Effect of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) on barley: A precise assessment of reductions in yield components under variable disease severities.

Understanding the effects of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) on crop agronomic traits and yield performance helps breeders balance their selection criteria and farmers decide if pesticides should be applied to control aphids that distribute the virus. To precisely assess the deterioration of different agronomic traits and yield components caused by different levels of BYDV infection, seeds of a BYDV-sensitive barley variety cv. RGT Planet were space sown in a field plot with 10 cm between seeds and 20 cm between rows under two consecutive years. When BYDV symptoms were shown, plants with different levels (0 - 5) of BYDV infection were tagged. For accurate comparisons, the neighbouring non/less-infected plants were also tagged. At maturity, different agronomic traits and yield components were measured on those tagged plants. Results showed a strong linear correlation between BYDV severity and the performance of agronomic traits and yield components. The yield reductions ranged from 30% for the least affected (score of 1) to 90% for the severely affected (score of 5). Our research confirmed previous findings that BYDV seriously affects crop yield and the prediction of yield loss due to BYDV infection should use the percentage of plants with different BYDV symptoms.

Bioaccumulation and biotransformation of selenium nanoparticles in soybean and natto, and the bioaccessibility of multi-elements and amino acids.

Soybean is a food crop with strong selenium (Se) enrichment ability. Selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) are a low-toxic Se source. To develop strategies in SeNPs biofortification of soybean and natto, the effects of Se enrichment and natto fermentation on selenoamino acids, mineral elements, free amino acids, γ-polyglutamic acid, nattokinase, and bioaccessibility were investigated. Soybean grains were able to convert SeNPs into selenomethionine (SeMet). Selenium enrichment and natto fermentation influenced the enrichment and distribution of multi-elements in soybean, as well as the composition of free and bound amino acids. Selenium enrichment had no significant effect on the bioaccessibility of amino acids. After natto fermentation, the bioaccessibility of SeMet, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn in the gastrointestinal tract increased significantly by 10.1-18.9 %. These findings indicate that SeNPs can enhance the Se content of soybean grains, and natto fermentation can further improve the nutritional quality of Se-enriched soybean.

Research on Non-Destructive Quality Detection of Sunflower Seeds Based on Terahertz Imaging Technology.

The variety and content of high-quality proteins in sunflower seeds are higher than those in other cereals. However, sunflower seeds can suffer from abnormalities, such as breakage and deformity, during planting and harvesting, which hinder the development of the sunflower seed industry. Traditional methods such as manual sensory and machine sorting are highly subjective and cannot detect the internal characteristics of sunflower seeds. The development of spectral imaging technology has facilitated the application of terahertz waves in the quality inspection of sunflower seeds, owing to its advantages of non-destructive penetration and fast imaging. This paper proposes a novel terahertz image classification model, MobileViT-E, which is trained and validated on a self-constructed dataset of sunflower seeds. The results show that the overall recognition accuracy of the proposed model can reach 96.30%, which is 4.85%, 3%, 7.84% and 1.86% higher than those of the ResNet-50, EfficientNeT, MobileOne and MobileViT models, respectively. At the same time, the performance indices such as the recognition accuracy, the recall and the F1-score values are also effectively improved. Therefore, the MobileViT-E model proposed in this study can improve the classification and identification of normal, damaged and deformed sunflower seeds, and provide technical support for the non-destructive detection of sunflower seed quality.

Characterization, Phylogenetic Analyses, and Pathogenicity of Eutiarosporella dactylidis on Sorghum in China.

Sorghum, the fifth-largest cereal crop globally and a C4 crop, mainly grows in arid and semi-arid areas. In 2021-2023, a new foliar disease of sorghum occurred in China. The diseased leaves showed water-soaked symptoms in the leaf tip and margins, resulting in half- and full-leaf desiccation and necrosis, thus affecting plant photosynthesis. A total of 24 Eutiarosporella strains were isolated from symptomatic leaves. Based on morphological characteristics and multi-locus phylogenetic analysis involving ITS, LSU, and EF1-α sequences, and the pathogenicity test, the pathogen of sorghum causing leaf blight in China was identified as Eutiarosporella dactylidis. The virulence of all E. dactylidis strains was evaluated using the spray-mycelium method. Different strains showed significantly different pathogenicities toward a susceptible cultivar, Longza 10, with disease indexes ranging from 23.76 to 60.37. This study first reported leaf blight of sorghum caused by E. dactylidis and named it "Eutiarosporella leaf blight", which provides a theoretical basis for farmers in disease management.

