Crude Fat Content Research Articles

Functional Properties of Tannia Corms (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott) Flour As Affected By Cooking, Soaking, and Peeling Processes

The study aimed to characterize the functional properties of tannia (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (L.) Schott) flour to realize the crop’s immense potential as an alternative ingredient. Experiments were conducted using a 23 factorial design with cooking, soaking, and peeling as the independent variables. The predicted best treatment was subjected to proximate analysis. Results revealed that tannia flour had high water absorption capacity (71.6-75.9%), oil absorption capacity (52.3-58.3%), foaming stability (94.0-97.0%), and swelling power (53.1-75.0%). The flour obtained had a low gelling point (46.7°C-58.7°C), boiling point (52.0-64.0°C), and least gelation concentration (4-5.33%). Further, peeling significantly affected the water absorption capacity, foaming capacity and stability, and swelling power of tannia flour, while cooking and soaking significantly affected tannia flour’s foaming capacity and gelling point. The interaction of factors (peeling, cooking, and soaking) was also found to significantly affect the functional properties of tannia flour, except for the least gelation concentration. The predicted best treatment was the combination of steaming, cold water soaking, and peeled tannia (Treatment 7), which contains lower moisture (4.31%), ash (0.52%), crude protein (4.41%), crude fat (1.01%), but higher contents of carbohydrates (89.74%), and crude fiber (10.5%.). Overall, tannia flour has good functional properties with the best treatment containing comparable amounts of nutrients with wheat flour except for ash, crude protein, and crude fat. This provides an advantage in enhancing its applicability in various food products and in the production of energy and fiber-rich food products.

Peningkatan Kadar Serat Brownies Kukus dengan Penggunaan Tepung Kacang Merah (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)


 
 
 Brownies are a type of dark brown cake with a soft texture, a distinctive chocolate aroma and a sweet taste. Generally, flour-based brownies have a low fiber content. Therefore, red bean flour is expected to be used to increase fiber content. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of using red bean flour on the fiber content of steamed brownies and produce steamed brownies with high fiber content and the best characteristics. This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) with the treatment ratio of wheat flour and red bean flour, namely: 100:0, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40 repeated 3 times to obtain 15 experimental units. The data obtained were analyzed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), followed by the Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The results showed that the use of red bean flour had a significant effect (P<0.05) on crude fiber content, moisture content, ash content, protein content, fat content, carbohydrate content, and sensory properties of steamed brownies, but had no significant effect (P > 0.05) on the sensory properties of the color of steamed brownies. Treatment of 70 percent wheat flour and 30 percent red bean flour was the best treatment with 5.08 percent crude fiber content, 23.66 percent moisture content, 2.20 percent ash content, 8.84 percent protein content, 33.81 percent fat content, carbohydrate content of 31.46 percent with color, aroma, texture, taste and overall acceptance favored by the panelists.
 
 

Optimizing rice-fish co-culture: Investigating the impact of rice spacing density on biochemical profiles and production of genetically modified tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) and Cyprinus carpio.

