Sugar Stability of Sweet Sorghum Exposed to Climate Controlled and Ambient Storage Conditions

Historically, crop based ethanol has predominantly been achieved in the United States through starch-based and sugar-based conversions. With corn being one of the leading food and feed crops in the United States, and sugarcane’s inability to adapt to U.S. production regions, Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) has been identified as a potential alternative biofuel feedstock. The objective of this study was to evaluate the stability of non-structural carbohydrates (sugar) present in sweet sorghum juice, by tracking the sugar degradation of ‘Dale’ and ‘M81E’ while exposed to extended periods of climate controlled and ambient conditions after peak sugar accumulation. The data from both genotypes indicated that sugar yields can be sustained for weeks without significant losses. The plants left in the field for the ambient treatment continued sugar accumulation until photosynthesis and transpiration halted, causing immediate loss in sugar. Samples under the controlled treatment retained sugar yields for 3-4 weeks with minimal losses in yield, followed by a steady reduction for the remainder of the evaluations. However, the overall sugar loss after 70 days was comparable between treatments, which leads to the conclusion that sweet sorghum has the potential to be stored up to four weeks before significant yield loss occurs, regardless of storage methods. Combining staggering sweet sorghum plantings with short-term storage to sugarcane productions makes sorghum a suitable alternative or complementary feedstock to current sugar-based ethanol refineries

The Impact of Terroir on the Flavour of Single Malt Whisk(e)y New Make Spirit

peer reviewedThe impact of barley variety and its geographical growth location (environment) on the flavour of new make spirit was investigated to determine if “terroir” can be applied in the production of single malt whisk(e)y. New make spirits were produced at laboratory scale under controlled conditions from two different barley varieties (Olympus and Laureate) grown at two distinct environments (Athy, Co Kildare and Bunclody, Co Wexford) in Ireland over two consecutive seasons (2017 and 2018). The spirit samples were analysed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry olfactometry and descriptive sensory analysis. Forty-two volatiles were detected with eight deemed as very influential and fifteen deemed as influential to the aroma of new make spirit. Sensory attributes were influenced by barley variety, environment, and the interactions thereof over both seasons, with environment and the interaction of variety x environment having a greater impact than variety alone. Chemometric analysis of the olfactometry and sensory data found that both environment and season had a greater impact on the aromatic sensory perception of the new make spirits than variety alone. Therefore, this study clearly demonstrates a “terroir” impact on the flavour of new make spirit and highlights its potential importance especially in relation to single malt whisk(e)y.Enterprise Irelan

Perspectives on Low Temperature Tolerance and Vernalization Sensitivity in Barley: Prospects for Facultative Growth Habit

One option to achieving greater resiliency for barley production in the face of climate change is to explore the potential of winter and facultative growth habits: for both types, low temperature tolerance (LTT) and vernalization sensitivity are key traits. Sensitivity to short-day photoperiod is a desirable attribute for facultative types. In order to broaden our understanding of the genetics of these phenotypes, we mapped quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and identified candidate genes using a genome-wide association studies (GWAS) panel composed of 882 barley accessions that was genotyped with the Illumina 9K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip. Fifteen loci including 5 known and 10 novel QTL/genes were identified for LTT—assessed as winter survival in 10 field tests and mapped using a GWAS meta-analysis. FR-H1, FR-H2, and FR-H3 were major drivers of LTT, and candidate genes were identified for FR-H3. The principal determinants of vernalization sensitivity were VRN-H1, VRN-H2, and PPD-H1. VRN-H2 deletions conferred insensitive or intermediate sensitivity to vernalization. A subset of accessions with maximum LTT were identified as a resource for allele mining and further characterization. Facultative types comprised a small portion of the GWAS panel but may be useful for developing germplasm with this growth habit

Perspectives on Low Temperature Tolerance and Vernalization Sensitivity in Barley: Prospects for Facultative Growth Habit

