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Volume 4 Number 1 2010
Issue Information [PDF]
CONTENTS AND ABSTRACTS
Abdullah A. Jaradat, Jana L. Rinke (USA) Nutrient Homeostasis, C:N:S Ratios, Protein, and Oil Content in Cuphea Seed (pp 1-9)
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ABSTRACT
Original Research Paper: Nutrient densities, carbon: nitrogen (C: N), nitrogen: sulphur (N: S), protein, and oil contents and their interrelationships were assessed during a 3-year study in seeds of the indeterminate Cuphea germplasm line PSR23, a potential oilseed crop selected from an inter-specific cross between Cuphea lanceolata and C. viscosissima of the Lythraceae. In order to mitigate the effect of indeterminacy on seed quality traits, the top 25% of biomass was removed at 100 and 200 growing degree days (GDD1 and GDD2, respectively) after flower initiation, as compared to no treatment (GDD0). Biochemical and nutrient densities were impacted by treatments and their interaction with years. Carbon and N allocations responded differently to treatments over years; nevertheless, large variances in C, and N contents and C: N ratio (R2=0.70, 0.73, and 0.82, respectively), but not in N:S ratio (R2=0.21) were explained by seed physical traits, treatments and their interaction with years. The C: N ratio and oil content, but not protein content, can be predicted as functions of nutrient densities in the seed with acceptable, but wide range of reliabilities. Removing the top 25% of biomass 100 GDD after flower initiation consistently resulted in increased oil content and in marked improvements in the reliability of its estimates. Oil and protein contents in Cuphea seed, being positively (r=0.83; p<0.01) and negatively (r=-0.86; p<0.01) correlated with the C: N ratio, respectively, may not be easily and concomitantly improved. N: S ratio, which is negatively correlated with total nutrient density in the seed, if reduced below 12: 1 could lead to larger oil content.
Shashi Bala, Bavita Asthir, Navtej Singh Bains (India) High Temperature Response Leads to Altered Membrane Permeability in Conjunction with Carbon Utilization in Wheat (pp 10-14)
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Research Note: Sensitivity of grain developmental stage to high temperature was investigated in four genotypes of wheat i.e. PBW 343, PBW 550, C 273 and C 518 using various morpho-physiological and biochemical indices under high temperature stress. A significant increase in membrane injury index and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was found in PBW 343 and PBW 550 genotypes with considerable reduction in chlorophyll content at all stages. Delayed planting led to reduction in yield and yield component of all genotypes with significant effect on C 518 and PBW 343. Invertase activity increased under late planting in correspondence with total sugars. Conversely, activities of sucrose synthase and sucrose phosphate synthase decreased indicating high temperature mediated alteration in carbohydrate metabolism in all genotype with pronounced effect on PBW 550 and PBW 343. It was concluded that pre-era tall genotypes C 273 and C 518 possessed higher membrane thermostability and were responding better under high temperature while PBW 550 and PBW 343 possessed higher carbohydrate metabolizing efficiency and hence high yielding genotypes. Therefore, evolution of new genotypes by continuous genetic recombination can be utilized in developing tolerant wheat varieties by combining the genes for heat tolerance and high yield potential.
Ali Shahi-Gharahlar, Rozbeh Farhoudi (Iran), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan) Influence of Snake Melon (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus)Seed Priming on Seedling Emergence and Seedling Electrolyte Leakage under Salinity (pp 15-18)
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Original Research Paper: This research was carried out in order to study the effect of seed priming on seedling emergence and seedling electrolyte leakage of snake melon (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus). Germination percentage, seedling dry weight (DW) and seedling growth decreased under salinity but mean germination time and electrolyte leakage increased. Under saline conditions seed priming by PEG solution decreased seedling DW but seed priming with KNO3 was better than other priming treatments because seedling cell membrane stability, seedling DW, root and shoot length increased more than in other seed priming treatments.
Rozbeh Farhoudi, Ali Shahi-Gharahlar (Iran), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan) Echinacea purpurea L. Seed Pretreatment with GA3, Stratification and Light to Improve Germination (pp 19-22)
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Research Note: Echinacea purpurea L. is a valuable medicinal plant with many seed germination problems. This objective of this study was to determine the factors required to break dormancy of E. purpurea seed. Treatments included: soaking in gibberellic acid (GA3; 250 or 500 mg/l), stratification (4 or 7 weeks at 4°C), constant light exposure (24 h for 4 weeks) and a combination treatment (250 mg/l GA3 + 4 or 7 weeks stratification). There were significant differences (P < 0.01) between all methods. Highest seedling fresh weight and seed germination percentage and lowest mean germination time occurred in the combination treatment.