Rice fish co-culture synergistically boosts food production, resulting in numerous advantages across the environmental, social, and financial domains. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of three different rice spacing densities, rice high density (RHD) 9inch×12inch, rice medium density (RMD) 12inch × 12inch, rice low density (RLD) 15inch×12inchon both rice and fish. Various parameters were assessed to evaluate the performance of the co-culture system, including water quality, growth parameters, muscle quality, soil characteristics, rice stem characteristics, and rice yield parameters. When comparing the species, it was observed that GMT (Genetically Male Tilapia) demonstrated superior weight gain (303.13g vs 296.41g) and specific growth rate (1.16 vs 1.15). Regarding the proximate composition, results showed that RMD had the highest crude protein and fat content compared to RLD and RHD. GMT also exhibited greater crude protein and fat content than Cyprinus carpio, with RMD showing the highest values. Treatment groups significantly influenced the amino acid profile of experimental species, with RMD exhibiting the highest values. GMT showed significantly higher levels of essential, non-essential, half-essential, and umami amino acids compared to Cyprinus carpio. The interaction between RMD and GMT further demonstrated significant differences in various amino acid categories with RMD. A non-significant difference was observed among the treatments regarding soil biochemical characteristics. Regarding the rice stem characters, the height of the plant, panicle length, and stem length of rice were found to be comparable in the RMD and RLD groups however, significantly higher in RHD. Regarding rice yield parameters, no significant differences were observed among the other treatment groups, except for yield per hectare (yield/ha), which was significantly higher in the RHD group compared to RMD and RLD. Additionally, 1000-grain weight and panicle number (ears per hill) were significantly higher in the RLD treatment than in the other treatments. In conclusion, our findings indicate that the RMD treatment consistently yielded superior results compared to RLD and RHD. Furthermore, within the rice-fish co-culture system, GMT proved to be a more competent species compared to Cyprinus carpio. The study provides data to understand the interactions between rice spacing density, fish growth and overall productivity can guide the development of sustainable and profitable rice-fish co-culture systems.

Utilization of Fish By-Products for Sustainable Aquaculture: Nutritional Analysis of Fishmeal derived from the By-Products of Oncorhynchus mykiss

This study aims to investigate the nutritional composition of fishmeal derived from the by-products of Oncorhynchus mykiss, commonly known as Turkish Salmon, cultured in the Black Sea. The findings indicate that the obtained fishmeal possesses high crude protein content (65.22 ± 0.118%) and crude fat content (9.28 ± 0.139%). Additionally, the energy value of the fishmeal was determined to be 358.75 ± 3.633 kcal/g. Mineral substance analysis reveals significant levels of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in the fishmeal. Heavy metal analysis results indicate arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury contents of 3.51 ± 0.470, 1.46 ± 0.136, 0.15 ± 0.004, and 0.007 ± 0.012 mg/kg, respectively. These findings suggest that fishmeal derived from processing residues of Turkish Salmon offers high nutritional value and could be considered as an alternative raw material for sustainable aquaculture. This study is expected to contribute significantly to waste management and sustainability efforts in the fish processing industry.

Кормовая ценность зерна яровой тритикале сортов Ботаническая 4 и Тимирязевская 42

Laboratory analysis of raw materials (grains) is an important stage for the production of feed. The wider the range of data obtained as a result of research, the more effective the work on compiling the diet of animals, which is reflected in the conversion of feed and the economic component of livestock production. The use of near infrared radiation (NIRS) technology to determine the nutritional value of feed allows us to obtain data on the content of dry matter, crude protein, crude ash, crude fat, sugar and starch in feed, as well as data on protein absorption in the intestines of many animal species, including lactating cows. With the help of such a study conducted in the laboratory of Eurofins Agro (Wageningen, the Netherlands), data on the nutritional value of grain of two varieties of spring triticale obtained in the conditions of the Moscow region were obtained. The crude protein content in the grain of the Timiryazevskaya 42 variety was 119 g/kg of dry matter, in the grain of the Botanicheskaya 4 variety 125 g/kg of dry matter. In terms of starch content, Timiryazevskaya 42 grain exceeded Botanicheskaya 4 grain by 27 g/kg of dry matter. At the same time, studies have shown similar values in terms of the content of feed units for milk production (VEM) at the level of 1192–1189 g/kg of dry matter, the amount of protein absorbed in the intestine (DVE) — 95–96 g/kg of dry matter and organic matter fermented in the rumen (FOS) — 771–769 g/kg of dry matter.

