Effects of Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Levels and Native Soil Properties on Rice Grain Fe, Zn and Protein Contents

Deposition of protein and metal ions （Fe, Zn） in rice grains is a complex polygenic trait showing considerable environmental effect. To analyze the effect of nitrogen application levels and native soil properties on rice grain protein, iron （Fe） and zinc （Zn） contents, 32 rice genotypes were grown at three different locations each under 80 and 120 kg/hm2 nitrogen fertilizer applications. In treatments with nitrogen fertilizer application, the brown rice grain protein content （GPC） increased significantly （1.1% to 7.0%） under higher nitrogen fertilizer application （120 kg/hm2） whereas grain Fe/Zn contents showed non-significant effect of nitrogen application level, thus suggesting that the rate of uptake and translocation of macro-elements does not influence the uptake and translocation of micro-elements. The pH, organic matter content and inherent Fe/Zn levels of native soil showed significant effects on grain Fe and Zn contents of all the rice genotypes. Grain Zn content of almost all the tested rice genotypes was found to increase at Location III having loamy soil texture, neutral pH value （pH 6.83） and higher organic matter content than the other two locations （Locations I and II）, indicating significant influence of native soil properties on brown rice grain Zn content while grain Fe content showed significant genotype × environment interaction effect. Genotypic difference was found to be the most significant factor to affect grain Fe/Zn contents in all the tested rice genotypes, indicating that although native soil properties influence phyto-availability of micronutrients and consequently influencing absorption, translocation and grain deposition of Fe/Zn ions, yet genetic makeup of a plant determines its response to varied soil conditions and other external factors. Two indica rice genotypes R-RF-31 （27.62 μg/g grain Zn content and 7.80% GPC） and R1033-968-2-1 （30.05 μg/g grain Zn content and 8.47% GPC） were identified as high grain Zn and moderate GPC rice genotypes. These results indicate that soil property and organic matter content increase the availability of Fe and Zn in rhizosphere, which in turn enhances the uptake, translocation and redistribution of Fe/Zn into rice grains.

Influence of Wheat Protein Contents and Fractions on Dough RheologicalProperties as Determined by Using a Reconstitution Method

A strong gluten wheat cultivar Shannong 12 and a medium-strength wheat cultivar Shannong 11 were used to investigate the effects of wheat protein contents and protein fractions on dough rheological properties using a reconstitution method. The results indicated that the peak height, peak width, peak integral, resistance to extension and area under the curve were increased when protein content increased to 120, 140, and 160% （w/w） of the protein content in the base flours for doughs made from each wheat cultivar. All protein fractions were added to each of the base flours at three levels （0.25, 0.50 and 1.00%, w/w） based upon the protein content. The mixograph dough development time, peak width, and resistance to extension increased when the glutenin, insoluble glutenin, soluble glutenin, and glutenin macropolymer were added and increased systematically with increasing levels of these fractions. Peak integral increased by adding and increasing protein content, however, albumin-globulin had no obvious effects. Extensibility at rupture decreased when the glutenin, insoluble glutenin, soluble glutenin, and glutenin macropolymer were added, and decreased systematically with increasing levels of these fractions. However, extensibility at rupture increased when the monomeric protein, albumin-globulin, and gliadin were added, and increased systematically with increasing levels of these fractions.

Analysis of SSLP and Soluble Protein Contents in Leaves of Mutants Induced by High Pressure in Rice (Oryza sativa)

Rice variety Yuexiangzhan and its mutants induced by high pressure were studied using microsatcllite markers and soluble protein content analyses. Eleven of the 88 microsatellite primer pairs showed evident polymorphisms repeatedly, and the polymorphic frequencies were 3.4-11.3% between the mutants and Yuexiangzhan. The polymorphic markers were randomly located on chromosomes. The more similar the plant types of the mutants like their original variety, the less polymorphic loci were detected. In addition, there was variation in the soluble protein contents among the leaves of mutants, and the contents were significantly lower than those of the original variety.

