Water-soluble Carbohydrate Levels Research Articles

Carbon Monoxide Is Involved in Hydrogen Gas-Induced Adventitious Root Development in Cucumber under Simulated Drought Stress.

Hydrogen gas (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO) are involved in plant growth and developmental processes and may induce plant tolerance to several stresses. However, the independent roles and interaction effect of H2 and CO in adventitious root development under drought conditions have still not received the needed research attention. We hypothesize that there exists crosstalk between H2 and CO during adventitious root development under drought stress. The results of our current study revealed that 50% (v/v) hydrogen-rich water (HRW), 500 μM Hemin (the CO donor) and 30% (w/v) CO aqueous solution apparently promoted the development of adventitious roots in cucumber explants (Cucumis Sativus L.) under drought stress. H2 and CO increased relative water content (RWC), leaf chlorophyll content (chlorophyll a, b, and a+b), and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters [photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (PSII), PSII actual photochemical efficiency and photochemical quench coefficient] under drought condition. When the CO scavenger hemoglobin (Hb) or zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPPIX) was added to HRW/CO aqueous solution, the positive effect of HRW/CO aqueous solution on RWC, leaf chlorophyll content, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were reversed. Additionally, superoxide dismutases, peroxidase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase was significantly increased in the explants treated with HRW and CO aqueous solution under drought stress, thus alleviating oxidative damage, as indicated by decreases in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and superoxide radical (O2-) levels. H2 and CO also improved the levels of water soluble carbohydrate, total soluble protein, and proline content. However, the above CO/H2-mediated effects were reversed by CO scavenger Hb or CO specific synthetic inhibitor ZnPPIX. Therefore, CO may be involved in H2-induced adventitious rooting under drought stress and alleviate oxidative damage by enhancing RWC, leaf chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, metabolic constituent content, activating anti-oxidant enzymes and reducing TBARS, O2-, and H2O2 levels.

Natural lactic acid bacteria population of tropical grasses and their fermentation factor analysis of silage prepared with cellulase and inoculant.

Natural lactic acid bacteria (LAB) populations in tropical grasses and their fermentation characteristics on silage prepared with cellulase enzyme and LAB inoculants were studied. A commercial inoculant Lactobacillus plantarum Chikuso 1 (CH), a local selected strain Lactobacillus casei TH14 (TH14), and 2 cellulases, Acremonium cellulase (AC) and Maicelase (MC; Meiji Seika Pharma Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), were used as additives to silage preparation with fresh and wilted (6 h) Guinea grass and Napier grass. Silage was prepared using a laboratory-scale fermentation system. Treatments were CH, TH14, AC at 0.01% fresh matter, AC 0.1%, MC 0.01%, MC 0.1%, CH+AC 0.01%, CH+AC 0.1%, CH+MC 0.01%, CH+MC 0.1%, TH14+AC 0.1%, TH14+AC 0.01%, TH14+MC 0.1%, and TH14+MC 0.01%. Microorganism counts of Guinea grass and Napier grass before ensiling were 102 LAB and 106 aerobic bacteria; these increased during wilting. Based on morphological and biochemical characteristics, and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, natural strains from both grasses were identified as L. plantarum, L. casei, Lactobacillus acidipiscis, Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides, Leuconostoc garlicum, Weissella confusa, and Lactococcus lactis. Lactobacillus plantarum and L. casei are the dominant species and could grow at lower pH and produce more lactic acid than the other isolates. Crude protein and neutral detergent fiber were 5.8 and 83.7% of dry matter (DM) for Guinea grass, and 7.5 and 77.1% of DM for Napier grass. Guinea grass had a low level of water-soluble carbohydrates (0.39% of DM). Guinea grass silage treated with cellulase had a lower pH and higher lactic acid content than control and LAB treatments. The 0.1% AC and MC treatments had the best result for fermentation quality. All high water-soluble carbohydrate (2.38% DM) Napier grass silages showed good fermentation quality. Compared with control and LAB-inoculated silage, the cellulase-treated silages had significantly higher crude protein content and lower neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber contents. The results confirmed that cellulase could improve tropical silage quality, inhibiting protein degradation and promoting fiber degradation.

