn fertilizer might be manifested in the dry biomass, from the 8-leaf stage (BBCH 18). For Zn-deficiency resistant cultivars, the foliar application of ZnSO4 enhanced N accumulation by 44.1%, while it reduced P and K absorption by 13.6% and 23.7%, respectively. For Zn-deficiency sensitive maize cultivars, foliar applied ZnSO4 improved the accumulation of N and K by 27.3% and 25.0%, respectively; however, it lowered their utilization efficiency. Hence, determining the optimized application of Zn fertilizer, while avoiding Zn toxicity, should not be based solely on the level of Zn deficiency in the soil, but also, take into consideration the sensitivity of some cultivars to Zn, Furthermore, the supplementation of Zn-deficiency sensitive maize cultivars with N and K is key to maximizing the benefits of Zn fertilization.

Effect of continuous or intermittent feeding of ergot contaminated grain in a mash or pelleted form on the performance and health of feedlot beef steers.

This study evaluated the effect of feeding ergot contaminated grain continuously or intermittently through backgrounding (BG) and finishing (FN) in a mash or pelleted supplement on the growth performance, health and welfare parameters, and carcass characteristics of feedlot beef steers. Sixty black Angus steers (300 ±â€…29.4 kg BW) were used in a complete randomized 238-d study. Steers were stratified by weight and randomly assigned to four different diets (15 steers/treatment) and individually housed. Treatments included: (1) control [CON; no added ergot alkaloids (EA)], (2) continuous ergot mash (CEM; fed continuously at 2 mg total EA/kg of DM), (3) intermittent ergot mash (IEM; fed at 2 mg total EA/kg of DM, during the first week of each 21-d period and CON for the remaining 2 wk, this feeding pattern was repeated in each period), and (4) intermittent ergot pellet (IEP; fed at 2 mg of total EA/kg of DM as a pellet during the first week of each 21-d period and CON for the remaining 2 wk as described for IEM). Steers were fed barley based BG diets containing 40% concentrate:60% silage (DM basis) for 84 d (four 21-d periods), transitioned over 28 d (no ergot fed) to an FN diet (90% concentrate:10% silage DM basis) and fed for 126 d (six 21-d periods) before slaughter. In the BG phase, steer DMI (P < 0.01, 7.45 vs. 8.05 kg/d) and ADG (P < 0.01) were reduced for all EA diets compared to CON. The CEM fed steers had lower ADG (P < 0.01, 0.735 vs. 0.980 kg) and shrunk final BW (P < 0.01, 350 vs. 366 kg) than CON. CEM had lower gain:feed (P < 0.07, 0.130 vs. 0.142) than CON. In the FN phase, steer DMI (P < 0.01, 9.95 vs. 11.05 kg/d) and ADG (P = 0.04) were also decreased for all EA fed steers compared to CON. Total shrunk BW gain (P = 0.03, 202.5 vs. 225.2 kg), final BW (P = 0.03, 617.9 vs. 662.2 kg), and carcass weight (P = 0.06) decreased for all EA fed steers compared to CON. The percentage of AAA carcasses decreased for all EA fed steers (P < 0.01, 46.7 vs. 93.3%) compared to CON. EA fed steers had increased rectal temperatures (P < 0.01, 39.8 vs. 39.4 °C) compared to CON. Pelleting ergot contaminated grain did not reduce the impact of ergot alkaloids on any of the measured parameters during BG or FN. Continuously or intermittently feeding ergot contaminated diets (2 mg total EA/kg of DM) significantly reduced intake, growth performance, and carcass weight, with minimal impact on blood parameters in feedlot steers. Pelleting was not an effective method of reducing ergot toxicity.