Effects of Dietary Fish Meal Replacement with Composite Mixture of Chicken Meal, Krill Meal, and Plant Proteins on Growth, Physiological Metabolism, and Intestinal Microbiota of Chinese Perch (Siniperca chuatsi)

This trial aimed to investigate the influence of graded replacing fish meal (D1: 0.00%, D2: 27.27%, and D3: 54.55%) with mixed protein ingredients (i.e., chicken meal, krill meal, fermented soybean meal, and soy protein concentrate) on the growth performance, muscle nutritional composition, blood biochemical indices, gut bacterial community, and transcriptome of Chinese perch. Two hundred seventy Chinese perch were divided into three groups (90 per group) and the diet lasted for 56 days. Results showed that the weight gain rate and specific growth rate were significantly lower, and the feed conversion ratio was significantly higher in the D3 group than in fish fed D1 (P<0.05), with no significant differences between the D1 and D2 groups (P>0.05). The muscle crude protein content was highest in the D2 group, and the crude fat content was significantly different in the order: D3 > D1 > D2 (P<0.05). The levels of serum triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the D2 group were significantly lower than those in the D1 group (P<0.05), but there was no significant difference compared to the D3 group (P>0.05). The microbial community structure changed significantly. Mycoplasma showed the highest abundance in the D1 and D2 groups (P<0.05), and Cetobacterium peaked in D2 group, and significantly higher than that in D1 group (P<0.05). Network analysis and cohesion index calculation showed that both network complexity and cohesion peaked in D2 group, and Cetobacterium was highly correlated with the cohesion index (P<0.05). Further, muscle transcriptome analysis results showed that compared with the control group, differentially expressed genes were clustered (Q < 0.05) in the arginine and proline metabolism pathways in D2 group. Fish in D3 group significantly (Q < 0.05) affected genes involved in KEGG pathways of ribosome, circadian rhythm, thermogenesis, insulin signaling pathway, fatty acid degradation, oxidative phosphorylation, and apoptosis. In conclusion, under the experimental conditions, the replacement of 27.27% of fish meal by the compound protein did not have a negative impact on the growth performance of Chinese perch and could improve muscle quality, lipid metabolism, and the interaction of intestinal microbiota.

Impact of iron supplementation on media bed aquaponic system: Focusing on growth performance, fatty acid composition and health status of juvenile mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio var. specularis), production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. ramosa Hort), water quality and nitrogen utilization rate

To evaluate the effects of iron supplementation on the growth performance, body composition and health status of mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio var. specularis) (10.34 ± 1.56 g), production of lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. ramosa Hort), and nitrogen utilization efficiency in media bed aquaponic system, a 60-day experiment was conducted. During the experiment, 0 (C), 1, 2, 3 and 4 mg/L iron chelate (ferrous glycinate) was added to fish tank of each system every 20 days. The results indicated as following: (1) Regarding the growth performance of mirror carp, the 1 mg/L group showed the highest weight gain (WG) and the lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) when compared to the C group and the 4 mg/L group (P < 0.05). (2) In terms of body composition of mirror carp, the 1 mg/L group exhibited a significant increase in crude fat and iron content in the muscle (P < 0.05), and the ∑n-3 LCPUFA (C20:5n-3, EPA; C22:6n-3, DHA) was significantly higher in this group compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). (3) Regarding the health status of mirror carp, the 1 mg/L group had the highest liver catalase (CAT) activity, and the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was significantly higher than in the C, 3 mg/L, and 4 mg/L groups (P < 0.05). Liver malondialdehyde (MDA) content of mirror carp was significantly lower in 1 mg/L group compare to other groups (P < 0.05). (4) Concerning lettuce growth, the yield increased with rising iron content, and the group with 2 mg/L exhibited the highest chlorophyll content (P < 0.05). (5) Nitrogen utilization results showed that the 2 mg/L chelated iron group had the highest nitrogen utilization rate of 33.95%, while the C group had the lowest nitrogen utilization rate of 28.61%. Additionally, iron supplementation did not have a negative impact on the water quality of the aquaponic system. In summary, under the conditions of this study, adding 1 mg/L of chelate iron every 20 days in the aquaponic system is beneficial to the growth, body composition and health status of the mirror carp, the lettuce in the 2 mg/L group had better growth and yield. It is recommended to add 1–2 mg/L glycine chelated iron in the media bed aquaponic system every 20 days to promote the growth of fish and vegetables and improve the nitrogen utilization efficiency of the system.