Contributions of Root WSC during Grain Filling in Wheat under Drought.

As the first organ in plants to sense water-deficit in the soil, roots have important roles for improving crop adaption to water limited environments. Stem water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) are a major carbon source for grain filling under drought conditions. The contributions of root WSC during grain filling under drought has not been revealed. Wheat parental lines of Westonia, Kauz and their derived four double haploid (DH) lines, namely, DH 125, DH 139, DH 307, and DH 338 were used in a field drought experiment with four replications. Through measurements of the root and stem WSC components, and the associated enzyme activities during grain filling, we identified that the levels of root WSC and fructan were one third of the levels in stems. In particular, root glucose and 6-kestose levels were one third of the stem, while the root fructose and bifurcose level were almost half of the stem and sucrose level was two third of the stem. The accumulation and the degradation patterns of root fructan levels were similar to that in the stem, especially under drought. Correlations between root fructan levels and grain assimilation were highly significant, indicating that under terminal drought, root WSC represents a redistributed carbon source for grain filling rather than deep rooting. The significantly higher root sucrose levels under drought suggest that sucrose may act as a signal under drought stress. As compared with stem fructose levels, the earlier increased root fructose levels in DH 307, DH 139, and DH 338 provided agile response to drought stress. Our root results further confirmed that β-(2–6) linkages predominate in wheat with patterns of 6-kestose being closely correlated with overall fructan patterns. Further research will focus on the roles of 6-FEH during fructan remobilization in stems.

The effect of dietary water soluble carbohydrate to nitrogen ratio on nitrogen partitioning and isotopic fractionation of lactating goats offered a high-nitrogen diet

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between nitrogen (N) partitioning and isotopic fractionation in lactating goats consuming diets with a constant high concentration of N and increasing levels of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC). Eight lactating goats were offered four different ratios of WSC : N in the diet. A two-period incomplete cross-over design was used, with two goats assigned to each treatment in each period. N balance measurements were conducted, with measurement of feed N intake and total output of N in milk, faeces and urine. Treatment, period and infusion effects were tested using general ANOVA; the relationships between variables were analysed by linear regression. Dietary treatment and period had significant effects on dry matter (DM) intake (g/day). DM digestibility (g/kg DM) and N digestibility (g/kg N) increased as the ratio of WSC : N increased in the diet. No treatment effect was observed on milk urea N concentration (g/l) or urinary excretion of purine derivatives (mM/day). Although dietary treatment and period had significant effects on N intake, the change of N intake was small; no effect was observed for N partitioning among faeces, milk and urine. Milk, plasma and faeces were enriched in 15N compared with feed, whilst urine was depleted in 15N relative to feed. No significant relationship was established between N partitioning and isotopic fractionation. This study failed to confirm the potential to use N isotopic fractionation as an indicator of N partitioning in dairy goats when diets provided N in excess to requirements, most likely because the range of milk N output/N intake and urinary N output/N intake were narrow.

Wheat genotypic variation in dynamic fluxes of WSC components in different stem segments under drought during grain filling.

In wheat, stem water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), composed mainly of fructans, are the major carbon sources for grain filling during periods of decreasing photosynthesis or under drought stress after anthesis. Here, in a field drought experiment, WSC levels and associated enzyme activities were followed in different stem segments (peduncle, penultimate internode, lower parts of stem, and sheath) during grain filling. The focus was on two double haploid (DH) lines, DH 307 and DH 338, derived from a Westonia/Kauz cross, two drought-tolerant wheat varieties that follow different drought adaptation strategies during grain filling. The results showed that in irrigated plants, in the period between 20 and 30 days after anthesis (DAA), 70–80% of WSC were fructans. Before and after this period, the fructan proportion varied from 10 to 60%, depending on the location along the stem. Under drought, the fructan proportion changed, depending on genotype, and developmental stages. After anthesis, stem fructans accumulation occurred mainly in the peduncle and penultimate internode until 14 DAA in both DH lines, with clear genotypic variation in subsequent fructan degradation under drought. In DH 307 a significant reduction of fructans with a concomitant increase in fructose levels occurred earlier in the lower parts of the stem and the sheath, as compared to DH 338 or other stem segments in both lines. This was associated with an earlier increase of grain weight and thousand grain weight in DH 307. Spatiotemporal analysis of fructan dynamics and enzymatic activities in fructan metabolism revealed that several types of FEHs are involved in fructan remobilization to the grain under drought.

