Ultrasound-assisted Enzymatic Extraction of SDF on Passion Fruit Seeds

Ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction of soluble dietary fiber(SDF) from passion fruit seeds was carried out in order to shorten the extraction time and increase the yield of SDF. The effects of cellulase concentration, ultrasonic power, extraction temperature, solid-liquid ratio and water bath time on the SDF yield of passion fruit were studied by single factor analysis. And the orthogonal experiment was designed to optimize the extraction conditions. The results showed that the optimum conditions for the extraction of SDF from passion fruit by ultrasoundassisted enzymatic method were cellulase concentration 1.5%, ultrasonic power 120 W, solid-liquid ratio(g/mL) 1 ∶ 15, extraction temperature 55 ℃, and water bath time 160 min. The SDF extraction rate was determined to be 5.12%.

Technology of Extracting Kiwi Fruit Seed Oil with Ultrasonic-Assisted Enzyme and Response Surface Method

Taken kiwi fruit as raw material, this paper extracted kiwi fruit seed oil with ultrasonic-assisted enzyme, researched the influence of factors such as liquid-to-solid ratio, granularity, type of enzyme, ultrasonic power, treating time, enzymolysis temperature, enzymolysis time, pH and enzyme additive on oil extraction, and optimized the extracting technology of kiwi fruit seed oil with response surface method. The result shows that the best technical parameter is: material granularity: 60, liquid-to-solid ratio: 1:10 (g/mL), ultrasonic power: 400 W, treating time: 30 min, enzyme amount: 2.50%, pH: 9.2, enzymolysis temperature: 53°C, enzymolysis time: 2.80 h;and the extracting ratio under such condition is 92.57%.

Jamun (Syzygium cumini) seed and fruit extract attenuate hyperglycemia in diabetic rats

To evaluate the potential of both jamun (Syzygium cumini) seed and fruit extracts against hyperglycemia.MethodsMale Sprague Dawley rats were used to evaluate hypoglycemic potential of jamun extracts. Purposely, jamun fruit and seed’s ethanolic extracts based diets were provided to normal and high sucrose diet induced hyperglycemic/diabetic rats for sixty days. The serum glucose and insulin levels were monitored at monthly intervals to evaluate hypoglycemic effect of jamun extracts.ResultsThe results of instant research depicted that both seed and fruit extracts reduce the blood glucose level significantly and also regulate the insulin levels in hyperglycemic rats. It was noted that jamun fruit extract attenuated serum glucose levels to 5.35% and 12.29% in normal and hyperglycemic rats, respectively; while insulin levels were improved by 2.82% and 6.19%, correspondingly. Whereas, jamun seed extract reduced glucose to 7.04% & 14.36% and showed 3.56% & 7.24% higher insulin levels in normal & hyperglycemic rats, respectively.ConclusionsThe present research revealed that both jamun fruit and seeds have potent prophylactic role against hyperglycemia. In this respect, diet based regimen may be tailored using jamun fruit/seed and their extracts to alleviate hyperglycemia.

Diaporthe collariana sp.nov.,with prominent collarettes associated with Magnolia champaca fruits in Thailand

We are studying seed and fruit inhabiting fungi in Thailand and this paper introduces a new species,Diaporthe collariana,from Magnolia champaca fruits,collected in Chiang Rai Province.Molecular analysis of a combined ITS,TEF1,TUB and CAL sequence DNA and morphological data provide evidence to justify the new species.Diaporthe collariana is characterized by producing alpha and beta conidia,and conidiogenous cells with prominent,flared collarettes.The new species is compared with closely related species in the genus.

Seed Germination and Storage of Woody Species in the Lower Subtropical Forest

The dimension, water content and germination of the seeds from 90 woody species in the lower subtropical forest were analyzed in this study. Out of 90 species, germination analysis was performed in 45 species (in which there were enough germinating individuals), and the effect of storage of seed and fruit on germination of seed was studied in 41 species (in which there were enough seeds and germinating individuals). Most of the species began to germinate within 60 d. Hypogeal species had longer dormancy than epigeal species. Dormancy of fleshy seeds and seeds in pulpy fruit was also longer than that of dry seeds. There were no significant differences in length of dormancy (LD, days from sowing to germination) between fleshy seeds ripening in summer and those ripening in winter and spring, and between big seeds and small seeds. Seeds in pulpy fruit or fleshy seeds had more germination than the dry seeds ( P <0.05), however, percentage germination was not significantly correlated with water content of fresh seeds. Water loss in the seeds could obviously affect percentage germination, especially during the early three days when the seeds were laid open in air in the laboratory. When water content of the seeds decreased to about 20% (fresh weight basis), percentage germination became very low, this happened when the seeds were laid open in air for 10-14 d. Percentage germination decreased with the length of storing in refrigerator ((4±1) ℃), but it was not markedly affected for one month's storage, with a decrease by 8.3% in comparison with the fresh seeds, and it was greatly affected by storing for more than three months, with values decreasing by 37%, 63%, and 81% for three months', six months' and 12 months' storage respectively. Difference in percentage germination as well as in LD was not significant for most lots after different storing periods between big seeds and small seeds, between fruit storage and seed storage, and between seeds in pulpy fruits or fleshy seeds and dry seeds.