Investigation of the effects of red, green and black lentil flours on the physicochemical and technological quality of pasta

In this study, red lentil flour (RLF), green lentil flour (GLF) and black lentil flour (BLF) replaced wheat semolina at different (0-10%) ratios in pasta formulation. The effect of lentil types and levels of lentil flour supplementation on the physicochemical, textural characteristics and cooking quality of pasta were investigated. It was determined that BLF had the highest ash, crude fat and phytic acid contents, whereas GLF had the highest antioxidant activity (AA) and total phenolic content (TPC) among lentil varieties. The use of GLF in pasta production resulted in higher brightness (L*) and RLF resulted in higher redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) values. The increase in lentil flour ratio in the formulation caused the weight increase and volume increase values to decrease from 200.04% and 238.59% to 174.92% and 222.28%, respectively. Pasta samples containing GLF revealed a higher firmness value than those containing RLF and BLF. It was determined that the cooking loss value was higher in the samples containing 10% lentil flour compared to the control. The use of lentil flour in the formulation improved the pasta samples in terms of protein, ash, TPC, AA, Ca, Mg, Zn and Fe. The results show that nutritionally enriched pasta can be produced with acceptable technological quality by adding up to 10% of GLF and BLF. The successful results show that RLF can be used at rates higher than 10% in pasta production.

Improving the Quality and Nutritional Value of a Mixture of Sago Pith and Indigofera leaves Fermented with Rhizopus oligosporus

The nutritional value of sago pith is limited due to its low protein content, making it less suitable for poultry feed. To increase the benefit values of the sago pith, it is necessary to process it through fermentation. The current study aimed to determine the effects of substrate composition and fermentation time of fermented sago (Metroxylon sagu) pith (SP) and Indigofera (Indigofera zollingeriana) leaves (IL) mixture using Rhizopus oligosporus as an inoculum on crude protein, crude fat and crude fiber content of fermented SP and IL, nitrogen retention, crude fiber digestibility, and energy metabolism in broiler chickens. The study was performed on 30 broiler chickens, average weighing ± 1.5 kg at 6 weeks of age, along with SP, IL, and R. oligosporus. This experiment was conducted using a randomized design in a 3×3 factorial with three replications. Substrate composition, or factor A, was made up of A1 (80% SP + 20% IL), A2 (60% SP + 40% IL), and A3 (50% SP + 50% IL). Fermentation time as Factor B entailed B1 (2 days), B2 (3 days), and B3 (4 days). The findings demonstrated a significant interaction between the time of fermentation and the composition of the substrate in relation to crude protein content, nitrogen retention, crude fat, crude fiber digestibility, and energy metabolism. It can be concluded that the composition of substrate 50% SP and 50% IL with 3 days of fermentation yielded the best result, with crude protein at 25.45%, nitrogen retention at 59.72%, crude fat at 0.020%, crude fiber at 6.40%, crude fiber digestibility at 57.34%, and metabolic energy at 2658.44 kcal/kg.

Effect of Different Salinity Levels on Growth Performance, Hematological Parameters and Proximate Composition of Cyprinus Carpio

The current study was conducted to evaluate the effect of different salinity levels on the growth performance, proximate composition, and hematological parameters of Common carp (Cyprinus carpio). The experiment was designed under Laboratory conditions with twice replica as five treatments: T0: 0-ppt, (control); T1: 2-ppt, T2: 4-ppt, T3: 6-ppt and T4: 8-ppt and fish were randomly stocked (5 fish /aquarium). The C. carpio were fed 5% (commercial diet CP-30%) of their body weight and water was replaced regularly after every alternate day. The present study describes the significant changes (p&lt;0.05) in growth parameters (viz; final weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio) with poor feeding behavior and stress were observed with further increase in salinity. Furthermore, body composition (Protein, fat, moisture, and ash contents) also showed significant changes (p&lt;0.05). The crude protein and moisture contents were significantly decreased while crude fat and ash contents were increased with the increase of salinity respectively. The results of hematological parameters also decrease with the increase of salinity and found significant changes (p&lt;0.05). The results of this study indicate that C. carpio exhibits a great degree of adaptability and resistance to salinity stress. This study serves as a basis for developing strategies to optimize the rearing conditions and welfare of common carp in different salinity regimes. Further research is warranted to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the observed responses, enabling more precise management practices for the sustainable cultivation of C. carpio.