Produced by the fungus Claviceps purpurea, ergot alkaloids (EA) are toxic to beef cattle when consumed and can lead to reduction in feed intake and growth performance, vasoconstriction of the blood vessels, hyperthermia, damage to extremities (ears, tails, and hooves) and in severe cases, death. Grain is often cleaned to meet quality standards, and the resulting screenings are often utilized for feeding livestock and can have high concentrations of EA. The application of heat during pelleting of EA contaminated grain has been suggested to reduce its toxicity. Backgrounding and finishing beef cattle feeding experiments were conducted to assess the effect of continuously or intermittently feeding EA contaminated grain (2 mg/kg of diet DM) either as a pellet or as mash on growth performance, health, and animal welfare. Feeding EA grain continuously or intermittently either as a mash or pellet drastically reduced growth performance of steers, with no difference between treatments.

Polyphenol recovery from sorghum bran waste by microwave assisted extraction: Structural transformations as affected by grain phenolic profile.

Sorghum milling waste stream (bran), contains diverse phenolic compounds with bioactive properties. The study determined the potential of microwave assisted extraction (MAE) to recover the bran phenolic compounds. Red, white, and lemon-yellow pericarp sorghum brans were subjected to MAE and phenolic yield and structural transformation vs conventional extraction (control) assessed by UPLC-MS/MS, Folin-Ciocalteu and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity methods. Phenols yield increased from 3.7-20.3 to 12.6-75.5 mg/g, while antioxidants capacity increased average 3.3X in MAE extracts vs controls. Hydroxycinnamic acids increased most dramatically (3.0-32X) in MAE extracts (0.08-2.64 to 2.57-8.01 mg/g), largely driven by release of cell-wall derived feruloyl- and coumaroyl-arabinose. MAE hydrolyzed flavonoid glycosides into aglycones, and depolymerized condensed flavonoid heteropolymers into flavanones, flavanols and (deoxy)anthocyanidins. Thus, MAE dramatically enhances yield of valuable phenolics from sorghum bran waste, but also alters the phenolic profile in ways that may influence their chemical and biological properties.

Selenium loss during boiling processes and its bioaccessibility in different crops: Estimated daily intake.

Food crops provide a good selenium (Se) source for Se-deficient populations. This study assessed how boiling affects Se concentration, speciation, and bioaccessibility in common food crops to determine human Se intake. Boiling rice resulted in an 11.9% decrease in minimum Se content, while sorghum experienced a maximum (34.9%) reduction. Boiled vegetables showed a 21% - 40% Se loss. Cereals showed notable decreases in selenomethionine (SeMet) and selenocysteine (SeCys2), while most vegetables exhibited a significant reduction in Se-methylselenocysteine (SeMeCys). Boiling significantly reduced the Se bioaccessibility in all food crops, except cabbage and potato. Cereal crops were more efficacious in meeting the recommended daily intake (RDI) of Se compared to vegetables. Rice exceeds other crops and provides up to 39.2% of the WHO/FAO-recommended target minimum daily intake of 60 µg/day. This study provides insight into a substantial dissonance between the estimated daily intake (EDI) of Se and the bioaccessible Se in both raw and boiled crops. Consequently, revising EDI standards is imperative.

Protecting spring wheat plants using selenium and pesticides.

