Increase In Carbohydrate Content Research Articles

Enhancing stress resilience in soybeans (Glycine max): assessing the efficacy of priming and cross-priming for mitigating water deficit and waterlogging effects.

Priming enables plants to respond more promptly, minimise damage, and survive subsequent stress events. Here, we aimed to assess the efficacy of priming and cross-priming in mitigating the stress caused by waterlogging and/or dehydration in soybeans (Glycine max ). Soybean plants were cultivated in a greenhouse in plastic pots in which soil moisture was maintained at pot capacity through irrigation. The first stress was applied in plants at the vegetative stage for 5days and involved either dehydration or waterlogging, depending on the treatment. Subsequently, the plants were irrigated or drained and maintained at pot capacity until the second stress. For the second stress, the conditions were repeated in plants at the reproductive stage. We then evaluated the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ), lipid peroxidation, total soluble sugars (TSS), amino acids, proline, and starch, and the activity of antioxidant, fermentative, and aminotransferase enzymes. Under waterlogging and dehydration, priming and cross-priming significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the levels of TSS, amino acids, and proline while reducing H2 O2 concentration and lipid peroxidation. Under waterlogging, priming suppressed fermentative activity and increased carbohydrate content. This demonstrates that soybean plants activate their defence systems more promptly when subjected to priming.

Combined effects of nitrogen limitation and overexpression of malic enzyme gene on lipid accumulation in Dunaliella parva

Overexpression of Dunaliella parva (D. parva) malic enzyme (ME) gene (DpME) significantly increased DpME expression and ME enzyme activity in transgenic D. parva. Nitrogen limitation had an inhibitory effect on protein content, and DpME overexpression could improve protein content. Nitrogen limitation increased carbohydrate content, and Dunaliella parva overexpressing malic enzyme gene under nitrogen limitation (DpME-N−) group showed the lowest starch content among all groups. Dunaliella parva overexpressing malic enzyme gene under nitrogen sufficient condition (DpME) and DpME-N− groups showed considerably high mRNA levels of DpME. ME activity was significantly enhanced by DpME overexpression, and nitrogen limitation caused a smaller increase. DpME overexpression and nitrogen limitation obviously enhanced lipid accumulation, and DpME overexpression had more obvious effect. Compared with control (wild type), lipid content (68.97%) obviously increased in DpME-N− group. This study indicated that the combination of DpME overexpression and nitrogen limitation was favorable to the production of microalgae biodiesel.

From molecules to organisms: A multi-level approach shows negative effects of trace elements from sewage sludge used as soil improver on honeybees

The use of sewage sludge as a soil improver has been promoted in agroecosystems. However, sludges can contain toxic trace elements because of suboptimal wastewater treatment. Nonetheless, field studies investigating the negative effects of these practices on pollinators are lacking. We collected honeybees from an area where sewage sludge use is widespread, and one where it is precluded. Trace elements in soils and bees were quantified. Cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, and nickel were investigated because they were the least correlated elements to each other and are known to be toxic. Their levels were related to oxidative stress and energy biomarkers, midgut epithelial health, body size and wing asymmetry of honeybees. We found increased carbohydrate content in sites with higher cadmium levels, increased histological damage to the midgut epithelium in the sewage sludge area, and the presence of dark spherites in the epithelium of bees collected from the sites with the highest lead levels. Finally, we found that honeybees with the highest lead content were smaller, and that wing fluctuating asymmetry increased in sites with increasing levels of mercury. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study of the concentration and effects on honeybees of trace elements potentially deriving from soil amendment practices.

