Effects of Curing Techniques on Starch Contents of Leaves in Different Tobacco Parts with Varying Maturity Degrees

[Objective] The aim was to explore effects of different curing techniques on starch contents of tobaccos from different growth parts and with varying maturity degrees in order to reduce starch content of Yunnan tobacco. [Method] Compar- isons were conducted on tobaccos from upper, middle and down parts （immature, premature, mature and excessive mature） by low temperature and low humidity cur- ing technique, moderate temperature and moderate humidity curing technique, mod- erate temperature and high humidity curing technique to measure starch contents before and after curing. [Result] The results showed starch content of tobacco was increasing upon growth part. Low temperature and low humidity curing technique has poor effects on reduction of starch content; moderate temperature and moderate humidity curing technique improves starch content; moderate temperature and high humidity curing technique dramatically reduces starch content of tobaccos. [Conclu- sion] With consideration of tobacco appearance, inner quality and characters, moder- ate temperature and moderate humidity curing technique is recommended for tobac- co production.

Correlation analysis between major nutritional components and resistant starch content in wheat

With 94 spring wheat cultivars as experimental materials, the correlations between the content of resistant starch （RS） in uncooked flour and cooked flour, and the apparent amylose content （AAC）, protein, lipid were investigated. The results showed that RS contents in both the uncooked flour and cooked flour assumed significantly positive correlation with AAC, and significantly negative cor- relation with protein content; and they were proved to be not significantly correlated with lipid content. RS content in uncooked flour was significantly correlated with that in cooked flour. These results provided references for the genetic improvement of wheat cultivars.

Genome-wide association study for starch content and constitution in sorghum(Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench)

Starch is the most important component in endosperm of sorghum grain.Usually,two types of starch are present:amylose(AM)and amylopectin(AP).The levels of AM and AP contents play a significant role in the appearance,structure,and quality of sorghum grains and in marketing applications.In the present study,a panel of 634 sorghum(Sorghum bicolor(L.)Moench)accessions were evaluated for starch,AM,and AP contents of grain,which included a mini core collection of 242 accessions from the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics(ICRISAT)in India,and 252 landraces and 140 cultivars from China.The average starch content was 67.64%and the average AM and AP contents were 20.19 and 79.81%,respectively.We developed a total of 260000 high-confidence single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)markers in the panel of 634 accessions of S.bicolor using specific locus amplified fragment sequencing(SLAF-seq).We performed genome-wide association studies(GWAS)of starch,AM,and AM/AP of grain and SNP markers based on a mixed linear model(MLM).In total,70 significant association signals were detected for starch,AM,and AM/AP ratio of grain with P<4.452×10^-7,of which 10 SNPs were identified with significant starch,51 SNPs were associated with AM,and nine SNPs were associated with the AM/AP ratio.The Gene Ontology(GO)analysis identified 12 candidate genes at five QTLs associated with starch metabolism within the 200-kb intervals,located on chromosomes 1,5,6,and 9.Of these genes,Sobic.006G036500.1 encodes peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans-isomerase CYP38 responsible for hexose monophosphate shunt(HMS)and Sobic.009G071800 encodes 6-phospho-fructokinase(PFK),which is involved in the embden-meyerhof pathway(EMP).Kompetitive allele specific PCR(KASP)markers were developed to validate the GWAS results.The C allele is correlated with a high starch content,while the T allele is linked with a low level of starch content,and provides reliable haplotypes for MAS in sorghum quality improvement.

