Water-soluble Sugars Research Articles

Differential accumulation of water stress-related proteins, sucrose synthase and soluble sugars in Populus species that differ in their water stress response

Differential accumulation of water stress-related proteins, sucrose synthase and soluble sugars in Populus species that differ in their water stress response

Effects of pre-severance light quality on the vegetative propagation ofEucalyptus grandis W. Hill ex Maiden

Two-leaf, two-node cuttings were taken fromEucalyptus grandis stockplants grown under different light qualities (red to far-red ratios of 0.4, 0.7, 1.3, 3.5 and 6.5) at a constant photon flux density (200 μmol m-2 s-1). Two experiments tested effects of pre-severance light quality on cutting morphology, post-severance gas exchange, carbohydrate status and rooting of cuttings. The best rooting percentage was achieved by cuttings with longer stems and greater stem volume from stockplants grown at lower red to far-red (R∶FR) ratios. Generally, rooting success was associated with low pre-severance starch and water-soluble sugar concentrations, and a greater total water-soluble carbohydrate (TWSC) content per cutting. Rooting was associated with well maintained stem starch and an increase in stem TWSC during the propagation period. Gas exchange of cuttings was measured between 28 and 33 days after severance. Rooting percentages at 35 days after severance were positively and linearly related to net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance. In unrooted cuttings there was a net release of CO2 which increased significantly with an increase in pre-severance R∶FR ratio. These results demonstrate that stockplant environment may significantly modify the morphology and physiology of subsequent cuttings, and that cutting morphology, and stored and current photosynthates have a significant influence on rooting.

Acremonium coenophialum‐Mediated Short‐ and Long‐Term Drought Acclimation in Tall Fescue

The mutualistic association between Acremonium coenophialum Morgan‐Jones and Gams and its tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Shreb.) host provides plant scientists with unique opportunities to create superior turf and forage cultivars. The objectives of this research were to determine endophyte‐mediated drought acclimation in tissue‐cultured regenerants of tall fescue containing one of three A. coenophialum isolates during short‐ and long‐term drought stress. Two experiments were conducted by growing vegetative propagules of plants with endemic or introduced endophytes in 120‐L tubs containing fritted clay: one experiment examined water relations during a 15‐d drought period and the other during a 70‐d water stress period. Leaf water potential and turgor pressure responses to soil water content differed among infected and non‐infected plants, among endophytes inserted within a plant genotype, and among plant genotypes containing a common endophyte during 15 d of stress. Among endophytes, only EDN11 induced acclimation to 70 d of stress when inserted into plant genotype PDN2. Leaf water potential and turgor pressure were approximately 0.50–0.75 MPa greater when PDN2 was infected with EDN11 compared to other endophytes during the 70 d of stress. Endophyte had no effect on leaf osmotic potential and minimal effect on plant water soluble mineral and sugar concentrations, and endophyte‐mediated adaptation to drought stress was an avoidance mechanism. Because enhanced drought tolerance is a result of specific interactions between plant genotypes and endophyte isolates, selection of endophytes specifically for enhancing drought tolerance in tall fescue is not likely to have a general effect on the plant population.

Selective consumption of decomposing wheat straw by earthworms

Three species of earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris L., Aporrectodea longa (Ude) and Allolobophora chlorotica (Savigny), were offered a choice of mixtures of soil and small wheat straw fragments which had been inoculated individually with six saprotrophic fungi. All earthworm species showed preferences between the six fungal species offered. Early straw decomposers, capable of utilizing water-soluble sugars and cellulose, were preferred in most cases to the lignin-decomposing fungi characteristic of the later stages of decomposition. The removal of fungal-inoculated straw pieces from the soil surface by L. terrestris followed the same pattern. The palatability of two wheat pathogens to L. terrestris was found to be similar to that of the preferred saprotroph. The implications of these findings for fungal abundance and dispersal in wheat fields are discussed.

Migration of Low-Molecular Sugars and Nitrogenous Compounds in Pinus sylvestris L. During Kiln and Air Drying

Redistribution of water soluble sugars and nitrogenous compounds in wood during drying improves the nutritious basis for the colonisation of wood by microoganisms. The effect of two kiln drying schedules and air drying on migration of low-molecular sugars and nitrogenous compounds in wood of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) was studied. During the kiln and air drying samples at different moisture content and depths in the planks were taken and chemically analysed. The two kiln drying schedules were found to result in a different sugar redistribution. the faster drying giving a higher sugar enrichment. The lowest sugar and nitrogen gradients were observed during air drying. Redistribution of sugars during kiln drying is influenced by transport processes as well as sugar conversion as a result of chemical interactions, while redistribution during air drying is caused mainly by transport processes. Eventual transport of soluble substances below fiber saturation point is discussed.