Analysis of major fatty acids in milk produced from high-quality grazed pasture

In a survey of milk and pasture samples collected from commercial dairy farms in Canterbury, New Zealand, the results of pasture analysis indicated that levels of water soluble carbohydrates and crude protein were highest in spring and autumn, while the content of neutral detergent fibre was lowest during the same periods. The most notable features of milk fatty acid composition were the high levels of α-linolenic acid (C18:3) and conjugated linoleic acid and the low levels of linoleic acid (C18:2) in milk produced from cows consuming high-quality pasture. It seems likely that this is related to the high proportion of high-quality grazed pasture (mean crude protein = 23.9% of DM; mean water soluble carbohydrates = 16.2% of DM; mean neutral detergent fibre = 39.1% of DM) in the diet. The highest monthly mean value for milk C18:3 was 1.82% of total milk fatty acids for herds fed low levels of supplement in spring (October). This survey shows that there is variation in pasture quality over the season and this was reflected in milk fatty acid profiles.

Características fermentativas de silagens de cana-de-açúcar com erva-sal

Objetivou-se com o presente estudo avaliar diferentes níveis (0, 20, 40 e 60%) de inclusão de erva-sal na dinâmica fermentativa da silagem de cana-de-açúcar. Utilizou-se delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos e seis repetições. Após 90 dias, com a abertura dos silos, determinou-se os teores de carboidratos solúveis (CHO-Sol), etanol, ácidos orgânicos (lático, acético, propiônico, butírico), proteína bruta (PB), matéria mineral (MM), matéria seca (MS), fibra em detergente neutro livre de cinzas (FDNc), pH e poder tampão (PT); estimou-se a perda total de MS, perdas por efluente e gases, densidade e a recuperação da MS. Os níveis crescentes de erva-sal propiciaram diminuição das perdas totais de MS e por efluente, aumento de seu teor e recuperação desta. As silagens apresentaram pH adequado à conservação (≤3,70) e concentração de minerais acrescidos. As concentrações de etanol foram influenciadas (P<0,05) pelo incremento de erva-sal, em que se observou redução de 51,84%, com 40% de erva-sal na silagem de cana. A adição de erva-sal reduz as perdas de MS e a produção de etanol e, melhora a qualidade fermentativa da silagem de cana-de-açúcar.

The effect of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici on the levels of water-soluble carbohydrates and the photosynthetic rate in wheat leaves

Stripe rust is the most serious wheat disease worldwide. Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), which is the causal agent of stripe rust, is an obligate biotrophic fungus and must take up nutrients from the host through its haustoria. Recent studies have indicated that sugar is the main nutrient taken up by pathogens from host cells. However, the response of sugars to Pst infection in wheat is not well known. In this study, the levels of water-soluble carbohydrates in Pst-infected wheat leaves were investigated, and the results revealed slight changes for all of the carbohydrates except sucrose. Furthermore, the sucrose levels increased in both the compatible and incompatible systems. The photosynthetic rates of infected leaves were determined and found to be significantly increased during the early stage of Pst infection. In addition, the expression profiles of genes associated with photosynthesis were assayed through real-time PCR, and the trends found were identical to that observed for the photosynthetic rate in Pst-infected wheat leaves. These findings indicate that Pst infection can upregulate genes involved in photosynthesis to promote the photosynthetic rate and ultimately induce sucrose accumulation in infected wheat leaves.