Priya Arora, Renu Bhardwaj, Mukesh Kumar Kanwar (India) Seed Presoaking Treatment of 28-Homobrassinolide Modulates Antioxidative Defence System of Brassica juncea L. under Zinc Metal Stress (pp 23-27)
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Original Research Paper: In the present study, the effects of seed presoaking treatment of 28-homobrassinolide (28-HBL; 0, 10-6, 10-8 and 10-10 M) were investigated on growth (shoot length and number of leaves), protein content and activities of antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, glutathione reductase, ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase and dehydroascorbate reductase in leaves of 30 days-old Brassica juncea L. plants treated with different concentrations of zinc metal. It was observed that treatment of different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mM) of zinc alone decreased the shoot length and number of leaves and regulated the activities of enzymes and protein content of plants. However, seed-presoaking with 28-HBL improved the growth and stimulated the activities of antioxidative enzymes and protein content in leaves of B. juncea plants thus indicating the stress-ameliorative properties of 28-HBL.
Navkiran Randhawa, Indu Sharma, Renu Bhardwaj (India) Effect of 24-Epibrassinolide and 28-Homobrassinolide on Some Biochemical Parameters in Raphanus sativus L. Plants under Chromium Stress (pp 28-32)
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Original Research Paper: The effects of 24-epibrassinolide (24-EBL) and 28-homobrassinolide (28-HBL) on protein content and the activities of Polyphenol oxidase (PPO; EC 1.10.3.1) and glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) were studied in the 75-days old Raphanus sativus L. cv ‘Pusa Chetaki’ plants grown under chromium (Cr) metal stress. Surface sterilized seeds of R. sativus were pre-treated with different concentrations (0 M, 10-11 M, 10-9 M and 10-7 M) of 24-EBL and 28-HBL for 8 h and grown in the field. The soil was treated with different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0 mM) of Cr metal. Seventy-five days old plants were harvested for further analysis of biochemical parameters. Cr metal treatment enhanced the protein content and PPO activity in both roots and leaves of radish plants. However, the activity of Glutathione peroxidase (GPOX) declined. The 24-EBL and 28-HBL treatments further increased the protein content and activities of antioxidant enzymes under Cr-stressed plants.
Neda Jalali, Naghmeh Daneshvar, Ali Shahi-Gharahlar (Iran), Jaime A. Teixeira da Silva (Japan), Rozbeh Farhoudi (Iran) Response of Fescue (Festuca rubra) to Salinity Sources and Levels at Seed Germination and Seedling Stage (pp 33-36)
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Original Research Paper: Salinity is one of the major obstacles to increasing production in crop-growing areas throughout the world. Salinity also impairs seed germination. Due to increasing salinity problems, in this study Festuca rubra seeds were treated with different concentrations of salt solutions with different sources of salt to study the response of this plant during seed germination and at the seedling stage. Germination percentage, coleoptile, radicle and seedling length, and seedling fresh weight (SFW) were determined under various salt stresses. Salt treatments included: NaCl, KNO3 and CaCl2 at 50, 100 and 150 mmol/L. An increase in salt concentration caused a decrease in germination. Lowest germination was observed by CaCl2 at 150 mmol/L while longest coleoptiles formed at 50 mmol/L CaCl2, i.e., longer than the control. An increase in KNO3 concentration from 0 to 50 mmol/L decreased radicle and seedling length more than the control (salt-free), or NaCl and CaCl2 treatments at equal concentrations. Highest SFW was observed in control seedlings and lowest SFW in seedlings grown in 150 mmol/L NaCl.
Ali Shahi-Gharahlar, Orang Khademi, Rozbeh Farhoudi, Seyed Fazel Mirahmadi (Iran) Influence of Salt (NaCl, CaCl2, KNO3) Stress on Germination and Early Seedling Growth Traits of Cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) Seed (pp 37-40)
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Research Note: Due to increasing salinity problems, in this experiment cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) seeds were treated with different concentrations of salt solutions with different sources of salt to study the effect on germination and early seedling growth traits. Salt treatments included: NaCl, CaCl2 and KNO3 at 50, 100 and 150 mM. Both salinity-generated factors and concentrations used affected seed germination and cumin seedling characters. All three salts used resulted in a significant decrease in percentage seed germination compared with distilled water (control). The effect of KNO3 was greater than that of CaCl2 and NaCl treatments. However, a decreasing in seed germination percentage caused by these treatments was also dependent on concentration; at 50 mM NaCl and CaCl2 seed germination did not show any significant difference with the control. Applied salinity treatments resulted in a significant decrease in root and shoot length compared with the control. KNO3 decreased seedling growth more than the other two salt treatments.