Synthesis of water-soluble sugar derivatives of combretastatin A-4

Three sugar derivatives (6, 7 and 13) of the antimitotic agent combretastatin A-4 1 have been synthesized. Two of these water-soluble derivatives (6, 13) showed strong cytotoxicity to the murine P388 cell line.

Use of Water-Soluble Sugars as Novel Cross-Linkers in Electrophilic Processes: Application to Negative-Tone Photoresists Based on Poly(4-hydroxystyrene)

Use of Water-Soluble Sugars as Novel Cross-Linkers in Electrophilic Processes: Application to Negative-Tone Photoresists Based on Poly(4-hydroxystyrene)

Suitability of a winery-sludge as soil amendment

A laboratory study was carried out to assess the suitability as soil amendment of a sludge obtained through aerobic depuration of wastewaters from a winery (‘winery-sludge’). During a 180-day incubation period, changes in chemical and biological properties of a soil amended with 0·5 and 2·5% of sludge were evaluated. At the end of the experiment, winery-sludge increased the amount of available N, P, K and S, organic and potentially mineralizable carbon, and total microbial activity, while pH, biomass C, dehydrogenase activity, decomposition rate, water-soluble sugars, phenolic compounds and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were not affected by the sludge application. A germination test indicated that the winery-sludge did not show toxicity even immediately after its addition to soil. The great build-up of salinity in soil amended with the highest dose could give rise to risks to crops and environment, so there is a need for field tests.

Grain Filling Mechanisms in Spring Wheat. III. Effects of shadings on dry matter accumulation in grain and culm.

To determine the effects of assimilate shortage to grain filling mechanisms in spring wheat canopy (cv. Haruyutaka), we examined the accumulation and translocation of dry matter in grain, along with water soluble sugar content (WSC) and structural material in culm under shading conditions during grain filling phases. Shading treatments were conducted using 95% shading cloth from -2 to 7 days after anthesis (DAA) (initial shading), 7 to 14 DAA (early shading) and 14 to 21 DAA (late shading). These shadings prevented the wheat canopy from producing any assimilate. However rates of increase in grain dry weights for all the shadings were 50-60% of the control (no shading), while the WSC in culm was used for the grain growth. During the initial grain filling phase, the WSC in culm for the initial shading decreased (-15 mg pl-1day-1), whereas that for the control increased (20 mg pl-1day-1). The grain dry weight showed a high rate of increase (11 mg pl-1day-1) for the initial shading, being about 50% of the control (19 mg pl-1day-1). During the early phase, the WSC in culm for the early shading decreased (-15 mg pl-1day-1), although that for the control increased (12 mg pl-1day-1). The rate of grain weight increase for the early shading (24 mg pl-1dayl-1). During the late phase, the WSC in culm for the late shading decreased (-33 mg pl-1day-1) five times as much as the control (-7 mg pl-1day-1). The rate of grain weight increase for the late shading (34 mg pl-1day-1) was 60% of that for the control (55 mg pl-1day-1). Although the culm lengths at harvest were no different between the initial shading and the control, the dry weight of culm structural material for the initial shading was lower than that for the control. The difference between the cases in which the partitioning rate to grain did or did not increase is discussed herein.

Grain Filling Mechanisms in Spring Wheat. II. Growth, accumulation and translocation in the daytime and at night during the four grain filling phases.

The dry weights and water soluble sugar contents (WSC) in grain, ear, culm and leaves of the field grown spring wheat (cv. Haruyutaka) were measured every morning and evening throughout the grain filling period to determine the physiological and morphological mechanisms of grain filling. Many of these plant organs increased or decreased linearly during each grain filling phase, divided on the last report : (1) initial grain filling phase, (2) early grain filling phase, (3) late grain filling phase and (4) final grain filling phase. They were, therefore, analyzed by linear regression against the days after anthesis to determine the difference in dry matter accumulation among these four phases and the difference between daytime and night. The regression slope, increasing rate, in total biomass declined with growth and was almost zero during the final phase when canopy did not photosynthate. The slope in grain dry weight peaked during the late phase (60 mg pl-1 day-1). The WSC in the culm increased during the initial and early phase (22 and 11 mg pl-1 day-1, respectively), while it decreased during the late and final phases (-15 and -19 mg pl-1 day-1). In addition, the grain increased similarly between daytime and night during the initial, early and final phases, although its increasing rate in the daytime (45 mg pl-1 day-1) was threefold greater than at night (16 mg pl-1 day-1). During the early phase, the WSC in the culm increased during the daytime (18 mg pl-1 day-1), but decreased during the night (-8 mg pl-1 day-1). Therefore, this suggests that the WSC is accumulated in culm during the daytime and that it is translocated into the grains at night.