Recent developments in enzymatic preparation, physicochemical properties, bioactivity, and application of resistant starch type III from staple food grains.

Resistant starch (RS) was classified into five types and referred to the starch that cannot be digested and absorbed by the small intestine of healthy human beings. Among them, RS3 has received a lot of attention from researchers because of its good functional properties and greater application prospects. Meanwhile, the enzymatic method is widely used in the preparation of RS3 because of its high efficiency and environmental protection. α-Amylase and pullulanase as the main enzymes can effectively improve the yield of RS3. The physical properties of RS3 have an excellent potential for application in improving food crispness, texture and producing low glycemic index (GI) foods. It is more valuable because it has biological activities such as inducing apoptosis in tumor cells, lowering intestinal pH, and regulating blood glucose, etc. This paper summarized the current research progress of RS3 from different staple food grains, including current applications of enzymes commonly used in the preparation of RS3, physical properties and biological activities of RS3, and the application of RS3 in different areas to provide a theoretical basis for future research on RS3 as well as further development and applications based on the market requirement.

Nutrient-Dense African Indigenous Vegetables and Grains in the FAO Food Composition Table for Western Africa (WAFCT) Identified Using Nutrient-Rich Food (NRF) Scores.

Nutrient profiling (NP) models that assess nutrient density of foods can help remedy micronutrient deficiencies. We used NP methods to identify the most nutrient-rich foods in the 2019 FAO/INFOODS Western Africa Food Composition Table (WAFCT). The WAFCT had complete data for 909 foods. Three versions of the well-established Nutrient-Rich Food (NRF) model were used: (1) the original NRF9.3 based on 9 micronutrients (protein, fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin D); (2) a new NRF6.3 based on 6 priority micronutrients (iron, zinc, calcium, folate, vitamin A, vitamin B12); and (3) NRF 15.3, based on 15 nutrients to encourage (NRF6.3 nutrients + vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, copper, and magnesium). Data analyses used one-way ANOVAs and independent t-tests, with significance at α = 0.05. Animal-source foods were rated higher by NRF6.3 priority micronutrient and NRF15.3 NP models than by the NRF9.3 model. African indigenous vegetables had higher protein content and higher nutrient density compared to non-indigenous vegetables, and African indigenous grains had higher nutrient density compared to non-indigenous grains. Though animal-source foods received some of the highest scores, NP models adapted to the West African context showed that African indigenous vegetables and grains were also nutrient rich. Indigenous foods could be important sources of priority micronutrients for the region.

Assessing the Hypertension Risk: A Deep Dive into Cereal Consumption and Cooking Methods-Insights from China.

BACKGROUND: Cereal grains are rich in carbohydrates and could trigger a hyperglycemic response which is closely linked to blood pressure status. We aim to examine the associations between the consumption of cereals with different cooking methods and hypertension risk. METHODS: We conducted a prospective analysis utilizing the nationwide data of 11,080 adult participants who were free of hypertension at baseline. Cereal intake was assessed using 3-day 24 h dietary recalls with a weighing technique. Hypertension incidence was identified in adherence with the Seventh Joint National Commission guidelines during the follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to extrapolate hazard ratios associated with hypertension risk. RESULTS: Over an average follow-up span of 7 years (77,560 person-years), we identified 3643 new hypertension cases. The intake of total, fried, and baked cereals was associated with 15%, 20%, and 20% higher risk of hypertension, respectively. Whole grain consumers had an 8% lower risk of hypertension compared with non-consumers, while total refined grain consumers showed no significant association. Replacing one daily serving of fried or baked cereals with an equivalent serving of boiled cereals was related to a 28% or 14% lower risk, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Total, fried, and baked cereal consumption was positively associated with hypertension risk, while consuming whole grains was related to a lower risk. Modifying cooking methods from frying or baking to boiling for cereals may be beneficial to lower risk. The current study underscores the significance of considering both the degree of processing and cooking methods applied to cereals in addressing hypertension prevention and management.