Nutritional Composition of Duckweed (Lemna minor) Cultured with Inorganic Fertilizer and Organic manure in Earthen Ponds

Duckweed (Lemna minor) have been used for several years to recover nutrients from wastewater and as feed ingredient for livestock, including fish and poultry. This study aimed at assessing the effect of different manure sources; inorganic fertilizer (a combination of DAP and Urea), and organic sources (chicken manure and cow dung manure) on the proximate composition, amino acid and fatty acid profile of L. minor under culture conditions. Results indicated that L. minor cultured with chicken manure had significantly higher crude protein level (36.8%) (P &amp;lt; 0.05) and lower crude fat content (8.10%) compared to the ones cultured with inorganic fertilizer and cow dung manure. Essential amino acids proportion was 50% in L. minor cultured with inorganic fertilizer, 45.4% in chicken manure and 44.8% in cow dung manure with lysine and phenylalanine being the most abundant amino acids. The total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were significantly higher (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in L. minor cultured using inorganic fertilizer (43.05 mg/100 g) with linoleic acid being the most dominant PUFA. The presence of high levels of amino acids and PUFA in the L. minor cultured with organic and inorganic fertilizer respectively indicates that it can provide quality protein and PUFA required for fish growth and well-being.

A screening for optimal selenium enrichment additives for selenium-enriched fish production: Application of a HPLC-ICP-MS method

The production of selenium-enriched fish contributes to alleviating selenium deficiency for humans. In this study, selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) comparable in bioavailability to selenomethionine (SeMet), increased SeMet content in O. macrolepis (Onychostoma macrolepis) muscle. Additionally, dietary SeNPs significantly enhanced selenocysteine (SeCys2) and methylselenocysteine (MeSeCys) levels in O. macrolepis muscle. The effect of SeNPs on selenium speciation in grass carp muscle was consistent with O. macrolepis results. SeCys2 and MeSeCys showed antioxidant capacity in HEK293T cells, indicating enhanced health benefits of Se-enriched fish produced using SeNPs. Furthermore, the addition of 0.3 mg/kg SeNPs significantly improved the flesh quality of O. macrolepis by reducing the content of crude fat and heavy metals, as well as increasing the levels of crude protein, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and the ratio of n-3/n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Therefore, selenium-enriched fish produced from SeNPs is a good source for improving human dietary selenium intake.

Fermentation and valorization of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) rind wastes into livestock feed using Aspergillus niger and Mucor sp.

Agro-industrial wastes pose environmental health hazards to humans and animals; yet, they are abundant, readily availabile and cheap, and therefore provide opportunities for their valorization with microorganisms to produce value-added, nutrient-rich animal feed. This study (i) determined, in vitro, optimum growth conditions for Aspergillus niger and Mucor sp. and (ii) subsequently evaluated their ability to ferment and valorize watermelon wastes for protein enhancement. Changes in protein contents of sterilized and unsterilized watermelon substrates were determined after 5, 10, and 15 days of fermentation with mono- and co-cultures of A. niger and Mucor sp. at 25 °C. Different growth conditions (pH, temperature, different concentrations of ammonium nitrate, sodium nitrate, urea, sodium chloride and thiamine) of synthetic media variously supported mycelial growth of A. niger and Mucor sp., either as mono- or co-culture; optimum growth conditions were selected for fermentation of watermelon wastes. Protein contents of sterilized and unsterilized watermelon substrates were enhanced by fermentation: (i) percentage increase in protein contents of sterilized watermelon fermented with mono-cultures of A. niger, Mucor sp. and co-culture of A. niger and Mucor sp. were 35.91, 18.94 and 22.18 %, respectively; (ii) protein contents in unsterilized watermelon substrates also increased by 23.94, 9.49, and 14.88 % for mono-cultures of A. niger and Mucor sp. and their co-culture, respectively. Overall, the observed trend in the increase of protein contents in the sterilized and unsterilized substrates by the test fungi was: mono-culture of A. niger > co-culture of A. niger and Mucor sp. > mono-culture of Mucor sp. Crude fat, fiber and ash contents significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased in both sterilized and unsterilized watermelon substrates, whereas the carbohydrate content increased significantly (p ≤ 0.05) in the substrates. These findings highlight the potential of watermelon waste as valuable bioresource and feedstock for valorization into livestock feed through fungal biotechnology. Future works to augment findings are suggested.

