In the present study, we investigated the changes of photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and the content of carotenoid pigments in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedling leaves and their responses to high light. The res...In the present study, we investigated the changes of photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and the content of carotenoid pigments in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedling leaves and their responses to high light. The results showed that the rate of photosynthesis, the contents of individual and total carotenoids and the pool size of xanthophyll cycle decreased with age increasing of the leaf. When the leaves were exposed to high light for 2 h, the qN of mature leaf (5th leaf) increased more significantly than that of younger (6th leaf) and older leaves (3rd and 4th leaf). Comparing with the leaves before exposure to high light, the excitation pressure on PSⅡ (1- qP ) increased by 44%, 57%, 19% and 45% in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th leaf under high light, respectively. The highest content of carotenoids and the greatest conversion of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin were found in the 5th leaf, and it was consistent with the 5th leaf exhibiting the strongest resistance to high light. Our results suggested that the ability of rice leaf to resist photoinhibition is related to the level of carotenoids and the ability of carotenoids biosynthesis.展开更多
Raman spectra of purified oxygen evolution core complexes (Pd OECC) thin films on silver mirror substrates have been taken over the frequency range of 250-3100 cm -1 by surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). B...Raman spectra of purified oxygen evolution core complexes (Pd OECC) thin films on silver mirror substrates have been taken over the frequency range of 250-3100 cm -1 by surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Besides the fundamental frequency modes of β_carotene in Pd OECC, many weak peaks are observed. According to the selection rules of overtone and combination bands, most of them are attributed to the second_order Raman spectra of β_carotene. Compared with the SERS of normal Pd OECC, the SERS of Pd OECC after strong illumination shows a decrease in scattering intensity and an increase in line widths, indicating changes of conformation and micro_environment of β_carotene. The results of SERS are consistent with the changes of absorption spectrum of Pd OECC induced by strong illumination. There are no changes that can be ascribed to new vibration bands, so it is deduced that Pd OECC on the silver mirror is identical to that in the solution. In summary, SERS proved a good method to study the photodamage mechanism of photosynthesis.展开更多
Vitamin A deficiency still remains a nutritional concern in Cameroon. Squashes pulp is rich in provitamins A and could help to reduce this deficiency. Unfortunately, in Cameroon, squash pulp is more often reserved for...Vitamin A deficiency still remains a nutritional concern in Cameroon. Squashes pulp is rich in provitamins A and could help to reduce this deficiency. Unfortunately, in Cameroon, squash pulp is more often reserved for the nutrition of sick people and domestic animals. This study aimed at encouraging the consumption of squash pulp to contribute to vitamin A needs. The contents of a-carotene, all-trans-β-carotene and ascorbic acid were determined respectively by HPLC and titration with 2.6 dichlorophenol-indophenol in five landraces of raw, steamed, steam-dried and fried squash pulp from Cameroon. Moisture and total lipid content were also determined. Peeled pulp squash of 5 cm slice was steamed at 90℃ for 30 min or at 85℃ for 30 min, sliced again at 5 mm thickness and dried at 80℃ during 4 h to obtained steamed or steam-dried squashes. To have fried squashes, 40 g of 1 mm thickness slices pulp were fried in boiling refined palm oil (free of carotenoids) bath at 150℃ during 7 and 10 min. The results obtained showed that steam-drying and frying of squashes leaded to water losses (89%-95%). As a consequence of this, the a-carotene, all-trans-β-carotene and ascorbic acid contents (expressed in g (100 g)-1 fresh portion) of steam-dried and fried squashes were significantly higher (P 〈 0.05) than those of steamed and raw pulp. However, the retention rate of provitamins A and ascorbic acid was more elevated in steamed than in steam-dried and fried squashes. These results suggest that steam-dried and fried squashes could contribute to fight against vitamin A deficiency while increasing availability of squashes.展开更多
文摘In the present study, we investigated the changes of photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence and the content of carotenoid pigments in rice (Oryza sativa L.) seedling leaves and their responses to high light. The results showed that the rate of photosynthesis, the contents of individual and total carotenoids and the pool size of xanthophyll cycle decreased with age increasing of the leaf. When the leaves were exposed to high light for 2 h, the qN of mature leaf (5th leaf) increased more significantly than that of younger (6th leaf) and older leaves (3rd and 4th leaf). Comparing with the leaves before exposure to high light, the excitation pressure on PSⅡ (1- qP ) increased by 44%, 57%, 19% and 45% in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th leaf under high light, respectively. The highest content of carotenoids and the greatest conversion of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin were found in the 5th leaf, and it was consistent with the 5th leaf exhibiting the strongest resistance to high light. Our results suggested that the ability of rice leaf to resist photoinhibition is related to the level of carotenoids and the ability of carotenoids biosynthesis.
基金The State Key Basic Research and Developmental Plan(G1998010100).
文摘Raman spectra of purified oxygen evolution core complexes (Pd OECC) thin films on silver mirror substrates have been taken over the frequency range of 250-3100 cm -1 by surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS). Besides the fundamental frequency modes of β_carotene in Pd OECC, many weak peaks are observed. According to the selection rules of overtone and combination bands, most of them are attributed to the second_order Raman spectra of β_carotene. Compared with the SERS of normal Pd OECC, the SERS of Pd OECC after strong illumination shows a decrease in scattering intensity and an increase in line widths, indicating changes of conformation and micro_environment of β_carotene. The results of SERS are consistent with the changes of absorption spectrum of Pd OECC induced by strong illumination. There are no changes that can be ascribed to new vibration bands, so it is deduced that Pd OECC on the silver mirror is identical to that in the solution. In summary, SERS proved a good method to study the photodamage mechanism of photosynthesis.
文摘Vitamin A deficiency still remains a nutritional concern in Cameroon. Squashes pulp is rich in provitamins A and could help to reduce this deficiency. Unfortunately, in Cameroon, squash pulp is more often reserved for the nutrition of sick people and domestic animals. This study aimed at encouraging the consumption of squash pulp to contribute to vitamin A needs. The contents of a-carotene, all-trans-β-carotene and ascorbic acid were determined respectively by HPLC and titration with 2.6 dichlorophenol-indophenol in five landraces of raw, steamed, steam-dried and fried squash pulp from Cameroon. Moisture and total lipid content were also determined. Peeled pulp squash of 5 cm slice was steamed at 90℃ for 30 min or at 85℃ for 30 min, sliced again at 5 mm thickness and dried at 80℃ during 4 h to obtained steamed or steam-dried squashes. To have fried squashes, 40 g of 1 mm thickness slices pulp were fried in boiling refined palm oil (free of carotenoids) bath at 150℃ during 7 and 10 min. The results obtained showed that steam-drying and frying of squashes leaded to water losses (89%-95%). As a consequence of this, the a-carotene, all-trans-β-carotene and ascorbic acid contents (expressed in g (100 g)-1 fresh portion) of steam-dried and fried squashes were significantly higher (P 〈 0.05) than those of steamed and raw pulp. However, the retention rate of provitamins A and ascorbic acid was more elevated in steamed than in steam-dried and fried squashes. These results suggest that steam-dried and fried squashes could contribute to fight against vitamin A deficiency while increasing availability of squashes.