Mapping QTL underlying tuber starch content and plant maturity in tetraploid potato

Tuber starch content and plant maturity are two important agronomic traits of potato. To investigate the complex genetic basis of these traits in the cultivated potato, as well as the relationship between them, we developed a linkage map in a tetraploid population of 192 clones derived from the cross Longshu 8 × Zaodabai and mapped quantitative trait loci(QTL) for tuber starch content and plant maturity using data collected in three diverse environments over two years. We detected eleven QTL for tuber starch content distributed on seven chromosomes, of which four, on chromosomes I, II, and VIII, were expressed in at least three environments. For plant maturity, we identified six QTL on chromosomes II, IV,V, VII, and XI, one of which, on chromosome V, showed LOD peaks ranging from 45.2 to 62.5 cM and explained 21.6%–26.6% of phenotypic variation was expressed in five of the six environments. Because the reproducible QTL for plant maturity and tuber starch content mapped to different chromosomes and neither overlapping QTL, nor any genetic interaction between QTL were detected, we infer that tuber starch content and plant maturity are controlled by independent genetic loci. This inference supports the prospect of breeding potato for both early maturity and high starch content.

Effects of RNAi Silencing of SSIII Gene on Phosphorus Content and Characteristics of Starch in Potato Tubers

The sense and antisense fragments of the soluble starch synthase （SSII1） gene and the intron fragment of somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase （SERK1） gene were cloned from potato using PCR techniques. The RNAi plant expression vectors pBI-SSIII-RNAi and pBIC-SSIII-RNAi were constructed which containing fusion fragment of ＂sense fragment-intron-antisense fragment＂ driven by the constitutive expression promoter CaMV 35S and the tuber-specific expression promoter CIPP, respectively. The putative transgenic plants of potato cultivars Kexin-1 and Kexin-4 were obtained using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. PCR assay showed that the interference fragment of SSlll gene was integrated into potato genome. The RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of SSlll gene was repressed apparently on the transcription level. Starch granules of the transgenic potato plants were different in morphology and became cracked in starch granule centre compared with the non-transgenic control plants. The amylose content of starch was increased by 2.68-29.05%, amylopectin to amylose ratio of starch had declined significantly, and the phosphorus content of the starch of the transgenic plants was reduced 9.94-58.36% compared with control plants. The results could provide certain foundation for improvement of potato starch quality.

Identification of QTLs for Starch Content in Sweetpotato(Ipomoea batatas(L.) Lam.)

Sweetpotato （Ipomoea batatas （L.） Lam.） breeding is challenging due to its genetic complexity. In the present study, interval mapping （IM） and multiple quantitative trait locus （QTL） model （MQM） analysis were used to identify QTLs for starch content with a mapping population consisting of 202 F1 individuals of a cross between Xushu 18, a cultivar susceptible to stem nematodes, with high yield and moderate starch, and Xu 781, which is resistant to stem nematodes, has low yield and high starch content. Six QTLs for starch content were mapped on six linkage groups of the Xu 781 map, explaining 9.1-38.8% of the variation. Especially, one of them, DMFN 4, accounted for 38.8% of starch content variation, which is the QTL that explains the highest phenotypic variation detected to date in sweetpotato. All of the six QTLs had a positive effect on the variation of the starch content, which indicated the inheritance derived from the parent Xu 781. Two QTLs for starch content were detected on two linkage groups of the Xushu 18 map, explaining 14.3 and 16.1% of the variation, respectively. They had a negative effect on the variation, indicating the inheritance derived from Xu 781. Seven of eight QTLs were co-localized with a single marker. This is the first report on the development of QTLs co-localized with a single marker in sweetpotato. These QTLs and their co-localized markers may be used in marker-assisted breeding for the starch content of sweetpotato.

A plastidic ATP/ADP transporter gene, IbAATP, increases starch and amylose contents and alters starch structure in transgenic sweetpotato