The research was carried out in order to find ways to optimize the system of protection of spring wheat crops. In the conducted studies, the effect of combinations of sodium selenite and various pesticides, differing in the specifics of action and biological activity, on the yield and quality of spring wheat of the Yubileinaya 80 variety was studied. Currently, there is a need to achieve a sufficient effect of the action of chemical plant protection products and to obtain a minimum impact on human health and the environment. The purpose of the research is to study the influence of various combinations of chemical plant protection products and methods of using sodium selenite on the yield and grain quality indicators of spring wheat variety Yubileinaya 80. The studies were carried out under the conditions of a vegetative experiment with spring wheat variety Yubileinaya 80. Two methods of using sodium selenite and chemical plant protection agents of different specifics of action were studied: fungicide, herbicide, and insecticide, which were applied in different combinations and at different times. As a result of the studies, the phytotoxicity of the studied preparations of chemical plant protection was revealed, which apparently manifests itself as a result of inhibition of the morphometric indicators of the growth of the root system and vegetative organs of wheat plants, resulting in a violation of the processes of accumulation of assimilates and their outflow to the reproductive organs. Optimal combinations of pesticides and sodium selenite have been established, allowing to obtain reliable changes in yield and quality indicators of wheat grain. It was revealed that the use of selenium treatment before sowing seeds contributed to a decrease in the phytotoxicity of the studied pesticides, as a result of stimulating the processes of absorption by plants and the redistribution of nitrogen to the reproductive organs of wheat, which had a positive effect not only on the yield and quality of spring wheat of the Yubileynaya 80 variety, but also on the external surface microstructure of the fruit shell of the grain. The noted features of the surface of the fruit shell of the grain will reduce losses during grain processing and obtain processed products from such grain of higher quality.

Potential of coffee straw biochal as a substrate conditioner in seed lettuce and sorghum germination and vigority.

The use of residues from coffee production to obtain biochar is a sustainable approach, which aims to minimize the environmental impact of these materials. In this study, the effect of adding coffee straw biochar on the physiological quality of lettuce and sorghum seeds was investigated. Thus, the objective of this work was to study the effect of adding different concentrations of coffee biochar in the substrate composition on the physiological quality of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) seeds. The experimental design used was completely randomized, with five concentrations of biochar (0; 7.5; 15; 30 and 60%), conducted with four replications of 25 seeds. The use of biochar in the concentrations studied does not provide an increase in the average germination percentage and vigor of lettuce and sorghum seeds. The increase in the concentration of biochar caused less seed vigor, suggesting a toxic effect. For seed germination, there was no significant difference between lettuce and sorghum species, regardless of treatment. For the germination speed index, sorghum seeds have higher means, except for the treatment with the addition of 15% coffee straw biochar. Lettuce seeds have higher shoot length averages, except for treatment with 100% commercial substrate. The sorghum seeds have higher mean root length and dry mass than lettuce, regardless of the treatment.

Associations between artificial sweetener intake from cereals, coffee, and tea and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A genetic correlation, mediation, and mendelian randomization analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have emphasized the association between the intake of artificial sweeteners (AS) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but the causative relationship remains ambiguous. METHODS: This study employed univariate Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess the causal link between AS intake from various sources and T2DM. Linkage disequilibrium score (LDSC) regression was used to evaluate the correlation between phenotypes. Multivariate and mediation MR were applied to investigate confounding factors and mediating effects. Data on AS intake from different sources (N = 64,949) were sourced from the UK Biobank, while T2DM data were derived from the DIAbetes Genetics Replication And Meta-analysis.The primary method adopted was inverse variance weighted (IVW), complemented by three validation techniques. Additionally, a series of sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate pleiotropy and heterogeneity. RESULTS: LDSC analysis unveiled a significant genetic correlation between AS intake from different sources and T2DM (rg range: -0.006 to 0.15, all P < 0.05). After correction by the false discovery rate (FDR), the primary IVW method indicated that AS intake in coffee was a risk factor for T2DM (OR = 1.265, 95% CI: 1.035-1.545, P = 0.021, PFDR = 0.042). Further multivariable and mediation MR analyses pinpointed high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) as mediating a portion of this causal relationship. In reverse MR analysis, significant evidence suggested a positive correlation between T2DM and AS intake in coffee (ß = 0.013, 95% CI: 0.004-0.022, P = 0.004, PFDR = 0.012), cereal (ß = 0.007, 95% CI: 0.002-0.012, P = 0.004, PFDR = 0.012), and tea (ß = 0.009, 95% CI: 0.001-0.017, P = 0.036, PFDR = 0.049). No other causal associations were identified (P > 0.05, PFDR > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The MR analysis has established a causal relationship between AS intake in coffee and T2DM. The mediation by HDL-C emphasizes potential metabolic pathways underpinning these relationships.