Effects of high-level dietary distillers dried grains with solubles supplemented with multienzymes on growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal morphology, and pellet quality in broiler chickens.

Background and Aim: With the increasing cost of bulk raw materials and advancements in the feed enzyme industry, corn distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) have shown more opportunities for use in broiler diets. Supplementation with multiple enzymes could mitigate anti-nutritional factors in DDGS, enhance nutrient digestibility, and thereby increase its utilization in broiler diets, leading to reduced feed costs. This study evaluated the effects of multienzyme supplementation on growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestinal morphology, and pellet quality in broiler chickens fed diets containing conventional levels of DDGS (C-DDGS) and higher levels of DDGS (H-DDGS). Materials and Methods: A total of 800 1-day-old Cobb 500 chicks was assigned to four dietary treatments with eight replicates of 25 birds each: C-DDGS (5% DDGS in Starter and 10% in Grower), C-DDGS + Enzyme (C-DDGS diet supplemented with multienzyme), H-DDGS (10% and 20%) + Enzyme (H-DDGS diet supplemented with multienzyme, 10% DDGS in Starter and 20% in Grower), and H-DDGS (15% and 30%) + Enzyme. Results: The C-DDGS + enzyme diet increased (p < 0.05) body weight gain (BWG), reduced the feed conversion ratio, enhanced (p < 0.05) digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein, and hemicellulose (HC), and improved (p < 0.05) intestinal villus height and villus: crypt ratio of broilers. The H-DDGS (10% and 20%) + enzyme diet exhibited no difference in (p > 0.05) growth performance, nutrient digestibility (except HC), and intestinal morphological parameters, whereas the H-DDGS (15% and 30%) + enzyme diet decreased (p < 0.05) feed intake and BWG and reduced (p < 0.05) energy and DM digestibility by impact (p < 0.05) intestinal morphology compared with the C-DDGS enzyme-free diet. The H-DDGS diet had lower (p < 0.05) pellet hardness and poorer durability than the C-DDGS diet. Conclusion: Supplementing multienzyme in the C-DDGS (5% and 10%) diet improved growth performance from day 0 to 28 and diminished growth performance in the H-DDGS (15% and 30%) diet by influencing intestinal morphology and feed pellet quality in broiler chickens. In addition, when supplemented with multienzyme, the dietary DDGS level can be safely included at levels of 10% in 0-7 days and 20% in 8-28 days of age.

Identification and Differentiation of the Fusarium graminearum NX-2 Chemotype Using High-Resolution Melting (HRM).

Fusarium head blight causes significant yield losses in wheat and other cereals and contaminates grain products with trichothecene mycotoxins. F. graminearum isolates are classified into different chemotypes depending on the type of mycotoxin produced, including the type B trichothecenes 3-acetyl deoxynivalenol (3-ADON), 15-acetyl deoxynivalenol (15-ADON), nivalenol (NIV), and the recently identified type A trichothecene NX-2. Molecular tools to differentiate NX-2 producers from other chemotypes have remained relatively laborious and time consuming. In this study, we developed and validated a high-resolution melting (HRM) assay that can identify NX-2 producers quickly and cost-effectively. By analyzing TRI1 coding sequences from 183 geographically diverse isolates representing all four F. graminearum chemotypes, we selected a 75-base pair region containing four non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are specific to the NX-2 genotypes. The amplicon generated two HRM profiles, one of which was specific for only NX-2. We confirmed that the assay is robust across qPCR platforms and unambiguously differentiates NX-2 from other chemotypes using a panel of 72 diverse isolates previously collected from North America. The HRM assay was also successful in identifying NX-2 producers directly from DNA extracted from infected wheat spikes with varying levels of disease severity and fungal DNA. The assay can detect as little as 0.01 ng of fungal DNA in a background of 50 ng of plant DNA. This new diagnostic assay can be used for high-throughput molecular detection of the NX-2 chemotype of F. graminearum from infected plant samples and culture collections, thus making it a valuable tool for surveys of contemporary and historical FHB pathogen populations.