Selection and application of four QTLs for grain protein content in modern wheat cultivars

The grain protein content(GPC)is the key parameter for wheat grain nutritional quality.This study conducted a resampling GWAS analysis using 406 wheat accessions across eight environments,and identified four previously reported GPC QTLs.An analysis of 87 landraces and 259 modern cultivars revealed the loss of superior GPC haplotypes,especially in Chinese cultivars.These haplotypes were preferentially adopted in different agroecological zones and had broad effects on wheat yield and agronomic traits.Most GPC QTLs did not significantly reduce yield,suggesting that high GPC can be achieved without a yield penalty.The results of this study provide a reference for future GPC breeding in wheat using the four identified QTLs.

Identification of QTL Affecting Protein and Amino Acid Contents in Rice

The phenotypes of protein and amino acid contents were measured in an F9 recombinant inbred line population derived from a cross between Zhenshan 97B and Delong 208. A total of 48 and 64 QTLs were identified in 2004 and 2005, respectively. The contribution of each QTL to the phenotypic variation ranged from 4.0% to 43.7%. Most QTLs co-localized, forming 29 QTL clusters on the chromosomes with three major ones detected in both years, which were mapped on chromosomes 1, 7 and 9, respectively. The two QTL clusters for amino acid content, qAa1 and qAa7, influenced almost all the traits with the allele from Zhenshan 97B, and the third QTL cluster for amino acid content, qAa9, increased the lysine content with the allele from Delong 208. A wide coincidence was found between the QTL detected under this study and the loci involved in amino acid metabolism pathways in nitrogen assimilation and transport, or protein biosynthesis. The results would facilitate the identification of candidate genes and could be used in marker-assisted selection for the favorable allele in rice quality improvement.

Comparison of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Models for Determining Protein and Amylose Contents Between Calibration Samples of Recombinant Inbred Lines and Conventional Varieties of Rice

The near infrared spectra of 178 recombinant inbred lines （RILs） from the cross of Ⅱ-32B/Yuezaoxian 6 （YZX6） and 511 varieties in rice were acquired. A total of 80 RILs and 96 cultivars were selected as modeling samples by comparing the spectra similarity primarily. Three partial least square （PLS） regression models were developed, based on the RILs （RIL-model）, the varieties （Var-model） and their mixture （Mix-model）, for protein content （PC） and amylose content （AC）, respectively. Cross validation and outer prediction showed that the models were largely influenced by the range and distribution of modeling samples. The regression model of PC based on the cultivars and the model of AC based on RILs had higher coefficient of determination （r^2 ≥ 0.9） and lower root mean square error of cross validation （RMSECVs）. The disadvantages of RIL samples for PC model and variety samples for AC model were probably caused by the narrow range of variance. Aberrant predictions were obtained for outer sample with PC or AC outside the range or within the distribution gap of modeling samples. The Mix-models gave more reliable prediction as the distribution of RIL and variety modeling samples were complementary to each other.

Difference of Phytic Acid Content and its Relation to Four Protein Composition Contents in Grains of Twenty-nine japonica Rice Varieties from Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces,China

Twenty-nine japonica rice varieties collected from Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces, China were planted in Hangzhou, China, to investigate the phytic acid content in brown rice and its frequency distribution as well as the correlation among the contents of phytic acid, total protein and four protein compositions in brown rice. The phytic acid content in brown rice ranged from 0.699% to 1.034%, with a mean of 0.868% for the 29 tested rice varieties. Xiushui series rice varieties generally exhibited lower phytic acid level than Wuyujing and Huai series rice varieties. A rough normal distribution, with a mean of 8.722%, was observed for the total protein contents in the tested varieties. Of the four protein compositions, the glutelin, globulin and albumin contents had larger coefficient of variation than the prolamin content, although the difference in prolamin content was genotype-dependent. No significant correlation was found between the phytic acid and four protein composition contents, whereas the total protein content was significantly and positively related to the glutelin content in brown rice.