Cold atmospheric plasma enhances morphological and biochemical attributes of tomato seedlings

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a physical technology with notable effects on living organisms. In the present study, tomato seeds (Solanum lycopersicum var. Bassimo Mill.) were exposed to CAP for various time intervals, ranging from 1 to 5 min, in both continuous and intermittent periods, and were compared with a control group that received no CAP treatment. Seedlings grown from treated seeds exhibited improvements in levels of growth traits, photosynthetic pigments, and metabolite contents when compared to the control group. Seedlings from seeds treated with S04 displayed significant increases in shoot and root lengths, by 32.45% and 20.60% respectively, compared to the control group. Moreover, seedlings from seeds treated with S01 showed a 101.90% increase in total protein, whereas those treated with S02 experienced a 119.52% increase in carbohydrate content. These findings highlight the substantial improvements in growth characteristics, photosynthetic pigments, and metabolite levels in seedlings from treated seeds relative to controls. Total antioxidant capacity was boosted by CAP exposure. The activities of enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidases were stimulated by S02 and exceeded control treatment by (177.48%, 137.41%, and 103.32%), respectively. Additionally, exposure to S04 increased the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants like flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, and tannins over the control group (38.08%, 30.10%, 117.19%, and 94.44%), respectively. Our results indicate that CAP-seed priming is an innovative and cost-effective approach to enhance the growth, bioactive components, and yield of tomato seedlings.

Proximate biomass characterization of the high productivity marine microalga Picochlorum celeri TG2

Microalgae are compelling renewable resources with applications including biofuels, bioplastics, nutrient supplements, and cosmetic products. Picochlorum celeri is an alga with high industrial interest due to exemplary outdoor areal biomass productivities in seawater. Detailed proximate analysis is needed in multiple environmental conditions to understand the dynamic biomass compositions of P. celeri, and how these compositions might be leveraged in biotechnological applications. In this study, biomass characterization of P. celeri was performed under nutrient-replete, nitrogen-restricted, and hyper-saline conditions. Nutrient-replete cultivation of P. celeri resulted in protein-rich biomass (∼50% ash-free dry weight) with smaller carbohydrate (∼12% ash-free dry weight) and lipid (∼11% ash-free dry weight) partitions. Gradual nitrogen depletion elicited a shift from proteins to carbohydrates (∼50% ash-free dry weight, day 3) as cells transitioned into the production of storage metabolites. Importantly, dilutions in nitrogen-restricted 40 parts per million (1.43 mM nitrogen) media generated high-carbohydrate (∼50% ash-free dry weight) biomass without substantially compromising biomass productivity (36 g ash-free dry weight m−2 day−1) despite decreased chlorophyll (∼2% ash-free dry weight) content. This strategy for increasing carbohydrate content allowed for the targeted production of polysaccharides, which could potentially be utilized to produce fuels, oligosaccharides, and bioplastics. Cultivation at 2X sea salts resulted in a shift towards carbohydrates from protein, with significantly increased levels of the amino acid proline, which putatively acts as an osmolyte. A detailed understanding of the biomass composition of P. celeri in nutrient-replete, nitrogen-restricted, and hyper saline conditions informs how this strain can be useful in the production of biotechnological products.

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Nutritional Characteristics of Cashew Kernels (Anacardium occidentale L.) from Three Localities in Burkina Faso

Cashew kernels (Anacardium occidentale L.) have enormous nutritional and health potential. However, its consumption, mainly in roasted or fried form, is low compared with other agricultural products. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of heat treatments on the physicochemical and nutritional parameters of cashew kernels from three localities in Burkina Faso. Sample collections were carried out randomly from markets in Banfora, Bobo-Dioulasso and Gaoua. Physicochemical and nutritional analyses were carried out using standard methods and statistical analyses by using XLstat 2016 software. The results showed that almonds from Gaoua had the highest nutritional potential, with an average energy value of 554.93 kcal/100g. As for the effect of the treatments on the almonds, water, protein and fat contents decreased during heat treatment, with reduction rates ranging from 64.37% to 74.46% for water content, from 29.09% to 46.50% for protein content and from 1.69% to 13.99% for fat content. Carbohydrate content, on the other hand, increased from 12.25% to 33.76%. Overall, this study showed that the heat treatments applied to cashew kernels resulted in a slight decrease in water, protein and fat content. However, an increase in carbohydrate content was obtained. This increase in carbohydrate content is an excellent discovery for the use of this resource in the dietary balance much appreciated by local populations.