Structure and functional characteristics of starch from different hulled oats cultivated in China.

This work aimed to evaluate the structure and functional characteristics of starch from ten hulled oat cultivars grown in different locations in China. The protein, phosphorus, amylose, and starch contents were 0.2-0.4 %, 475.7-691.8 ppm, 16.2-23.0 %, and 93.6-96.7 %, respectively. All the starches showed irregular polygonal shapes and A-type crystallization with molecular weights ranging from 7.2 × 107 to 4.5 × 108 g/mol. The amounts of amylopectin A (DP 6-12), B1 (DP 13-24), B2 (DP 25-36), and B3 (DP > 36) chains were in the ranges of 10.3-16.0 %, 54.5-64.8 %, 16.5-21.1 %, and 4.9-13.1 %, respectively. The starches differed significantly in gelatinization temperatures, pasting viscosity, solubility, swelling power, rheological properties, and digestion parameters. The results revealed that the larger particle size could increase the peak viscosity of the starch paste. The presence of phosphorus increased the gelatinization temperature and enhanced the resistant starch content. The starch granules with higher crystallinity contained a higher proportion of phosphate, which increased final viscosity and setback viscosity but decreased rapidly digestible starch. Overall, oat starch with a high phosphorus content could be used to prepare low-glycemic-index food for diabetes patients.

Characterization of Selenium Speciation in Se-Enriched Crops: Crop Selection Approach.

Accurately quantifying selenium (Se) speciation and transformation in Se-enriched crops is highly significant for human health. The investigation of Se species in Se-enriched crops involves assessing the enrichment of both organic and inorganic Se species, considering their plant families and edible parts. The staple crops of rice, corn, and wheat showed no or less inorganic Se with the increase of total Se; however, potatoes expressed a proportion of selenate [Se(VI)]. In addition, the organic Se proportions in Se-enriched crops of Cruciferous, Brassicaceae, and Umbelliferae plant families were relatively lower than the proportion of inorganic Se. Concurrently, the edible parts of the Se-enriched gramineous or cereal crops enriched with organic Se and crops with fruit, stem, leaf, and root as edible parts contain the maximum percentage of organic Se with a certain proportion of inorganic Se. This study contributes to a sparse body of literature by meticulously discerning appropriate Se-enriched crop selection through a comprehensive evaluation of Se speciation and its organic and inorganic accumulation potential.

MSH7 confers quantitative variation in pollen fertility and boosts grain yield in maize.

Fertile pollen is critical for the survival, fitness, and dispersal of flowering plants, and directly contributes to crop productivity. Extensive mutational screening studies have been carried out to dissect the genetic regulatory network determining pollen fertility, but we still lack fundamental knowledge about whether and how pollen fertility is controlled in natural populations. We used a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to show that ZmGEN1A and ZmMSH7, two DNA repair-related genes, confer natural variation in maize pollen fertility. Mutants defective in these genes exhibited abnormalities in meiotic or post-meiotic DNA repair, leading to reduced pollen fertility. More importantly, ZmMSH7 showed evidence of selection during maize domestication, and its disruption resulted in a substantial increase in grain yield for both inbred and hybrid. Overall, our study describes the first systematic examination of natural genetic effects on pollen fertility in plants, providing valuable genetic resources for optimizing male fertility. In addition, we find that ZmMSH7 represents a candidate for improvement of grain yield.

Improving liming mode for remediation of Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soils: Identifying the optimal soil pH, model and efficacies.

