92 research outputs found
Developing more environmentally friendly and nutritious pea varieties
Non-Peer ReviewedPhytate is the major storage form of phosphorus in crop seeds, but is not well digested by humans
and non-ruminant animals. In addition, phytate chelates several essential micronutrients which are also
excreted contributing to phosphorus pollution in the environment. Environmental and nutritional concerns
led to the development of cultivars with the low phytate trait. The present study is aimed at biochemical
and molecular characterization of two low phytate pea mutant lines, 1-150-81 and 1-2347-144 developed
at the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan in collaboration with Dr. Victor Raboy,
USDA, Idaho. Biochemical characterization is in progress for the two low phytate lines, their progenitor,
CDC Bronco and CDC Meadow that were grown in replicated field trials at Saskatoon and Rosthern, SK
in 2010 and 2011. Samples of developing seeds were collected 7 days after pollination and at weekly
intervals thereafter until maturity. The concentration of phytate-phosphorus, isomeric forms of phytatephosphorus and inorganic phosphorus in these developing cotyledons and seed coats will be assessed
using colorimetric and HPLC methods. In this way, the pattern of phytate-phosphorus and inorganic
phosphorus accumulation will be determined in developing seeds.
Molecular characterization will include cloning, sequencing and mapping of the gene(s) associated
with the low phytate trait. Molecular markers will be developed based on the gene sequences.
Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were developed from crosses between the two low phytate lines and
CDC Meadow. One set of RILs was evaluated in a field trial in Saskatchewan in 2011, and will be
evaluated again in 2012. The RILs will be genotyped using available microsatellite markers or SNP
markers and phenotyped using colorimetric and HPLC assays. These data will then be used to identify
the molecular marker(s) for the trait. The study will aid us to understand the nature of the low phytate
mutation(s). Significant potential benefits that we could expect out of the project include improved
bioavailability of phosphorus, iron and zinc in foods and feeds, less phosphorus excretion and
environmental pollution and a substantial saving in feed costs
Improving pulse crops as a source of protein, starch and micronutrients
Pulse crops have been known for a long time to have beneficial nutritional profiles for human diets but have been neglected in terms of cultivation, consumption and scientific research in many parts of the world. Broad dietary shifts will be required if anthropogenic climate change is to be mitigated in the future, and pulse crops should be an important component of this change by providing an environmentally sustainable source of protein, resistant starch and micronutrients. Further enhancement of the nutritional composition of pulse crops could benefit human health, helping to alleviate micronutrient deficiencies and reduce risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes. This paper reviews current knowledge regarding the nutritional content of pea (Pisum sativum L.) and faba bean (Vicia faba L.), two major UK pulse crops, and discusses the potential for their genetic improvement
Investigations into reaming processes using a frequency-decomposition technique
Reaming is carried out after twist drilling to enlarge and finish the holes accurately. The experiments were carried out on mild-steel workpieces at different reaming conditions and the accuracy and surface finish values are very briefly compared with the results of earlier investigators. A detailed analysis of the harmonic contents of the axial and transverse profiles of the reamed holes was carried out to bring out the process characteristics. A preliminary study of the cutting forces in reaming based on the spectral analysis is also reported. © 1990 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Practical measurement strategies for verification of freeform surfaces using coordinate measuring machines
Freeform surfaces have wider engineering applications. Designers use B-splines, Non-Uniform Rational Bsplines, etc. to represent the freeform surfaces in CAD, while the manufacturers employ machines with controllers based on approximating functions or splines. Different errors also creep in during machining operations. Therefore the manufactured freeform surfaces have to be verified for conformance to design specification. Different points on the surface are probed using a coordinate measuring machine and substitute geometry of surface established from the measured points is compared with the design surface. The sampling points are distributed according to different strategies. In the present work, two new strategies of distributing the points on the basis of uniform surface area and dominant points are proposed, considering the geometrical nature of the surfaces. Metrological aspects such as probe contact and margins to be provided along the sides have also been included. The results are discussed in terms of deviation between measured points and substitute surface as well as between design and substitute surfaces, and compared with those obtained with the methods reported in the literature
The pattern and distribution of retinal breaks in eyes with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
Correction to: MeioCapture: an efficient method for staging and isolation of meiocytes in the prophase I sub-stages of meiosis in wheat
An electrolyte for energy efficient magnesium electrolytic cells
153-156<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:
115%;font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-bidi-font-family:="" "times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;="" mso-bidi-language:ar-sa"="" lang="EN-US">The new generation cells for magnesium metal
extraction such as bipolar cells are energy efficient. In such cells, the
electrolyte composition plays a major role in obtaining pure metal with less
energy consumption. To identify such an electrolyte, a series of experiments
have been carried out with alkali and alkaline earth chlorides. A ternary
composition consisting of magnesium chloride, sodium chloride and potassium
chloride has been found suitable.</span
From a computational point of view: deciphering the molecular synergism between oxidative stress-induced lipid peroxidation products and metabolic dysfunctionality of human liver mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase-2
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