Formulation, Nutritional and Sensory Evaluation of Mocaf (Modified Cassava Flour) Noodles with Latoh (Caulerpa lentillifera) Addition

Instant noodles gained widespread popularity, resulting in a surge in global wheat consumption. However, concerns about the health implications of wheat-based products spurred the need for alternative ingredients in noodle production. The substitution of wheat flour with local resources, such as mocaf flour, and the enrichment of noodles with latoh (Caulerpa lentillifera), provided an opportunity to reduce wheat imports while enhancing the quality and potential health benefits of noodles. This study aimed to determine the optimal formulation, assess the characteristics, and evaluate the functional properties of wheat noodles that were substituted with mocaf flour and supplemented with latoh. The formulation of these noodles was conducted using design expert. The research encompassed a comprehensive analysis of physical, chemical, and organoleptic properties. The presence of latoh, in terms of chemical characteristics, increased the water and protein content in the noodles. On the physical side, it increased the final viscosity, setback, peak time, and elongation, as well as reduced the peak viscosity and breakdown. Meanwhile, the presence of mocaf increased carbohydrate content, peak viscosity, and breakdown value. The variations in noodle formulas only affected consumer acceptance of the appearance of the noodles; the noodle formula 99:1 (Mocaf:Latoh) had the most preferred appearance. Based on the sensory test parameters, the elongation value, and the tensile strength, noodles with optimal formulas were obtained, namely mocaf 63%, wheat 36% and latoh 1%. The optimum formula was similar to sample 10 (60:39:1) which exhibited characteristics such as a bright color, a rather smooth appearance with no cracks, a very soft mouthfeel, a bit springiness and elasticity, and a slightly non-sticky texture to the teeth without a fishy aroma. The essential and non-essential amino acids with the highest concentration contained in the Mocaf Noodles’ optimum formula were glutamate and leucine. Mocaf noodles with added latoh had low fat content but high carbohydrates and were rich in essential amino acids compared to other noodles. Additionally, they possessed sensory characteristics that were deemed acceptable by the panelists.

Assessment of heavy metal accumulation and health risk in three essential edible weeds grown on wastewater irrigated soil

The main problem facing Egypt recently is the shortage of available water resources. Therefore, farmers resort to use wastewater for irrigation. So, the present work aims to assess the impacts of wastewater irrigation on the productivity of three edible weeds (Cichorium endivia, Sonchus oleraceous and Beta vulgaris) and its effect on the nutritional value of plants and its risk on human health. This study will focus on Shibin Al Kanater region, and the physicochemical characteristics of drainage water, canal water, drainage water-irrigated soils and canal-irrigated soils were estimated. The vegetative and traits of edible weeds were determined including their photosynthetic pigments, organic and inorganic nutrients content, and heavy metals content. The health risk index (HRI) associated with consumption of polluted plants was created using the estimated exposure factor of a crop to the oral reference dosage of the toxic metal. The main results showed that biomass productivity of S. oleraceous, B. vulgaris and C. endivia increased due to drainage water irrigation with increasing percentage as 27.9, 19.6, and 19.1%, respectively. Irrigation with drainage water significantly increased the photosynthetic pigments of edible weeds. Irrigation with drainage water increased carbohydrate content, crude protein, total soluble sugar, and gross energy in all studied weeds. C. endivia, S. oleraceus and B. vulgaris plants irrigated with canal and drainage water could accumulate Fe, Zn, Cu, and Co in their roots. C. endivia, S. oleraceus and B. vulgaris plants irrigated with canal water indicated HRI more than the unit for Mn, Cu, Pb, and Cd. This research advises that regulation be put in place to prohibit irrigation using untreated drainage and to restrict the discharge of industrial, domestic, and agricultural wastewater into irrigation canals.