Estimation of Assimilation Activity by Daily Increase in Water Soluble Sugar Content in Spring Wheat Canopy.

The ability or activity of assimilated organs in wheat canopy was estimated by measuring nitrogen content and water soluble sugar content (WSC) of leaves and ear in spring wheat canopy (cv. Haruyutaka) under field conditions. The relation of these organs to assimilation activity was also determined. Nitrogen content of leaf was closely related with carbon exchange rate (CER) in leaf, when measured under intensive radiation of more than 1500 μmol m-2s-1 of PAR (r=0.963***). This indicated that nitrogen content showed potential photosynthetic ability. Daily increase of WSC of leaf was closely related with CER in leaf under natural canopy (r=0.760***), showing the real-time activity of assimilation in canopy. The activity of assimilation in second leaf was lower than in flag leaf owing to shading by the latter, although photosynthetic ability in both was the same. Although CER of ear was not measured in this study, we assumed that photosynthesis in ear contributed considerably to grain growth as found in other recent work, because the amount of nitrogen and the daily increase of WSC in ear were higher than those in leaf.

Solvolysis of lignocellulose by anhydrous hydrogen fluoride vapor: Yield comparisons from four cellulosic substrates

Water soluble sugar yields and total product recoveries from the vapor-phase HF solvolysis of four ligno-cellulose substrates were compared: Bigtooth Aspen wood, prehydrolyzed Bigtooth Aspen wood, filter paper, and a synthetic lignocellulose composite substrate containing 23·3% wt lignin. The lignocellulose composite substrates were prepared by solvent-impregnating milled wood lignin onto filter paper. Single wafers of each substrate were contacted with an 100% HF vapor stream at 30°C and 1·0 atm and reacted to completion. After mild posthydrolysis of water-soluble products, glucose yields averaged 84% of theoretical for wood (87% including glucose trapped in solid fraction) and 93–94% of theoretical for prehydrolyzed wood, filter paper, and the lignocellulosic composite substrate. Total measured product recoveries averged 85% for wood vs 93–94% for the other three substrates. Reactions of HF vapor with the lignocellulosic composite substrate indicated that glucosyl fluoride from solvolysis of the cellulose fraction did not condense with lignin to form a water-insoluble adduct. Lowered glucose and xylose recoveries from wood may be due to uncertainties in composition of wood and possible reactions of HF with hemicellulose/lignin fractions.

Grain Filling Mechanisms in Spring Wheat. I. Grain filling phases according to the development of plant organs.

To define the growth phases for analyzing the physiological and morphological mechanisms of grain filling in a spring wheat canopy, the dry weight of the grains and the water soluble sugar content (WSC) and structural weight of the culm were measured for the variety Haruyutaka everyday during the grain-filling period. The grain-filling period was divided into four phases ; (1) Initial grain filling (from anthesis to cessation of culm elongation) where assimilate is used mainly for culm elongation and the dry weight of the grains increase slightly ; (2) Early grain filling (from cessation of culm elongation to the milk ripe stage) where assimilate is used for both grain growth and culm reserve. (3) Late grain filling (from the milk ripe stage to termination of photosynthesis) where assimilate is used entirely for grain growth and the culm reserve is also translocated to the grain ; and, (4) Final grain filling (from the end of photosynthesis to maturity) where grain growth is supported only by translocation of the culm reserve because assimiltate is no longer being actively produced. In the early and late grain-filling phases, the increase rate of the WSC in the culm was related linearly to radiation (r=0.616***), while grain weight increased linearly with time (r=0.992***), independent of radiation.

Sucrose syrup from carob pod

The ripe carob pod (pericarp) is rich in water-soluble sugars, mainly sucrose (63% on total sugars). Sucrose crystallization from aqueous carob extract is prevented by its reducing sugar content. The selective consumption of these sugars by mixed culture ofRhizopus oligosporus andSaccharomyces rouxii gives a sucrose syrup suitable for several uses e.g. sucrose extraction.