A plastidic adenosine triphosphate（ATP）/adenosine diphosphate（ADP） transporter（AATP） is responsible for importing ATP from the cytosol into plastids. In dicotyledonous plants, increasing ATP supply is a potential way to facilitate anabolic synthesis in heterotrophic plastids. In this study, a gene encoding the AATP protein, named Ib AATP, was isolated from sweetpotato（Ipomoea batatas（L.） Lam.）. Transcripts of Ib AATP were predominantly detected in the storage roots and leaves and were induced by exogenous sucrose and subjected to circadian rhythm. Transient expression of Ib AATP in tobacco and onion epidermal cells revealed the plastidic localization of Ib AATP. The overexpression of Ib AATP in sweetpotato significantly increased the starch and amylose contents and led to enlarged starch granules. The IbA ATP-overexpressing plants showed altered fine structure of amylopectin, which contained an increased proportion of chains with a degree of polymerization（DP） of 10–23 and a reduced number of chains with a DP of 5–9 and 24–40. In addition, starch from the transgenic plants exhibited different pasting properties. The transcript levels of starch biosynthetic genes, including Ib AGP, Ib GBSSI, Ib SSIIV, and Ib SBE, were differentially regulated in the transgenic plants. These results revealed the explicit role of Ib AATP in the starch biosynthesis of sweetpotato and indicated that this gene has the potential to be used to improve starch content and quality in sweetpotato and other plants.

Amylose Content and Starch Granule Size in Rice Grains are Affected By Growing Season

Amylose content and starch granule size in grains influence rice quality,which differs between the early(ES)and late season(LS).The objective of this study was to determine the variation of amylose content and starch granule size between seasons and find the main reasons(e.g.,temperature and solar radiation)for the observed variation.Field experiments with six rice varieties(three high and three low amylose content rice)planted in the ES and LS were conducted in 2016 and 2017,respectively.The mean temperatures during the filling stage were higher in ES,however,the daily temperatures at 7-10 days after flowering(DAF)in 2016,and at 5-10,13-14 DAF in 2017 were higher in LS.The results showed that amylose content in LS was lower than in ES with high amylose content rice varieties(HACV);the opposite trend occurred with low amylose content rice varieties(LACV).The mean starch granule diameter was higher in LS than ES in 2016,but the opposite result occurred in 2017 with all rice.Our results suggest that higher temperatures increased and decreased the amylose content in HACV and LACV,respectively.Temperatures at 5-15 DAF were important for the formation of starch granules:lower temperatures during 10-14 DAF increased the proportion of larger starch granules(d>6.21μm,some with d>13.3μm),and higher temperatures at 5-6 DAF increased the proportion of starch granules with diameter 4.24-6.21μm.

Effects of Bacterial Manure from Cassava Alcohol Fermentation Mash on Yield and Starch Content of Cassava

In order to provide a scientific basis for the utilization of cassava alcohol fermentation mash and the high-yield and high-efficiency cultivation of cassava,compound microbial inoculum was inoculated into the cassava alcohol fermentation mash to prepare bacterial manure,which was then applied to two cassava varieties,Nanzhi 199 and SC 205 to explore the optimum application amount,application method and application concentration. The results showed that when the inoculation amount of the compound microbial inoculum was 2‰ of the mass of the mash,the requirements of industrial production of liquid bacterial manure and agricultural application can be met,saving costs. After the emergence of cassava seedlings,if they were drenched with the bacterial manure of cassava alcohol fermentation mash through roots once according to the amount of 67. 5 t/ha and irrigated with the bacterial manure once every 15 d under drought conditions,both the yield and quality of cassava can be improved significantly. The yield and starch content of Nanzhi 199 reached 26 196. 23 kg/ha and 30. 32%,36. 57% and4. 75 percentage points higher than those of CK. The yield and starch content of SC 205 reached 41 126. 06 kg/ha and 23. 74%,99. 25% and3. 19 percentage points higher than those of CK. Under the application modes of foliar spray,root irrigation and foliar spray + root irrigation,the fertilization effect was more obvious. When undiluted bacterial manure of cassava alcohol fermentation mash was applied according to the amount of 52. 5 t/( ha·time),the fertilization effect of the application mode of foliar spray + root irrigation was the best. The bacterial manure from cassava alcohol fermentation mash can be directly applied without dilution,and the fertilizer efficiency will be reduced significantly after dilution.