Changes of polyphenols and their antioxidant activities in non-pigmented, red and black rice during in vitro digestion.

Polyphenols, a major bioactive constituent in rice grain, require processing and digestion before being absorbed by human body. Free and bound phenolics, flavonoids and their antioxidant activities in non-pigmented, red and black rice after cooking and INFOGEST digestions of oral, gastric and intestinal phases were investigated. It showed that cooking caused great losses of polyphenols and antioxidant activity. Free ferulic, isoferulic and p-coumaric acid in most rice were highest at intestinal phase (p < 0.05). Bound ferulic acid in three colored rice, bound p-coumaric acid in black rice and catechin in red rice were higher at oral and/or gastric phase. After cooking, total flavonoids of non-pigmented and pigmented rice were highest at intestinal and gastric phase, respectively. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, peonidin-3-O-glucoside and quercetin peaked at intestinal phase in black rice. It suggested that black rice has a greater potential to be used in meal balance and functional product development.

Analysis of Heterostructure Formation of Abnormally Oriented Grains in Sputter-Deposited AlScN Films and Its Impact on Bulk Acoustic Wave Devices.

The presence of abnormally oriented grains (AOGs) in sputter-deposited aluminum scandium nitride (AlScN) films significantly degrades their physical properties, compromising the performance of bulk acoustic wave (BAW) devices. This study utilizes first-principles calculations to reveal that in tetrahedral wurtzite AlScN film-doped Sc atoms tend to aggregate at the second nearest-neighbor positions, forming dense ScN octahedral structures. The rock-salt (RS) ScN continued to grow due to further Sc aggregation. However, due to inadequate scandium flux, embryonic RS structures cannot be sustained, resulting in the nucleation of AOGs at the (111) faces of the octahedral ScN structure. Electron microscopy studies indicated that AOGs possess wurtzite structures and originate at tilted grain boundaries. These boundaries were characterized as RS ScN with more Sc atoms. This corroborated the theoretical predictions. BAW resonators and filters fabricated from sputter-deposited AlScN films demonstrate that AOGs degraded the piezoelectricity of AlScN, reducing the resonator's electromechanical coupling coefficient (Keff2). Measurements showed that AOG density increased from edge to center of the 8 in. wafer, resulting in a 3% decrease in average Keff2 in the resonators and a 137 MHz decrease in the filter bandwidth at 5 dB.

Dietary supplementation of distiller's grains yeast cultures improves performance and immunity by altering the intestinal flora of broilers.

BACKGROUND: Distiller's grains are a by-product of liquor production with a higher yield than liquor. Developing and utilizing distiller's grains well could alleviate the problem of scarce feed resources. Our present experiment was conducted with 6000 yellow-feathered broilers to study the effects of adding distiller's grains yeast cultures (DGYC) to the diet on growth performance and immunity of broilers. The broilers were divided into five groups, receiving different DGYC concentrations during two stages. Growth performance, intestinal microorganisms and immune organ development were measured. RESULTS: The results showed that groups B and D, supplemented with medium and high concentrations of DGYC, respectively, had significantly improved growth performance compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Group D also showed higher immune organ index (P < 0.01), increased serum total protein, high-density lipoprotein and immunoglobulin levels (P < 0.05) and lower levels of low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, interleukin 1ß and tumor necrosis factor α (P < 0.05). Hematoxylin and eosin staining confirmed improved immune organ development in group D (P < 0.05). Furthermore, in high-concentration group D, levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA; acetic, propionic and butyric acids) in cecal chyme were significantly increased (P < 0.05). The richness (Chao1) and diversity (Faith-pd) index of cecal microbiota were significantly higher in group D compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The microbial composition in group D differed from the control and medium-concentration group B. Seven bacteria (Clostridia-UCG-014, UCG-009, DTU089, UCG-010, Campylobacter, Harryflintia, Shuttleworthia) showed significant differences (P < 0.05). After DGYC feeding, DTU089 decreased, while other SCFA-producing bacteria increased (P < 0.05). Subsequently, KEGG function and corresponding signal pathway predictions were performed on bacteria with significant differences. Group D exhibited a higher enrichment of immune function pathways (P < 0.01) and showed significant changes in four immune signaling pathways according to the signal pathway heatmap. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that high concentrations of DGYC can be applied as a feed additive for broilers that promotes growth, improves intestinal health and enhances certain immunity. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Depositional Environment and Ecological Response of Bioconstructions: A Case Study of Southern China (Guizhou Province) in Moscovian-Gzhelian.

