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This study investigates the carbohydrate content of Schwenkiella orientalis, a nematode parasite infecting Periplaneta americana (American cockroach), focusing on its total sugar and glycogen levels. The study conducted in Bulandshahr (U.P.) and it employs the Anthrone method to quantitatively analyze carbohydrate reserves within the parasite. The findings reveal that the total sugar content increases from 42 µg/mg in 5 mg parasites to 85 µg/mg in 20 mg parasites, while glycogen levels rise from 18 µg/mg to 62 µg/mg for the same weight range. This indicates that larger parasites possess greater energy reserves. The data suggest that Schwenkiella orientalis efficiently absorbs carbohydrates from its host for immediate metabolic needs while utilizing glycogen as a crucial energy reserve during nutrient-scarce periods. This research underscores the significance of carbohydrate metabolism in parasitic nematodes, highlighting the adaptive strategies that enable their survival within host environments. The use of the Anthrone method provides reliable measurements, contributing to a deeper understanding of nematode physiology and energy dynamics. These insights not only enhance knowledge of Schwenkiella orientalis but also have broader implications for parasitology, paving the way for future studies on the metabolic processes of insect-parasitizing nematodes and their interactions with hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.), a well-documented medicative plant, is used as a foodstuff, cosmetic, and medicine. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of mineral fertilizers on the phytochemical evaluation, curcumin, flavonoids, and total protein contents of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) rhizomes grown in different regions of Uzbekistan. The experiments were carried out in a randomized block design with three replications: a mini plot experiment at the Institute of Genetics and Plant Experimental Biology in the Kibray district, Tashkent region, and a field experiment at the Surkhandarya Scientific Experimental Station of the Vegetable, Melon Crops, and Potato Research Institute, Uzbekistan. The experimental treatments included: T1 - control (without fertilizer), T2 - NPK treatment (application rate 75:50:50 kg/ha), T3 - NPK treatment (application rate 125:100:100 kg/ha), and T4 - NPK + BZnFe treatment (application rate 100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha). At harvest, after eight months, the phytochemical properties, curcumin, flavonoids, and total protein content of the turmeric rhizomes were determined. The results revealed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, carbohydrates, and saponins in the methanolic extract of turmeric rhizomes grown in different regions (Tashkent and Surkhandarya). The chloroform extract showed the presence of six phytochemicals, including alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, steroids, carbohydrates, and saponins in the rhizomes of turmeric collected from both regions, Tashkent and Surkhandarya. However, the NPK + BZnFe treatment (application rate 100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) significantly increased the curcumin, rutin, and quercetin contents of turmeric rhizomes grown in the Tashkent and Surkhandarya regions. The highest total protein content was recorded in the NPK kg/ha treatment (application rate 125:100:100 kg/ha), showing a significant increase compared to the control. It was concluded that the NPK + BZnFe treatment (application rate 100:75:75:3:6:6 kg/ha) significantly increased the curcumin and flavonoid contents of turmeric rhizomes grown in the Tashkent and Surkhandarya regions compared to the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Nitrogen (N) plays a pivotal role in the growth, development, and yield of maize. An optimal N application rate is crucial for enhancing N and carbohydrate (C) accumulation in waxy maize grains, which in turn synergistically improves grain weight. Methods: A 2-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of different N application rates on two waxy maize varieties, Jinnuo20 (JN20) and Jindannuo41 (JDN41), during various grain filling stages. The applied N rates were 0 (N0), 120 (N1), 240 (N2), and 360 (N3) kg N ha-1. Results: The study revealed that N application significantly influenced nitrogen accumulation, protein components (gliadin, albumin, globulin, and glutelin), carbohydrate contents (soluble sugars, amylose, and amylopectin), and activities of enzymes related to N and C metabolism in waxy maize grains. Notable varietal differences in these parameters were observed. In both varieties, the N2 treatment consistently resulted in the highest values for almost all measured traits compared to the other N treatments. Specifically, the N2 treatment yielded an average increase in grain dry matter of 21.78% for JN20 and 17.11% for JDN41 compared to N0. The application of N positively influenced the activities of enzymes involved in C and N metabolism, enhancing the biosynthesis of grain protein, amylose, and amylopectin while decreasing the accumulation of soluble sugars. This modulation of the C/N ratio in the grains directly contributed to an increase in grain dry weight. Conclusion: Collectively, our findings underscore the critical role of N in regulating kernel N and C metabolism, thereby influencing dry matter accumulation in waxy maize grains during the grain filling stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microalgae have considerable potential as a renewable feedstock for biochemical and bioethanol production that can be employed in processes associated with carbon capture. Large-scale microalgae cultivations are often non-axenic and are often cohabited by bacteria. A better understanding of the influence of cohabiting bacteria on microalgae productivity is required to develop sustainable synthetic co-culture processes at scale. Nutrient limitation is a frequently employed strategy in algal cultivations to accumulate energy reserves, such as lipids and carbohydrates. Here, a non-axenic culture of an estuarine green microalga, Chlorella