Shorter Articles and Reports: The Simultaneous Modification of Distinct Mendelian Factors

In another paper on the inheritance of a recurring somatic variation in variegated ears of maize, it was shown that the amount of red color developed in the pericarp of variegated seeds bears a definite relation to the development of color in the progeny of such seeds. The relation is such that the more color there is in the pericarp of the seeds planted the more likely are they to produce plants with wholly self-red ears and correspondingly the less likely to produce plants with variegated ears. Self-red ears thus produced behave just as if they were hybrids between self-red and variegated races or self-red and white races, the behavior in any given case depending upon whether the parent variegated ears were homnozygous or heterozygous for variegated pericarp and whether they were self-pollinated or crossed with white

Flavonoid composition and antioxidant activity of pigmented sorghums of varying genotypes

A wide variety of sorghum genotypes with a pigmented pericarp were grown in varying environments and were analyzed for total phenols, condensed tannins, flavan-4-ols, and in vitro antioxidant activity. In addition, sorghum flavonoids were separated, characterized, and quantified using HPLC-PDA and LC-MS. Total phenols and in vitro antioxidant activity increased when sorghums had a pigmented testa causing the presence of condensed tannins. Flavan-4-ol levels were highest in sorghums with a black pericarp (5.8-16.1 abs/mL/g), followed by those with a red pericarp (1.1-9.2 abs/mL/g). Sorghums with a black pericarp had the highest 3-deoxyanthocyanin levels (308-1885 µg/g) and these were increased when the grain had minimal weathering and was darkest in color. Sorghums with a lemon-yellow pericarp had the highest flavanone levels (260-3586 µg/g) with eriodictyol being the main flavanone. Flavanone levels were increased when the grain was bright yellow with minimum weathering and were high compared to those found in common sources (238-574 µg/g, fresh wts.). No flavonoids were predominant in sorghums with a red pericarp. Flavonoid composition varied when all sorghums were grouped by secondary plant color. Sorghums with tan secondary plant color, including those with a white pericarp, had higher levels of flavones (50-932 µg/g) than those with red/purple secondary plant color (0-172 µg/g). On the other hand, 3-deoxyanthocyanin levels were higher in red/purple plant sorghums (14-1885 µg/g) than in tan plant sorghums (0-24 µg/g). Among red/purple plant sorghums, lemon-yellow pericarp sorghums had the highest levels of flavones (51-172 µg/g). Environment and weathering had an effect on flavonoid levels. The 3-deoxyanthocyanins were reduced for sorghums grown in a dry environment (i.e. Lubbock, TX) and flavonoid levels were increased in grains with minimum weathering or molding. This study reports that all sorghums, including those with a white pericarp, have flavonoids and their levels and compositions are affected by the genotype. This information will be helpful for plant breeders, food scientists, and the pharmaceutical/nutraceutical industries in selecting sorghums with desired healthy components

Structural Characteristics of Pennisetum Americanum (Pearl Millet) Using Scanning Electron and Fluorescence Microscopy

Fluorescence bright field and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the structure of selected mature pearl millet caryopses from the World Germplasm Collection. Kernel shape (globose, lanceolate, obovate and hexagonal). kernel endosperm color (while. yellow and grey) and external appearance (color) of the samples were documented for 96 varieties. Color of the pearl millet kernel was due to the combined effects of pigmentation in the pericarp. aleurone and endosperm. as well as the pericarp thickness. White kernels had few pigmented areas. yellow kernels had pigments primarily in the epicarp and endosperm. and brown kernels had pigments in the epicarp. aleurone and endosperm. The majority of white, yellow and brown kernels had a thick pericarp. Purple kernels also had pigments in the epicarp, aleurone and endosperm, but had a thin pericarp. Grey kernels had pigments in the aleurone and endosperm. and had a thin pericarp. The periicarp was different from that found in sorghum in that the epicarp cells could be large, round, multilayered and full of pigments, or flat. single-layered and empty. The seed coat and a leurone layer were similar to those found in sorghum. Phytin and nicotinic acid were present in the germ. B-D-glucans were present in the cell walls in the endosperm

Shorter Articles and Reports: The Simultaneous Modification of Distinct Mendelian Factors

In another paper on the inheritance of a recurring somatic variation in variegated ears of maize, it was shown that the amount of red color developed in the pericarp of variegated seeds bears a definite relation to the development of color in the progeny of such seeds. The relation is such that the more color there is in the pericarp of the seeds planted the more likely are they to produce plants with wholly self-red ears and correspondingly the less likely to produce plants with variegated ears. Self-red ears thus produced behave just as if they were hybrids between self-red and variegated races or self-red and white races, the behavior in any given case depending upon whether the parent variegated ears were homnozygous or heterozygous for variegated pericarp and whether they were self-pollinated or crossed with white

Morphological variability, germination ability and survival rate of weedy rice seeds in Ampara and Matara Districts in Sri Lanka

High diversity in morphology and physiology of weedy rice is important resource for rice breeding. Present study was aimed to determine the seed morphological diversity, germination percentage and survival rate of weedy rice populations in Matara and Ampara districts. Significant diversity of seed shape, awn length, hull color and pericarp color was observed. Germination percentage and survival rates were highly variable. Our results showed that great diversity in weedy rice seeds and the favorable characteristics such high germination percentage, high survival ability, own less seeds, proper seed shape and pericarp color can be incorporated into cultivated rice varieties in rice breeding programs

Physicochemical properties of expanded extrudates from colored sorghum genotypes.