Amylose Content,Morphology,Crystal Structure,and Thermal Properties of Starch Grains in Main and Ratoon Rice Crops

Rice ratooning,or the production of a second rice crop from stubble after the harvest of the main crop,is considered to be a green and resource-efficient rice production system.The present study was conducted to examine variance in amylose content(AC),grain morphology,crystal structure,and thermal properties of starch between main-and ratoon-season rice of seven varieties.Ratoon-season rice grains had higher ACs and significantly lower transition gelatinization temperatures(To,Tp,and Tc)than did main-season rice grains.The relative crystallinity and lamellar peak intensity of ratoon-season rice starch were 7.89%and 20.38%lower,respectively,than those of main-season rice starch.In addition,smaller granules with smoother surfaces and lower thermal parameters were observed in the starch of ratoon-season rice.The relative crystallinity and lamellar peak intensity of starch correlated negatively with the AC and positively with transition gelatinization temperatures.These results suggest that the superior cooking quality of ratoon-season rice is attributable to the moderate increase of grain AC,which reduces the relative crystallinity,weakens the crystal structure,and lead to a decrease in the gelatinization temperature.

Effect of Different Moisture Contents on Crystallized State of Microwave Modified Tapioca Starch

Effect of microwave modification on tapioca starch at different moisture contents was studied with polarized light microscope. It was observed that loss of birefringence was initiated at hilum of granule. The polarization cross of most granules had become somewhat unclear, and reduction in clarity of the polarization cross was proportioned with the moisture contents of native starch as modification by microwave. When the moisture contents reached to 35.0%, the polarization cross of most granules was lost, and the critical point of native starch was 30% in microwave modification.

Evaluation of the moisture content of tapioca starch using near-infrared spectroscopy

The purpose of this study was to develop a calibration model to evaluate the moisture content of tapioca starch using the near infrared(NIR)spectral data in conjunction with partial least square(PIS)regression.The prediction ability was asessed using a separate prediction data set.Three groups of tapioca starch samples were used in this study:tapioca starch cake,dried tapioca starch and combined tapioca starch.The opt imum model obtained from the baseline ofset spectra of dried tapioca starch samples at the outlet of the factory drying process provided a cofficient of determination(R^(2)),standard error of prediction(SEP),bias and residual prediction deviation(RPD)of 0.974,0.16%,-0.092%and 7.4,respectively.The NIR spectroscopy protocol developed in this study could be a rapid method for evaluation of the moisture content of the tapioca starch in factory laboratories.It indicated the possibility of real-tine online monitoring and control of the tapioca starch cake feeder in the drying process.In addition,it was determined that there was.a stronger influence of the NIR absorption of both water and starch on the prediction of moisture content of the model.

Molecular Markers Associated with Starch Content and Implications for Sugarcane Introgression Breeding Using Saccharum spontaneum

Introgression with Saceharum spontaneum intended to broaden the genetic base of sugarcane resulted in an increase in desirable genes for broader adapt ability as well as undesirable genes for high starch content. Markers could provide a quick and efficient method of screening parental genotypes for low starch. The objectives of this study were to identify potential markers associated with starch in S. spontaneum population and evaluate their potential for screening for starch content. Data for starch content and （simple sequence repeats） SSR markers were collected from 51 S. spontaneum clones grown in replicated pots. The mixed procedure of statistical analysis system （SAS） was used to determine markers significantly associated with starch. Thirty-nine out of 357 polymorphic markers were significantly （P 〈 0.05） associated with starch content. Eighteen were positively associated and 21 were negatively associated. The presence of a positive marker produced 39% more starch than absence while the absence of a negative marker produced 57% more starch than presence. Selecting parents using negative markers may be more efficient than selecting using positive markers.