Pasta fortified with β-glucan Isolated from brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) by-product

β-glucan from brewer's spent yeast is a novel ingredient approved to be included in the human diet. This paper evaluated the effects of β-glucan extracted from spent brewer's yeast on the physico-chemical, rheological, textural, microstructure, and molecular characteristics of common and durum wheat pasta, at different addition levels. The results showed a decrease in dough viscous and elastic moduli, while the resistance to deformation and hardness raised as the addition level increased. Pasta quality parameters were influenced by the β-glucan content depending on the wheat type, with lower pasta firmness (2.76 and 3.40 N for common and durum controls vs. 2.76–1.97 and 3.35–2.73 N for common and durum enriched pasta respectively), increased carbohydrate content (from 85.63% to 85.91–86.95% in common wheat pasta, and from 81.89 to 82.12–82.28% in durum pasta), cooking loss (from 4.73% in common control to 4.91% for 4% common wheat-β-glucan pasta, and from 3.68 in durum control to 5.05% for 4% durum wheat-β-glucan), and darker color being obtained. Pasta microstructure and molecular FT-IR characteristics confirmed the presence of β-glucan in cooked pasta and depicted protein denaturation and contribution to the final product matrix. These results represent new insights into the development of convenient matrices for functional ingredient incorporation.

Optimization of Extrusion Cooking on the Characteristics of Ready-to-Eat Breakfast Cereal Made from Bambara Groundnut Based Composite Flour

ABSTRACT Optimization of extrusion cooking effects on the proximate composition, anti-nutritional factors, mass flow rate, and torque, among other responses of Bambara groundnut-based flour blends, was the objective of this research. Bambara groundnut, pearl millet, malted sorghum, and banana flours were blended in the ratio of 50:20:20:10, respectively. Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM) was applied. Extrusion cooking reduced crude protein (20.01–17.19%), reduced the activities of oxalates, saponins, and trypsin inhibitors by 88.31%, 87.30%, and 82.35%, respectively, and increased carbohydrate content (57.48–68.82%). Barrel temperature had a strong increasing correlation (R2 = 0.9033) with mass flow rate, while net torque increased (78.15–81.26%) with decreasing screw speed (350–300 rpm). The RSM was successfully used to design, process, and develop prediction model equations for the manufacture of the Bambara groundnut-based breakfast cereal. Therefore, up to 50% Bambara groundnut is acceptable for a nutritionally improved breakfast cereal using extrusion cooking.

Elevated carbon‐dioxide effects on wheat grain quality differed under contrasting nitrogen and phosphorus fertiliser supply

AbstractAtmospheric carbon‐dioxide concentration ([CO2]) is increasing rapidly, but its interactions with nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertiliser on wheat grain quality are not well understood. We investigated the effects of ambient CO2 (aCO2; ∼410 ppm) and elevated CO2 (eCO2; 760 ppm) on crop harvest index (CHI), nutrient harvest index (NuHI), shoot macro‐nutrient content and grain macro‐nutrient concentration of wheat grown under two contrasting amounts of N (0.5 and 6 mol m−3 NO3− N) and P (10 and 250 mmol P m−3) fertiliser supply (low and optimum, respectively). Our results highlighted interactions between [CO2] and N and P fertiliser supply for the shoot biomass at anthesis and straw biomass at harvest maturity. This was because biomass yield did not respond to CO2 level when fertiliser was deficient. However, shoot and straw yield increased (10.0–‐34.0%) with increasing [CO2] at optimum fertiliser rates. Across experiments, grain yield increased (15.6%) with increasing [CO2], which resulted in grain nutrient concentration decreasing (3.0–‐13.0%) with increasing [CO2]. This was attributed to nutrient 'dilution' due to increased carbohydrate content in the grain. Overall, fertiliser supply impacted crop responses more than CO2 treatments, and the impact was greater under N than P deficiency. This was reflected through conservative values for CHI, thousand grain weight and NuHIs suggesting plants allocated biomass and nutrients at similar rates for vegetative and reproductive organs independent of [CO2].