Analysis of the Conditional Correlations from Different Genetic Systems Between the Protein Content and the Appearance Quality Traits of Indica Rice

A factorial mating design in two environments was conducted using 7 cytoplasmic male sterile lines （A） and 5 restorer lines （R） along with their F1 （A × R） and F2 populations. The unconditional and conditional analyses of genetic models and the corresponding statistic methods, including endospermic, cytoplasmic, and maternal plant genetic systems, were used to analyze the genetic relationships between protein content （PC） and the appearance quality traits of indica rice （Oryza sativa L.）. The results from unconditional analysis indicated that PC was significantly correlated with the appearance quality traits of rice, except for the brown rice thickness （BRT）. Only the genetic covariance between PC and the brown rice width （BRW） was positively correlative, whereas all the other pairwise traits were negatively correlative. The results from conditional analysis revealed that the weight of brown rice （WBR） or the amylose content （AC） could significantly affect the relationships between PC and the appearance quality traits of indica rice. The conditional analysis showed that WBR might negatively affect the relationships between PC and the brown rice length （BRL）, BRW, or BRT through the geuotype x environmental （GE） interaction effects, but positively affected the relationships between PC and the ratio of brown rice length to width （RLW） or the ratio of brown rice length to thickness （RLT）. The amylase content could positively affect the relationships between PC and BRL, RLW, RLT through the cytoplasmic effects and maternal additive effects, but negatively affected the relationships between PC and BRW.

Effects of Sulfur Fertilizer Application Methods on Grain Protein Content During Filling Stage of Winter Wheat

[ Objective] The experiment aimed to provide a theoretical base of optimal cultivation management for the high yield and good quality and high efficiency of winter wheat. [ Method] The effects of two sulfur fertilizer application methods on dynamic changes of grain protein content and glutenin content of Yumai 49 and Yumai 66 during wheat grain filling stage were studied under the field conditions. [Result] Both the grain protein and glutenin content of two cultivars were increased by sulfur fertilizer, particularly, the effects on Yumai 49 were more significant.[ Conclusion] The grain content and glutenin content of different wheat cultivars could be increased by taking different sulfur fertilizer application methods.

Effects of Nitrogen Fertigation Rate on Protein Components in Grains and Processing Quality of Different Wheat Varieties

[Objective] This study aimed to explore the effects of nitrogen fertigation rate on the protein components in grains and processing quality of different wheat varieties. [Method] Under the condition of higher soil fertility, different amounts of N-fertilizer were applied in the plots, and then the contents of total protein and its components, percentage of the component content to total protein content as well as the processing quality of grains of two strong-gluten wheat varieties （Linyou145 and Zhengmai9023） and two weak-gluten wheat varieties （Ningmai9 and Baofeng949） were determined. [Result] The contents of total protein and globulin, gliadin and glutenin were improved significantly with the increase of the N-fertilizer amount; but the content of albumin did not show remarkable increase; in addition, the percentage of each protein component was relative stable and did not increase significantly. Increase in the amount of N-fertilizer improved the sedimentation value, wet gluten content, loaf volume and loaf score, decreased the volume weight of grain. [Conclusion] This study provideed theoretical support for high-quality wheat production.

Variation of Protein Content in Tartary Buckwheat Seeds

[Objective]The aim was to select tartary buckwheat materials with high protein content.[Method]Used 35 kinds of tartary buckwheat as experimental material,and the protein content of seeds had been determined.[Result]The protein content of 35 kinds of tartary buckwheat will change in the range of 23.65-193.28 mg/g with an average of 111.85 mg/g.There was difference among different origins of tartary buckwheat.The seeds from Hezhang in Guizhou and Sichuan had highest protein content,while the seeds from Nayong had lowest protein content.[Conclusion]The study had provided theoretical basis for the further study on the genetic and variation law of protein content in different tartary buckwheat resources.

