The roles of non-structural carbohydrates in fruiting: a review focusing on mango (Mangifera indica).

Reproductive development of fruiting trees, including mango (Mangifera indica L.), is limited by non-structural carbohydrates. Competition for sugars increases with cropping, and consequently, vegetative growth and replenishment of starch reserves may reduce with high yields, resulting in interannual production variability. While the effect of crop load on photosynthesis and the distribution of starch within the mango tree has been studied, the contribution of starch and sugars to different phases of reproductive development requires attention. This review focuses on mango and examines the roles of non-structural carbohydrates in fruiting trees to clarify the repercussions of crop load on reproductive development. Starch buffers the plant's carbon availability to regulate supply with demand, while sugars provide a direct resource for carbon translocation. Sugar signalling and interactions with phytohormones play a crucial role in flowering, fruit set, growth, ripening and retention, as well as regulating starch, sugar and secondary metabolites in fruit. The balance between the leaf and fruit biomass affects the availability and contributions of starch and sugars to fruiting. Crop load impacts photosynthesis and interactions between sources and sinks. As a result, the onset and rate of reproductive processes are affected, with repercussions for fruit size, composition, and the inter-annual bearing pattern.

Metabolome and transcriptome analyses reveal changes of rapeseed in response to ABA signal during early seedling development.

Seed germination is an important development process in plant growth. The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a critical role during seed germination. However, the mechanism of rapeseed in response to ABA is still elusive. In order to understand changes of rapeseed under exogenous ABA treatment, we explored differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between mock- and ABA-treated seedlings. A widely targeted LC-MS/MS based metabolomics were used to identify and quantify metabolic changes in response to ABA during seed germination, and a total of 186 significantly DEMs were identified. There are many compounds which are involved in ABA stimuli, especially some specific ABA transportation-related metabolites such as starches and lipids were screened out. Meanwhile, a total of 4440 significantly DEGs were identified by transcriptomic analyses. There was a significant enrichment of DEGs related to phenylpropanoid and cell wall organization. It suggests that exogenous ABA mainly affects seed germination by regulating cell wall loosening. Finally, the correlation analysis of the key DEMs and DEGs indicates that many DEGs play a direct or indirect regulatory role in DEMs metabolism. The integrative analysis between DEGs and DEMs suggests that the starch and sucrose pathways were the key pathway in ABA responses. The two metabolites from starch and sucrose pathways, levan and cellobiose, both were found significantly down-regulated in ABA-treated seedlings. These comprehensive metabolic and transcript analyses provide useful information for the subsequent post-transcriptional modification and post germination growth of rapeseed in response to ABA signals and stresses.

Comparative physiology and transcriptome response patterns in cold-tolerant and cold-sensitive varieties of Solanum melongena.

BACKGROUND: Climate change has led to severe cold events, adversely impacting global crop production. Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), a significant economic crop, is highly susceptible to cold damage, affecting both yield and quality. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms governing cold resistance, including the identification of key genes and comprehensive transcriptional regulatory pathways, is crucial for developing new varieties with enhanced tolerance. RESULTS: In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of leaf physiological indices and transcriptome sequencing results. The orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) highlighted peroxidase (POD) activity and soluble protein as crucial physiological indicators for both varieties. RNA-seq data analysis revealed that a total of 7024 and 6209 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from variety "A" and variety "B", respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment of DEGs demonstrated that the significant roles of starch and sucrose metabolism, glutathione metabolism, terpenoid synthesis, and energy metabolism (sucrose and starch metabolism) were the key pathways in eggplant. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) shown that the enrichment of numerous cold-responsive genes, pathways, and soluble proteins in the MEgrep60 modules. Core hub genes identified in the co-expression network included POD, membrane transporter-related gene MDR1, abscisic acid-related genes, growth factor enrichment gene DELLA, core components of the biological clock PRR7, and five transcription factors. Among these, the core transcription factor MYB demonstrated co-expression with signal transduction, plant hormone, biosynthesis, and metabolism-related genes, suggesting a pivotal role in the cold response network. CONCLUSION: This study integrates physiological indicators and transcriptomics to unveil the molecular mechanisms responsible for the differences in cold tolerance between the eggplant cold-tolerant variety "A" and the cold-sensitive variety "B". These mechanisms include modulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), elevation in osmotic carbohydrate and free proline content, and the expression of terpenoid synthesis genes. This comprehensive understanding contributes valuable insights into the molecular underpinnings of cold stress tolerance, ultimately aiding in the improvement of crop cold tolerance.