From the late Carboniferous to the early Permian, multiple pulses of glaciation and deglaciation have been caused by the LPIA. The Pennsylvanian period experienced phases of recovery, proliferation, and decline, ultimately forming a reef system distinctly different from that of the Mississippian period. During the late Bashkirian to Moscovian, the metazoan reef experienced a limited resurgence, with reef predominantly formed by chaetetid developing in the United States, northern China, and Japan. During the Kasimovian to Gzhelian, the phylloid algal reef dominated the global reef systems. In the late Pennsylvanian, bioconstruction cases and paleoenvironmental proxies in southern Guizhou Province were studied to investigate the composition, recovery, and evolutionary processes of the bioconstructions as well as their response to environmental variations during this period. Several bioconstructions have been reported in the Lumazhai section of Houchang Town, Guizhou Province, southern China, from the Moscovian to the Gzhelian. The upper Carboniferous strata are well-preserved and continuously exposed. The continuous strata, abundant fossils, and diverse bioconstructions provide excellent research materials for exploring the mutual constraints between organisms and their environment. This study identified ten microfacies, whose vertical evolution indicated significant changes in the depositional environment related to relative sea-level fluctuations. Skeletal grains are widely present in these facies. Among them, foraminifera, algae, bryozoans, crinoids, and Tubiphytes are the most common and exhibit distinct distribution characteristics in various environments. Quantitative statistics, CCA and theoretical ecospace have been utilized to examine and interpret environmental impact factors. Quantitative analysis of their relative abundance and distribution patterns provides insights into the complex interactions between organisms and environmental factors. The relative abundances of different organisms and factors controlling their bioconstructions are influenced by relative sea-level changes. CCA analysis reveal that hydrodynamic conditions are the primary influencing factor. Variation trends in average tiering and motility reveal the characteristics of biological communities during environmental changes in phylloid algae and microbial bioconstructions. These bioconstructions are not directly correlated with changes in environmental factors, and the biological communities in phylloid algae mounds and biostromes exhibit similar organism compositions and ecological niches across different environments.

Influence of Hydrogel and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on the Germination and Establishment of Chenopodium quinoa.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of hydrogel and zinc oxide nanoparticles on quinoa germination and establishment. Various doses of a commercial potassium-based hydrogel (0, 5, 7, and 9 g), each dissolved in one liter of rainwater, were applied. Additionally, 1.5 g of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NP) and pre-crushed nitrogen fertilizer, at a rate of 1.6 kg/ha, were added to the solution to achieve a homogeneous mixture. Following the application of hydrogel in the 10-linear-meter rows corresponding to each treatment area in every block, 25 seeds per linear meter of the "Blanca de Juli" quinoa cultivar were sown with a 4 cm spacing between the seeds. Subsequently, a thin layer of soil, approximately 0.5 cm thick, was used to cover the seeds. Ten seedlings were randomly selected and labeled for subsequent evaluations. The experimental design employed in this research was a completely randomized block design. The collected data underwent an analysis of variance, and the means of all the treatments were compared using Tukey's test with a 5% probability. Height and diameter evaluations of the plant neck were conducted every 45 days. The doses used in this study (5, 7, and 9 g of hydrogel per liter of water) significantly enhanced seed germination and increased the number of plants per linear meter (from 82.00 to 90.33) compared to the control dose without hydrogel (14.66), which resulted in an average of one plant per linear meter.

Toxicity assessment of heavy metals translocation in maize grown in the Ganges delta floodplain soils around the Payra power plant in Bangladesh.