Phenotypic Variations in Banana Cultivars in the Utilization and Tolerance to Different Magnesium Levels

Magnesium (Mg) is the most commonly deficient nutrient in tropical banana-growing areas. The effects of different concentrations of Mg on morpho-physiological and biochemical responses on three commercial cultivars (Baxi, Haigong, and Guangfen No.1) of bananas were accessed for 12 weeks. Results showed genotypic variation in the utilization and tolerance to different Mg levels. The optimum Mg level was 1 mM for Baxi and Guangfen No.1 and 3 mM for Haigong. Both the deficiency and excess of Mg caused a severe reduction in plant height, dry weight, total root length, and root surface area of Haigong and Baxi. Mg stress reduced root growth by impairing photosynthate translocation and increased carbohydrate contents in the source leaf. Under Mg stress, more reduction in photosynthetic pigment and photosynthesis rate, higher accumulation of carbohydrates and malondialdehyde contents, and higher activities of antioxidative enzymes were observed in Haigong as compared to other genotypes. Based on the above results, it is concluded that Haigong is most sensitive to Mg stress while Guangfen No. 1 was least affected and tolerant to changes in the Mg levels.

Plant-Derived Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Dots as an Effective Fertilizer for Enhanced Strawberry Growth and Yield

Plant-derived carbon dots have superior light absorption and intrinsic fluorescence properties. In this work, we have prepared nitrogen-doped carbon dots (N-CDs) from Piper betle leaves using a simple hydrothermal method. The synthesized N-CDs were characterized by various techniques such as high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared, and photoluminescence. The N-CDs further proved to have systemic effects on the growth of strawberries compared with irrigating the strawberry plants with water and regular nutrients. The strawberry plants treated with N-CDs exhibited an increase in chlorophyll content of about 24.7%, which was reflected in increased carbohydrate content of approximately 48.61% compared to control plants. Also, N-CD-treated strawberry plants showed increased secondary metabolites (phenolics) compared to control plants. Moreover, at the end of harvesting, the comparison was reflected in significant amounts of strawberries and in an increase in the leaf area of strawberry plants obtained by the N-CD growth. The results demonstrate that biomass-based betel leave-derived N-CDs can be an effective fertilizer for global agricultural production applications.

Impact of Cooking Conditions on Proximate Composition and Textural Properties of Chicken Breast Meat

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cooking conditions on the proximate composition and textural properties (cohesiveness and chewiness) of chicken breast meat. Eight packs of industrial skinless chicken breast meat were cooked by air frying (AF), baking (BK), deep fat frying (DF) and grilling (GR) at 170, 180 and 190oC for 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 min. The chicken breast packs were frozen and sliced into dimensions, thawed, cooked and analysed by a two way analysis of variance. The results revealed that cooking methods significantly (p < 0.05) decreased moisture and protein contents from 75.14 to 58.25% and 89.17 to 82.98%, but increased fat content from 4.26 to 7.78%, ash content from 1.95 to 2.39%, carbohydrate content from 4.63 to 6.95%, cohesiveness content from 0.40 to 0.52 and chewiness value from 3.63 to 6.05 kg. An increases in cooking temperatures and times decreased moisture content from 60.58 to % 56.34% and 75.14 to 47.40% and protein content from 83.77 to 82.11% and 89.17 to 79.45%. Similarly, increases in cooking temperatures and times significantly (p < 0.05) increased fat content from 7.00 to 8.44% and 4.26 to 10.12%, ash content from 2.15% to 2.59% and 1.95 to 2.67%. This study showed that increases in cooking temperatures decreased non-significantly (p > 0.05) carbohydrate content from 7.02 to 6.92%, but increases in cooking times increased carbohydrate content from 4.63 to 7.76%. An increases in cooking temperatures and times increased cohesiveness content from 0.50 to 0.54 and 0.40 to 0.63, chewiness value from 5.50 to 6.77 kg and 3.63 to 8.54 kg, respectively. There were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in chewiness values of samples cooked by AF and GR methods. The best cooking method/ temperature / time for low nutrient losses was BK, 170oC and 4 min.