vulgaris CCAP 211/21A, was studied under nutrient replete and deplete conditions to assess how changes in nutrient supply influenced the cohabiting bacterial population and its association with intracellular carbohydrate accumulations in the alga. Nutrient limitation resulted in a maximum carbohydrate yield of 47%, which was 74% higher than that in nutrient replete conditions. However, the latter condition elicited a 2-fold higher carbohydrate productivity. Three cohabiting bacterial isolates were cultivable from the three culture conditions tested. These isolates were identified using the 16S rRNA gene sequence to belong to Halomonas sp. and Muricauda sp. The composition of the bacterial population varied significantly between the growth conditions and time points. In all cases and at all time points, the dominant species was Halomonas isolates. Nutrient depletion resulted in an apparent loss of Muricauda sp. This finding demonstrates that nutrient supply can be used to control cohabiting bacterial populations in algal cultures, which will enable the development of synthetic co-culture strategies for improving algae productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundThai desserts, celebrated for their exquisite sweetness, are widely enjoyed for personal indulgence and as cherished souvenirs. However, their high sugar content raises concerns regarding health impacts. This study aimed to quantify the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) in healthy volunteers following consumption of various Thai desserts, out of 10 renowned desserts from across Thailand, identified by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, characterized by differing sugar levels.MethodEight were selected based on the absence of preservatives and microbial or chemical contaminations. Each participant consumed a 50-g serving of available carbohydrate (50avCHO) from these desserts. Ninety-six healthy volunteers, with a mean age of 31.8 ± 5.7 years, a mean body weight of 57.2 ± 7.3 kg, and 63.5% women, were randomized into eight groups, with each group comprising 12 participants. Blood samples were collected pre-and post-consumption to assess GI and GL values following established protocols.ResultsThe findings revealed that Phetchaburi’s Custard Cake exhibited the lowest GI and GL values (53.4 and 26.7, respectively), with progressively higher values observed in Saraburi’s Curry Puff (61.8 and 30.9), Nakhon Sawan’s Mochi (68.9 and 34.4), Suphan Buri’s Sponge Cake (75.9 and 38.0), Ayutthaya’s Cotton Candy (81.4 and 40.7), Prachuap Khiri Khan’s Pineapple Cheese Cake Biscuit (87.4 and 43.7), Chon Buri’s Bamboo Sticky Rice (109.3 and 54.7), and Lampang’s Crispy Rice Cracker (149.3 and 74.7), respectively.ConclusionThe study demonstrates that while Thai desserts exhibit a range of GI values, their GL values are uniformly high. It underscores the importance of disseminating GI and GL information to consumers, enabling them to make informed dietary choices and moderate their intake of these sugary delicacies.

Microalgae have considerable potential as a renewable feedstock for biochemical and bioethanol production that can be employed in processes associated with carbon capture. Large-scale microalgae cultivations are often non-axenic and are often cohabited by bacteria. A better understanding of the influence of cohabiting bacteria on microalgae productivity is required to develop sustainable synthetic co-culture processes at scale. Nutrient limitation is a frequently employed strategy in algal cultivations to accumulate energy reserves, such as lipids and carbohydrates. Here, a non-axenic culture of an estuarine green microalga, Chlorella vulgaris CCAP 211/21A, was studied under nutrient replete and deplete conditions to assess how changes in nutrient supply influenced the cohabiting bacterial population and its association with intracellular carbohydrate accumulations in the alga. Nutrient limitation resulted in a maximum carbohydrate yield of 47%, which was 74% higher than that in nutrient replete conditions. However, the latter condition elicited a 2-fold higher carbohydrate productivity. Three cohabiting bacterial isolates were cultivable from the three culture conditions tested. These isolates were identified using the 16S rRNA gene sequence to belong to Halomonas sp. and Muricauda sp. The composition of the bacterial population varied significantly between the growth conditions and time points. In all cases and at all time points, the dominant species was Halomonas isolates. Nutrient depletion resulted in an apparent loss of Muricauda sp. This finding demonstrates that nutrient supply can be used to control cohabiting bacterial populations in algal cultures, which will enable the development of synthetic co-culture strategies for improving algae productivity.

A field trial on green onion crops in the autumn of 2020 transpired at a private farm in the District Al-Saniyah, Al-Diwaniyah Governorate, Iraq. The presented study aimed at characterizing green onion (Allium cepa L.) plants with NPK fertilization and foliar application of hornwort extract for growth and yield traits. In this experiment, the first factor comprised three NPK levels (0, 50%, and 100%) of NPK (150:100:150 kg ha-1) recommended fertilizer added to the soil, while the second factor included the foliar application of hornwort extract with two different concentrations (0, 20 ml L-1). The experiment in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with factorial arrangement had three replications. Consequently, the recommended dose of NPK (100%) and spraying hornwort extract at 20 ml L-1 revealed a significant increase in the studied traits, i.e., plant height, length of the longest tubular leaf, number of leaves, fresh weight of tubular leaves, number of bulbs per plant, weight of the bulb, the diameter of the bulb, leaf chlorophyll content, bulb carbohydrate content, leaf carotenoid content, and plant yield. The interactions of both factors also showed a favorable effect on the mentioned traits in green onion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light quality is highly important for growth control of in vitro plant