The chemical composition, fermentation profile, and microbial populations in tropical grass silages

The objective of this study was to evaluate the fermentation profile, chemical composition and microbial population and losses in the silages of signalgrass and Mombasa grass fertilized with the following levels of nitrogen (N): 0, 30, 60 and 90 kg/ha. The grasses were harvested at 70 days of regrowth, chopped and then ensiled in laboratory silos that had 20 kg of capacity and a snap-top cover and were fitted with Bunsen valves. Before ensiling, samples of the plants were used for the isolation and identification of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in epiphytic microbiota. The design adopted was a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement, with four doses of N and two forage species, in a completely randomized design, with four replicates. The predominant species of LAB was Lactobacillus fermentum. The interaction between the N dose and forage species affected the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) of the silages. The pH values and gas losses were influenced only by the forage species, with higher values for the Mombasa grass. For the ammonia (NH3-N) levels and effluent losses, there was an effect of the interaction between the forage species and N doses, and the highest values of NH3-N and effluent losses were found in the Mombasa grass silage fertilized with 60 kg N/ha. Nitrogen fertilization reduces the levels of DM and WSC in the silages and also increases the levels of CP, NH3-N and effluent losses.

Relationship between Water Soluble Carbohydrate Content, Aphid Endosymbionts and Clonal Performance of Sitobion avenae on Cocksfoot Cultivars

Aphids feed on plant phloem sap, rich in sugars but poor in essential amino acids. However, sugars cause osmotic regulation problems for aphids, which they overcome by hydrolysing the sugars in their gut and polymerising the hydrolysis products into oligosaccharides, excreted with honeydew. Aphids harbour primary bacterial endosymbionts, which supply them with essential amino acids necessary for survival. They also harbour secondary (facultative) endosymbionts (sfS), some of which have a positive impact on life history traits, although it is not yet known whether they also play a role in providing effective tolerance to differing levels of water soluble carbohydrates (WSCs). We investigated the relationship between WSC content of cocksfoot cultivars and performance of clones of the English grain aphid Sitobion avenae F. We evaluated how clone genotype and their sfS modulate performance on these different cultivars. We therefore examined the performance of genetically defined clones of S. avenae, collected from different host plants, harbouring different sfS. The performance was tested on 10 Dactylis glomerata L. cultivars with varying WSC content. D. glomerata is known as a wild host plant for S. avenae and is also commercially planted. We found that high WSCs levels are responsible for the resistance of D. glomerata cultivars to specific S. avenae clones. The minimum level of WSCs conferring resistance to D. glomerata cultivars was 1.7% dw. Cultivars with a WSC content of 2.2% or higher were resistant to S. avenae and did not allow reproduction. Our results further indicate that sfS modulate to some extend host plant cultivar adaptation in S. avenae. This is the first study revealing the importance of WSCs for aphid performance. Cocksfoot cultivars with a high content of WSCs might be therefore considered for aphid control or used for resistance breeding in this and other grass species, including cereals.

Dissecting the molecular basis of the contribution of source strength to high fructan accumulation in wheat

Fructans represent the major component of water soluble carbohydrates (WSCs) in the maturing stem of temperate cereals and are an important temporary carbon reserve for grain filling. To investigate the importance of source carbon availability in fructan accumulation and its molecular basis, we performed comparative analyses of WSC components and the expression profiles of genes involved in major carbohydrate metabolism and photosynthesis in the flag leaves of recombinant inbred lines from wheat cultivars Seri M82 and Babax (SB lines). High sucrose levels in the mature flag leaf (source organ) were found to be positively associated with WSC and fructan concentrations in both the leaf and stem of SB lines in several field trials. Analysis of Affymetrix expression array data revealed that high leaf sucrose lines grown in abiotic-stress-prone environments had high expression levels of a number of genes in the leaf involved in the sucrose synthetic pathway and photosynthesis, such as Calvin cycle genes, antioxidant genes involved in chloroplast H(2)O(2) removal and genes involved in energy dissipation. The expression of the majority of genes involved in fructan and starch synthetic pathways were positively correlated with sucrose levels in the leaves of SB lines. The high level of leaf fructans in high leaf sucrose lines is likely attributed to the elevated expression levels of fructan synthetic enzymes, as the mRNA levels of three fructosyltransferase families were consistently correlated with leaf sucrose levels among SB lines. These data suggest that high source strength is one of the important genetic factors determining high levels of WSC in wheat.