Effects of Weak Light on Starch Accumulation and Starch Synthesis Enzyme Activities in Rice at the Grain Filling Stage

Dynamic changes of starch, amylose, sucrose contents and the activities of starch synthesis enzymes under shading treatments alter flowering were studied using two rice varieties IR72 （indica） and Nipponbare （japonica） as materials. Under shading treatments, the starch, amylose and sucrose contents decreased, while ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase （ADPGPPase） activity only changed a little, soluble starch synthase activity and granule bound starch synthase activity decreased, soluble starch branching enzyme （SSBE, Q-enzyme） activity and granule bound starch branching enzyme （GBSBE, Q-enzyme） activity increased, and starch debranching enzyme （DBE, R-enzyme） activity varied with varieties. Correlation analyses showed that the changes of starch content were positively and significantly correlated with the changes of sucrose content in the weak light. Both ADPGPPase activity and SSBE activity were positively and significantly correlated with starch accumulation rate. It was implied that the decline of starch synthase activities was related to the decrease of starch content and the increase of the activity of starch branching enzyme played an important role in the decrease of the ratio of amylose to the total starch under the weak light.

The Source of Genes Related to Rice Grain Starch Synthesis Among Cultivated Varieties and Its Contribution to Quality

The property of starch in rice grain endosperm is a very important determinant for rice quality, and it is essential to understand the genetic effect of the genes related to starch synthesis in high-yielding rice varieties for rice quality improvement. The physicochemical properties （e.g., amylose content, gel consistency, and RVA profile） were assessed on 53 rice varieties, including certain typical indica/japonica landraces and certain high-yielding modern varieties. And molecular markers for Sbel, Sbe3 developed on the basis of sequence diversities between the rice subspecies indica and japonica, together with PCR-Acc I marker for Wx gene were used to investigate the genotypes of 53 rice cultivars. The result showed that the developed molecular markers for Wx, Sbel, Sbe3 could distinguish indica or japonica alleles at three loci. Among all the 53 rice cultivars, six genotypes were observed when Sbel, Sbe3, and Wx loci were considered together, while the genotypes of WxiSbelJSbe3i and WxiSbelJSbe3J were absent. In order to explore the genetic effects of the three genes, especially for starch branching enzyme genes, ANOVA and multiple comparison analysis were conducted. The results showed that rice cultivars with different genotypes exhibited different phenotypes, including amylose content, gel consistency and certain RVA characteristics, and the significant differences among the six genotypes were observed. It was concluded that these three genes had randomly recombined during the process of the rice variety development. And the genetic effects of indica and japonica alleles at three gene loci were different, of which, Wx gene plays a major role in determining the starch properties, followed by Sbel and Sbe3, and the genetic effects of Sbel and Sbe3 in different backgrounds （Wx~, WxJ） are different. The results have provided a clue for rice good quality variety development, and the molecular markers will benefit to the improvement in quality of rice.

A genetic diversity assessment of starch quality traits in rice landraces from the Taihu basin,China

There are nearly 1 000 rice landrace varieties in the Taihu basin, China. To assess the genetic diversity of the rice, 24 intragenic molecular markers（representing 17 starch synthesis-related genes） were investigated in 115 Taihu basin rice landraces and 87 improved cultivars simultaneously. The results show that the average genetic diversity and polymorphism information content values of the landraces were higher than those of improved cultivars. In total, 41 and 39 allele combinations（of the 17 genes） were derived from the landraces and improved cultivars, respectively; only two identical allele combinations were found bet ween the two rice variety sources. Cluster analysis, based on the molecular markers, revealed that the rice varieties could be subdivided into five groups and, within these, the japonica improved rice and japonica landrace rice varieties were in two separate groups. According to the quality reference criteria to classify the rice into grades, some of the landraces were found to perform we ll, in terms of starch quality. For example, according to NY /T595-2002 criteria from the Ministry of Agriculture of China, 25 and 33 landraces reached grade 1, in terms of their apparent amylose content and gel consistency. Th e varieties that had outstanding quality could be used as breeding materials for rice quality breeding programs in the future. Our study is useful for future applications, such as genetic diversity studies, the protection of rice variety and improvment of rice quality in breeding programs.