cultures. Here, we investigated the effect of blue light (BL), red light (RL) and combined red and blue light (RBL) on in vitro cassava growth. Our results indicate that RL facilitated radial elongation of cassava and increased stomatal conductance as well as glucose, sucrose, fructose and starch content in leaves and cellulose content in the stem. It also enhanced SOD and POD activities but decreased the stomatal density and chlorophyll and carotenoid content in leaves. In addition, RL leads to shorter palisade cells, denser chloroplasts and more starch granules. These phenotypic changes were inverted following BL treatment. The expression levels of photosynthesis-related genes MeLHCA1, MeLHCA3, MePSB27-2, MePSBY, MePETE1 and MePNSL2 in leaves were at their lowest following RL treatment, while the expression levels of MePSB27-2, MePSBY, MePETE1 and MePNSL2 were at their highest after BL treatment. The phenotypic changes after RBL treatment were between the values observed for the RL and BL treatments alone. Moreover, the responses of SC8 and SC9 cassava varieties to light quality were largely conserved. As such, we believe that the results of this study lay the foundation for controlling the in vitro growth of cassava seedlings by light quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The weed Solidago canadensis L. poses a global threat to the environment as it spreads uncontrollably on roadsides, in forests, fields, meadows, and farmland. Goldenrod emits toxic substances that suppress other plants on the site, displacing wild ones. Thus, goldenrod conquers huge areas very quickly. The use of herbicides and mechanical methods does not solve the problem of the spontaneous spread of goldenrod. On the other hand, many scientists consider goldenrod as a valuable source of biologically active substances: flavonoids, phenolic compounds, vitamins, etc. In this study, we consider Solidago plants as a promising, free (cheap), and renewable substrate for the production of methane gas. The goal of the study was to identify the main patterns of degradation of the Solidago canadensis L. plant by methane-producing and sulfate-reducing bacteria with methane gas production and simultaneous detoxification of toxic copper. The composition of the gas phase was monitored by gas chromatography. The pH and redox potential parameters were determined potentiometrically; metal concentrations were measured by photometry. The concentration of flavonoids, sugars and phenolic compounds in plant biomass was determined according to well-known protocols. As a result of the study, high efficiencies of methane degradation in the Solidago plant and copper detoxification were obtained. Methane yield has reached the value of 68.2 L kg−1 TS of Solidago canadensis L. biomass. The degradation coefficient (Kd) was also high at 21.4. The Cu(II) was effectively immobilized by methanogens and sulfate reducers during the goldenrod degradation at the initial concentrations of 500 mg L−1. Thus, a new method of beneficial application of invasive plants was presented. The result confirms the possibility of using methanogenic microorganisms to produce methane gas from invasive weeds and detoxification of toxic metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The paper provides information on a new process of extracting mannoproteins from yeast sediments from waste from the beer industry. The process is characterized by the use of wastes that pollutes the environment, the reduction of the time, the autolysis temperature and the amount of ethyl alcohol used. The content of mannoproteins is 41.34 - 44.8 % dry biomass, being 7 - 16 % higher compared to the control variant. The mannoproteins obtained according to the process have a varied biochemical composition and high catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. The obtained results present an opportunity for application in zootechnics, food, pharmaceuticals, medicine and agriculture.

Light quality is highly important for growth control of in vitro plant cultures. Here, we investigated the effect of blue light (BL), red light (RL) and combined red and blue light (RBL) on in vitro cassava growth. Our results indicate that RL facilitated radial elongation of cassava and increased stomatal conductance as well as glucose, sucrose, fructose and starch content in leaves and cellulose content in the stem. It also enhanced SOD and POD activities but decreased the stomatal density and chlorophyll and carotenoid content in leaves. In addition, RL leads to shorter palisade cells, denser chloroplasts and more starch granules. These phenotypic changes were inverted following BL treatment. The expression levels of photosynthesis-related genes MeLHCA1, MeLHCA3, MePSB27-2, MePSBY, MePETE1 and MePNSL2 in leaves were at their lowest following RL treatment, while the expression levels of MePSB27-2, MePSBY, MePETE1 and MePNSL2 were at their highest after BL treatment. The phenotypic changes after RBL treatment were between the values observed for the RL and BL treatments alone. Moreover, the responses of SC8 and SC9 cassava varieties to light quality were largely conserved. As such, we believe that the results of this study lay the foundation for controlling the in vitro growth of cassava seedlings by light quality.

Composite flour comprising of maize, finger millet, defatted soy and elephant foot yam in the ratio of 40:30:20:10 was utilized for the development of an extruded product. The experiment was conducted to study the effects of process variables, namely barrel temperature: 100–150 °C, screw speed: 110–350 rpm and feed moisture: 12–20% (wb) on the nutritional quality of product by using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The nutritional qualities like moisture content, carbohydrate content and protein content were affected significantly by barrel temperature, screw speed and feed moisture content, but fat and crude fiber content did not indicate any appreciable variation with process variables. The nutritional values of extruded products were found to be vary from 6.14 to 9.78% product moisture, 13.96–16.81% protein, 0.49–1.07% fat, 64.99–72.98% carbohydrate, and 2.48–3.36% fiber content.

