Barley varieties have similar chemical composition but exhibit different rumen degradation kinetics and nutrient availability. These biological differences may be related to molecular, structural, and chemical makeup among the seed endosperm tissue. No detailed study was carried out. The objectives of this study were: (1) to use a molecular spectroscopy technique, synchrotron-based Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (SFTIRM), to determine the microchemical−structural features in seed endosperm tissue of six developed barley varieties; (2) to study the relationship among molecular−structural characteristics, degradation kinetics, and nutrient availability in six genotypes of barley. The results showed that inherent microchemical−structural differences in the endosperm among the six barley varieties were detected by the synchrotron-based analytical technique, SFTIRM, with the univariate molecular spectral analysis. The SFTIRM spectral profiles differed (P < 0.05) among the barley samples in terms of the peak ratio and peak area and height intensities of amides I (ca. 1650 cm−1) and II (ca. 1550 cm−1), cellulosic compounds (ca. 1240 cm−1), CHO component peaks (the first peak at the region ca. 1184−1132 cm−1, the second peak at ca. 1132−1066 cm−1, and the third peak at ca. 1066−950 cm−1). With the SFTIRM technique, the structural characteristics of the cereal seeds were illuminated among different cultivars at an ultraspatial resolution. The structural differences of barley seeds may be one reason for the various digestive behaviors and nutritive values in ruminants. The results show weak correlations between the functional groups’ spectral data (peak area, height intensities, and ratios) and rumen biodegradation kinetics (rate and extent of nutrient degradation). Weak correlations may indicate that limited variations of these six barley varieties might not be sufficient to interpret the relationship between spectroscopic information and the nutrient value of barley grain, although significant differences in biodegradation kinetics were observed. In conclusion, the studies demonstrated the potential of ultraspatially resolved synchrotron based technology (SFTIRM) to reveal the structural and chemical makeup within cellular and subcellular dimensions without destruction of the inherent structure of cereal grain tissue.

Iron (Fe) toxicity is a major nutrient disorder affecting the production of wetland rice in the humid zone of West Africa. Little attention has been given to determining the macro‐ and micronutrient composition of rice plants grown on wetland soils where Fe toxicity is present although results from such study could provide useful information about the involvement of other nutrients in the occurrence of Fe toxicity. A field experiment was conducted in the 1997 dry season (January‐May) at an Fe toxic site in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, to determine the elemental composition of Fe tolerant (CK 4) and susceptible (Bouake 189) lowland rice varieties without and with application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and zinc (Zn). For both Fe‐tolerant and susceptible varieties, there were no differences in elemental composition of the whole plant rice tops, sampled at 30 and 60 days after transplanting rice seedlings, except for Fe. All the other nutrient element concentrations were adequate. Both Fe‐tolerant and susceptible cultivars had a high Fe content, well above the critical limit (300 mg Fe kg‐1 plant dry wt). These results along with our observations on the elemental composition of rice plant samples collected from several wetland swamp soils with Fe toxicity in West Africa suggest that “real”; iron toxicity is a single nutrient (Fe) toxicity and not a multiple nutrient deficiency stress.

To verify the response of different varieties of chrysanthemum to doses of calcium an experiment was conducted in a green house using a three-phase hydroponic system on a gravel substrate. It was set up in a completely random blocks with split-plot design, using four calcium doses (1.0; 2.5; 4.0; 5.5 mmol L-1) in the plots disposed and three chrysanthemum varieties (Blush Hawai, Calabria and Dark Flamengo) in the subplots. Three repetitions were used with 96 plants by repetition. Complete nutrient solutions were used with the different calcium doses. The following factors were evaluated: fresh matter weight of leaf, stem, inflorescence and shoot; cycle; number of inflorescences, stem length and the longevity, expressed in the number of days from harvest to disposal of the inflorescences (withered and losing flower coloring). The earliest and most productive varieties were Calabria and Blush Hawai. There was linear increase in the longevity of the three varieties with the increase of the concentrations of calcium in the nutrient solution. The best development and growth of the varieties of chrysanthemum was obtained when used the nutrient solution with 4.0 mmol L-1 calcium. | Para verificar a resposta de diferentes variedades de crisântemos a doses de cálcio um experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação sob sistema hidropônico de três fases e cascalho como substrato. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados com parcelas subdivididas, sendo as doses de cálcio (1,0; 2,5; 4,0; 5,5 mmol L-1) dispostas nas parcelas e três variedades (Blush Hawai, Calabria e Dark Flamengo) nas subparcelas, com 3 repetições. Para as diferentes doses de cálcio, utilizou-se solução nutritiva completa. Foram avaliados o peso da matéria fresca da folha, caule, inflorescência e parte aérea, ciclo, comprimento de haste e número e longevidade das inflorecencias, expressa pelo número de dias da colheita ao descarte das mesmas (murcha e perda de coloração das flores). As variedades Calabria e Blush Hawai apresentaram-se mais precoces e mais produtivas. Houve aumento linear na longevidade das três variedades com o aumento das concentrações de cálcio na solução nutritiva. O melhor desenvolvimento e crescimento das variedades de crisântemos foi obtido quando utilizada a solução nutritiva com 4,0 mmol L-1 de cálcio.