Effect of Different Raw Material Processing Methods on the Quality of Apple Distilled Spirits

In this study,the effect of yeast strains(X16 and RMS2),fruit seed,and pectinase on the quality of apple distilled spirits were investigated with apple as material.The results showed that pectinase shortened the fermentation period.The strain X16,fruit seed remaining,and pectinase addition groups had higher yields of crude distilled spirits than the strain RMS2,fruit seed removal,and without pectinase groups,respectively.Regarding the first-grade distilled spirits quality,the X16 group had higher content of total acids,total esters,higher alcohols,and alcohol content than the RMS2 group;the group with fruit seeds had higher total acids but lower alcohol content and total esters than the group with fruit seed removal;the group with pectinase addition had higher total acids and alcohol content than the group without pectinase addition.Regarding the second-grade distilled spirits quality,the X16 group had higher total acids,total esters,and alcohol content than the RMS2 group;the group without fruit seeds had higher alcohol content than the group with fruit seeds;the group with pectinase addition showcased higher total acids but lower alcohol content than the group without pectinase addition.In summary,yeast strains and pectinase affected the quality of apple distilled spirits,and strain X16 was more suitable for brewing apple distilled spirits.Pectinase affected the quality of apple distilled spirits by affecting fermentation rate and temperature.

Sugar Input, Metabolism, and Signaling Mediated by Invertase： Roles in Development, Yield Potential, and Response to Drought and Heat

Invertase （INV） hydrolyzes sucrose into glucose and fructose, thereby playing key roles in primary metabolism and plant development. Based on their pH optima and sub-cellular locations, INVs are categorized into cell wall, cytoplasmic, and vacuolar subgroups, abbreviated as CWlN, CIN, and VlN, respectively. The broad importance and implications of INVs in plant development and crop productivity have attracted enormous interest to examine INV function and regulation from multiple perspectives. Here, we review some exciting advances in this area over the last two decades, focusing on （1） new or emerging roles of INV in plant development and regulation at the post-translational level through interaction with inhibitors, （2） cross-talk between INV-mediated sugar signaling and hormonal control of development, and （3） sugar- and INV-mediated responses to drought and heat stresses and their impact on seed and fruit set. Finally, we discuss major questions arising from this new progress and outline future directions for unraveling mechanisms underlying INV-mediated plant development and their potential applications in plant biotechnology and agriculture.

Indirect costs counteract the effects of pollinator-mediated phenotypic selection on corolla size in the mediterranean shrub Halimium atriplicifolium

Aims larger corollas receive more pollinator visits but involve higher production and maintenance costs,especially under hot and dry conditions.this can result in indirect costs on reproductive output,which may counteract the effects of pollinator-mediated phenotypic selection on corolla size.In this study,I explored the relationship between corolla size and indirect costs and whether these costs counteract the effects of pollinator-mediated phenotypic selection on this trait in the mediterranean shrub Halimium atriplicifolium.I hypothesized that(i)corolla production entails direct costs in dry mass,N and P,(ii)corollas entail significant indirect costs in terms of fruit and seed production,(iii)indirect costs increase with corolla size,(iv)this species may suffer pollen limitation to a certain degree and(v)indirect costs counteract the effects of pollinator-mediated selection on corolla size.Methods I compared fruit set and seed production of petal-removed flow-ers(r flowers)and unmanipulated control flowers(C flowers)and evaluated the influence of individual mean corolla size on relative fruit and seed gain of r compared to C flowers.I also estimated phenotypic selection on corolla size mediated by indirect costs and the combined effect of costs and pollinators(i.e.total selection).Important Findings Corollas allocated sizeable amount of resources in terms of dry mass relative to the other floral structures.Fruit set and seed per fruit were significantly higher in r flowers,while individual mean corolla size showed a positive relationship with relative fruit gain.Phenotypic selection analysis revealed cost-mediated negative directional selection and absence of positive directional total selection on corolla size through fruit set.this translated into stabilizing total selection.these results suggest that mediterranean environments can impose constraints on corolla size,counteracting advantages of larger corollas from the pollination point of view with increased indirect costs of such flowers.

Ovule initiation:the essential step controlling offspring number in Arabidopsis

Seed is the offspring of angiosperms.Plants produce large numbers of seeds to ensure effective reproduction and survival in varying environments.Ovule is a fundamentally important organ and is the precursor of the seed.In Arabidopsis and other plants characterized by multi-ovulate ovaries,ovule initiation determines the maximal ovule number,thus greatly affecting seed number per fruit and seed yield.Investigating the regulatory mechanism of ovule initiation has both scientific and economic significance.However,the genetic and molecular basis underlying ovule initiation remains unclear due to technological limitations.Very recently,rules governing the multiple ovules initiation from one placenta have been identified,the individual functions and crosstalk of phytohormones in regulating ovule initiation have been further characterized,and new regulators of ovule boundary are reported,therefore expanding the understanding of this field.In this review,we present an overview of current knowledge in ovule initiation and summarize the significance of ovule initiation in regulating the number of plant offspring,as well as raise insights for the future study in this field that provide potential routes for the improvement of crop yield.