In the wake of extensive fossil fuel use and CO2 accumulation in the environment, biofuel production from microalgae has the potential to be more effective and leave less of an environmental footprint. Nutritional and environmental factors and their interactions affect the growth performance and biochemical constitution of different microalgae, as well as the behavior of microalgal cells in different culture scales. The present study evaluates the potential of two microalgae isolates, Picochlorum sp. D8, and Chlorella sp. S4, in different culture scales. Since high biomass and carbohydrate productivity were considered important factors in identifying these microalgae, an acid-thermal pretreatment was applied to measure the carbohydrate concentration. In addition, the carbohydrate composition of the selected microalgae was investigated using thin-layer chromatography (TLC). According to the observations, Chlorella sp. S4 exhibited the best dry biomass and carbohydrate productivity of 62 ± 6 mg/L/d and 19.16 ± 1.57 mg/L/d, respectively, in a 200 L indoor open raceway pond. Picochlorum sp. D8 achieved the highest biomass productivity of 26.24 ± 0.625 mg/L/d and carbohydrate productivity of 7.45 ± 0.53 mg/L/d in a 2 L Erlenmeyer flask. The TLC analysis detected glucose, galactose, and xylose as the main monosaccharides in Chlorella sp. S4 hydrolysate. The current study demonstrated Chlorella sp. S4's capacity to produce biomass on a large scale. The relatively high carbohydrate content of this microalga makes it a promising raw material for potentially producing bioethanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Longer shape and less flushing is the aim of pepper producer, which is achieved in the full light greenhouse with P3 and then in P5 pruning. • Pruning (P3 and P5) due to improved nutrient distribution enhanced the carotenoid accumulation. • There was not a certain pattern in Ca and N absorption by light and pruning, although it seems that P5 may be more productive, and Ca absorption was greater in full light greenhouse compare with low light. Pruning and light quality and quantity can affect the fruit load, fruit shape, nutritional value, and quality of sweet pepper. The experiment was arranged as a split-plot conducted in a randomized block design. Treatments consisted of keeping 3, 5, and 7 fruits on the bush, and having un-pruned (P3, P5, and P7 Pnon=without pruning) sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L., cv. Lumos) with 3 replications. Two greenhouses including 14,000 for the full-light one and 6000-Lux for the low one were designed. The results showed that carotenoid biosynthesis and accumulation were highly related to light, with a significant effect in the full light greenhouse, as compared with the low one. Leaves carbohydrate content was raised in P3 and P5 for both greenhouses and this was more significant in the full light greenhouse, as compared with the low one. TSS was higher in full light with pruning (P3, P5, P7); the highest TSS in the low-light greenhouse was seen in P3. Phenol, antioxidant, vitamin C, and organic acid were higher in the full light greenhouse, as compared with the low one. Conclusively, pruning was more effective on weight after increased growth of bush in the second or third harvest. Longer shape and less flushing are favored by pepper producers. This can be achieved in the full light greenhouse with P3 and then P5 pruning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article contributes to research on the composition of microalgae grown in fish farm wastewater (FFW), particularly for use in biodiesel production. In this research, Tetradesmus obliquus, Heterochlorella luteoviridis, and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, cultivated in unmodified-and modified FFW, and the standard growth media, Tris-Acetate-Phosphate (TAP), were studied. The following parameters of the algae species were investigated: specific growth rate, biomass yield, biomass productivity, lipid content and carbohydrate content. Additionally, lipids and carbohydrate productivities were calculated, and the rate of CO2 uptake was determined. This study showed that the nutrients in FFW were suitable for algae biomass cultivation for biodiesel production. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, in unmodified FFW, had the highest lipid and carbohydrate composition of 44.08% and 35.04%, respectively, and was most suited for biodiesel production as well as nutrient removal. The modified FFW only had the extra benefit of near-complete nutrient removal, but a comparable yield and biochemical composition with samples in unmodified FFW. A similar effect of CO2 concentration was observed in both the unmodified and modified FFW.

Microalgal carbohydrate is considered one of the potential feedstock for biofuel produced via the bioconversion process. However, the current cultivation process using commercial medium exhibited low biomass production and its carbohydrate productivity which become a bottleneck for sustainable microalgal-carbohydrate-based biofuel production. Thus, the objective of this study is to assess the utilization of industrial waste including molasses and glycerol on the Halochlorella rubescens and Tetraselmis suecica growth as well as its carbohydrate content under different cultivation modes such as autotrophic, heterotrophic and photoheterotrophic conditions. From this study, the highest maximum biomass of H. rubenscens and T. suecica of 0.653 ± 0.009 and 0.669 ± 0.01gL−1 were obtained when the cultivation was performed under photoheterotrophic using molasses. High carbohydrate content of H. rubescens and T. seucica of 56.81 ± 0.39% and 71.52 ± 0.03% with glucose represent the dominant sugar was observed under this condition. The growth kinetic model of the analysis indicated that Huang and Gompertz Models described well the growth of H. rubescens and T. suecica under photoheteroptroph condition with a high significant R2 of 0.99. The information generated could be beneficial for the future development of low-cost microalgal cultivation media formulation for future microalgal carbohydrate-based products such as bioethanol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The weed Solidago canadensis L. poses a global threat to the environment as it spreads uncontrollably on roadsides, in forests, fields, meadows, and farmland. Goldenrod emits toxic substances that suppress other plants on the site, displacing wild ones. Thus, goldenrod conquers huge areas very quickly. The use of herbicides and mechanical methods does not solve the problem of the spontaneous spread of goldenrod. On the other hand, many scientists consider goldenrod as a valuable source of biologically active substances: flavonoids, phenolic compounds, vitamins, etc. In this study, we consider Solidago plants as a promising, free (cheap), and renewable substrate for the production of methane gas. The goal of the study was to identify the main patterns of degradation of the Solidago canadensis L. plant by methane-producing and sulfate-reducing bacteria with methane gas production and simultaneous detoxification of toxic copper. The composition of the gas phase was monitored by gas chromatography. The pH and redox potential parameters were determined potentiometrically; metal concentrations were measured by photometry. The concentration of flavonoids, sugars and phenolic compounds in plant biomass was determined according to well-known protocols. As a result of the study, high efficiencies of methane degradation in the Solidago plant and copper detoxification were obtained. Methane yield has reached the value of 68.2 L kg−1 TS of Solidago canadensis L. biomass. The degradation coefficient (Kd) was also high at 21.4. The Cu(II) was effectively immobilized by methanogens and sulfate reducers during the goldenrod degradation at the initial concentrations of 500 mg L−1. Thus, a new method of beneficial application of invasive plants was presented. The result confirms the possibility of using methanogenic microorganisms to produce methane gas from invasive weeds and detoxification of toxic metals.