Evelio Luis Báez, Norma Medina, Humberto Rios, Rodobaldo Acosta, Rosa Ortiz, Jose Carlos Lorenzo (Cuba) Morphological Characterization of NaCl-tolerant Phaseolus vulgaris Seeds (pp 41-46)
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Original Research Paper: Bean is a source of proteins but salinity is an agricultural limiting factor. Evaluation of the plant germplasm to identify a tolerant genotype is an adequate strategy. The present report is focused on the early stage of bean seed germination. Seeds of 89 cultivars were weighed after 5 days of growth in 0 or 270 mmol/L NaCl. The five heaviest cultivars were regarded as NaCl tolerant; and the five lighter, as susceptible. Ten fresh seeds per cultivar were scanned. The following indicators were measured: area, equivalent diameter, major axis length, minor axis length, eccentricity, convex area, solidity, and extent. The matrix obtained was used to estimate Fisher’s linear discriminant functions for susceptible and tolerant cultivars. Two variables were disregarded (convex area and solidity). Functions classified correctly 100% of tolerant or susceptible originally grouped cultivars. Fisher’s linear discriminant functions are important tools for bean breeders. Seeds from new bean genotypes can be scanned as described here. Data were evaluated in both discriminant functions. If the resulting value of the tolerant-discriminant function was statistically higher than that of the susceptible-discriminant function, then the new bean genotype can be regarded as putatively tolerant. In addition to the practical use of the assay described here, we reached two unexpected conclusions. Firstly, bean seeds were not so NaCl-sensitive during early stages of germination: we observed radical emergence with a high concentration (360 mmol/L). Secondly, the larger the bean seed size, the lower the sensitivity to NaCl.
Afsheen Aman, Abid Azhar, Shah Ali Ul Qader, M. Ajmal Khan (Pakistan) Screening of Halophytic Oil Seed Species as a Potential Source of Protein and Oil Seed Crops (pp 47-51)
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Original Research Paper: A rapid decline in the fresh water supply and increasing salinization of agricultural land makes it imperative to seek alternative crop plants that could be grown in marginal lands with low quality water irrigation. Suaeda fruticosa, Haloxylon stocksii and Cressa cretica are highly salt-tolerant plants which are indigenous to the salts marshes and deserts of Pakistan. Current investigation explores the utility of these as oil seed crops. Biochemical analysis, including lipid composition, total proteins, carbohydrates and fractionation of neutral lipids, phospholipids and glycolipids of these halophytic oil seed species was performed. The total lipid content ranged from 3.27-11.83%. Total protein and carbohydrate content ranged from 19.0-33.0 and 5.50-15.0%, respectively. Fractionation by column chromatography showed the presence of neutral lipids, phospholipids and glycolipids. Thin layer chromatography for neutral lipids confirmed the presence of sterols, sterol-esters, mono-, diacyl- and triacylglycerols, and free fatty acid. Results described here indicate that these halophytic oil seed species could become an important oil seed crop for arid-land agriculture.
Eman Anwar Ibrahim Mohamed, Yasser Mohamed Abdel-Tawab, Sara El-Sayed Ibrahim El-Dessouky (Egypt) Evaluation of Sesame, Peanut and Canola Seed Quality Using Accelerated Ageing (pp 52-58)
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Original Research Paper: Accelerated ageing (AA) has been used for predicting seed storability because it is known to reduce seed viability and vigor in many crop species. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of AA on germinability, physiological, chemical and biochemical characteristics in the seed of three sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) cultivars (‘Giza 32’, ‘Toshki 1’ and ‘Shandaweel 3’), three peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars (‘Giza 5’, ‘Giza 6’ and ‘Ismailia’) and three canola (Brassica napus L.) cultivars (‘Pactol’, ‘Sirw 4’ and ‘Sakha 1’). AA was achieved by incubating seed at 45°C and 100% relative humidity in a closed chamber for three days. AA decreased seed germination, which was well correlated with increased accumulation of the total content of polyphenoloxidase, peroxidase and catalase enzymes. The decline in seed germination during AA was also accompanied by an increase in electrical conductivity of solute leakage, free fat acidity, lipid peroxidation, percentage of crude protein and carbohydrates, while the percentage oil decreased. The results of SDS-PAGE showed changes in the protein-banding pattern under AA. So, the results suggest that oilseed deterioration during AA is closely related to a decrease in activities of enzymatic systems due to lipid peroxidation and an increase in free fat acidity.
