Advances in studies on the physiological and molecular regulation of barley tillering

Tillering is a crucial trait closely associated with yield potential and environmental adaptation in cereal crops,regulated by the synergy of endogenous(genetic)and exogenous(environmental)factors.The physiological and molecular regulation of tillering has been intensively studied in rice and wheat.However,tillering research on barley is scarce.This review used the recent advances in bioinformatics to map all known and potential barley tiller development genes with their chromosomal genetic and physical positions.Many of them were mapped for the first time.We also discussed tillering regulation at genetic,physiological,and environmental levels.Moreover,we established a novel link between the genetic control of phytohormones and sugars with tillering.We provided evidence of how environmental cues and cropping systems help optimize the tiller number.This comprehensive review enhances the understanding of barley’s physiological and genetic mechanisms controlling tillering and other developmental traits.

Effects of broccoli extract and various essential oils on intestinal and faecal microflora and on xenobiotic enzymes and the antioxidant system of piglets

Objective: Since the ban of antibiotics as growth promoting feed additives in the EU in 2006 research in alternatives has gained importance. Phytogenic feed additives represent a heterogenous class of different plant derived substances that are discussed to improve the health of farm animals by direct and indirect antioxidant effects and by influencing microbial eubiosis in the gastrointestinal tract. Consequently our study aimed to investigate the influence of broccoli extract and the essential oils of tur- meric, oregano, thyme and rosemary, as selected individual additives, on intestinal and faecal microflora, on xenobiotic enzymes, and on the antioxidant system of piglets. Methods: 48 four weeks old male weaned piglets were assigned to 6 groups of 8. The piglets were housed individually in stainless steel pens with slatted floor. The control group (Con) was fed a diet without an additive for 4 weeks. The diet of group BE contained 0.15 g/kg sulforaphane in form of a broccoli extract. 535, 282, 373 and 476 mg/kg of the essential oils of turmeric (Cuo), oregano (Oo), thyme (To) and rosemary (Ro) were added to the diets of the remaining 4 groups to stan-dardise supplementation to 150 mg/kg of the oils’ key terpene compounds ar-turmerone, carvacrol, thymol and 1,8-cineole. The composition of bacterial microflora was examined by cultivating samples of jejeunal and colonic mucosa and of faeces under specific conditions. The mRNA expression of xenobiotic and antioxidant enzymes was determined by reversing transcrip- tase real time detection PCR (RT-PCR). Total antioxidant status was assayed using the Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC), and lipid peroxidation was determined by measuring thiobarbioturic acid reactive substances (TBA- RS). Results: Compared to Con piglets all additives positively influenced weight gain and feed conversion in week 1. Over the whole trial period no significant differences in performance parameters existed between the experimental groups. Compared to group Con performance of Ro piglets was, however, slightly impaired. Com- pared to Con piglets Cuo, Oo and To increased the ratio of Lactobacilli:E. coli attached to the jejunal mucosa, whereas BE and Ro impaired this ratio slightly. In contrast in colonic mucosa Ro improved Lactobacilli:E. coli ratio. In faecal samples an improvement of Lactobacilli:E. coli ratio could be analysed for To and Ro. Ro was the only additive that reduced the incidence rate of piglets tested positive for enterotoxic E. coli (ETEC). All additives significantly increased jejunal TEAC and reduced TBA-RS. In the liver BE, Cuo, Oo and To increased TEAC in tendency and Ro significantly. Liver TBA-RS were slightly reduced by all additives compared to Con piglets. Whereas the influence of BE, To and Ro on jejunal TEAC mainly was derived from the induction of xenobiotic and antioxidant enzymes (indirect antioxidant effects), Cuo and Oo influenced TEAC by direct antioxidant effects. Discussion and Conclusions: Our results have shown: That within the labiatae oils Oo and To have the potential to improve performance slightly. That phytogenic substances have a small but not sig- nificant influence on intestinal microflora. That phytogenic feed additives up-regulate the anti- oxidant system of piglets either by direct or by indirect antioxidant effects and that they may thereby improve health status. That within the labiatae oils Oo has a high direct antioxidant potential whereas Ro potently induces xenobiotic and antioxidant enzymes. That broccoli extract is an attractive new phytogenic additive, improving antioxidant status by indirect antioxidant effects. That defined combinations of selected phytogenic substances may produce additive effects. That health promoting effects of phytogenic additives in the future should be studied systematically under the challenge with pathogenic microorganisms or food derived to-xins.