Introduction: Nitrogen (N) plays a pivotal role in the growth, development, and yield of maize. An optimal N application rate is crucial for enhancing N and carbohydrate (C) accumulation in waxy maize grains, which in turn synergistically improves grain weight., Methods: A 2-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of different N application rates on two waxy maize varieties, Jinnuo20 (JN20) and Jindannuo41 (JDN41), during various grain filling stages. The applied N rates were 0 (N0), 120 (N1), 240 (N2), and 360 (N3) kg N ha -1 ., Results: The study revealed that N application significantly influenced nitrogen accumulation, protein components (gliadin, albumin, globulin, and glutelin), carbohydrate contents (soluble sugars, amylose, and amylopectin), and activities of enzymes related to N and C metabolism in waxy maize grains. Notable varietal differences in these parameters were observed. In both varieties, the N2 treatment consistently resulted in the highest values for almost all measured traits compared to the other N treatments. Specifically, the N2 treatment yielded an average increase in grain dry matter of 21.78% for JN20 and 17.11% for JDN41 compared to N0. The application of N positively influenced the activities of enzymes involved in C and N metabolism, enhancing the biosynthesis of grain protein, amylose, and amylopectin while decreasing the accumulation of soluble sugars. This modulation of the C/N ratio in the grains directly contributed to an increase in grain dry weight., Conclusion: Collectively, our findings underscore the critical role of N in regulating kernel N and C metabolism, thereby influencing dry matter accumulation in waxy maize grains during the grain filling stage., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Feng, Xue, Zhao, Shi, Wang, Bai, Wang, Qiu, Xue and Chen.)

This study represents an optimized protocol for cell line culture of Matricaria chamomilla and the impact of clino-rotation on cell division, cell growth, and antioxidant enzyme activities for the first time. The cell suspension was transferred in the solid MS medium supplied with 2, 4-D, and KIN. Then the calli produced from a cell line were selected for callus subculture and clino-rotation treatment for 7 days by a 2D-clinostat. A significant rise of fresh and dry weights, cell division, total soluble sugar, reducing sugar, and starch contents were detected under clino-rotation. Protein content approximately unchanged in microgravity-treated calli. Antioxidant enzymes activities, such as peroxidase, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase were elevated in calli exposed to microgravity. CAT activity showed a more than three-fold increase than that of control. According to native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, all the antioxidant enzymes isoforms were stronger in clino-rotated calli than that of the untreated control. Microgravity also stimulated H2O2 production and markedly adjusted lipid peroxidation in calli exposed to clino-rotation. These findings suggest that clino-rotation with stimulation of carbohydrate accumulation and antioxidant enzymes mitigates oxidative stress and improves growth and cell division. Key message: The isolation of M. chamomilla cell line with high growth was conducted to study the impact of clino-rotation on some cellular and antioxidative enzyme responses. Clino-rotation stimulated the cell division and growth by induction of antioxidant enzyme activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article perennial ornamental, medicinal plants belonging to Stachys L. of the family Lamiaceae - Stachys byzantina C. Koch = S. lanata Jacq. and S. betonicaeflora Rupr. were the first described in detail the experimental data from the study of physiological processes in two unsalted (Tashkent) and saline (Mirzachul) soil-climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arthrospira platensis, a well-known cyanobacterium, is widely applied not only in human and animal nutrition but also in cosmetics for its high amounts of active products. The biochemical composition plays a key role in the application performance of the Arthrospira biomass. The present study aimed to evaluate the growth and biochemical composition characteristics of A. platensis, cultured with a nitrogen-free and seawater-supplemented medium in an outdoor raceway pond in winter. The results showed that the biomass yield could achieve 222.42 g m−2, and the carbohydrate content increased by 247% at the end of the culture period (26 d), compared with that of the starter culture. The daily and annual areal productivities were 3.96 g m−2 d−1 and 14.44 ton ha−1 yr−1 for biomass and 2.88 g m−2 d−1 and 10.53 ton ha−1 yr−1 for carbohydrates, respectively. On the contrary, a profound reduction was observed in protein, lipid, and pigment contents. Glucose, the main monosaccharide in the A. platensis biomass, increased from 77.81% to 93.75% of total monosaccharides. Based on these results, large-scale production of carbohydrate-rich A. platensis biomass was achieved via a low-cost culture, involving simultaneous nitrogen deficiency and supplementary seawater in winter.

Uptake dynamics of dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIP) and dissolved inorganic nitrate (DIN) in young Palmaria palmata (n = 49), cultivated in a range of DIP concentrations (0.0–6.0 µmol · L−1) and nonlimiting DIN concentration (50 µmol · L−1) under fully controlled laboratory conditions, were quantified in a 'pulse‐and‐chase' approach over 5 weeks. Two different uptake rates were specified: (1) surge uptake (VS) after starvation and (2) maintenance uptake with filled nutrient pools (VM). VS for DIP of 1.57 ± 0.29 µmol · cm−2 · d−1 and DIN of 15.6 ± 4.3 µmol · cm−2 · d−1, as well as VM for DIP of 0.57 ± 0.22 µmol · cm−2 · d−1 and DIN of 5.6 ± 2.1 µmol · cm−2 · d−1 were calculated. In addition, an absolute size of the internal storage capacity (ISC) for DIP of 22 µmol · cm2 and DIN of 222 µmol · cm2 was determined. A DIP‐to‐DIN uptake ratio of 1:10 under VM showed a weekly rhythmic uptake pattern, highlighted by a high correlation between DIP and DIN uptake (R = 0.943). VS for DIN did not occur under DIP depletion, but uptake rates increased with increasing DIP availability. Hence, DIP availability limited access to DIN, which was also reflected by total dissolvable protein concentrations in sporophytes, which ranged from 10.2 ± 2.5% to 24.6 ± 8.0% dry weight depending on DIP availability. Similarly, total dissolvable carbohydrate concentration ranged from 22.1 ± 3.6% to 54.3 ± 12.3% dry weight. The data presented in this study open further insight into ecological and physiological aspects of nutrient availability in P. palmata and allow for an optimization in cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar (S) and nitrogen (N) play critical roles in potato tuberization and development, which determines the number, size, and yield of tubers. However, the dynamic models of endogenous