The diversity of sorghum grainsis relatedto their intrinsic properties, which include starch type,non-starch components and phenolic compounds. The latter are genotype dependent and affect the pericarp characteristics such as color and presence of a pigmented testa. This diversity can be valuable for developing new food products by thermoplastic extrusion intended for human consumption. Flours from sorghum grains from the genotypes of varied pericarp color: white (CMSXS180; 9010032), red (BRS 310; BRS 308) and light brown (BRS 305; 9929034) were processed in a co-rotating twin-screw extruder. Changes promoted by extrusion cooking were evaluated via specific mechanical energy (SME), die pressure, apparent density, sectional expansion index (SEI), water absorption index (WAI) and water solubility index (WSI). Pericarp color affected diepressure, apparent density and WSI values of extrudates. Light brown genotypes, rich in tannin and fiber content, generated the lowest die pressure and SEI values. Red genotypes presented the lowest SME and the highest WAI values. White genotypes presented intermediate SME and the highest die pressure values. These results reflect differences in starch conversion induced by the pericarp type. These results further suggest the potential use of pigmented sorghum extrudates for human consumption

Tissue specific analysis reveals a differential organization and regulation of both ethylene biosynthesis and E8 during climacteric ripening of tomato

Background: Solanum lycopersicum or tomato is extensively studied with respect to the ethylene metabolism during climacteric ripening, focusing almost exclusively on fruit pericarp. In this work the ethylene biosynthesis pathway was examined in all major tomato fruit tissues: pericarp, septa, columella, placenta, locular gel and seeds. The tissue specific ethylene production rate was measured throughout fruit development, climacteric ripening and postharvest storage. All ethylene intermediate metabolites (1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), malonyl-ACC (MACC) and S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM)) and enzyme activities (ACC-oxidase (ACO) and ACC-synthase (ACS)) were assessed. Results: All tissues showed a similar climacteric pattern in ethylene productions, but with a different amplitude. Profound differences were found between tissue types at the metabolic and enzymatic level. The pericarp tissue produced the highest amount of ethylene, but showed only a low ACC content and limited ACS activity, while the locular gel accumulated a lot of ACC, MACC and SAM and showed only limited ACO and ACS activity. Central tissues (septa, columella and placenta) showed a strong accumulation of ACC and MACC. These differences indicate that the ethylene biosynthesis pathway is organized and regulated in a tissue specific way. The possible role of inter- and intra-tissue transport is discussed to explain these discrepancies. Furthermore, the antagonistic relation between ACO and E8, an ethylene biosynthesis inhibiting protein, was shown to be tissue specific and developmentally regulated. In addition, ethylene inhibition by E8 is not achieved by a direct interaction between ACO and E8, as previously suggested in literature. Conclusions: The Ethylene biosynthesis pathway and E8 show a tissue specific and developmental differentiation throughout tomato fruit development and ripening

Supplementation of Mangosteen Pericarp Meal and Vitamin E on Egg Quality and Blood Profile of Laying Hens

This research aimed to study the supplementation effects of mangosteen pericarp meal (MPM) and vitamin E (VE) in the diets on the egg quality and blood profile of laying hens. This research used 160 laying hens of Lohman strains 24 weeks of age. The observation was conducted for 11 weeks. A completely randomized design with four treatments and four replications (10 birds each) was used in this experiment. The treatments consisted of R0 (control diet), R1 (R0 + 1 g MPM/kg ration), R2 (R0 + 2 g MPM/kg ration) and R3 (R0 + 200 mg VE/kg ration). Variables measured were egg quality, yolk cholesterol, and blood profiles. The data were analyzed by using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and any significant difference between the treatment means were further tested by Duncan's Multiple Range Test. The results showed that supplementation of 1 g MPM/kg ration in the diet significantly (P<0.05) decreased blood triglycerides compared with the control, laying hens fed with diet suplemented with of 2 g MPM/kg ration, and laying hens with diet suplemented with 200 mg VE/kg ration. Supplementation of MPM and VE did not affect (P>0.05) egg quality (except shell thickness), blood cholesterol, and HDL, respectively. In conclusion, supplementation of 1 g MPM/kg in the diet of laying hens could decrease blood triglycerides

Maternal genetic inheritance of red pericarp in the grain of maize

The diversity of colors in the grain of corn is wide, from whites to blacks and including a continuum of various shades of yellows, pinks, reds, purples and blues. The most abundant commercial colors are yellow and white, however other colors have become more important because of the presence of pigments to which are attributed favorable effects as a food. The pigments are also considered natural barriers of the grain against the invasion of pests and diseases in the production fields. The colors of the grain of corn occur in three different parts of the seed: the cover of the grain or pericarp, derived from the maternal tissue, with a diploid genetic content; the endo-sperm, including the aleurone layers that are cells in the grain immediately below the pericarp with a chromosome content of 3n; and the embryo, with a genetic content of 2n. The red color considered in this study is present in the pericarp ignoring possible effects in other tissues of grain and other organs of the plant. In this study, we used materials with colorless or red pericarp, and white or yellow endosperm; with the purpose of describing the type of inheritance of this character in the grain of corn. The results indicated a maternal genetic inheritance with classical complete dominance of the red color of pericarp over the clear or transparent phenotype, where the red color of the grains on ear is determined by the genotype of the mother grain but not by the seed embryo genotypes, which is characterized by uniformity of grain color of the ear. This type of inheritance could be useful in the development of pigmented varieties of higher food quality for humans