Effects of bacterial inoculants and an enzyme on the fermentation quality and aerobic stability of ensiled whole-crop sweet sorghum

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of bacterial inoculation and cellulase on the fermentation quality of ensiled whole-crop sweet sorghum (WCSS, Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). The WCSS (323 g dry matter (DM)/kg, 251 g water soluble carbohydrates (WSC)/kg DM, 43 g crude protein (CP)/kg DM and 439 g neutral detergent fibre (NDF)/kg DM) was ensiled with i) no additive (control); ii) Lactobacillus buchneri (LB); iii) Lactobacillus plantarum (LP); and iv) LB+E, a combination of LB and enzyme. These treatments were ensiled in 1 L anaerobic jars for 25 days. The jars were opened on days 3, 7 and 15 to determine pH, while those of day 25 were sampled to determine nutrient composition, fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability. Inoculation reduced pH, butyric acid and ammonia-N and increased lactic acid content in sweet sorghum silage compared with the control. The aerobic stability of WCSS was improved with LB, while it was reduced with the homofermentative LP treatment compared with the control. The LB+E reduced the fibre, but increased residual WSC of silage. The aerobic stability of LB+E silage was lower than LB treated silage. Using enzymes to increase the WSC content of crops that already have high levels of WSC may result in reduced aerobic stability of silage. Further work is needed to evaluate these effects on silage produced on farm scale and on animal production performance.

Linked gene networks involved in nitrogen and carbon metabolism and levels of water-soluble carbohydrate accumulation in wheat stems

High levels of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) provide an important source of stored assimilate for grain filling in wheat. To better understand the interaction between carbohydrate metabolism and other metabolic processes associated with the WSC trait, a genome-wide expression analysis was performed using eight field-grown lines from the high and low phenotypic tails of a wheat population segregating for WSC and the Affymetrix wheat genome array. The 259 differentially expressed probe sets could be assigned to 26 functional category bins, as defined using MapMan software. There were major differences in the categories to which the differentially expressed probe sets were assigned; for example, probe sets upregulated in high relative to low WSC lines were assigned to category bins such as amino acid metabolism, protein degradation and transport and to be involved in starch synthesis-related processes (carbohydrate metabolism bin), whereas downregulated probe sets were assigned to cell wall-related bins, amino acid synthesis and stress and were involved in sucrose breakdown. Using the set of differentially expressed genes as input, chemical-protein network analyses demonstrated a linkage between starch and N metabolism via pyridoxal phosphate. Twelve C and N metabolism-related genes were selected for analysis of their expression response to varying N and water treatments in the field in the four high and four low WSC progeny lines; the two nitrogen/amino acid metabolism genes demonstrated a consistent negative association between their level of expression and level of WSC. Our results suggest that the assimilation of nitrogen into amino acids is an important factor that influences the levels of WSC in the stems of field-grown wheat.

Fermentacja i proteoliza procesu kiszenia świeżej i podsuszonej zielonki z di- oraz tetraploidalnych form koniczyny czerwonej

The effects of the following factors were analyzed in the study: wilting degree, genetic form of red clover (2n – 4n), cultivars within the genetic form: 2n (Krynia, Parada), 4n (Jubilatka, Bona) and DM x form, DM x 2n, DM x 4n. Fermentation and proteolysis during the ensilage of red clover were affected primarily by wilting, whereas genetic factors (genetic form, cultivar) exerted a lesser effect. However, the genetic form of red clover affected the true protein content of silage and the extent of proteolysis during the ensiling process. The effect of the genetic form of red clover on the extent of proteolysis in silage (at similar levels of water-soluble carbohydrates and buffering capacity) suggests that diploid and tetraploid red clover cultivars differ with respect to chemical properties (poliphenol oxidase activity, polyphenol content) affecting proteolysis.