sugar and nitrogen during tuberization and development are poorly understood. A pot experiment was performed with the potato cultivar Jizhangshu 12. Tuber and leaf samples were continuously taken to detect the morphological changes in stolon or tuber during tuberization and development. Sugar, starch, nitrogen content, and sucrose metabolism-related enzyme activity were measured. Results showed that the starch, fructose, and sucrose content and S/N ratio in leaves decreased significantly, while significant increases were observed in the activities of alkaline invertase (ALI), sucrose synthetase (SS), and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), and the ratios of glucose/sucrose and glucose/fructose from stolon hook initiation to subapical swelling. In contrast, nitrogen content and S/N ratio decreased significantly and starch and glucose content, AI (acid invertase), ALI, SS, and SPS activities, and glucose/sucrose ratio in stolons increased significantly. When the diameter from the stolon subapical swelling to the tuber reached 3.0 cm, starch content and glucose/sucrose and glucose/fructose ratios in leaves and tubers, and contents of fructose and sucrose and the activities of AI and SPS in tubers fluctuated; the S/N ratio in both leaves and tubers increased significantly; the activity of SPS in leaves, and activities of ALI and SS in tubers declined significantly. When the tuber diameter increased from 3.0 to 6.0 cm, the content of starch, sucrose, fructose, and total nitrogen, the activities of AI, ALI, and SPS, and the S/N ratio in leaves increased, while the ratios of glucose/sucrose and glucose/fructose showed an opposite trend; the changes in tubers were slight. We conclude that the content of sugar and total nitrogen and the balance of sugar and nitrogen in leaves and stolons changed significantly at tuberization and gradually thereafter. The significant increases in the ratios of glucose/fructose and glucose/sucrose in leaves could be used as indirect indicators to determine tuberization. The ratio of S/N could replace that of nonstructural carbohydrate/nitrogen to characterize potato tuberization and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Allelochemicals are eco-friendly materials having a significant role in weed control. • In the current study, 43 compounds were identified representing 98.98% of total methanolic extract composition. • The main chemical components obtained were Palmitic acid (17.50%), Palmitoleic acid (14.32%) and Oleic acid (13.83) • This study could provide an understanding about the process of weed-weed interaction for eco-friendly weed management strategy. Allelochemicals are eco-friendly and play a significant part in weed control. In this regard, an in-vitro investigation was performed to evaluate the phytotoxic potential of Nicotiana. plumbaginifolia Viv. on Senna sophera (L.) Roxb. , Chenopodium album L., Senna tora (L.) Roxb. and Setaria viridis L. The experiment is aimed to assess the impact of leaf leachate of the allelopathic plant on the biochemical parameters (chlorophyll, carbohydrate, protein and proline content) of recipient weeds. The treatments showed a retarding effect on the biochemical events. Carbohydrate and proline content were increased in test plants whereas protein and chlorophyll content declined in comparison to the control. Aqueous leachates proved to be more suppressive than organic fractions on weeds viz; S. sophera and C. album were suppressed more as compared to S. tora and S. viridis. The GC–MS (gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometry) analysis showed the incidence of different phytochemical entities in the leaf methanolic extract of leaf of N. plumbaginifolia. Forty three compounds were identified representing 98.98% of total methanolic extract composition. The main chemical components were Palmitic acid (17.50%), Palmitoleic acid (14.32%), Oleic acid (13.83), Phytol (8.46%), Neophytadiene (5.47%) and Solasodine (4.23%). The allelopathy of the volatile allelochemicals may perform a vital part in inhibiting the competitive ability of weed species and be one of the alternatives to control weed infestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lodging resistance can be improved by enhancing the mechanical strength of culms, and culm carbohydrates could improve this mechanical strength. Culm carbohydrates can regulate development of the culm and affect its toughness.The present study determines the relationship between lodging and carbohydrate content in oat culms. Field experiments were conducted in alpine regions in 2017 and 2018 using three oat varieties with different lodging resistance. Lodging‐related morphological characteristics were directly determined and culm carbohydrate content and enzyme activity related to cellulose synthesis and sucrose metabolism were evaluated with ultraviolet spectrophotometry.Results showed that the lower the gravity height or the lower ratio of gravity height to plant height, the stronger the lodging resistance of the varieties. Higher culm nonstructural (NSC) and structural (SC) carbohydrate content contributed to the ability of culms to resist lodging, especially the content of cellulose and sucrose. PCA showed that sucrose metabolism and SC content were closely related to lodging resistance. Correlation analysis showed that the lodging index (LI) was significantly negatively correlated with NSC. Sucrose content was highly and significantly positively correlated with NSC. Additionally, the activities of sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) and sucrose synthase (SS) were highly and significantly positively correlated with sucrose and cellulose content.The relationship between field characters and oat lodging, as well as the regulatory mechanism of carbohydrate content on lodging resistance of the culm are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A leaf of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis) is composed of a photosynthetic blade and a non-photosynthetic large midrib; thus each leaf contains both source and sink tissues. This structure suggests that, unlike in other plants, source-sink metabolism is present in a single leaf of Chinese cabbage. Objective: This study was designed to identify the transport route of photosynthetic carbon and to determine whether both source and sink tissues were present in a leaf. Methods: Plant samples were collected diurnally. Their carbohydrate contents were measured, and a genome-wide transcriptome analysis was performed using the Br300K microarray. Expression profiles of selected genes were validated using qRT-PCR analysis. Results: The presence of two contrasting tissues (blade as source and midrib as sink) in a leaf was demonstrated by (1) diurnal distribution patterns of starch and sucrose content; (2) Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis of microarray data; (3) expression profiles of photosynthetic and sucrose biosynthetic genes; and (4) expression patterns of a