Fifty-five isolates of <i>Rhynchosporium secalis</i> from <i>Hordeum vulgare</i> and 34 isolates from Secale cereale were compared for growth on different nutrient media, effect of temperature on growth and morphology of colonies. The pathogenicity of the isolates was assessed on 10 rye varieties, 10 triticale varieties and the susceptible barley variety Gambrinus. The triticale varieties differed in the number of rye chromosomes in the genome. Isozymes of <i>R. secalis</i> isolated from infected leaves of barley and rye were compared. The RAPD-PCR method was used for comparison of isolates on DNA-markers. The analysis indicated two specialised forms of the fungus; each of them able to develop only on its original host.

Para verificar a resposta de diferentes variedades de crisântemos a doses de cálcio um experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação sob sistema hidropônico de três fases e cascalho como substrato. Utilizou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados com parcelas subdivididas, sendo as doses de cálcio (1,0; 2,5; 4,0; 5,5 mmol L-1) dispostas nas parcelas e três variedades (Blush Hawai, Calabria e Dark Flamengo) nas subparcelas, com 3 repetições. Para as diferentes doses de cálcio, utilizou-se solução nutritiva completa. Foram avaliados o peso da matéria fresca da folha, caule, inflorescência e parte aérea, ciclo, comprimento de haste e número e longevidade das inflorecencias, expressa pelo número de dias da colheita ao descarte das mesmas (murcha e perda de coloração das flores). As variedades Calabria e Blush Hawai apresentaram-se mais precoces e mais produtivas. Houve aumento linear na longevidade das três variedades com o aumento das concentrações de cálcio na solução nutritiva. O melhor desenvolvimento e crescimento das variedades de crisântemos foi obtido quando utilizada a solução nutritiva com 4,0 mmol L-1 de cálcio.<br>To verify the response of different varieties of chrysanthemum to doses of calcium an experiment was conducted in a green house using a three-phase hydroponic system on a gravel substrate. It was set up in a completely random blocks with split-plot design, using four calcium doses (1.0; 2.5; 4.0; 5.5 mmol L-1) in the plots disposed and three chrysanthemum varieties (Blush Hawai, Calabria and Dark Flamengo) in the subplots. Three repetitions were used with 96 plants by repetition. Complete nutrient solutions were used with the different calcium doses. The following factors were evaluated: fresh matter weight of leaf, stem, inflorescence and shoot; cycle; number of inflorescences, stem length and the longevity, expressed in the number of days from harvest to disposal of the inflorescences (withered and losing flower coloring). The earliest and most productive varieties were Calabria and Blush Hawai. There was linear increase in the longevity of the three varieties with the increase of the concentrations of calcium in the nutrient solution. The best development and growth of the varieties of chrysanthemum was obtained when used the nutrient solution with 4.0 mmol L-1 calcium.

Non-Peer Reviewed | Barley grains are widely used for malting and feeding purposes in Canada. Although barley varieties have similar chemical composition, they exhibit different rumen degradation characteristics and nutrient availability. The objectives of this study was to determine structural make-up features and identify the structural differences in chemical functional groups in endosperm tissue among the six barley varieties using ultra-spatially resolved synchrotron-based FTIR microspectroscopy (SFTIRM). The results indicated that the barley varieties showed significant differences in terms of peak area intensities and the peak ratios of the amide I (1650 cm-1) and amide II (1550 cm-1), cellulosic compounds (ca. 1240 cm-1), and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC, starch) peak (1025 cm-1). The synchrotron-based FTIR spectroscopic information associated with structural and chemical make-up characteristics of barley grains may provide more information as to why barley varieties exhibit different biodegradation behaviors.