Comparison of Protein Content among Non-diapause Pupae,Diapause Pupae and Eclosion-adult from Diapause Pupae of Papilio memnon

[ Objective] The experiment aimed to explore the diapause mechanism of Papilio memnon L. further. [ Method] The colorimetry method was used to detect protein content of non-diapause pupae, diapause pupae and eclosion-adult from diapause pupae at different developmental stages. [Result] It was showed that the protein content of non-diapause pupae was from 111.768 to 115.030 7 mg/g and the change of protein content during whole pupal stage, while diapause pupae were from 81.218 to 131.623 7 mg/g and the change of protein content was not big from last ten-day period of October to last ten-day pariod of November, however, the content increased from the last ten-day period of November. The protein content of emerging adult was 296.969 3 mg/g. [Conclusion] The change of protein content was related to Papilio memnon at different development stage.

Variations in Phytic Acid Content and Their Relationship with Protein Content and Kernel Morphological Characters of Chinese Winter Wheat Cultivars

[Objective] The aim of this study was to determine the variation of phytic acid content （PAC） and its frequency distribution, as well as the relationship between PAC and protein content, kernel characteristics in 161 Chinese winter wheat cultivars from four regions. [Method] One hundred and sixty-one winter wheat varieties from China Wheat Zones I, II, III and IV （Table 1） were grown in a randomized block de- sign, in the 2009-2011 cropping season; and then the indexes for describing the grain morphological characteristics such as the thousand kernel weight （TKW）, kernel length （KL）, kernel width （KW） and kernel thickness （KT） were measured; the phytic acid content （PAC）, protein content and sedimentation value were also determined; finally, the relationship between PAC and protein content, kernel characteristics were analyzed. [Result] The PAC in the cultivars tested ranged from 0.92% to 1.95% with a mean value of 1.41%. Protein content ranged from 12.60% to 19.20%, with a mean of 15.24%. Most （53.4%） of the wheat genotypes had a PAC value in the range of 1.25% to 1.55%. No significant correlation was found between PAC and protein content, sedimentation value, while protein content and SDS sedimentation value was significant correlated, which suggested the possibility of breeding wheat cultivars that have a low PAC but a high protein content and good gluten quality. There was a high correlation between TKW and KW （,.=0.79）, KL （r=0.50） and KT （r=0.64）. PAC was found having no significant correlation with TKW, KW, KL and KT. [Conclusion] The result suggests the possibility of breeding wheat cultivars that have a low PAC but high kernel weight.

Multidimensional evaluation of salt tolerance in groundnut genotypes through biochemical responses

The manuscript explores the complex interplay between groundnut genotypes,salt tolerance and hormonal influence,shedding light on the dynamic responses of three specific groundnut genotypes,KDG-128,TG-37 A and GG-20,to salt treatments and gibberellic acid(GA3).The study encompasses germination,plant growth,total protein content and oil content as key parameters.Through comprehensive analysis,it identifies TG-37 A and KDG-128 as salt-tolerant genotypes,and GG-20 as salt-susceptible genotypes,which highlighting the potential for targeted breeding efforts to develop more resilient groundnut varieties.Moreover,the quantification of protein and oil content under different treatments provides vital data for optimizing nutritional profiles in groundnut cultivars.Principal Component Analysis(PCA) underscores the significance of the first principal component(PC1)in explaining the majority of variance,capturing primary trends and differences in plant length.Analysis of Variance(ANOVA) and hierarchical analysis confirm the presence of statistically significant differences in protein and oil content among the genotypes.Pearson's correlation coefficient matrix analysis reveals strong positive correlations between plant length and protein content,plant length and oil content,and a moderately positive correlation between protein content and oil content.These findings provide valuable insights into groundnut physiology,salt tolerance,and nutritional composition,with implications for future research in sustainable agriculture and crop improvement.