Effect of toasting grain silages from field peas(Pisum sativum)and field beans(Vicia faba)on in vitro gas production,methane production,and post-ruminal crude protein content

Legume grains such as field peas and field beans can be produced on a local level,and may be reliable sources of dietary protein and energy apart from common soybean and rapeseed meals.In ruminants,protein,starch,and carbohydrates from peas and field beans are fermented in large part before reaching the small intestine.The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combination of ensiling and hydro-thermic treatment(i.e.,toasting at 160℃for 30 min)of grains of peas and field beans on the concentrations of post-ruminal crude protein(PRCP)and rumen-undegraded protein(RUP).Moreover,24-h gas production and methane production were measured.For this,an in vitro batch culture system with ruminal fluid from sheep was used.Rumen-undegraded protein was determined using the Streptomyces griseus protease test.Scanning electron micrographs were used to visualize morphological changes of starch granules and their joint matrices in peas and field beans after ensiling,toasting,or a combination of both.Native pea grains contained crude protein(CP)at 199 g/kg DM,PRCP at 155 g/kg DM at a ruminal passage rate of 0.08/h(Kp8),RUP at 33 g/kg DM at Kp8,and starch at 530 g/kg DM.Native field beans contained CP at 296 g/kg DM,PRCP at 212 g/kg DM at Kp8,RUP at 54 g of/kg DM at Kp8,and starch at 450 g/kg DM.The PRCP did not considerably differ among native and treated peas or field beans.Especially in the peas,RUP at Kp8 increased after ensiling by 10 g/kg DM(i.e.,30%;P<0.05).Toasting increased RUP(Kp8)in ensiled peas by another 28%(P<0.05).Toasting had no effect on PRCP or RUP when the peas or field beans were not ensiled before.Gas and methane production were not affected by any treatment,and scanning electron micrographs did not reveal structural changes on the starches doubtless of any treatment.Protein seemed to be more affected by treatment with ensiled+toasted peas than with ensiled+toasted field beans,but starches and other carbohydrates from both legumes remained unaffected.

Developmental pathways for shaping spike inflorescence architecture in barley and wheat

Grass species display a wide array of inflorescences ranging from highly branched compound/panicle inflorescences to unbranched spike inflorescences. The unbranched spike is a characteristic feature of the species of tribe Triticeae, including economically important crops,such as wheat and barley. In this review, we describe two important developmental genetic mechanisms regulating spike inflorescence architecture in barley and wheat.These include genetic regulation of(i) row-type pathway specific to Hordeum species and(ii) unbranched spike development in barley and wheat. For a comparative understanding, we describe the branched inflorescence phenotypes of rice and maize along with unbranched Triticeae inflorescences. In the end, we propose a simplified model describing a probable mechanism leading to unbranched spike formation in Triticeae species.

Microwave-assisted combustion to produce benzene polycarboxylic acids as molecular markers for biochar identification and quantification

Biochar is a promising carbon dioxide removal(CDR)technology for climate change mitigation.Current procedures for its determination are lengthy,labor-intensive,and difficult to conduct.Benzene polycarboxylic acids(BPCA)are the most promising molecular markers for identification and quantification of biochar and its quality as they specifically represent the stable polyaromatic backbone of biochar.Therefore,using the BPCA method,its stability and,thus,its C sequestration potential could be used for CDR accounting.The current BPCA method relies on a specific high-pressure digestion apparatus,which is not available around the world.Therefore,the aims of the present work were(i)to compare the conventional high-pressure nitric acid oxidation with a microwave-assisted digestion technique and optimize the oxidation conditions in such a way that previous results are comparable with future ones,and(ii)to significantly reduce the digestion time of soil samples of 8 h and to develop a suitable routine method that produces comparable and reproducible results.For this purpose,soil and control sample series were prepared for different temperature-time-program.Obtained results were compared with the values of the conventional method both for individual samples and for the whole dataset separately.To ensure the representative-ness of the results,in addition to various soil samples with different properties,we included two reference materials into our data set,one without biochar(wheat flour)and a biochar sample.Our results showed that conventional nitric acid oxidation in the BPCA determination at 170°C and 8 h can be substituted by digestion in a microwave reaction system(CEM Mars6)at 190°C and 1 h.Our results further showed that this condition needs to be strictly matched,because,otherwise,over-or underestimation of biochar quantity and/or quality will be the consequence.The goal of a less time-consuming BPCA extrac-tion from soil samples was achieved by reducing the extraction time from 8 to 1 h using the microwave-assisted method.However,one disadvantage of the new method is that five times more sample material and chemicals are needed for further BPCA analysis,compared to the original method.

Cherish your weeds

The domestication of crops was a protracted process that extended over thousands of years.It began approximately 12000 years ago and marked the onset of the Neolithic Age.During the Neolithic,human cultures transitioned from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle toward one of agriculture and settlement.This process,however,was a long one,which spanned many human generations.During this period,many of today's most important crops were domesticated from wild relatives.Examples include wheat,barley,rice,and maize.