Far-Red Light Mediated Carbohydrate Concentration Changes in Leaves of Sweet Basil, a Stachyose Translocating Plant.

Photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) refers to photons between 400 and 700 nm. These photons drive photosynthesis, providing carbohydrates for plant metabolism and development. Far-red radiation (FR, 701-750 nm) is excluded in this definition because no FR is absorbed by the plant photosynthetic pigments. However, including FR in the light spectrum provides substantial benefits for biomass production and resource-use efficiency. We investigated the effects of continuous FR addition and end-of-day additional FR to a broad white light spectrum (BW) on carbohydrate concentrations in the top and bottom leaves of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), a species that produces the raffinose family oligosaccharides raffinose and stachyose and preferentially uses the latter as transport sugar. Glucose, fructose, sucrose, raffinose, and starch concentrations increased significantly in top and bottom leaves with the addition of FR light. The increased carbohydrate pools under FR light treatments are associated with more efficient stachyose production and potentially improved phloem loading through increased sucrose homeostasis in intermediary cells. The combination of a high biomass yield, increased resource-use efficiency, and increased carbohydrate concentration in leaves in response to the addition of FR light offers opportunities for commercial plant production in controlled growth environments.

Physiological and gene expression responses of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis to low pH and low dissolved oxygen

The prevalence and frequency of hypoxia events have increased worldwide over the past decade as a consequence of global climate change and coastal biological oxygen depletions. On the other hand, anthropogenic emissions of CO2 and consequent accumulation in the sea surface result in a perturbation of the seawater carbonate system, including a decrease in pH, known as ocean acidification. While the effect of decreases in pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration is better understood, their combined effects are still poorly resolved. Here, we exposed adult mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to two pHs (8.27 and 7.63) and DO concentrations (7.65 and 2.75 mg L−1) over 17 days in a full-factorial design. These levels correspond to extremes of the present natural variability and are relevant in the context of ocean acidification and hypoxia. No mortality was observed during the experiment. However, sublethal effects were observed for clearance and oxygen consumption rates, as well as total haemocytes count and haemocytes viability and gene expression in mussels exposed to the combination of low pH and low DO. Respiration and excretion rates were not significantly impacted by low pH and DO, alone or in combination. Overall, low pH alone led to a decrease in all tested physiological parameters while low DO alone led to a decline in clearance rate, haemocyte parameters and an increase in carbohydrate content. Both parameters led to up- or down-regulation of most of the selected genes. Not surprisingly, the combined effect of low pH and low DO could not be predicted by a simple arithmetic additive response at the effect level, highlighting more complex and non-linear effects.

MgO nanoparticles priming promoted the growth of black chickpea

Seed priming with nanoparticles (NPs) has potential to promote crop productivity and agricultural sustainability. However, detailed studies are required to find out the appropriate dose of a particular NPs required that further depends upon the type of test plant. Present study reports the influence of MgO-NPs nanopriming on black chickpea. Black chickpea treated overnight with 10–150 μg/ml NPs showed altered morphology, and variation in antioxidants, protein, and carbohydrate content. The shoot and root length were increased by 171-142 and 217–328% on MgO-NPs priming. MgO-NPs mediated increase in chlorophyll content induced 112 and 15% enhancement in the biomass and carbohydrate levels of chickpea. Further, the protein accumulation was enhanced in chickpea. Increase in carbohydrate content was found to significantly reduce the protein precipitating tannins, and thus increasing protein digestibility and solubility. MgO-NPs priming considerably increased the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant parameters of chickpea. Hence, a concentration-dependent positive response of MgO-NPs on chickpea growth and biochemical parameters was evident. This study further supports the potential of MgO-NPs as nano-fertilizers for agricultural sustainability and productivity. • Exposure to 10–150 μg/ml MgO NPs induced concentration-dependent enhancement of chickpea growth. • MgO NPs increased shoot-root length, antioxidant potential, carbohydrate, and protein content. • MgO NPs increased chlorophyll, fresh biomass, non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants. • Plant response to MgO NPs needs to be investigated in other crops plants.