15 Pags.- 5 Figs.- 3 TAbls.- Supp. Mat. Copyright Owner, the Authors. Under LicenceCC BY 4.0.One option to achieving greater resiliency for barley production in the face of climate change is to explore the potential of winter and facultative growth habits: for both types, low temperature tolerance (LTT) and vernalization sensitivity are key traits. Sensitivity to short-day photoperiod is a desirable attribute for facultative types. In order to broaden our understanding of the genetics of these phenotypes, we mapped quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and identified candidate genes using a genome-wide association studies (GWAS) panel composed of 882 barley accessions that was genotyped with the Illumina 9K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip. Fifteen loci including 5 known and 10 novel QTL/genes were identified for LTT—assessed as winter survival in 10 field tests and mapped using a GWAS meta-analysis. FR-H1, FR-H2, and FR-H3 were major drivers of LTT, and candidate genes were identified for FR-H3. The principal determinants of vernalization sensitivity were VRN-H1, VRN-H2, and PPD-H1. VRN-H2 deletions conferred insensitive or intermediate sensitivity to vernalization. A subset of accessions with maximum LTT were identified as a resource for allele mining and further characterization. Facultative types comprised a small portion of the GWAS panel but may be useful for developing germplasm with this growth habit.Support was provided by the USDA-NIFA TCAP Project no. 2011-68002-30029.Peer reviewe

Perspectives on Low Temperature Tolerance and Vernalization Sensitivity in Barley: Prospects for Facultative Growth Habit

[EN] One option to achieving greater resiliency for barley production in the face of climate change is to explore the potential of winter and facultative growth habits: for both types, low temperature tolerance (LTT) and vernalization sensitivity are key traits. Sensitivity to short-day photoperiod is a desirable attribute for facultative types. In order to broaden our understanding of the genetics of these phenotypes, we mapped quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and identified candidate genes using a genome-wide association studies (GWAS) panel composed of 882 barley accessions that was genotyped with the Illumina 9K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip. Fifteen loci including 5 known and 10 novel QTL/genes were identified for LTT—assessed as winter survival in 10 field tests and mapped using a GWAS meta-analysis. FR-H1, FR-H2, and FR-H3 were major drivers of LTT, and candidate genes were identified for FR-H3. The principal determinants of vernalization sensitivity were VRN-H1, VRN-H2, and PPD-H1. VRN-H2 deletions conferred insensitive or intermediate sensitivity to vernalization. A subset of accessions with maximum LTT were identified as a resource for allele mining and further characterization. Facultative types comprised a small portion of the GWAS panel but may be useful for developing germplasm with this growth habitSISupport was provided by the USDA-NIFA TCAP Project no. 2011-68002-3002

A multimodal cell census and atlas of the mammalian primary motor cortex

ABSTRACT We report the generation of a multimodal cell census and atlas of the mammalian primary motor cortex (MOp or M1) as the initial product of the BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network (BICCN). This was achieved by coordinated large-scale analyses of single-cell transcriptomes, chromatin accessibility, DNA methylomes, spatially resolved single-cell transcriptomes, morphological and electrophysiological properties, and cellular resolution input-output mapping, integrated through cross-modal computational analysis. Together, our results advance the collective knowledge and understanding of brain cell type organization: First, our study reveals a unified molecular genetic landscape of cortical cell types that congruently integrates their transcriptome, open chromatin and DNA methylation maps. Second, cross-species analysis achieves a unified taxonomy of transcriptomic types and their hierarchical organization that are conserved from mouse to marmoset and human. Third, cross-modal analysis provides compelling evidence for the epigenomic, transcriptomic, and gene regulatory basis of neuronal phenotypes such as their physiological and anatomical properties, demonstrating the biological validity and genomic underpinning of neuron types and subtypes. Fourth, in situ single-cell transcriptomics provides a spatially-resolved cell type atlas of the motor cortex. Fifth, integrated transcriptomic, epigenomic and anatomical analyses reveal the correspondence between neural circuits and transcriptomic cell types. We further present an extensive genetic toolset for targeting and fate mapping glutamatergic projection neuron types toward linking their developmental trajectory to their circuit function. Together, our results establish a unified and mechanistic framework of neuronal cell type organization that integrates multi-layered molecular genetic and spatial information with multi-faceted phenotypic properties