Changes in the structure and enzyme binding of starches during in vitro enzymatic hydrolysis using mammalian mucosal enzyme mixtures.

Starches are hydrolyzed into monosaccharides by mucosal α-glucosidases in the human small intestine. However, there are few studies assessing the direct digestion of starch by these enzymes. The objective of this study was to investigate the changes in the structure and enzyme binding of starches during in vitro hydrolysis by mammalian mucosal enzymes. Waxy maize (WMS), normal maize (NMS), high-amylose maize (HAMS), waxy potato (WPS), and normal potato (NPS) starches were examined. The order of the digestion rate was different compared with other studies using a mixture of pancreatic α-amylase and amyloglucosidase. NPS was digested more than other starches. WPS was more digestible than WMS. Hydrolyzed starch from NPS, NMS, WPS, WMS, and HAMS after 24 h was 66.4, 64.2, 61.7, 58.7, and 46.2 %, respectively. Notably, a significant change in the morphology, reduced crystallinity, and a decrease in the melting enthalpy of the three starches (NPS, NMS, and WPS) after 24 h of hydrolysis were confirmed by microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and differential scanning calorimetry, respectively. The bound enzyme fraction of NPS, NMS, and WPS increased as hydrolysis progressed. In contrast, HAMS was most resistant to hydrolysis by mucosal α-glucosidases in terms of digestibility, changes in morphology, crystallinity, and thermal properties.

A novel dual-channel cassava starch/polyvinyl alcohol-based film for visual monitoring of shrimp freshness.

In this study, the polyvinylpyrrolidone-alizarin nanoparticles (PVP-AZ NPs) with favorable water dispersion and the carbon quantum dots (RQDs) with aggregate induced emission effect were synthesized to construct an eco-friendly film for food freshness monitoring. The introduction of PVP-AZ NPs and RQDs enhanced the network structure and thermal stability of the cassava starch/polyvinyl alcohol film, and reduced its crystallinity and light transmittance via non-covalent binding with the film-forming matrix. The developed film exhibited visually recognizable colorimetric and fluorescent responses to ammonia at 0.025-25 mg/mL, and it can be reused at least 6 times. Practical application experiment proved that the film, as an indicator label, can achieve accurate, real-time, and visual dynamic monitoring of the freshness of shrimp stored at 25 °C, 4 °C, and - 20 °C under daylight (orange yellow to purple) and UV light (red to blue). The integration of multivariate detection technology can eliminate the interference of external factors by self-correction to improve sensitivity and reliability, which provides a reference for the development of other food quality and safety monitoring platforms.

New insights into starch, lipid, and protein interactions - Colon microbiota fermentation.

Starch, lipids, and proteins are essential biological macromolecules that play a crucial role in providing energy and nutrition to our bodies. Interactions between these macromolecules have been shown to impact starch digestibility. Understanding and controlling starch digestibility is a key area of research. Investigating the mechanisms behind the interactions of these three components and their influence on starch digestibility is of significant practical importance. Moreover, these interactions can result in the formation of resistant starch, which can be fermented by gut microbiota in the colon, leading to various health benefits. While current research has predominantly focused on the digestive properties of starch in the small intestine, there is a notable gap in understanding the colonic microbial fermentation phase of resistant starch. The benefits of fermentation of resistant starch in the colon may outweigh its glucose-lowering effect in the small intestine. Thus, it is crucial to study the fermentation behavior of resistant starch in the colon. This paper investigates the impact of interactions among starch, lipids, and proteins on starch digestion, with a specific focus on the fermentation phase of indigestible carbohydrates in the colon. Furthermore, valuable insights are offered for guiding future research endeavors.

Assessing the impact of plasma-activated water-assisted heat-moisture treatment on the extrusion-recrystallization process of hausa potato starch.