Effect of Soil Texture on Starch Accumulation and Activities of Key Enzymes of Starch Synthesis in the Kernel of ZM 9023

Three kinds of soil texture （clay-loam, mid-loam, and sand-loam soil） were used to study the effects of soil texture on starch accumulating rate and the changes in activities of the key enzymes of starch synthesis in the kernel during grain filling in high gluten content wheat ZM 9023, under conditions of pond culture. The content of starch and its components were measured according to the method of double-wave length described by Bao （1996）. ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase （AGPP） activity was tested according to the method described by Doehlert et al. （1988）. Soluble starch synthase （SSS） and starch branching enzyme （SBE） activities were tested according to the method described by Nakamura et al. （1989）. The amylose, amylopectin, and total starch accumulating rate in the kernel of ZM 9023 were found to be a single-peak curve in three different soil textures during grain filling, and peaked 20, 15, and 15 d after anthesis, respectively. The activities of the enzymes, AGPP, SSS, and SBE, in the kernel of ZM 9023 had a single-peaked curve, which peaked 20, 15, and 15 d after anthesis, respectively. The activities of the above three enzymes of ZM 9023 were higher in the sand-loam soil. The accumulating peak of amylose formed later compared to that of amylopectin. The sand-loam soil could help high gluten content cultivars to synthesize starch.

A glutathione S-transferase IbGSTL2 interacts with IbcPGM to increase starch content and improve starch quality in sweetpotato

A glutathione S-transferase(GST)gene IbGSTL2 was cloned and characterized from sweetpotato.It harbored a variation associated with starch content in storage roots.Overexpression of IbGSTL2 increased starch content and amylopectin proportion,decreased gelatinization temperature,and improved degree of crystallinity in sweetpotato storage roots,while its RNA interference resulted in the opposite trends.IbGSTL2 physically interacted with IbcPGM,an enzyme of sucrose metabolism,and improve starch content and quality by regulating genes involved in starch biosynthesis.

Morphological and Rheological Properties of Starches Separated from Cultivars of Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i>L.) from North East India

Starch granules isolated from different accessions of rice from North East India showed a typical polygonal morphology with size ranging from 3.4 ± 0.8 μm to 6.4 ± 1.2 μm. The apparent amylose content (AAC) of the granules varied from 1.9% to 28.33%. Our results identify starch from IC-583088 as “waxy” and IC-583085, IC-583038, DPRR-168 as “very low” amylo-. The coefficient of resistance to flow (n) for starch pastes from the varieties of rice studied in the present investigation recorded a value of <1.0. The observed “n” value deviates from the Newtonian flow indicating the pseudoplastic nature of starches isolated from these varieties. While starch pastes from the accession IC-583088 recorded the highest ‘‘n’’ value of 0.6, that from the accession IC-545197 showed the lowest value of 0.03. The variations in coefficient of resistance to flow clearly revealed a higher ‘‘n’’ value for starch pastes from the “waxy” and ‘‘low” amylo-cultivars than the “intermediate” or ‘‘high” amylo-cultivars. Our results clearly established characteristic rheological properties for starches from the accessions SKY-AK-1608, IC-583035, YS-RC-219, IC-564939 and IC-332963, which exhibited greater resistance to thinning and shearing than other varieties.

不同热处理条件下橡胶木淀粉含量与抗蠹虫性能关系研究

为克服橡胶木易发生蠹虫危害的缺陷,采用不同热处理温度(90、120、150℃和180℃)和不同热处理时间(2、4 h和6 h)对橡胶木进行热处理,利用分光光度计考察不同温度和时间条件下热处理橡胶木中的淀粉含量变化,并分析蠹虫对橡胶木的蛀蚀程度与淀粉含量之间的关系。结果表明:热处理温度和处理时间对橡胶木中的淀粉含量有显著影响,且随着热处理温度的升高和热处理时间的延长,淀粉含量逐渐下降,从12.79%降至1.25%。在橡胶木抗蠹虫试验中,热改性处理后橡胶木的抗蠹虫效果均优于对照材,且橡胶木淀粉含量越低,其抗蠹虫效果越好。在实际生产过程中,在120℃下处理6 h为生产热处理橡胶木的优化条件,既能刚好维持橡胶木抗蠹虫的最低要求,也能降低热处理过程中木材强度的损失。