Liming has been widely taken to remediate Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soils, whereas liming mode involving in the relevant optimal soil pH, model and efficacies remain unclear. Both soil and field liming experiments were conducted to improve liming mode for precise remediation of Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soils. Soil batch liming experiments indicated soil DTPA-Cd and CaCl2-Cd were piecewise linearly correlated to soil pH with nodes of 6.8-8.0, and decreased respectively by 15.3%37.7% and 80.7%93.8% (P < 0.05) when soil pH raised over the nodes, indicating an appropriate target soil pH 7.0 for liming. Stepwise linear regression revealed that liming ratio (LR, kg ha-1) could be estimated from soil basal pH (pH0) and the interval to the target soil pH (ΔpH), as [LR=exp(1.10 ×ΔpH+0.61 ×pH0-4.98), R2 = 0.97, n = 42, P < 0.01]. The model exhibited high prediction accuracy (95.2%), low mean estimation error (-0.02) and root mean square error (0.20). Field liming experiment indicated liming to target pH decreased respectively soil CaCl2-Cd by 95.2-98.0% and rice grain Cd by 59.8-80.6% (P < 0.01), whereas uninfluenced rice grain yield. Correlation analysis and structural equation models (SEM) demonstrated that great reduction in Cd phytoavailability was mainly attributed to the transformation of soil water-soluble and exchangeable Cd to carbonate-bound Cd and Fe/Mn oxides-bound Cd and reduced Cd in iron plaque as increasing soil pH. However, rice grain Cd of 50% samples met national food safety standards limit of China (0.2 mg kg-1) due to the high soil Cd level (0.8 mg kg-1). In conclusion, liming to target soil pH 7.0 could be considered as a precise and effective remediation mode for Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soils and complementary practices should be implemented for severe pollution. Our results could provide novel insights on precise liming remediation of Cd-contaminated acidic paddy soils.

Seed priming with selenium improves growth and yield of quinoa plants suffering drought.

Drought stress is a worldwide threat to the productivity of crops, especially in arid and semi-arid zones of the world. In the present study, the effect of selenium (Se) seed priming on the yield of quinoa under normal and drought conditions was investigated. A pot trial was executed to enhance the drought tolerance in quinoa by Se seed priming (0, 3, 6, and 9 mg Se L-1). The plants were exposed to water stress at three different growth stages of quinoa, viz. multiple leaf, flowering, and seed filling. It was noticed that drought significantly affected the yield components of quinoa, however, Se priming improved the drought tolerance potential and yield of quinoa by maintaining the plant water status. Se priming significantly increased main panicle length (20.29%), main panicle weight (26.43%), and thousand grain weight (15.41%) as well as the gas exchange parameters (transpiration rate (29.74%), stomatal conductance (35.29%), and photosynthetic rate (28.79%), total phenolics (29.36%), leaf chlorophyll contents (35.97%), water relations (leaf relative water contents (14.55%), osmotic potential (10.32%), water potential (38.35%), and turgor potential (31.37%), and economic yield (35.99%) under drought stress. Moreover, Se priming markedly improved grain quality parameters i.e., phosphorus, potassium, and protein contents by 21.28%, 18.92%, and 15.04%, respectively. The principal component analysis connected the various study scales and showed the ability of physio-biochemical factors to describe yield fluctuations in response to Se seed priming under drought conditions. In conclusion, a drought at the seed-filling stage has a far more deleterious impact among other critical growth stages and seed priming with Se (6 mg L-1) was found more effective in alleviating the detrimental effects of drought on the grain yield of quinoa.

Phenolic-rich extracts from toasted white and tannin sorghum flours have distinct profiles influencing their antioxidant, antiproliferative, anti-adhesive, anti-invasive, and antimalarial activities.