The study explored the plasma-activated water (PAW)-assisted heat-moisture treatment (HMT) on the structural, physico-chemical properties, and in vitro digestibility of extrusion-recrystallized starch. Native starch of hausa potatoes underwent modification through a dual process involving PAW-assisted HMT (PHMT) followed by extrusion-recrystallization (PERH) using a twin-screw extruder. The PHMT sample showed surface roughness and etching with a significantly greater (p ≤ 0.05) RC (20.12 %) and ΔH (5.86 J/g) compared to DHMT. In contrast, PERH-induced structural damage, resulting in an irregular block structure, and altered the crystalline pattern from A to B + V-type characterized by peaks at 17.04°, 19.74°, 22°, and 23.94°. DSC analysis showed two endothermic peaks in all the extrusion-recrystallized samples, having the initial peak attributed to the melting of structured amylopectin chains and the second one linked to the melting of complexes formed during retrogradation. Dual-modified samples displayed notably increased transition temperatures (To1 74.54 and 74.17 °C, To2 122.65 and 121.49 °C), along with increased RS content (43.76 %-45.30 %). This study envisages a novel approach for RS preparation and broadens the utilization of PAW in starch modification synergistically with environmentally friendly techniques.

Partial substitution of chemical fertilizer by organic fertilizer increases yield, quality and nitrogen utilization of Dioscorea polystachya.

This field experiment aimed to investigate the effects of different ratios of organic and inorganic fertilizers with maintaining equal nitrogen application rates on the yield, quality, and nitrogen uptake efficiency of Dioscorea polystachya (yam). Six treatments were set, including a control without fertilizer (CK), sole application of chemical fertilizer (CF), sole application of organic fertilizer (OM), 25% organic fertilizer + 75% chemical fertilizer (25%OM + 75%CF), 50% organic fertilizer + 50% chemical fertilizer (50%OM + 50%CF), and 75% organic fertilizer + 25% chemical fertilizer (75%OM + 25%CF). The experiment followed a randomized complete block design with three replications. Various yield parameters, morphology, quality indicators, and nitrogen utilization were analyzed to assess the differences among treatments. The results indicated that all fertilizer treatments significantly increased the yield, morphology, quality indicators, and nitrogen utilization efficiency compared to the control. Specifically, 25%OM + 75%CF achieved the highest yield of 31.96 t hm-2, which was not significantly different from CF (30.18 t hm-2). 25%OM + 75%CF exhibited the highest values at 69.23 cm in tuber length and 75.86% in commodity rate, 3.14% and 1.57% higher than CF respectively. Tuber thickness and fresh weight of 25%OM + 75%CF showed no significant differences from CF, while OM and 50%OM+50%CF exhibited varying degrees of reduction compared to CF. Applying fertilizer significantly enhanced total sugar, starch, crude protein, total amino acid, and ash contents of D. polystachya (except ash content between CK and OM). Applying organic fertilizer increased the total sugar, starch, crude protein, total amino acid, and ash contents in varying degrees when compared with CF. The treatment with 25%OM+75%CF exhibited the highest increases of 6.31%, 3.78%, 18.40%, 29.70%, and 10%, respectively. Nitrogen content in different plant parts followed the sequence of tuber > leaves > stems > aerial stem, with the highest nitrogen accumulation observed in 25%OM + 75%CF treatment. Nitrogen harvest index did not show significant differences among treatments, fluctuating between 0.69 and 0.74. The nitrogen apparent utilization efficiency was highest in 25%OM + 75%CF (9.89%), followed by CF (9.09%), both significantly higher than OM (5.32%) and 50%OM + 50%CF (6.69%). The nitrogen agronomic efficiency varied significantly among treatments, with 25%OM + 75%CF (33.93 kg kg-1) being the highest, followed by CF (29.68 kg kg-1), 50%OM + 50%CF (21.82 kg kg-1), and OM (11.85 kg kg-1). Nitrogen partial factor productivity was highest in 25%OM + 75%CF treatment (76.37 kg kg-1), followed by CF (72.11 kg kg-1), both significantly higher than 50%OM + 50%CF (64.25 kg kg-1) and OM (54.29 kg kg-1), with OM exhibiting significantly lower values compared to other treatments. In conclusion, the combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers can effectively enhance the yield, quality, and nitrogen utilization efficiency of D. polystachya. Particularly, the treatment with 25% organic fertilizer and 75% chemical fertilizer showed the most promising results.

Exploring Deep Learning to Predict Coconut Milk Adulteration Using FT-NIR and Micro-NIR Spectroscopy.