As a cereal crop, maize ranked third place after wheat and rice in terms of land area coverage for its cultivation, and in Bangladesh, it ranked second place after rice in its production. As the substitution of wheat products, maize has been used widely in baking for human consumption and animal fodder. However, maize grown in this soil around the coal-burning power plant may cause heavy metals uptake that poses a risk to humans. The study was conducted at the maize fields in the Ganges delta floodplain soils of Bangladesh to know the concentration of eight heavy metals (Ni, Cr, Cd, Mn, As, Cu, Zn, and Pb) in soil and maize samples using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS) and to estimate the risk of heavy metals in maize grains. Mean concentrations of heavy metals (mg/kg) in soil were in decreasing order of Zn (10.12) > Cu (10.02) > Mn (5.48) > Ni (4.95) > Cr (3.72) > As (0.51) > Pb (0.27) > Cd (0.23). The plant tissues showed the descending order of heavy metal concentration as roots > grains > stems > leaves. BCF values for As, Cd, Pb, and Mn in roots were higher than 1.0, indicating considerable accumulation of these elements in maize via roots. Total hazard quotient (Æ©THQ) of heavy metals through maize grain consumption was 3.7E+00 and 3.9E+00 for adults and children, respectively, indicating non-cancer risk to the consumers. Anthropogenic influences contributed to the heavy metals enrichment in the Ganges delta floodplain soils around the thermal plant, and potential risks (non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic) were observed due to the consumption of maize grain cultivated in the study area.

High geological background concentrations of As and Cd in karstic soils may not contribute to greater risks to human health via rice consumption.

High geological background concentrations of toxic metal(loid)s arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) from natural enrichment in soils of karst regions have attracted much attention. In this study, paired soil-rice samples were collected from karst and non-karst regions in Guangxi, China to assess the potential risks of metal(loid) transfer from soil to rice grains, and rice grains to humans. Our results indicate that the karstic soils had greater As (25.7 vs. 12.4 mg·kg-1) and Cd (2.12 vs. 1.04 mg·kg-1) contents than those in non-karstic soils. However, metal(loid) transfer from soil to rice grains (ratio of rice grains to soil content) of As and Cd was 40 % and 49 % lower in karst regions, which may relate to their 42 % and 61 % lower HNO3-extractable As and CaCl2-extractable Cd, resulting in similar As/Cd contents in karstic and non-karstic rice grains. In vitro assay using a modified physiologically-based extraction test shows that karstic rice grains had a lower As/Cd bioaccessibility than non-karstic grains, which can be attributed to their ∼50 % greater P content, which negatively correlated with As/Cd bioaccessibility. Additionally, karstic rice grains had 39 % greater phytate and exhibited 45 % and 9.4 % lower As and Cd bioaccessibility in the gastric phase with phytate supplement at 0.6 %. Our work indicates that despite the greater As/Cd contents in karstic soils, the risks of As/Cd transfer from soil to rice grains as well as their exposure risks to humans via rice consumption may not be greater than non-karst regions.

Micro computed tomography analysis of barley during the first 24 hours of germination.

BACKGROUND: Grains make up a large proportion of both human and animal diets. With threats to food production, such as climate change, growing sustainable and successful crops is essential to food security in the future. Germination is one of the most important stages in a plant's lifecycle and is key to the success of the resulting plant as the grain undergoes morphological changes and the development of specific organs. Micro-computed tomography is a non-destructive imaging technique based on the differing x-ray attenuations of materials which we have applied for the accurate analysis of grain morphology during the germination phase. RESULTS: Micro Computed Tomography conditions and parameters were tested to establish an optimal protocol for the 3-dimensional analysis of barley grains. When comparing optimal scanning conditions, it was established that no filter, 0.4 degrees rotation step, 5 average frames, and 2016 × 1344 camera binning is optimal for imaging germinating grains. It was determined that the optimal protocol for scanning during the germination timeline was to scan individual grains at 0 h after imbibition (HAI) and then the same grain again at set time points (1, 3, 6, 24 HAI) to avoid any negative effects from X-ray radiation or disruption to growing conditions. CONCLUSION: Here we sought to develop a method for the accurate analysis of grain morphology without the negative effects of possible radiation exposure. Several factors have been considered, such as the scanning conditions, reconstruction, and possible effects of X-ray radiation on the growth rate of the grains. The parameters chosen in this study give effective and reliable results for the 3-dimensional analysis of macro structures within barley grains while causing minimal disruption to grain development.