Developing Flavorful and Sustainable Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.): Integrating Malting Quality and Barley Contributions to Beer Flavor within the Framework of Facultative Growth Habit

This dissertation consists of a general introduction, three manuscripts, and general conclusions. The research integrates research on (1) the effects of barley genetics and production environment on the contribution of barley to beer flavor, (2) the effects of degree of malt modification on barley contributions to beer flavor and (3) a genetic analysis of low temperature tolerance (LTT) and vernalization (VRN) sensitivity. The first manuscript reports the relative impacts of barley genotype and environment on sensory descriptors of beers brewed from a subsample of a bi-parental mapping population grown at three locations. The second manuscript addresses the effects of genotype and degree of malt modification on beer flavor based on two experiments involving: a) length of grain storage prior to malting using samples from one of the environments utilized in the first experiment and b) alterations of malting protocol to produce three levels of malt modification in two varieties. The third manuscript describes the results from association mapping of LTT and VRN sensitivity in a large sample of diverse barley accessions that were extensively phenotyped and genotyped. The results of the analysis are applied in the context of facultative growth habit – a tool for dealing with the challenges of climate change on barley production. These manuscripts comprise a roadmap for integrating sensory science with contemporary breeding methods for the development of value-added barley varieties

Variation in energy sorghum hybrid TX08001 biomass composition and lignin chemistry during development under irrigated and non-irrigated field conditions

<div><p>This study was conducted to document the extent and basis of compositional variation of shoot biomass of the energy <i>Sorghum bicolor</i> hybrid TX08001 during development under field conditions. TX08001 is capable of accumulating ~40 Mg/ha of dry biomass under good growing conditions and this genotype allocates ~80% of its shoot biomass to stems. After 150 days of growth TX08001 stems had a fresh/dry weight ratio of ~3:1 and soluble biomass accounted for ~30% of stem biomass. A panel of diverse energy sorghum genotypes varied ~6-fold in the ratio of stem structural to soluble biomass after 150 days of growth. Near-infrared spectroscopic analysis (NIRS) showed that TX08001 leaves accumulated higher levels of protein, water extractives and ash compared to stems, which have higher sugar, cellulose, and lignin contents. TX08001 stem sucrose content varied during development, whereas the composition of TX08001 stem cell walls, which consisted of ~45–49% cellulose, ~27–30% xylan, and ~15–18% lignin, remained constant after 90 days post emergence until the end of the growing season (180 days). TX08001 and Della stem syringyl (S)/guaiacyl (G) (0.53–0.58) and ferulic acid (FA)/<i>para</i>-coumaric acid (<i>p</i>CA) ratios were similar whereas ratios of <i>p</i>CA/(S+G) differed between these genotypes. Additionally, an analysis of irrigated versus non-irrigated TX08001 revealed that non-irrigated hybrids exhibited a 50% reduction in total cell wall biomass, an ~2-fold increase in stem sugars, and an ~25% increase in water extractives relative to irrigated hybrids. This study provides a baseline of information to help guide further optimization of energy sorghum composition for various end-uses.</p></div

Monolignol and monolignol hydroxycinnamate conjugate concentrations released from TX08001 and Della stems by DFRC.

<p>Error bars represent standard error of mean. <b>H</b>; 4-hydroxycinnamyl alcohol, <b>G</b>; coniferyl alcohol, <b>S</b>; sinapyl alcohol, <b>G-DH<i>p</i>CA</b>; coniferyl dihydro-<i>p</i>-coumarate, <b>G-DHFA</b>; coniferyl dihydroferulate, <b>S-DH<i>p</i>CA</b>; sinapyl dihydro-<i>p</i>-coumarate, <b>S-DHFA</b>; sinapyl dihydroferulate, all as their diacetates. Data were obtained from two technical replicates of two biological replicates for both TX08001 and Della (experiments 2 and 3).</p

Relative levels, determined from 2D-NMR volume-integrals, of various units in the whole-cell-walls of sweet sorghum Della and the energy sorghum TX08001.

<p>Relative levels, determined from 2D-NMR volume-integrals, of various units in the whole-cell-walls of sweet sorghum Della and the energy sorghum TX08001.</p