EFFECT of PHYSICAL STRUCTURE of STARCH MATERIALS ON WATER DIFFUSIVITY

The physical structure, developed during drying, affects the transport of water and the quality of processed solid foods. the effective diffusivity of water in starch-based systems was estimated from drying data at moisture 3–50% and temperatures 40-100°C. Hydrated granular or gelatinized starches and their mixtures with sugars or inert particles were used to produce different structures during air drying. the physical structure was characterized by the bulk porosity, estimated from the bulk and solid densities of the samples. the water diffusivity was influenced strongly by the porosity, developed during drying. Mechanical compression, starch gelatinization or addition of water-soluble sugars reduced the water diffusivity in granular starches. Incorporation of inert particles or extrusion cooking resulted in higher water diffusivities, due to higher porosities of the starch/inert mixtures or the expanded extrudates.

Seed yield of sorghum grown in an alfisol, in relation to boron nutrition at the reproductive phase

A foliar spray of boron (1 g borax litre-1) at the reproductive stage of sorghum varieties (PC 23, PC 9, PC 6 and HC 136), generally, increased the phosphorus content (24.5 per cent) and water soluble sugars (13.3 per cent) of seed coatings. The nitrogen content of a sorghum crop grown in a boron deficient soil improved only slightly (4.5 per cent) in spite of an elevated nitrate reductase activity (19.5 per cent). Such effects of boron seem to be associated with an increase in seed yield (14 per cent) and an improvement in the germination energy index. The magnitude of response was greater in variety HC 136 than the others.

Water stress-induced diurnal variations in leaf water relations, stomatal conductance, soluble sugars, lipids and essential oil content ofOriganum majoranaL.

SummaryDiurnal changes in relative water content, water relations, stomatal conductance, soluble sugars and total lipid content were measured on potted plants of Origanum majorana L. under soil moisture deficit. Much of the drought tolerance of Origanum is due to the ability of leaves to maintain turgor potentials at levels conducive to growth and stomatal conductance. Diurnally, leaf turgor was maintained through decreasing leaf solute potential. Solute accumulation was observed, even though relative water content (RWC) was found to be higher than 60%. Combined data, of RWC and ψleaf measurements, indicated that leaves of plants experienced in soil water content (SWC) = 1.5% required less water to recover from water stress than leaves of plants experienced in SWC = 15%. Essential oil content, total lipids and leaf dry weight were increased as soil moisture deficit was increased. Since leaf elongation was retarded by water stress, it is suggested that dividing cells failed to subsequently enlarge because ...

Chemical stability of ecomustine, a new antitumor agent in aqueous and biological media as assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography

Ecomustine, or CY233 (NSC-609224), is a new water-soluble nitrosoureido sugar derived from acosamine. A high-performance liquid chromatographic assay (HPLC) developed to quantify the unchanged drug in aqueous solutions and biological specimens enabled us to study the chemical stability as a function of pH, light, and temperature. In buffered aqueous solutions, the kinetics of degradation of CY233 is a first-order process. The log k-pH profile demonstrated hydroxide ion-catalyzed solvolysis. The drug is most stable at pH 4, more stable than some other nitrosoureas in 5% glucose (t1/2, 62-67 h) and in 0.9% isotonic saline (t1/2, 25-37 h) solutions. Based on these findings, blood samples should be collected in cold tubes (4 degrees C) containing citrate buffer (pH 4) and all manipulations should be protected from heat and light.

The Rate and the Direction Parameters of Humus Transformation in Intensively Cultivated Orthic Luvisols

Summary The transformations of organic substances and soil humus are running in stages, consequently their intensity, rate and direction change. Inhibition and acceleration of the rate of the main components of mineralization and humification are closely connected with biorythm and soil organisms activity, with changes of soil moisture, temperature and aeration, with the presence of active organic compounds and humus substances. The increased amount of water soluble sugars, “non-matured” lignin and fulvic acids are an indicator of the labile system characterized by rapid course of changes and longer period of stabilization or dynamic equilibrium aquirement in the process of mineralization and humification.

Carbohydrate complex of the fruit of Chaenomeles maulei

The carbohydrate complex of the fruit ofChaenomeles maulei contains more than 70% of water-soluble sugars, including sucrose, arabinose, galactose, fructose, and glucose. The bulk of the carbohydrate is represented by water-soluble pectin, and protopectin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. The monomeric compositions of all the fractions of carbohydrates and the ratio between the reducing and inverted sugars have been studied.