Accurately identifying adulterants in agriculture and food products is associated with preventing food safety and commercial fraud activities. However, a rapid, accurate, and robust prediction model for adulteration detection is hard to achieve in practice. Therefore, this study aimed to explore deep-learning algorithms as an approach to accurately identify the level of adulterated coconut milk using two types of NIR spectrophotometer, including benchtop FT-NIR and portable Micro-NIR. Coconut milk adulteration samples came from deliberate adulteration with corn flour and tapioca starch in the 1 to 50% range. A total of four types of deep-learning algorithm architecture that were self-modified to a one-dimensional framework were developed and tested to the NIR dataset, including simple CNN, S-AlexNET, ResNET, and GoogleNET. The results confirmed the feasibility of deep-learning algorithms for predicting the degree of coconut milk adulteration by corn flour and tapioca starch using NIR spectra with reliable performance (R2 of 0.886-0.999, RMSE of 0.370-6.108%, and Bias of -0.176-1.481). Furthermore, the ratio of percent deviation (RPD) of all algorithms with all types of NIR spectrophotometers indicates an excellent capability for quantitative predictions for any application (RPD > 8.1) except for case predicting tapioca starch, using FT-NIR by ResNET (RPD < 3.0). This study demonstrated the feasibility of using deep-learning algorithms and NIR spectral data as a rapid, accurate, robust, and non-destructive way to evaluate coconut milk adulterants. Last but not least, Micro-NIR is more promising than FT-NIR in predicting coconut milk adulteration from solid adulterants, and it is portable for in situ measurements in the future.

The Anti-Microbial Peptide Citrocin Controls Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms by Breaking Down Extracellular Polysaccharide.

Citrocin is an anti-microbial peptide that holds great potential in animal feed. This study evaluates the anti-microbial and anti-biofilm properties of Citrocin and explores the mechanism of action of Citrocin on the biofilm of P. aeruginosa. The results showed that Citrocin had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of P. aeruginosa with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 0.3 mg/mL. All five concentrations (1/4MIC, 1/2MIC, MIC, 2MIC, and 4MIC) of Citrocin inhibited P. aeruginosa biofilm formation. Citrocin at the MIC, 2MIC and 4MIC removed 42.7%, 76.0% and 83.2% of mature biofilms, respectively, and suppressed the swarming motility, biofilm metabolic activity and extracellular polysaccharide production of P. aeruginosa. Metabolomics analysis indicated that 0.3 mg/mL of Citrocin up- regulated 26 and down-regulated 83 metabolites, mainly comprising amino acids, fatty acids, organic acids and sugars. Glucose and amino acid metabolic pathways, including starch and sucrose metabolism as well as arginine and proline metabolism, were highly enriched by Citrocin. In summary, our research reveals the anti-biofilm mechanism of Citrocin at the metabolic level, which provides theoretical support for the development of novel anti-biofilm strategies for combatting P. aeruginosa.

Effects of Soluble Dextrin Fiber from Potato Starch on Body Weight and Associated Gut Dysbiosis Are Evident in Western Diet-Fed Mice but Not in Overweight/Obese Children.

BACKGROUND: The study investigated the impact of starch degradation products (SDexF) as prebiotics on obesity management in mice and overweight/obese children. METHODS: A total of 48 mice on a normal diet (ND) and 48 on a Western diet (WD) were divided into subgroups with or without 5% SDexF supplementation for 28 weeks. In a human study, 100 overweight/obese children were randomly assigned to prebiotic and control groups, consuming fruit and vegetable mousse with or without 10 g of SDexF for 24 weeks. Stool samples were analyzed for microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and amino acids (AA) were assessed. RESULTS: Results showed SDexF slowed weight gain in female mice on both diets but only temporarily in males. It altered bacterial diversity and specific taxa abundances in mouse feces. In humans, SDexF did not influence weight loss or gut microbiota composition, showing minimal changes in individual taxa. The anti-obesity effect observed in mice with WD-induced obesity was not replicated in children undergoing a weight-loss program. CONCLUSIONS: SDexF exhibited sex-specific effects in mice but did not impact weight loss or microbiota composition in overweight/obese children.

Integrated metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses provide insights into regulation mechanisms during bulbous stem development in the Chinese medicinal herb plant, Stephania kwangsiensis.