Predicting Grain Yield and Protein Content in Winter Wheat at Different N Supply Levels Using Canopy Reflectance Spectra

A field experiment using a split-plot randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out to determine relationships between spectral indices and wheat grain yield （GY）, to compare the performance of four vegetation indices （VIs） for GY prediction, and to study the feasibility of VI to estimate grain protein content （GPC） in winter wheat. Two typical winter wheat （Triticum aestivum L.） cultivars ＇Xuzhou 26＇ （high protein content） and ＇Huaimai 18＇ （low protein content） were used as the main plot treatments and four N rates, i.e., 0, 120, 210, and 300 kg N ha^-1, as the sub-plot treatments. Increasing soil N supply significantly increased GY and GPC （P ≤ 0.05）. For the two cultivars combined, significant and positive correlations were found between four VIs and GY, with the strongest relationship observed when using the green ratio vegetation index （GRVI） at mid-filling. Cumulative VI estimates improved yield predictions substantially, with the best interval being heading to maturity stage. Similar results were found between VI and grain protein yield. However, when using cumulative VI, GPC showed no significant improvement. The strong relationship between leaf N status and GPC （R2 =0.9144 for ＇Xuzhou 26＇ and R2 = 0.8285 for ＇Huaimai 18＇） indicated that canopy spectra could be used to predict GPC. The strong fit between estimated and observed GPC （R2 = 0.7939） indicated that remote sensing techniques were potentially useful predictors of grain protein content and quality in wheat.

Protein Content and Amino Acid Composition in Grains of Wheat-Related Species

The protein content and amino acid composition for 17 wheat-related species （WRS） and three common wheats （control） were determined and analyzed, and the essential amino acids （EAAs） in WRS were evaluated according to FAO/WHO amino acid recommendations. The results showed that the mean protein content for WRS was 16.67%, which was 23.21% higher than that for the control. The mean contents （g 100 g^-1 protein） of most amino acids for WRS were lysine 2.74%, threonine 2.83%, phenylalanine 4.17%, isoleucine 3.42%, valine 3.90%, histidine 2.81%, glutamic acid 29.96%, proline 9.12%, glycine 3.59%, alanine 3.37%, and cysteine 1.57%, which were higher than those for the control. The contents of the other 6 amino acids for WRS were lower than those for the control. The materials （Triticum monococcum L., Triticum carthlicum Nevski, and Triticum turgidum L.） contained relatively high concentration of the most deficient EAAs （lysine, threonine, and methionine）. Comparing with FAO/WHO amino acid recommendations, the amino acid scores （AAS） of lysine （49.8%）, threonine （70.7%）, and sulfur-containing amino acids （74.8%） were the lowest, which were considered as the main limiting amino acids in WRS. It was observed that the materials with Triticum urartu Turn. （AA） and Aegilops speltoides Tausch. （SS） genomes had relatively high contents of protein and EAA. The contents of protein （16.91%）, phenylalanine （4.78%）, isoleucine （3.53%）, leucine （6.16%）, and valine （4.09%） for the diploid materials were higher than those for the other materials. These results will provide some information for selecting parents in breeding about nutrient quality and utilization of fine gene in wheat.

Estimating Wheat Grain Protein Content Using Multi-Temporal Remote Sensing Data Based on Partial Least Squares Regression

Estimating wheat grain protein content by remote sensing is important for assessing wheat quality at maturity and making grains harvest and purchase policies. However, spatial variability of soil condition, temperature, and precipitation will affect grain protein contents and these factors usually cannot be monitored accurately by remote sensing data from single image. In this research, the relationships between wheat protein content at maturity and wheat agronomic parameters at different growing stages were analyzed and multi-temporal images of Landsat TM were used to estimate grain protein content by partial least squares regression. Experiment data were acquired in the suburb of Beijing during a 2-yr experiment in the period from 2003 to 2004. Determination coefficient, average deviation of self-modeling, and deviation of cross- validation were employed to assess the estimation accuracy of wheat grain protein content. Their values were 0.88, 1.30%, 3.81% and 0.72, 5.22%, 12.36% for 2003 and 2004, respectively. The research laid an agronomic foundation for GPC （grain protein content） estimation by multi-temporal remote sensing. The results showed that it is feasible to estimate GPC of wheat from multi-temporal remote sensing data in large area.