Cooking practice and safety assessment of boiled cassava root sold in streets of Gashua, Yobe state Nigeria

The study investigated the cooking practice and safety assessment of boiled cassava roots sold in streets of Gashua, Yobe state Nigeria. The result showed that majority (95.29 %) of sellers washed raw cassava roots and boiled (35 – 50 minutes) with portable water. There are significant differences (p < 0.05) in proximate composition of boiled cassava roots with values ranged from 60.10 – 63.01 %, 1.00 – 1.10 %, 0.60 – 0.64 %, 0.54 – 0.56 %, 1.13 – 1.40 % and 33.70 – 36.47 % for moisture, ash, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre and carbohydrate content respectively. The anti-nutritional compounds of boiled cassava root ranged from 0.01 – 0.03 mg/100 g, 0.02 – 0.05 mg/100 g, 0.01 – 0.03 mg/100 g, 0.02 – 0.04 mg/100 g, and 0.01 – 0.04 mg/100 g for tannin, phytate, hydrogen cyanide, oxalate and saponnin content respectively while microbial count ranged from 1.00 – 1.95 logCFU/g, 1.30 – 2.11 logCFU/g and 2.04 – 2.08 logCFU/g for fungal count, total viable count and coliform count respectively. The study showed that boiled cassava roots were being processed under good hygienic conditions and the quantities of anti-nutritional properties and microbial loads of control sample and street vended boiled cassava roots were lower than the permitted quantity for safety of human consumption recommended by regulatory bodies.

Sensory Appeal and Anxiety Reduction: A Study on Ashwagandha, Sweet Basil, and Cinnamon Tea Blends

Background: Anxiety disorders are prevalent among young adults, especially women of childbearing age, necessitating the exploration of alternative therapeutic interventions. The present study investigates a specialized tea blend combining Ashwagandha, Sweet Basil, and cinnamon for potential anxiety alleviation in this demographic. Objective: The primary objectives encompassed (1) formulating a tea blend combining Ashwagandha and Sweet Basil with cinnamon, (2) evaluating its nutritional and sensory attributes, and (3) assessing its potential to reduce anxiety using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Methods: Ingredients were procured from Faisalabad's native market and crushed to formulate two tea variants. The study was conducted over 21 days with 30 participants, divided into three groups: G0 (Control), G1 (Ashwagandha and Cinnamon), and G2 (Sweet Basil and Cinnamon). Anxiety levels were assessed using BAI at the start and end of the intervention. Results: Nutritional analysis indicated variations in moisture, ash, crude fat, crude protein, and NFE content among formulations. Sensory evaluations pointed to G1 having superior aroma, texture, flavor, and overall acceptability, while G2 excelled in appearance. BAI assessments, though indicative of potential anxiety-reducing effects, were not conclusively significant due to sample size constraints. Conclusion: The tea formulations exhibited promising relationships between sensory appeal, nutritional value, and potential anxiety-reducing effects. However, further studies with larger sample sizes and longer intervention periods are warranted for more definitive insights. The study contributes to the exploration of natural interventions for anxiety management, emphasizing the nexus between sensory experiences, nutrition, and emotional well-being.