BACKGROUND: Stephania kwangsiensis Lo (Menispermaceae) is a well-known Chinese herbal medicine, and its bulbous stems are used medicinally. The storage stem of S. kwangsiensis originated from the hypocotyls. To date, there are no reports on the growth and development of S. kwangsiensis storage stems. RESULTS: The bulbous stem of S. kwangsiensis, the starch diameter was larger at the stable expanding stage (S3T) than at the unexpanded stage (S1T) or the rapidly expanding stage (S2T) at the three different time points. We used ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and Illumina sequencing to identify key genes involved in bulbous stem development. A large number of differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Based on the differential expression profiles of the metabolites, alkaloids, lipids, and phenolic acids were the top three differentially expressed classes. Compared with S2T, significant changes in plant signal transduction and isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis pathways occurred at both the transcriptional and metabolic levels in S1T. In S2T compared with S3T, several metabolites involved in tyrosine metabolism were decreased. Temporal analysis of S1T to S3T indicated the downregulation of phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, including lignin biosynthesis. The annotation of key pathways showed an up-down trend for genes and metabolites involved in isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, whereas phenylpropanoid biosynthesis was not completely consistent. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulation of the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway may be the result of carbon flow into alkaloid synthesis and storage of lipids and starch during the development of S. kwangsiensis bulbous stems. A decrease in the number of metabolites involved in tyrosine metabolism may also lead to a decrease in the upstream substrates of phenylpropane biosynthesis. Downregulation of lignin synthesis during phenylpropanoid biosynthesis may loosen restrictions on bulbous stem expansion. This study provides the first comprehensive analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome profiles of S. kwangsiensis bulbous stems. These data provide guidance for the cultivation, breeding, and harvesting of S. kwangsiensis.

ATP-free in vitro biotransformation of starch-derived maltodextrin into poly-3-hydroxybutyrate via acetyl-CoA.

In vitro biotransformation (ivBT) facilitated by in vitro synthetic enzymatic biosystems (ivSEBs) has emerged as a highly promising biosynthetic platform. Several ivSEBs have been constructed to produce poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) via acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA). However, some systems are hindered by their reliance on costly ATP, limiting their practicality. This study presents the design of an ATP-free ivSEB for one-pot PHB biosynthesis via acetyl-CoA utilizing starch-derived maltodextrin as the sole substrate. Stoichiometric analysis indicates this ivSEB can self-maintain NADP+/NADPH balance and achieve a theoretical molar yield of 133.3%. Leveraging simple one-pot reactions, our ivSEBs achieved a near-theoretical molar yield of 125.5%, the highest PHB titer (208.3 mM, approximately 17.9 g/L) and the fastest PHB production rate (9.4 mM/h, approximately 0.8 g/L/h) among all the reported ivSEBs to date, and demonstrated easy scalability. This study unveils the promising potential of ivBT for the industrial-scale production of PHB and other acetyl-CoA-derived chemicals from starch.

3D printed cinnamon essential oil/banana peel carbon dots loaded corn starch/gelatin bilayer film with enhanced functionality for food packaging application.

Using 3D printing technology, a gelatin-polyvinyl alcohol­carbon dots (GPC) layer+corn starch-polyvinyl alcohol-cinnamon essential oil (CPC) layer active bilayer film with an external barrier function and an internal controlled-release effect was successfully produced for food preservation. The GPC film was provided with potent antioxidant and UV blocking properties by the banana peel carbon dots (CDs). The cinnamon essential oil (CEO) had the strongest interaction with the film matrix at 3% (w/w), causing the CPC film having the lowest surface wettability, good integrity, and lowest crystallinity. The CEO's stability and releasing effectiveness were greatly enhanced by the creation of a bilayer film. At 60% filling rate of the CPC layer, the bilayer film showed the highest CEO retention after drying and the best CEO release performance. Finally, the created active bilayer film was found to significantly improve the sensory quality stability of the spicy essential oil microcapsule powders. It also successfully extended the mangoes' shelf life by delaying browning and rot.

Effects of dietary forage neutral detergent fiber and rumen degradable starch ratios on chewing activity, ruminal fermentation, ruminal microbes and nutrient digestibility of Hu sheep fed a pelleted total mixed ration.