Sorghum is a gluten-free cereal commonly used in foods, and its consumption has been associated with the prevention of human chronic conditions such as obesity and cancer, due to the presence of dietary fiber and phenolic compounds. This study aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the antiproliferative, antioxidant, anti-adhesion, anti-invasion, and antimalarial activities of phenolic extracts from toasted white and tannin sorghum flours to understand how different phenolic profiles contribute to sorghum biological activities. Water and 70 % ethanol/water (v/v), eco-friendly solvents, were used to obtain the phenolic extracts of toasted sorghum flours, and their phenolic profile was analyzed by UPLC-MSE. One hundred forty-five (145) phenolic compounds were identified, with 23 compounds common to all extracts. The solvent type affected the phenolic composition, with aqueous extract of both white sorghum (WSA) and tannin sorghum (TSA) containing mainly phenolic acids. White sorghum (WSE) and tannin sorghum (TSE) ethanolic extracts exhibited a higher abundance of flavonoids. WSE demonstrated the lowest IC50 on EA.hy926 (IC50 = 46.6 µg/mL) and A549 cancer cells (IC50 = 33.1 µg/mL), while TSE showed the lowest IC50 (IC50 = 70.8 µg/mL) on HCT-8 cells (human colon carcinoma). Aqueous extracts also demonstrated interesting results, similar to TSE, showing selectivity for cancer cells at higher IC50 concentrations. All sorghum extracts also reduced the adhesion and invasion of HCT-8 cells, suggesting antimetastatic potential. WSE, rich in phenolic acids and flavonoids, exhibited greater toxicity to both the W2 (chloroquine-resistant) and 3D7 (chloroquine-sensitive) strains of Plasmodium falciparum (IC50 = 8 µg GAE/mL and 22.9 µg GAE/mL, respectively). These findings underscore the potential health benefits of toasted sorghum flours, suggesting diverse applications in the food industry as a functional ingredient or even as an antioxidant supplement. Moreover, it is suggested that, besides the phenolic concentration, the phenolic profile is important to understand the health benefits of sorghum flours.

Interactive effects of long-term management of crop residue and phosphorus fertilization on wheat productivity and soil health in the rice-wheat.

In the context of degradation of soil health, environmental pollution, and yield stagnation in the rice-wheat system in the Indo-Gangetic Plains of South Asia, an experiment was established in split plot design to assess the long-term effect of crop residue management on productivity and phosphorus requirement of wheat in rice-wheat system. The experiment comprised of six crop residue management practices as the main treatment factor with three levels (0, 30 and 60 kg P2O5 ha-1) of phosphorus fertilizer as sub-treatments. Significant improvement in soil aggregation, bulk density, and infiltration rate was observed under residue management (retention/incorporation) treatments compared to residue removal or residue burning. Soil organic carbon (SOC), available nutrient content (N, P, and K), microbial count, and enzyme activities were also significantly higher in conservation tillage and residue-treated plots than without residue/burning treatments. The residue derived from both crops when was either retained/incorporated improved the soil organic carbon (0.80%) and resulted in a significant increase in SOC (73.9%) in the topsoil layer as compared to the conventional practice. The mean effect studies revealed that crop residue management practices and phosphorus levels significantly influenced wheat yield attributes and productivity. The higher grain yield of wheat was recorded in two treatments, i.e. the basal application of 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 without residue incorporation and the other with half the P-fertilizer (30 kg P2O5 ha-1) with rice residue only. The grain yield of wheat where the rice and wheat residue were either retained/incorporated without phosphorus application was at par with 30 and 60 kg P2O5ha-1. Phosphorus levels also significantly affected wheat productivity and available P content in the soil. Therefore, results suggested that crop residue retention following the conservation tillage approach improved the yield of wheat cultivated in the rice-wheat cropping system.

Xanthan gum and pectin as beverage stabilizers reduce the digestive enzyme hydrolysis of antioxidant and antihypertensive peptides obtained from a brewery byproduct.