Uniconazole enhances lodging resistance by increasing structural carbohydrate and sclerenchyma cell wall thickness of japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.) under shading stress

Lodging is a major limiting factor for grain yield and quality, and low light enhances lodging risk by increasing stem elongation and decreasing culm thickness. This study evaluated the effect of exogenous uniconazole (UCZ) on the basal stem physiological mechanism, cell structure, carbohydrates, and lignin-related enzymes in culm tissue under shading conditions. The results showed that shading stress significantly decreased grain yield and stem mechanical strength in 2020 and 2021. Compared with normal light (CK), shading rapidly decreased the breaking strength (M) and section modulus (SM). Exogenous UCZ increased culm wall thickness and improved lodging resistance. Uniconazole application also reduced plant height, gravity height, and second basal internode length by inducing a reduction in the cell length, and caused the cells to be densely arranged under both normal light and shading conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the thickness of the sclerenchyma tissue cell wall increased under both conditions under the UCZ treatment, which induced an increase in the cell wall content. Uniconazole application significantly increased non-structural carbohydrate, lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose contents in culm tissue. Moreover, UCZ application regulated lignin-related enzymes, such as phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), 4-coumarate: CoA ligase (4CL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), laccase (LAC) and peroxidase (POD). Thus, exogenous UCZ could enlarge sclerenchyma cell wall thickness, alter cell morphology in the stem, and increase stem strength by increasing carbohydrate content, including non-structural carbohydrates, cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose, to enhance rice (Oryza sativa L.) lodging resistance under shading conditions.

Alterations Due to Heat Shock in Biological and Commercial Features of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori

The impact of HS on larval growth and development, ERR, cocoon characteristics and biochemical elements of carbohydrate content was investigated using FC2 X FC1 bivoltine hybrid silkworm breed. On the third day of the fifth instar, the FC2 X FC1 bivoltine hybrid was treated to HS at 30, 35, 40 and 45ºC for 1 h with 1 h retrieval. Following that, silkworms were maintained in the rearing house under naturally fluctuating environmental circumstances in order to assess their intrinsic potentiality for overcoming temperature changes and producing cocoons in contrast to non-HS B. mori larvae. At 40°C, the biological and commercial features gained the most weight. As a result, although all larvae heat shocked at 35 and 40°C metamorphosed into pupae with better growth than controls, the fifth instar showed the greatest improvement in it. However, heat shock temperature of 45˚C was lethal since all the biological and commercial characters were severely affected in all instars. Thus, temperatures of 40°C should be considered when screening for better parents to develop thermotolerant breeds/hybrids for tropical countries such as India, in order to elicit a profound response and acquire tolerance to overcome the fluctuated environmental condition. Both control and HS showed a sequential increase in carbohydrate content but found declined upon HS of 45˚C.

Value-added salad dressing enriched with red onion skin anthocyanins entrapped in different biopolymers.

In this study, red onion skin extract was used to obtain food ingredients. Complex biopolymeric matrices were dissolved in the anthocyanin-rich aqueous extract, followed by gelation and freeze-drying. Powders were characterized regarding encapsulation efficiency (EE), phytochemical content, color, antioxidant activity, and microstructure. Storage and simulated digestion stability were also assessed. Two powders with high contents of bioactives and antioxidant activity were obtained. The highest EE was acquired for the powder with a higher polysaccharides concentration (V2). In addition, V2 exhibited the best storage stability. The in vitro studies demonstrated that increased carbohydrate concentration delivers the best anthocyanins protection. To prove its functionality, V2 was added to a salad dressing. The addition of powder has improved the concentration of biologically active compounds and the antioxidant activity of the salad dressings. These results support the assumption that microencapsulation may deliver bioactives from red onion skin as functional ingredients for value-added foods.