Pelleted total mixed ration (P-TMR) feeding, which has become a common practice in providing nutrition for fattening sheep, requires careful consideration of the balance between forage neutral detergent fiber (FNDF) and rumen degradable starch (RDS) to maintain proper rumen functions. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the dietary FNDF/RDS ratio (FRR) on chewing activity, ruminal fermentation, ruminal microbes, and nutrient digestibility in Hu sheep fed a P-TMR diet. This study utilized eight ruminally cannulated male Hu sheep, following a 4 × 4 Latin square design with 31 d each period. Diets consisted of four FRR levels: 1.0 (high FNDF/RDS ratio, HFRR), 0.8 (middle high FNDF/RDS ratio, MHFRR), 0.6 (middle low FNDF/RDS ratio, MLFRR), and 0.4 (low FNDF/RDS ratio, LFRR). Reducing the dietary FRR levels resulted in a linear decrease in ruminal minimum pH and mean pH, while linearly increasing the duration and area of pH below 5.8 and 5.6, as well as the acidosis index. Sheep in the HFRR and MHFRR groups did not experience subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA), whereas sheep in another two groups did. The concentration of total volatile fatty acid and the molar ratios of propionate and valerate, as well as the concentrate of lactate in the rumen linearly increased with reducing dietary FRR, while the molar ratio of acetate and acetate to propionate ratio linearly decreased. The degradability of NDF and ADF for alfalfa hay has a quadratic response with reducing the dietary FRR. The apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber linearly decreased when the dietary FRR was reduced. In addition, reducing the dietary FRR caused a linear decrease in OTUs, Chao1, and Ace index of ruminal microflora. Reducing FRR in the diet increased the percentage of reads assigned as Firmicutes, but it decreased the percentage of reads assigned as Bacteroidetes in the rumen. At genus level, the percentage of reads assigned as Prevotella, Ruminococcus, Succinivibrio, and Butyrivibrio linearly decreased when the dietary FRR was reduced. The results of this study demonstrate that the dietary FRR of 0.8 is crucial in preventing the onset of SARA and promotes an enhanced richness of ruminal microbes and also improves fiber digestibility, which is a recommended dietary FRR reference when formulating P-TMR diets for sheep.

Forage neutral detergent fiber (FNDF) and rumen degradable starch (RDS) are key components of carbohydrates in the diet for ruminants, which would reflect saliva secretion and the acid production potential of feed. However, appropriate FNDF to RDS ratios (FRR) applicable to ruminants under the condition of pelleted total mixed ration (P-TMR) feeding have not been reported. In this study, we investigated the effects of the dietary FRR on chewing activity, ruminal fermentation, ruminal microbial communities, and nutrient digestibility of Hu sheep under P-TMR feeding. The results indicate that reducing dietary FRR levels would induce acidosis in sheep, which negatively affected fiber utilization and ruminal bacterial communities. The FRR of 0.8 was a recommended dietary FRR when formulating a P-TMR diet for fattening sheep, as indicated by decreased ruminal acidosis risk and increased richness of ruminal microbes in the rumen as well as nutrient digestibility.

Populus euphratica has stronger regrowth ability than Populus pruinosa under salinity stress.

Pest infestation and soil salinization levels are increasing due to climate change. Comprehending plant regrowth after insect damage and salinity stress is crucial to understanding climate change's multifactorial impacts on forest ecosystems. This study examined Populus euphratica and P. pruinosa regrowth after different defoliation levels combined with salinity stress. Specifically, the biomass and regrowth ability, non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) and nitrogen (N) pools in different organs and the whole plant, and the leaf Cl- concentration of both poplars were analyzed. Our results showed that after 50% defoliation and no salt addition, the regrowth of both species recovered similarly to the control level, while their regrowth was about 70% after 90% defoliation. However, under salinity stress, the regrowth (% leaf biomass) of P. euphratica was significantly higher than P. pruinose at either the 50% or 90% defoliation levels. Additionally, P. euphratica had more soluble sugar, starch, NSC and N pools in leaf, stem, root and whole plant than P. pruinose under salinity stress. The regrowth based on leaf biomass increased linearly with soluble sugar, starch, NSC and N pools, and decreased linearly with leaf Cl- concentration across different salinity and defoliation levels. These results indicated that defoliation significantly decreased NSC and N pools, limiting the growth of both poplars, and salinity stress exacerbated the negative effect. Furthermore, when suffering from salinity stress, P. euphratica with higher NSC and N pools exhibited stronger regrowth ability than P. pruinose.

The effects of fermentation time on sourdough bread: An analysis of texture profile, starch digestion rate, and protein hydrolysis rate.

To ensure the best quality bread, it is important to consider the speed of digestion of starch and proteins, as well as how time fermentation and storage time influence the rate of starch digestion and the texture of the bread. This study compared the effect of fermentation time and days of storage on the texture, physicochemical, protein and starch digestibility of sourdough bread. Texture profile analysis showed that the fermentation time in recently baked sourdough bread affects hardness, chewiness, and springiness. The electrophoretic profile showed a decrease in band thickness with increase in fermentation time, consistent with a higher percentage of protein digestion. While fermentation time did not significantly affect rapidly digestible starch (RDS) and slowly digestible starch (SDS), storage time resulted in a decrease in RDS and an increase in SDS. Sourdough breads had higher levels of resistant starch (RS). The digestibility characteristics of protein and starch, as well as texture properties, are significantly influenced by fermentation and storage time. The evidence suggests that sourdough bread has the potential to improve the digestion of protein and to effectively regulate the glycemic response, which is due to its higher levels of SDS and RS.