Impact of straw and its derivatives on lodging resistance and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) under rainfed areas

Addressing the negative impacts of lodging on crops is a global topic, but it is not clear whether and how straw and its derivatives positively affect the lodging resistance, yield, and quality of spring maize in rainfed areas. Therefore, a field experiment with three organic amendments, straw (at 9000 kg ha−1), cattle manure (at 7140 kg ha−1), and biogas residue (at 6554.52 kg ha−1), was set up in a typical rainfed area with film mulching. The results showed that straw and its derivatives significantly improved the mechanical properties of the third internode by improving the cellulose and lignin contents and their related synthase activities, which resulted in a significant increase in the stalk lodging-resistant index by 3.65∼7.23% (P < 0.05); contributed to a deeper and longer root system that significantly improved root pulling force by 1.41∼4.75%, further enhancing the positive correlation between root in the secondary zone and root lodging resistance; and improved the 1000- kernel weight, content of crude fat and crude protein by constructing a lush above-ground population, which significantly increased the grain yield by 5.95∼13.22%. Among them, the performance of biogas residue fermented by both anaerobic and composting was better than that of other treatments, which provided an informative organic solution for synchronizing the spring maize lodging resistance and yield increase.

Germplasm characterization and SDS-PAGE analysis of caper (Capparis spinosa L.) from different provenances

BackgroundCapparis spinosa L. is a typical desert plant that is resistant to high temperatures and drought, and at the same time is rich in medicinal and food values. The objective of this study is to explore the variations in nutrient composition, morphological characteristics, and SDS-PAGE patterns of caper seeds from different provenances, aiming to provide insights for the selection of superior seed provenances.ResultsIn this experiment, there were significant differences in the morphological characteristics and major nutritional components of caper seeds from different provenances. Seeds from the YKL (Karayagaqi Township, Yining County) and YKG (G218, KashiTown, Yining County) regions were larger in size compared to seeds from other regions. Among the four measured nutritional components, crude fat had the highest content, especially in the YKL and YKG region. The results of correlation analysis showed that crude fat was negatively correlated with soluble sugar and soluble protein but significantly positively correlated with starch content. As longitude increased from east to west, the morphological characteristics gradually increased. Based on the principal component analysis of all the parameters of the seeds, the eight provenances could be classified into three groups. HM (Hami), TGS (S202, Gaochang District, Turpan), HYW (Wubao Town, Yizhou District, Hami), TQQ (Qiquanhu Town, Turpan), and TLF (Turpan) were a group with higher soluble protein, soluble sugar, and water content. YKL and YKG were in one group, which had larger seed grains with high crude fat and starch content. AKS (Aksu) was in a separate group. The protein fractions from seeds of eight regions were extracted using Osborne fractionation method, it was found that glutelin content was the highest, while albumin content was the lowest. After these proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, the electrophoretic patterns showed that the protein molecular weights were relatively small, and there were differences in protein bands among different provenances.ConclusionAccording to the PCA results, the eight seed provenances could be divided into three groups. There were both geographically distant ones clustered into one group, and those close to each other were also divided into one group. There were differences in seed morphology, nutrient content and SDS-PAGE profiles among the different seed sources. This difference might be caused by a combination of geographic and climatic factors. In addition, YKL and YKG were roughly selected as good seed provenances, which provided a theoretical basis for the development of C. spinosa L. germplasm resources.

Analysis and Evaluation of Muscle Quality in Different Parts of the Bighead Carp (Aristichthys nobilis).