An evaluation of two perennial ryegrass cultivars (AberDart and Fennema) for sheep production in the uplands

SUMMARYUnder lowland conditions there is evidence to indicate that animals consuming ryegrasses bred for elevated water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations are able to utilize the protein in their diet more efficiently, resulting in increased live-weight gain, milk production and lower loss of N. The current study evaluated the effects on upland sheep production of grazing two cultivars of perennial ryegrass nominally differing in WSC content. Replicate plots (n=4) of a cultivar bred for elevated levels of WSC (AberDart) and a control cultivar (Fennema) were grazed by ewes and lambs (pre-weaning) and by lambs only (post-weaning). Target surface sward heights of 40 and 60–70 mm were maintained during the pre-weaning and post-weaning periods, respectively. No differences were found in the WSC concentration of the two swards during either the pre-weaning or post-weaning periods. However, cultivar AberDart had a significantly lower fibre concentration during both periods (P<0·05), and a higher digestibility of organic matter in dry matter (DOMD) value during the post-weaning period (P<0·05). There was no cultivar effect of treatment on lamb growth during the pre-weaning period, but lamb live-weight gain was significantly higher for those grazing AberDart than Fennema during the post-weaning period (200 g/d v. 125 g/d; s.e.d.=26·5 g/d; P<0·01), leading to a greater proportion of lambs selected for slaughter by the end of September (0·99 v. 0·70 respectively; s.e.d.=0·062; P<0·05). The improved performance for lambs grazing AberDart relative to those grazing Fennema indicates that advances in plant breeding have the potential to improve the efficiency and profitability of lamb production in the uplands. However, additional research is required to explore the extent to which growing conditions in marginal environments influence the expression of traits.

Effects of maturity stage, wilting and acid treatment on crude protein fractions and chemical composition of whole crop pea silages ( Pisum sativum L.)

In order to determine if maturity stage, and wilting or acid treatment, change the crude protein (CP) fraction distribution (determined according to the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System) of whole crop pea silages, a pea with variegated flowers ( Pisum sativum ssp. arvense L., cv Timo) was compared to a white-flowered, semi-leafless pea ( P. sativum ssp. hortense L, cv Capella). Herbage was harvested at three maturity stages being: pod set, pod swell and full pod, and either acid-treated or wilted. Timo was acid-treated using 4 (acid4), 6 (acid6) or 8 (acid8) L/tonne fresh matter (FM) with a 2:1 mixture of formic and propionic acid, or wilted to a dry matter (DM) content of about 400 g/kg. Capella was treated with acid6 or wilted. Herbage was ensiled for 103 days in 10 kg laboratory silos. Despite differences in wilting conditions, all wilted herbages had similar protein fraction distributions. In the Capella silages the soluble CP content was lower in the later maturity stages, but this was not the case in the Timo silages. The amount of acid added only affected the B1 CP fraction content, which decreased with increasing acid. At pod set and pod swell for Timo, and at pod set for Capella, the direct-harvested herbages were difficult to ensile because of the high buffering capacity and low level of water soluble carbohydrates. Wilting improved ensilability. Acid treatment reduced proteolysis, but crops with DM contents below 150 g/kg must be acid treated with at least 6 L/tonne FM to ensure stable fermentation. Timo silages were more prone to malfermentation, probably caused by lodging, which made Capella the preferred cultivar for producing pea silages harvested at the pod swell stage or later. Proteolysis and the amount of soluble CP in the silage were lower in later maturity stages in the Capella, but not the Timo, cultivar.