An acidic beverage was formulated with xanthan gum (XG), pectin (P) and brewer spent grain (BSG) peptides with antioxidant and antihypertensive properties. The impact of hydrocolloids levels on peptide bioaccessibility was studied. Peptides were obtained from BSG using Purazyme and Flavourzyme enzymes. BSG peptides were fractionated by ultrafiltration (UF) and four fractions were obtained: F1 (>10 kDa), F2 (10-5 kDa), F3 (1-5 kDa), and F4 (<1 kDa). F3 showed the highest protein purity, ferulic acid content, proportion of amphipathic peptides, and bioactive properties (ABTS+ radical scavenging and ACE-I inhibitory activity). The identified peptides from F3 by tandem mass spectrometry were 138. In silico analysis showed that 26 identified peptides had ABTS+ inhibitory activity, while 59 ones presented good antihypertensive properties. The effect of XG and P levels on bioaccessibility of F3 peptides in the formulated beverages was studied by a central composite experimental design. It was observed that F3 peptides interacted with hydrocolloids by electrostatic forces at pH of formulated beverages. The addition of hydrocolloids to formulation modulated the release of the antioxidant peptides and protected the degradation of ACE-I inhibitory peptides from F3 during simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Finally, the level of hydrocolloids that produced intermediate viscosities in the formulated beverages improved the bioaccessibility of the F3 peptides.

Nucleic acid aptamer based thermally oxidized porous silicon/zinc oxide microarray chip for detection of ochratoxin A in cereals.

A nucleic acid aptamer based thermally oxidized porous silicon/zinc oxide microarray chip was constructed for the detection of ochratoxin A. The hybrid chains formed by aptamer and complementary chains labeled with fluorescent groups and fluorescent burst groups were used as recognition molecules, and the detection of toxins was accomplished on the chip by the principle of fluorescence signal burst and recovery. The modified QuEChERS method was used for sample pretreatment and the performance of the method was evaluated. The results showed that the linear range was 0.02 âˆ¼ 200 ng/kg with the detection limit of 0.0196 ng/kg under the optimal detection conditions. The method was applied to different cereals with the recoveries of 90.30 âˆ¼ 111.69 %. The developed microarray chip has the advantages of being cost-effective, easy to prepare, sensitive and specific, and can provide a new method for the detection of other toxins.

Nutritional and nutraceutical richness of neglected little millet genotypes from Eastern Ghats of India: implications for breeding and food value.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The study provides nutritional profiling of unexploited little millets from Eastern Ghats, which has ample opportunities for future breeding programs for enhancing the food quality and holds great potential in food industry. Little millet is an important small millet native to the Indian subcontinent and their nutritional value has been underutilized compared to other cereals. It's nutritional and nutraceutical profiling is essential to integrate the plants in developmental interventions. The present study evaluated comprehensive nutritional, nutraceutical and physico-functional properties of 14 selected little millet genotypes originated from Eastern Ghats of India and compared them with an improved variety (OLM 208) of the locality. The proximate compositions (per 100 g) showed significant variations, with moisture content ranging from 4.13 to 8.48 g, ash from 1.90 to 5.15 g, fat from 2.35 to 5.74 g, protein from 10.46 to 13.83 g, carbohydrate from 70.92 to 77.89 g, fiber from 2.03 to 7.82 g and energy from 372.8 to 391.1 kcal. These little millet flours are rich in phenol 5.37-12.73 mg/g, flavonoid 1.06-8.25 µg/g, vitamin C 12.72-22.86 µg/g, antioxidants 7.22-23.17%, iron 20.38 to 61.60 mg/ kg and zinc 17.47 to 37.59 mg/ kg. The first two components of principal component analysis captures 73.0% of the total variation, which reflected huge variability among the investigated genotypes. Maximum heritability and genetic advance were recorded in flavonoid, fiber, iron, zinc, phenol and vitamin C across the populations. Taken together, some indigenous little millet genotypes such as Mami, Kalia and Bada, were exceptionally rich in fiber, protein, energy, flavonoid, vitamin C and antioxidants and are nutritionally superior compared to other varieties from the locality. These nutrition rich little millet genotypes have ample opportunities for future breeding programs to enhance the cereal quality and holds great potential in food industry for making high value functional foods.