Mapping of QTL associated with seed phytic acid concentration in pea recombinant inbred lines

Non-Peer Reviewe

Validity of the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire and Its Relationship with Parent-Reported Eating Behaviors among Adolescents in Portugal

The Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ) is a tool developed in the UK, used in the investigation of appetitive traits in adults and adolescents, and later validated in a number of countries. To date, the validity of the AEBQ has not been tested on Portuguese-speaking popula-tions. The aim of this study was to validate the AEBQ in a sample of Portuguese adolescents. Participants were 4483 13-year-olds enrolled in the population-based cohort study Generation XXI. Appetitive traits were self-reported by adolescents through the AEBQ and parents also reported adolescent eating behaviors. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were conducted. Construct validity was tested through correlations between AEBQ subscales and parent-reported eating behaviors, and linear regressions between AEBQ subscales and adolescent body mass index z-scores were performed. Adequate internal consistency and several associations with parent-reported eating behaviors and measured adolescent body mass index z-scores were found. This study supports the validity of a five-factor AEBQ (Food Responsiveness and Enjoyment of Food; Slowness in Eating; Food Fussiness; Emotional Over-and Undereating) to measure appetitive traits among Portuguese adolescents and provides a convenient and easy-to-use tool to be used in large-scale research. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Funding: Generation XXI was funded by the Health Operational Programme—Saude XXI, Community Support Framework III and the Regional Department of Ministry of Health. This study was supported through FEDER from the Operational Programme Factors of Competitiveness— COMPETE and through national funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology—FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science) under the projects “Appetite regulation and obesity in childhood: a comprehensive approach towards understanding genetic and behavioral influences” (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030334; PTDC/SAUEPI/30334/2017); “Appetite and adiposity—evidence for gene-environment interplay in children” (IF/01350/2015), under the projects UIDB/04750/2020 and LA/P/0064/2020, and through Investigator Contract (IF/01350/2015—Andreia Oliveira). It had also support from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Portugal. We also acknowledge the support from the Epidemiology Research Unit (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006862)

Genome wide association study for Fe, Zn, and Se concentration in field pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Non-Peer Reviewe

Sugar-sweetened beverages, effects on appetite and public health strategies to reduce the consumption among children: a review

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) consumption have been of public health concern and a target of interventions due to their high consumption and burden in health-related consequences, particularly in children and adolescents. SSBs provide high energy intake with low nutritional value and are a major contributor for added and free sugars intake of Portuguese in all age-groups, especially adolescents. Despite its recognized effect on weight gain, it might also disrupt appetite regulation. Research on the effect of SSBs on appetitive traits is still scarce and unclear, and the current knowledge of these potential effects will be discussed in this review. This review also aims to describe public health strategies implemented to decrease SSBs consumption among children, particularly in Portugal, such as: (i) implemented taxation measures and its impact in sales and in preventable cases of disease and death, (ii) marketing regulations applied to children and adolescents, and ultimately (iii) the intention of application of a single Front-of-Package labeling system in all countries, aiming to increase consumers’ food literacy

The effect of sugar-sweetened beverages at 4 years of age on appetitive behaviours of 7-year-olds from the Generation XXI birth cohort

The consumption of energy-dense sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and its low satiating effects may influence the development of child eating behaviours. We aimed to investigate the association of SSB consumption at 4 years on appetitive behaviours at age 7 years. Children from the Generation XXI birth cohort were included (n 3880). SSB consumption was evaluated through a FFQ and appetitive behaviours were evaluated through the Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire, which includes eight subscales. Two composite factors, derived by principal component analysis (Appetite Restraint – related to Food Fussiness, Enjoyment of Food, Slowness in Eating and Satiety Responsiveness – and Appetite Disinhibition – related to Food Responsiveness, Emotional Under- and Overeating and Desire to Drink), were also investigated. The dose–response relationship between SSB consumption and appetitive behaviours was examined using multivariable linear regression (continuous eating behaviour scores) and multinomial logistic regression (tertile categories of eating behaviour scores). Child SSB consumption at 4 years was associated with higher Appetite Disinhibition and Desire to Drink and lower Food Fussiness and Slowness in Eating at 7 years. Consuming SSB ≥1 times/d (compared with a lower intake) was associated with 29 % increase in the odds of Desire to Drink (3rd v. 1st tertile). Pre-schoolers’ SSB consumption was associated with higher food approach and less food avoidant behaviours later in childhood. Family characteristics, particularly maternal SSB consumption, explained part of these associations. It is essential to promote the intake of water, instead of sugary drinks, and make parents and caregivers aware of the importance of this exposure, since they have a pivotal role in shaping children’s eating behaviours.The authors gratefully acknowledge the families enrolled in Generation XXI for their kindness, all members of the research team for their enthusiasm and perseverance and the participating hospitals and their staff for their help and support. We also acknowledge the support from the Epidemiology Research Unit (EPI-Unit: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/FCT/6817 - DCRRNI ID/UIDB/04750/2020/PT; POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006862). Generation XXI was funded by the Health Operational Programme – Saúde XXI, Community Support Framework III and the Regional Department of Ministry of Health. This study was supported through FEDER from the Operational Programme Factors of Competitiveness – COMPETE and through national funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology – FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science) under the projects ‘Appetite regulation and obesity in childhood: a comprehensive approach towards understanding genetic and behavioural influences’ (PTDC/SAU-EPI/30334/2017/ POCI-01-0145-FEDER-030334) and ‘Appetite and adiposity – evidence for gene–environment interplay in children’ (IF/01350/2015 – Andreia Oliveira). It had also support from the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Portugal

Field survey of kabuli chickpea and dry bean plant spacing uniformity

Non-Peer ReviewedIn an effort to reduce capital expenditures, dryland growers of kabuli chickpea and dry bean in Saskatchewan have been seeding their crops with conventional seeding equipment rather than precision planters. Intra-row plant spacing has been non-uniform, and this project was undertaken to quantify that non-uniformity. Data on within-row plant spacing were collected from twenty-nine commercial growers of dry bean and kabuli chickpea in Saskatchewan during the 2000-growing season. Plant spacing was non-uniform, but the need for equipment modifications to improve plant spacing uniformity is uncertain. Preliminary experiments by the Crop Development Centre have shown a yield advantage for dry bean seeded with more uniform spacing. However, little scientific work has been done on the effect of spacing uniformity on chickpea, and the literature reveals conflicting information among crop types. It is speculated that more uniform plant spacing will improve seed quality and reduce weed competition

Rapid introgression of common bacterial blight resistance genes into dry bean elite varieties by marker-assisted backcrossing

Non-Peer Reviewe

Pulse crop breeding update

Non-Peer ReviewedThe pulse crop breeders at the Crop Development Centre (CDC)/Department of Plant Sciences are developing improved cultivars of lentil, field pea, chickpea, dry bean and faba bean for producers in western Canada. General objectives include improvement of yield, disease resistance, earliness, and quality for diverse markets

Stabilizing yield and quality: early maturing chickpea for the prairies

Non-Peer ReviewedProgress in chickpea breeding has been constrained by lack of good sources of early maturity in the short-season temperate environment of western Canada. We hypothesized that the length of the chickpea life-cycle could be reduced through introgression of strategic genetic traits including short internode, double podding and early flowering. The result showed that both the double podding and early flowering traits had significant beneficial effects by reducing the duration of crop maturity in chickpea in the short-season temperate environment of western Canada. Pyramiding double podding, early flowering and other strategic genetic traits should lead to the development of extra short duration chickpea varieties more suited for cultivation in the Prairies and similar environments