PHB Production by Bacillus megaterium LSRB 0103 Using Cornstarch and Urea.

Polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs) are biopolymers that are good green alternative for synthetic carbon-based polymers, and are also one of the most researched members of the Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) family. In this study, a gram-positive bacterial strain Bacillus megaterium LSRB 0103 was isolated from Pallikaranai Marshland, Chennai, India. Primary screening using Sudan Black dye revealed the presence of intracellular PHB granules. Minimal Davis Media (MDM) which was used or PHB production gave a yield of 0.7107 g/L. Subsequently, using response surface methodology (RSM), a central composite design (CCD) model was designed for media optimization having cornstarch, urea, and pH as independent variables. The findings of the CCD model were fitted into a second-order polynomial equation. The RSM model predicted the maximum PHB yield of 0.93 g/L, at these independent variable levels, cornstarch, 5 g/L; urea, 2.1 g/L; and pH 7.0; while the experimental PHB yield was 0.94 g/L, with a percentage error of 1.1%. This study is the first-time report of production of PHB by Bacillus megaterium using cornstarch and urea as substrate.

Diet modulates strongyle infection and microbiota in the large intestine of horses.

The use of anthelminthic drugs has several drawbacks, including the selection of resistant parasite strains. Alternative avenues to mitigate the negative effects of helminth infection involve dietary interventions that might affect resistance and/or tolerance by improving host immunity, modulating the microbiota, or exerting direct anthelmintic effects. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of diet on strongyle infection in horses, specifically through immune-mediated, microbiota-mediated, or direct anthelmintic effects. Horses that were naturally infected with strongyles were fed either a high-fiber or high-starch diet, supplemented with either polyphenol-rich pellets (dehydrated sainfoin) or control pellets (sunflower and hay). When horses were fed a high-starch diet, they excreted more strongyle eggs. Adding sainfoin in the high-starch diet reduced egg excretion. Additionally, sainfoin decreased larval motility whatever the diet. Moreover, the high-starch diet led to a lower fecal bacterial diversity, structural differences in fecal microbiota, lower fecal pH, lower blood acetate, and lower hematocrit compared to the high-fiber diet. Circulating levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines, lipopolysaccharides, procalcitonin, and white blood cells proportions did not differ between diets. Overall, this study highlights the role of dietary manipulations as an alternative strategy to mitigate the effect of helminth infection and suggests that, in addition to the direct effects, changes in the intestinal ecosystem are the possible underlying mechanism.

Transcriptional dynamics in source-sink tissues identifies molecular factors regulating the corm development process in saffron (Crocus sativus L.).

AIMS: Geophytic plants have evolved to develop underground storage organs (USO) in the active growing season to withstand harsh environments as well as to coordinate growth and reproduction when conditions are favourable. Saffron is an autumn flowering geophyte and an expensive spice crop restricted to certain geographical locations in the world. Saffron, being sterile, does not produce seeds and thus propagates only through corms, the quality of which determines its yield. Corm development in saffron is unexplored and the underlying molecular mechanism is still elusive. In this study, we performed an extensive characterisation of the transcriptional dynamics in the source (leaf) and sink (corm) tissues during corm development in saffron. KEY RESULTS: Via morphological and transcriptome studies, we identified molecular factors regulating corm development process in saffron, which defined corm development into three stages: the initiation stage demonstrates enhanced vegetative growth aboveground and swelling of shoot base belowground due to active cell division & carbohydrate storage; the bulking stage comprises of increased source and sink strength, active photosynthesis, circadian gating and starch accumulation; the maturation stage represents reduced source and sink strength, lowered photosynthesis, sugar transport, starch synthesis and cell cycle arrest. UTILITY: The global view of transcriptional changes in source and sink identifies similar and new molecular factors involved in the saffron corm development process compared to USO formation in other geophytes and provides a valuable resource for dissecting the molecular network underlying the corm development. We propose a hypothetical model based on data analysis, of how molecular factors via environmental cues can regulate the corm development process in saffron.