Amaranth and buckwheat grains: Nutritional profile, development of functional foods, their pre-clinical cum clinical aspects and enrichment in feed.

The resurgence of interest in amaranth and buckwheat as nutrient-rich and versatile grains has incited extensive research aimed at exploring their potential benefits for sustainable agriculture and human nutrition. Amaranth is renowned for its gluten-free nature and exceptional nutritional profile, offering high-quality proteins, fiber, minerals, and bioactive compounds. Similarly, buckwheat is recognized for its functional and nutraceutical properties, offering a plethora of health benefits attributed to its diverse array of biologically active constituents; flavonoids, phytosterols, and antioxidants. This comprehensive review comprehends the existing understanding of the composition, anti-nutritional factors, biological activity, and potential application of these grains, emphasizing their pivotal role in addressing global food insecurity. Developed functional foods using these grains are having enhanced physicochemical properties, mineral content, phenolic content and overall sensory acceptability. In addition, the consumption of developed functional food products proved their health benefits against various type of anomalies. Moreover, enrichment of both grains in the animal feeds also showing positive health benefits.

Leaf-whorl inoculation with Sporisorium reilianum may overcome field resistance of maize.

Maize yield is threatened by increasing incidences of head smut disease caused by Sporisorium reilianum. To help breeders identify S. reilianum-resistant maize lines, the availability of efficient screening systems would be an advantage. Here we assessed maize lines with distinct levels of field resistance against head smut disease in greenhouse experiments using two different inoculation techniques. Addition of mixtures of mating-compatible sporidia to the soil at seedling stage of the plant did not lead to plant disease, and we could detect only marginal amounts of fungal DNA in apical meristems at eighteen days after sowing. Inoculation of the maize lines by leaf-whorl inoculation led to both high disease incidence and prominent levels of fungal DNA in apical meristems in all tested maize lines regardless of their field resistance levels. Thus, S. reilianum entering the plant via the leaf whorl can escape existing resistance mechanisms of currently known field-resistant maize lines. Since field-resistant lines are also resistant to inoculation via teliospore-contaminated soil, we propose teliospore addition to seeds at the time of sowing (rather than leaf-whorl inoculation of seedlings) combined with quantitative detection of fungal DNA in apical meristems, as an efficient screening procedure to discover field-resistant lines. However, screening maize plants for resistance against the leaf-whorl inoculation method might be promising for the discovery of novel resistance mechanisms needed to develop durably resistant maize lines.

Structural and excitonic properties of the polycrystalline FAPbI3 thin films, and their photovoltaic responses.

Faormamadinium (FA) based perovskites have been proposed to replace the methylammonium lead tri-iodide (MAPbI3) perovskite as the light absorbing layer of photovoltaic cells owing to their photo-active and chemically stable properties. However, the crystal phase transition from the photo-active -FAPbI3 to the non-perovksite -FAPbI3 still occurs in un-doped FAPbI3 films owing to the existence of crack defects, which degrads the photovoltaic responses. To investigate the crack ratio (CR)-dependent structure and excitonic characteristics of the polycrystalline FAPbI3 thin films deposited on the carboxylic acid functionalized ITO/glass substrates, various spectra and images were measured and analyzed, which can be utilized to make sense of the different devices responses of the resultant perovskite based photovoltaic cells. Our experimental results show that the there is a trade-off between the formations of surface defects and trapped iodide-mediated defects, thereby resulting in an optimal crack density or CR of the un-doped -FAPbI3 active layer in the range from 4.86% to 9.27%. The decrease in the CR (tensile stress) results in the compressive lattice and thereby trapping the iodides near the PbI6 octahedra in the bottom region of the FAPbI3 perovskite films. When the CR of the FAPbI3 film is 8.47%, the open-circuit voltage (short-circuit current density) of the resultant photovoltaic cells significantly increased from 0.773 V (16.62 mA/cm2) to 0.945 V (18.20 mA/cm2) after 3 days. Our findings help understanding the photovoltaic responses of the FAPbI3 perovskite based photovoltaic cells on the different days.