Effects of Powdery Mildew on 1 000-Kernel Weight, Crude Protein Content and Yield of Winter Wheat in Three Consecutive Growing Seasons

In order to clarify the impact posed by wheat powdery mildew （Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici） on the yield and yield components in different epidemic seasons, field trials were conducted in three growing seasons, 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, in Langfang City, Hebei Province, China. The relationships between 1000-kernel weight, crude protein content of grain and yield and disease index （DI）, as well as area under disease progress curve （AUDPC） were studied. The models of the percentage of loss of 1000-kernel weight, crude protein content and yield were constructed using DI at critical point （CP） of growth stages （GS） and AUDPC in the three growing seasons, respectively. The CPs for estimating 1 000-kernel weight, crude protein content of grain and yield of wheat caused by powdery mildew were GS 11.1, GS 10.5.3 and GS l 0.5.3, respectively. Models based on DI at CP to estimate the percentage of loss of 1000-kernel weight, crude protein content of grain and yield were better than models based on AUDPC. And models of the percentage of loss of 1000-kernel weight, crude protein content and yield for 2011-2012 season were significant different from these for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons. These results indicated that besides powdery mildew, weather conditions also had influence on 1 000-kernel weight, crude protein content of grain and yield loss of wheat when powdery mildew occurred.

Effects of Waterlogging in Different Growth Stages on the Photosynthesis,Growth,Yield,and Protein Content of Three Wheat Cultivars in Jianghan Plain

To maintain high wheat grain yield in areas where frequent and periodic waterlogging occurs,the effects of waterlogging on the photosynthesis,growth,yield,and protein content of three wheat cultivars,namely Xiangmai55(X55),Jingmai102(J102),and Zhengmai9023(Z9023),in four different growth stages were investigated.Experiments were conducted in specially designed experimental tanks in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 wheat growing seasons in China.Results showed that X55 was the most susceptible to waterlogging,followed by J102 and Z9023.Chlorophyll content reduction and leaf senescence,which resulted in decreased green-to-total leaf number ratio,were induced to the greatest extents by waterlogging in booting and flowering stages,followed by milky stage.Meanwhile,chlorophyll content in flag leaf,plant height were significantly decreased by waterlogging in jointing stage but effectively recovered after waterlogging withdrawal,and recovery ability varied among the cultivars.Plant biomass and grain yield were most significantly decreased by waterlogging in booting and flowering stages,followed by milky and jointing stages.Grain protein content was also considerably affected by waterlogging depending on growth stage and cultivars.The decreased grain yield caused by waterlogging was mostly due to the sharp decline in 1 000-grain mass.Waterlogging led to reduced protein yield in all growth stages in three wheat cultivars.Above all,in this experiment,waterlogging decreased grain yield significantly,and waterlogging at booting stage and flowering stage was most serious.Comparing the three cultivars,X55 was most sensitive to waterlogging.

Effects and Mechanisms of P and K Nutrients on Yield and Protein Content of Fodder Rice

Effects and mechanisms of P and K nutrients on yield and protein content of Weiyou 56, a fodder hybrid rice combination,were studied through pot experiment and biochemical analysis. The results showed that the increase of P and K nutrients enhanced the activities of PEP carboxylase (PEPC), glutamine synthase (GS) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) in leaves, sucrose synthase (SS), ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase (ADPGP) and GS in grains, and the chlorophyll content in leaves, soluble sugar and starch content in grains, protein N and total N content in leaves and grains. Howerer, they decreased soluble sugar content in leaves and led to an increase of protein content in brown rice, biomass, grain yield and harvest index. Excessive P nutrients slightly reduced SPS and ADPG activity in leaves and grains respectively.