In this study, the bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) was the object of research to compare and analyze the contents of conventional nutrients, amino acids, fatty acids, inosinic acid, and earthy-smelling compounds (geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol) in muscles of its dorsal, belly, tail, opercula, eye socket, and mandible in order to evaluate their quality. The findings could inform recommendations for the consumption and processing of different muscle parts of the bighead carp. The results showed that the water content in the abdominal muscle was significantly lower than that in other parts, and the crude fat content was significantly higher than that in other parts (p < 0.05, the same below). Seventeen kinds of amino acids were detected in the muscles of the six parts of the fish, and the dorsal muscles had the highest umami amino acids, essential amino acids and total amino acids, which were 6.45 g/100 g, 6.82 g/100 g and 17.26 g/100 g, respectively. The total amount of essential amino acids in the muscle was higher than that in the FAO/WHO standard model. According to the AAS standard, the first limiting amino acid in the muscle of the six parts was valine (Val). There were 26 kinds of fatty acids in the abdomen, under the gill cover and in the eye socket muscles, and the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the mandibular muscles was the highest (45.41%). The content of inosine in the dorsal muscle was significantly higher than that in other parts. Geosmin was the main substance in the muscle. There was no correlation between the distribution of earthy-smelling compounds and fat content, but the content of earthy-smelling compounds in the muscle of the belly and eye socket was the highest. Therefore, the muscle quality of different parts of the bighead carp has its own characteristics, and targeted development and utilization can make more efficient use of bighead carp resources.

Effects of Light and Feeding on Expressions of Clock Genes and Metabolic Genes in the Ridgetail Shrimp, Exopalaemon carinicauda

The changes of the circadian clock genes expression, growth, and muscle composition in Exopalaemon carinicauda under different photoperiods and feeding time were investigated by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and muscle biochemical composition analysis, respectively. Results showed that four clock genes of Clock, Cry1, Tim, and Per2 showed significant circadian rhythms in both eyestalk and hepatopancreas. Their expression rhythms were highly correlated with the photoperiod in the eyestalk, but in the hepatopancreas, it was significantly correlated with the feeding time. Moreover, the expressions of several metabolic genes were also variable; adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and amyloglucosidase (AGL) changed significantly with the shift of feeding time, whereas methionine synthase (MS) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) changed significantly with the photoperiod. This reflected the close relationship between the metabolic and circadian clock in E. carinicauda; Alterations in photoperiod or feeding time lead to changes in the biological clock systems, which affects the daily expression of metabolic genes at the downstream metabolic pathway and closely correlates their expression rhythms with epi-environmental factors such as feeding. It can be seen from the results that the feeding was also a significant factor that affected the crude protein and crude fat contents in muscle tissue of E. carinicauda; their highest values (18.69% ± 0.13%, 1.81% ± 0.02%) were also occurred in the treatment with feeding at 19:00. Differences in muscle composition through a similar mechanism of action, i.e., the biological clock system are affected by the feeding and then regulated changes in downstream metabolic processes. As a result, the optimized conditions for the cultivation of E. carinicauda were a short light-phase photoperiod (8L : 16D) with feeding after sunset (19:00).

Effects of Anaerobic Germination and Enzymatic Saccharification on Chemical Compositions of Functional Drink from Riceberry Rice

Anaerobic germination and enzymatic saccharification significantly affected the chemical compositions of riceberry rice-based functional drink. Anaerobic germination significantly affected the moisture and carbohydrate contents in germinated riceberry rice (GRR), whereas the contents of crude protein, crude fat, ash and crude fiber were not changed significantly. During anaerobic germination, production of ATP was limited; therefore, the enzyme activity in the seed could be delayed in order to conserve the nutrients. With increasing germination time, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) increased, reaching a maximum percentage of 58.6% in 96-hour GRR but total phenolics and total anthocyanins significantly decreased with a loss percentage of 26.5% and 44.4%, respectively. Enzymatic saccharification using a-amylase and a-glucoamylase significantly increased sugar (total sugar, reducing sugar and glucose) contents in GRR extract, depending on incubation duration of both enzymes. The 0.5 hour-incubation with a-amylase in combination with the 12 hours-incubation with a-glucoamylase was the condition under which the extract contained the highest amount of reducing sugar (22.5 g/L), glucose (11.1 g/L) and total phenolics (22.5 g gallic acid equivalent/L). As the result, anaerobic germination in combination with enzymatic saccharification might be applied as a green process for the production of a functional drink from riceberry rice.