variety of sugar transporter genes. Conclusion: Source and sink tissues were both present in Chinese cabbage leaves, but the midrib functioned as a sink tissue as well as a site exporting to roots and other sink tissues. Function of most genes discriminating between source and sink tissue appeared to be regulated largely at the post-transcriptional level, not at the transcriptional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about postprandial release of serum ghrelin, glucagon, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in relation with differing fasting insulin levels. We hypothesized that these hormones are affected by insulin resistance, and hence, we compared different postprandial responses of GLP-1, glucagon, and ghrelin in subjects with relatively high (RHI) or relatively low (RLI) fasting insulin levels. The trial was a randomized crossover study with 4 different meal conditions. Fourteen nonobese or obese, healthy, men and 14 women were randomly assigned to the order of supervised intake of a 750 kcal drink with the same protein contents but with 20 energy-percent (E%) or 55 E% from carbohydrates, and the remaining energy from fat. Participants were also randomized to consume the drinks as 1 large beverage or as five 150-kcal portions every 30 minutes. The 28 subjects were divided into 2 equally sized groups based on fasting insulin levels. Statistics were done with general linear mixed model. Fasting insulin levels were 3-fold higher in the group with RHI compared with the RLI group (RHI: 1004 ± 510 pg/mL, RLI: 324 ± 123 pg/mL, P <.0005). Serum GLP-1 was highest in the RHI group after both single meals and after 5 drinks and following high- and low-carbohydrate meals (both P ≤.002), and this was the case also for glucagon levels (both P ≤.018), whereas ghrelin levels did not differ between groups. Thus, subjects with RHI displayed both higher postprandial serum GLP-1 and glucagon than the participants with RLI, suggesting that glucagon could play a role in the advent of dysglycemia by insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), a turf grass species that is hypertolerant of cadmium (Cd), is a potential phytoremediation material for soil polluted with Cd. However, the mechanism of Cd phytotoxicity in Kentucky bluegrass is unclear. Here, we compared the phenotype, induction of oxidative stress, and structural and non-structural carbohydrate contents between a Cd-tolerant genotype (‘Midnight’, M) and Cd-sensitive genotype (‘Rugby’, R). The results showed that both genotypes accumulated more Cd in the roots, whereas the R genotype distributed more Cd into the leaves compared with the M genotype. In both genotypes, Cd inhibited the length and fresh weight of the leaves and roots; increased the peroxidase (POD) activity but inhibited ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and catalase (CAT) activity; and increased the superoxide radical (O2−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. However, the M genotype exhibited lower root length inhibition, and the H2O2 and MDA contents confirmed that the M genotype had increased Cd accumulation and resistance, while the R genotype exhibited a better distribution of Cd. Moreover, Cd stress significantly increased the soluble sugar, trehalose, and sucrose contents of both genotypes. Pectin, lignin, and cellulose were significantly increased to prevent the entry of Cd into the roots. The Cd-induced growth inhibition and physiological responses in Kentucky bluegrass were preliminarily explored herein, with the chelation of pectin, lignification, and antioxidant response being possible contributors to Cd detoxification in Kentucky bluegrass. In addition, the Cd-induced increase in trehalose, sucrose, and soluble sugar contents might play a pivotal role in the defense against Cd stress in Kentucky bluegrass.

Agave durangensis is a wild endemic species of Mexico, which supports a regional mescal industry. The reproduction of A. durangensis is mainly sexual, conferring it a high variability. For the mescal manufacturing, A. durangensis is collected from wild populations, affecting their reproductive success and demographic performance. We evaluated the morphological variation, carbohydrate content, and genetic structure of A. durangensis plants coming from a single mother plant, to identify lines with some agroindustry potential. Three different morphological and genetic groups were distinguished. According to Mantel tests (r = 0.71), statistical correlations between morphological (Mahalanobis distance) and genetic (Fst) distances (r= 0.71), as well as between carbohydrate content similarity matrix and morphological traits (r= 0.477) were found. The high correlation values suggested that the use of genetic markers combined with morphological traits could be useful as a tool for the selection of high carbohydrate production lines to establish cultivars, which would have conservational implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The optimum combination of Musa paradisiaca (MP) and Trigona sp. Honey (TH) in formulating high antioxidant jelly was analysed for total carbohydrate content (CHO), antioxidant capacity (AC), and acceptability via the Response Surface Methodology. Central composite design was employed to optimise the combination effect of two independent variables; namely MP (X1: 20-100%) and TH (X2: 20-100%) on the recovery of three responses; total carbohydrate content (Y1), antioxidant capacity (Y2), and acceptability (Y3). A polynomial model generated a satisfactory fitting of the experimental data with regards to total carbohydrate content (R2 = 0.8974, p < 0.0024), total antioxidant capacity (R2 = 0.9702, p < 0.0001), and acceptability (R2 = 0.9136, p < 0.0001). The optimum combination for maximum recovery of CHO, AC and acceptability were 20% of MP and 20% of TBH, with a predicted CHO of 33 Kcal/5 g, AC of 0.34 nm and acceptability score of 6.16 (< 5: not accepted; > 5: accepted). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Controlled glycemic concentrations are associated with a lower risk of conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Models commonly used to guide interventions to control the glycemic response to food have low efficacy, with recent clinical guidelines arguing for the use of personalized approaches. Objective We tested the efficacy of a predictive model of personalized postprandial glycemic response to foods that was developed with an Israeli cohort and that takes into consideration food components and specific features, including the microbiome, when applied to individuals from the Midwestern US. Design We recruited 327 individuals for this study. Participants provided information regarding lifestyle, dietary habits, and health, as well as a stool sample for characterization of their gut microbiome. Participants were connected to continuous glucose monitors for 6 d, and the glycemic response to meals logged during this time was computed. The ability of a model trained using meals logged by the Israeli cohort to correctly predict glycemic responses in the Midwestern cohort was assessed and compared with that of a model trained using meals logged by both cohorts. Results When trained on the Israeli cohort meals only, model performance for predicting responses of individuals in the Midwestern cohort was better (R = 0.596) than that observed for models taking into consideration the carbohydrate (R = 0.395) or calorie content of the meals alone (R = 0.336). Performance increased (R = 0.618) when the model was trained on meals from both cohorts, likely because of the observed differences in age distribution, diet, and microbiome. Conclusions We show that the modeling framework described in Zeevi et al. for an Israeli cohort is applicable to a Midwestern population, and outperforms commonly used approaches for the control of blood glucose responses. The adaptation of the model to the Midwestern cohort further enhances performance and is a promising means for designing effective nutritional interventions to control glycemic responses to foods. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02945514. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Moderate chemical pretreatment to increase the energy density and improve of chemical components, also called preconversion, is an emerging strategy to secure feedstock supplies in biorefinery systems. This study investigates the alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) preconversion of softwood for its potential use at distributed depots, which are preprocessing facilities near natural resource sources. Specifically, this study quantified the effects of treatment conditions such as hydrogen peroxide concentration, reaction temperature, and time on chemical compositions and enzymatic hydrolysis. Results show that AHP preconversion led to the removal of lignin and hemicellulose from the recovered solids. Increasing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide decreased carbohydrate recovery after the preconversion process. There was no significant difference of total sugar yield from enzymatic hydrolysis at various hydrogen peroxide loadings. Carbohydrate recovery was over 96% after preconversion at 30 °C compared to that of the untreated sample. A longer reaction time increased the total enzymatic sugar yields. Morphological analysis revealed significant structure modification, with cracks and fragments in Douglas-fir after AHP preconversion. • AHP mild chemical preconversion improves the carbohydrates density of feedstock. • AHP prevonversion results in removal of partial hemicellulose and lignin. • The effect of AHP process conditions on carbohydrate recovery was elucidated. • Carbohydrate recovery of over 96% was obtained at lower temperature condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was conducted to investigate the promotive effects of exogenous glucose (Glc) on the morpho-physiology in Brassica juncea. L. cv. RGN-48. The plants were treated with the different concentrations (0, 2, 4, and 8%) of glucose as foliar spray at 25 days after sowing (DAS) for 5 days consecutively. The plants were collected to analyze various growth and photosynthetic parameters at 30, 45, and 60 DAS. After 5 days exposure to Glc, the level of carbohydrate, total reducing sugars, proline, plant water status, chlorophyll content, as well as that of activities of peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7), catalase (EC 1.11.1.6), and superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) were increased. Glc application also enhanced the gaseous exchange parameters, i.e., stomatal conductance (gs), internal CO2 concentration (Ci), transpiration rate (E), and net photosynthetic rate (PN) in intact leaf. Other enzymes, such as nitrate reductase (EC 1.7.99.4) and carbonic anhydrase (EC 4.2.1.1) were also increased. Additionally, microscopic studies further reveal a remarkable increase in the stomatal aperture on Glc exposure. Moreover, exogenous Glc decreases the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide radical (O2·−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This indicates that exogenous Glc application has a positive effect on Brassica juncea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress constitutes a major threat to crop production, and according to climatic projections, night temperatures are expected to increase faster and to a greater extent compared to day temperatures. While extensive research has been dedicated to the effects of higher than optimum day temperatures on cotton physiology, metabolism, and yield, and while heat-tolerant cotton cultivars have been introduced, the responses of such heat-tolerant cultivars to high night temperatures have not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of heat-tolerant cultivars to high night temperatures stress by monitoring the physiological and biochemical responses of two cotton cultivars, differing in thermotolerance, subjected to higher than optimum night temperatures, during anthesis. To that end, growth chamber experiments were conducted using two cotton cultivars differing in thermotolerance, namely ST5288B2RF (thermosensitive) and VH260 (thermotolerant). Treatments consisted of normal day/night temperatures (32/24 °C) and high night temperatures (32/30 °C) for 2 weeks at flowering (approximately 8 eight weeks after planting). The results indicated that VH260 was more thermotolerant than ST5288 even under conditions of high night temperature stress, as it managed to maintain its net photosynthetic rates, cell membrane integrity, as well as pistil carbohydrate contents and ultimately achieved higher total reproductive weight. It was concluded that heat tolerance of thermotolerant cultivars selected under conditions of high day temperatures is also conserved under high night temperatures, while net photosynthetic rates and cell membrane integrity can be utilized as selection traits for heat tolerance under either high day or night temperatures.

Leptocoris augur is a pest of kusum plant (Schleichera oleosa), which in turn is a host of lac insect. The bug is parasitized by a mermithid nematode, Hexamermis vishwakarma, which naturally checks rapid built-up of bug population. The present work reports the results of total carbohydrate and glucose content in haemolymph of parasitized bugs. The total carbohydrates and glucose were estimated by the method of Yemm and Willis (1954) using anthrone reagent. As mermithid utilize glucose rather than trehalose, the hosts metabolism is modified to produce glucose. The concentration of total carbohydrates in control bug (L. augur) was very high in the haemolymph as compared to that of the parasitized bugs. The carbohydrate content of fat body and muscles of L. augur (host) was diminished by H. vishwakarma infections. Thus, H. vishwakarma infections diminish the efficiency of the excretory system (Devi et al, 1991). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]