Ndubisi A. Aviara, Onuh A. Onuh, Samuel E. Ehiabhi (Nigeria) Physical Properties of Mucuna flagellipes Nuts (pp 59-68)
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Original Research Paper: The physical properties of Mucuna flagellipes nut were investigated to explore the possibility of developing its bulk handling and processing equipment. In the moisture range of 3.38-10.7% (d.b.), the major, intermediate and minor axial dimensions increased from 2.73–2.8, 2.71–2.74 and 1.87–2.04 cm, respectively. The arithmetic mean, geometric mean and equivalent sphere effective diameter determined at the same moisture level were significantly different from each other (P < 0.05), with the arithmetic mean diameter being of the highest value. In the above moisture range, one thousand nut weight, particle density and porosity increased non-linearly with moisture content from 6.24 to 6.77 kg, 1107 to 1147 kg m-3 and 41.2 to 49.4%, respectively, while bulk density decreased non-linearly with increase in moisture content from 568 to 488.8 kg m-3. Nut roundness and sphericity and angle of repose increased logarithmically with moisture content from 85.5-96.6%, 85.5-98.8% and 16.4-20.2° respectively. The kinetic coefficient of friction decreased linearly with moisture content on Hessian bag, fibre glass, galvanized steel sheet and plywood with wood grain parallel to the direction of movement, increased linearly with moisture content on plywood with wood grain perpendicular to the direction of movement. Static coefficient of friction increased linearly with moisture content on all the above structural surfaces. The coefficient of restitution of the nut on different structural surfaces under longitudinal fall ranged from 0.026-0.661 and from 0.0045-0.334 under lateral fall. It decreased with increase in moisture content and drop height on galvanized steel sheet.
Blessing Mbaebie, Garuba Omosun, Augustina Uti (Nigeria), Sunday Oyedemi (South Africa) Chemical Composition of Sesamum indicum L. (Sesame) Grown in Southeastern Nigeria and the Physicochemical Properties of the Seed Oils (pp 69-72)
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Research Note: The proximate, phytochemical and mineral compositions of the seeds, leaves, root and whole plant of Sesame indicum were evaluated. The present study also assessed physicochemical characteristics of the oil extracted from the seeds. The root contains appreciable levels of moisture (6.60 ± 4.39%), crude fibre (12.80 ± 8.53%) and total carbohydrate (67.90 ± 45.26%), whereas the whole plant, seeds and the leaves had the lowest moisture (4.22 ± 2.81%), crude fibre (6.60 ± 4.39%), and total carbohydrate (56.37 ± 37.59%). The protein content was highest (21.44 ± 14.29%) in the whole plant, followed by leaves (19.25 ±12.83%) but was lowest in the root (7.88 ± 5.25%). The various parts of the plant showed noticeable amount of ash content (9.62-4.82%), as well as lipids (38.54-4.54%). The seed exhibited highest value of food energy (662.30 ± 441.53%) and lipid (38.54 ± 25.69%). S. indicum was found to be a good source of calcium and potassium in various parts investigated. The percentage flavonoids, alkaloids and tannins of the samples were between the range of 16.20-4.80, 10.04-1.96 and 3.32-1.18%, respectively. The extracted seed-oil showed good physicochemical properties of acidic (2.48 mgKOH/g), iodine (1.27 gT2/100 g) and saponification values (1.8 7 mgKOH/g) with dark brown colour and aromatic odour. The overall results of this study imply that the various parts of S. indicum possess nutritional values to meet the needs of the less privileged people.
Sarah O. Nwozo, Bosede F. Orojobi (Nigeria) Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant Effects of Tetrapleura tetraptera Fruits, Including Seeds, in Hypercholesterolaemic Rats (pp 73-78)
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Original Research Paper: In hypercholesterolemia, lipid profile and biomarkers of oxidative stress are known to fluctuate. In this study, the hypolipidaemic and antioxidant effects of the fruits (including seeds) of Tetrapleura tetraptera, a spice used in the treatment of various ailments in Nigeria was investigated in cholesterol-fed rats. The ability of Questran® (a standard hypolipidaemic drug), to attenuate hypercholesterolemia in the rats was also examined. Rats were given by oral gavage cholesterol (40 mg/0.3 ml), T. tetraptera (250 mg/kg) and Questran® (0.26 g/kg), five times a week for 8 consecutive weeks. The hypolipidemic effect was assessed by measuring total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol while the extent of oxidative stress was assessed by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. The integrity of liver was assessed by determining the aspartate and alanine aminotransferases (ALT and AST) activities. T. tetraptera significantly ameliorated (P < 0.05) the cholesterol-induced body weight gain and, there was an over 50% decrease in serum and post mitochondria fraction (PMF) total cholesterol compared to untreated hypercholesterolaemic rats. LDL-cholesterol was significantly decreased in the extract-treated animals when compared to hypercholesterolaemic rats. In hypercholesterolaemic rats, a remarkably increase in lipid peroxidation (LPO) and a concomitant decrease in the enzymatic antioxidant status was observed; however, these indices were significantly attenuated in hypercholesterolaemic rats treated with the extract. These results indicate that the methanolic extract of T. tetraptera exerts a hypolipidemic effect, reduces body weight gain and increases the body’s antioxidant defense system in hypercholesterolemic rats. |