Improvement of Fermentation Quality of Rice Straw Silage by Application of a Bacterial Inoculant and Glucose

The improvement of the fermentation quality of rice straw silage by application of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and glucose was investigated in this study. Sixteen rice varieties were harvested at the maturity stage and the rice straw was ensiled with LAB inoculant (1×10 5 cfu/g of fresh weight) and glucose (2% of fresh weight). Inoculation with LAB improved the fermentation as reflected in reductions in pH, acetic acid (by 3.7 to 78.3%), butyric acid (by -6.0 to 100.0%) and ammonia nitrogen (by 1.0 to 71.7%) concentrations, and increases in lactic acid (by 43.9 to 282.9%) and crude protein concentrations compared with the control. Application of LAB plus glucose was more effective in improving fermentation quality than LAB alone. The variety of rice straw which contained relatively high levels of water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) tended to obtain better fermentation quality. The results suggested that LAB application and selection of rice varieties whose straw contained high levels of WSC were effective in improvement of the fermentation quality of rice straw silage.

High sugar grasses - harnessing the benefits of new cultivars through growth management

Perennial ryegrass cultivars with high levels of watersoluble carbohydrates (WSCs) have been proposed as a means to increase animal performance and nitrogen use efficiency in pasture-based animal production systems, with consequent environmental benefits. But this depends on a sufficient elevation of WSC in leaves. A gene x environment interaction (G x E) in the expression of the high sugar (HS) trait has been shown previously, with WSCs measured at a single stage in regrowth. Keywords: regrowth interval, defoliation, Lolium perenne, water soluble carbohydrates, plant composition

Effect of Water Soluble Carbohydrates on Fermentation Characteristics of Ensiled Perennial Ryegrass

Well-preserved silage is characterized by reduced pH, greater lactic acid concentration, and reduced ammonia (NH3) concentration compared with silage that did not ferment well. Water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) are the primary fermentation substrate. In temperate grass forages, glucose, fructose, sucrose, and fructans are the primary WSC. New varieties of ryegrass have been developed in the United Kingdom to express high levels of WSC.The objective of this trial was to determine differences in fermentation characteristics of grasses with different WSC levels cut and processed as silage. Four perennial ryegrasses, 3 cultivars with a relatively greater WSC concentration (AberAvon, AberDart, and Elgon) and 1 cultivar commonly grown in Oregon, the control WSC (Linn), were planted. Three replicates of each grass were ensiled after morning and afternoon harvests. Each sample was packed, vacuum sealed, and ensiled for 60 d at 10°C. Fresh grass samples were taken from each cutting and analyzed before ensiling. Fresh grass WSC was greater in the 3 high WSC grass cultivars vs. Linn. Final pH was less, total acids were greater, and lactic acid tended to be greater for the high WSC grass silages. Final pH, lactic acid, acetic acid, total acids, and NH3 were less for the afternoon vs. morning cutting. Ensiling was most efficient for high WSC grass varieties harvested at the afternoon cutting.

Distribution of Water‐Soluble Carbohydrate Reserves in the Stubble of Prairie Grass and Orchardgrass Plants

A greenhouse study was undertaken to investigate the distribution of water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC) within the lower 100 mm of ‘Kara’ orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and ‘Matua’ prairie grass (Bromus willdenowii Kunth.) stubble through four distinct regrowth cycles. Water‐soluble carbohydrate levels were consistently higher in prairie grass tillers compared with orchardgrass tillers. A decrease in WSC levels with increasing stubble height was observed for vegetative tillers of both species. However, the WSC concentration gradient was better defined for orchardgrass, with a clear decrease in WSC concentration between the 21‐ to 30‐ and 31‐ to 40‐mm segments, and 77% of WSC content contained within the 0‐ to 30‐mm stubble height range (with 0 mm representing the base at ground level). The WSC concentration gradient for prairie grass was less clearly defined, with a relatively high WSC concentration throughout the 0‐ to 100‐mm stubble height range. There was a trend for decreasing WSC concentration between the 31‐ to 40‐ and 41‐ to 50‐mm segments, with 62% of WSC content contained within the 0‐ to 40‐mm stubble height range. These results suggest that the previously adopted defoliation stubble height of 45 to 50 mm, which is the optimal defoliation management for perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), maintains over 60% of stubble WSC reserves and therefore should not be detrimental to the persistence of orchardgrass and prairie grass. While decreasing defoliation height to 30 mm may be acceptable for orchardgrass, prairie grass is more sensitive to defoliation severity, with defoliation below 45 mm not recommended.