K. L. Sahrawat, 'Elemental composition of the rice plant as affected by iron toxicity under field conditions', Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis, vol. 31(17-18), pp.2819-2827, Informa UK Limited, 2010 | Iron (Fe) toxicity is a major nutrient disorder affecting the production of wetland rice in the humid zone of West Africa. Little attention has been given to determining the macro? and micronutrient composition of rice plants grown on wetland soils where Fe toxicity is present although results from such study could provide useful information about the involvement of other nutrients in the occurrence of Fe toxicity. A field experiment was conducted in the 1997 dry season (January?May) at an Fe toxic site in Korhogo, Ivory Coast, to determine the elemental composition of Fe tolerant (CK 4) and susceptible (Bouake 189) lowland rice varieties without and with application of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and zinc (Zn). For both Fe?tolerant and susceptible varieties, there were no differences in elemental composition of the whole plant rice tops, sampled at 30 and 60 days after transplanting rice seedlings, except for Fe. All the other nutrient element concentrations were adequate. Both Fe?tolerant and susceptible cultivars had a high Fe content, well above the critical limit (300 mg Fe kg?1 plant dry wt). These results along with our observations on the elemental composition of rice plant samples collected from several wetland swamp soils with Fe toxicity in West Africa suggest that ?real?; iron toxicity is a single nutrient (Fe) toxicity and not a multiple nutrient deficiency stress

In a field experiment, the growth responses of 7 winter rapeseed varieties to three levels of salinity induced by 1.9, 7 and 12 dSm-1 were investigated using a split plot experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Salinity was the main plot and varieties were sub plots. The tolerant cultivar(s) was introduced after data analysis based on seed yield and yield components measurement, studying the nutrient uptake pattern and the selective choosing ability of potassium against sodium (K/Na). The results of data analysis indicated that the effect of salt stress on all studied traits were significant (p

Conservation tillage (no-till and reduced tillage) brings many benefits with respect to soil fertility and energy use, but it also has drawbacks regarding the need for synthetic fertilizers and herbicides. To promote conversation tillage in organic farming systems, crop rotation, fertilization and weed control have to be optimized. In addition, crop varieties are needed with improved nutrient use efficiency (NUE) and high weed competitiveness or tolerance.

In Ethiopia, commercially made complementary foods are not available and affordable for the majority of the poor. Complementary foods prepared traditionally from locally available raw materials (such as cereals) have high viscosity when reconstituted. This limits the total food intake by infants. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of germination on energy and nutrient density of sorghum-based complementary foods. Two varieties of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) (L.) Moench) grains (varieties 76T1#23 and Meko) were collected, cleaned, soaked for 22 hours at room temperature (22±2 0 C); germinated for 48 hours at the soaking temperature; dried at 55 0 C for 24 hours, and milled into a fine homogeneous powder. Five complementary foods were formulated by using a blend of ungerminated to germinated sorghum flours in ratios of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50 and 25:75, 0:100, respectively. Germination increased significantly (p<0.05) contents of crude protein from 12.25% and 10.44% to 12.65% and 10.87% for varieties 76T1#23 and Meko, respectively. Similarly, the respective contents of total phosphorus, iron, zinc and calcium (mg/100g) were significantly (p<0.05) increased from 208.42, 8.21, 1.86 and 17.09 to 223.26, 11.99, 2.01 and 25.93 for variety 76T1#23 and from 183.04 , 7.19 , 1.78 and 20.99 to 192.91, 10.98 , 1.89 and 29.62 for variety Meko. In contrast, germination decreased viscosity values (cP) (at five percent dry matter concentrations) from 2888.78 and 2988.43 to 1147.11 and 1148.20 for varieties 76T1#23 and Meko, respectively and at 15% dry matter concentrations from 8684.74 and 8791.98 to 2376.17 and 2416.24 for variety 76T1#23 and Meko, respectively. Blending of ungerminated with germinated sorghum flour also decreased viscosity values significantly. Panelists preferred gruels prepared from 100% ungerminated sorghum flour followed by gruels prepared from a blend of 75% ungerminated and 25% germinated sorghum flours. Gruels prepared from 100% germinated sorghum flour were least preferred. Hence, germination appeared to be a promising food processing method to improve energy and nutrient density and decrease viscosity values of complementary foods.