Diversity and variability in seed characters and growth of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre accessions

A thorough and extensive wild germplasm exploration survey was undertaken and 50 high yielding candidate plus trees (CPTs) of Pongamia pinnata (L.) Pierre from different locations from a latitudinal and longitudinal spread between 12°41′ and 22°E longitude and 77° and 84°40′N latitude covering 11 locations in an area spread of 150,000 km² were collected for evaluating genetic association and variability in seed and growth characters. There were significant differences observed in seed morphology and oil content as was in plant height, and number of branches in the progeny trial. Plant height and number of branches exhibited much higher values of both phenotypic and genotypic variance than observed in the seed characters. Among seed characters oil content exhibited highest broad sense heritability of more than 93% followed by seed length (90.0%). In contrast seed width showed the second highest genetic advance of 5.64% following the highest genetic advance of 10.15% exhibited by oil content. Hierarchical clustering by Ward’s Minimum Variance Cluster Analysis method showed phylogeographic patterns of genetic diversity. K means clustering revealed that trees from different geographic regions were grouped together in a cluster and as were trees from the same geographical area placed in different clusters suggesting that geographical diversity did not go hand in hand with genetic diversity. In addition clustering identified promising accessions with favourable traits for future establishment of orchards.     

气象因子对油菜种子中油分积累的影响

选取2个甘蓝型油菜(Brassica napus)高油材料XZ37(含油量45.29%)和XZ366(含油量43.48%), 分别种植在南京、拉萨和西宁, 探讨种子发育过程中油分积累的差异, 并分析南京、拉萨和西宁3个地理生态环境下油菜花–角果期间的主要气象因子与种子油分之间的相关性及其对种子油分积累的影响。结果表明, 不同生态地区间种子中油分积累差异显著。在西宁种子油分快速积累始于开花后19天, 持续时长15天; 在南京种子油分快速积累始于开花后24天, 持续时长15天; 在拉萨种子油分快速积累始于开花后29天, 持续时间长达20天。研究显示, 日均温度、日均温差、日均降水量是影响甘蓝型油菜种子发育过程中油分积累的主要气候因子。不同地理生态地区, 影响油菜种子中油分积累的主要气候因子不同。日均温度是影响南京地区种子发育过程中油分积累的主要气候因子。该地区油菜开花后, 气温由低到高呈上升趋势, 成熟后期温度偏高, 不利于种子中油分积累。日均温差和日均降水量是影响拉萨和西宁两地种子油分积累的主要气候因子。两地种子发育过程中日均温差大, 种子中油分积累量大, 但由于拉萨日均降水量高于西宁, 日均温度偏低, 种子油分积累量低于西宁。因此, 在油菜种子发育过程中, 适宜的温度、较大的温差和较少的降水有利于种子积累油分, 并形成较高的含油量。     

Genetic associations, variability and diversity in seed characters, growth, reproductive phenology and yield in Jatropha curcas (L.) accessions

A thorough and extensive wild germplasm exploration survey was undertaken and 32 high yielding candidate plus trees (CPTs) of Jatropha curcas from different locations from a latitudinal and longitudinal spread between 12°41′ and 22°′E longitude and 77° and 84°40′N latitude covering 11 locations in an area spread of 150,000 km² was collected for evaluating genetic association, and variability in seed and growth characters. Significant trait differences were observed in all the seed characters viz., seed morphology and oil content as were observed in growth characters viz., plant height, and female to male flower ratio and seed yield in the progeny trial. Broad sense heritability was high in general and exceeded 80% for all the seed traits studied. Female to male flower ratio showed near to 100% heritability followed by yield (83.61) and plant height (87.73). The path analysis revealed that female to male flower ratio had highest positive direct relationship with seed yield (0.789), followed by number of branches (0.612) and number of days from fruiting to maturity (0.431). Negative indirect effects were seen in number of days from flowering to fruiting which indirectly and negatively influenced yield through plant height and number of branches. Hierarchical clustering by Ward’s minimum variance cluster analysis showed phylogeographic patterns of genetic diversity. K-means clustering revealed that trees from different geographic regions were grouped together in a cluster and as were trees from the same geographical area placed in different clusters suggesting that geographical diversity did not go hand in hand with genetic diversity. In addition clustering identified promising accession with favourable traits for future establishment of elite seedling seed orchard and clonal seed orchard for varietal and hybridization programmes. For Genetical statistics please contact Arun K. Shanker (e-mail: arunshank@gmail.com).     

葡萄籽油的提取研究

利用葡萄饮料厂生产加工的废料葡萄籽提取葡萄籽油,并对影响葡萄籽油提取率的因素,如提取溶剂的选择、提取温度、提取时间及提取料液比等条件进行研究,初步确定了获得最大提取收率的条件。即:以石油醚(60～90)作为提取剂;提取温度65℃;提取时间为3h;提取料液比为17。并对提取的葡萄籽粗油进行精制。得到具有透明黄色,核桃仁味道的葡萄籽油。     

Batch solvent extraction of flavanolignans from milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertner)

Seeds of milk thistle (Silybum marianum L. Gaertner) contain silymarins and ca. 25% (w/w) of oil. A pre-treatment step involving refluxing with petroleum ether is usually performed before extraction of the silymarins using organic solvents. This paper compares the extraction of whole and defatted milk thistle seeds in various solvents as a function of temperature. The extraction of whole seeds of milk thistle with water at 50, 70 and 85 degrees C was also examined: the yield of silymarin increased with increasing water temperature. In most cases, ethanol at 60 degrees C recovered the largest quantities of silymarins. However, boiling water proved to be an efficient extraction solvent for the more polar silymarins such as taxifolin and silychristin, even when using whole seeds. Extractions of defatted seed meal with boiling ethanol returned maximum yields of 0.62, 3.89, 4.04, and 6.86 mg/g defatted seed of taxifolin, silychristin, silybinin A and silybinin B, respectively. When extracting defatted seed meal with ethanol, yields of taxifolin, silybinin A and silybinin B were, respectively, 6.8-, 0.95-, 1.7- and 1.6-fold higher than when extracting whole seeds. When extracting with boiling water, the yields of silychristin, silybinin A, and silybinin B were 380, 47 and 50% higher for whole seeds compared with defatted seeds.     

Chemical composition and nutritional value of para-rubber seed and its products for chickens

Para-rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) seed and its products were subjected to different methods of processing such as decortication, oil extraction, autoclaving and fermentation and assayed for their chemical composition and nutritional value. Peanut oil meal and yellow maize were also assayed similarly for comparison.

Decortication reduced the crude fibre content, with proportionate increases in other nutrients and energy value. Autoclaving and fermentation failed to improve the nutritional value of undecorticated rubber seed oil meal.

Crude protein content of rubber seed and its products ranged from 11.5% in rubber seeds to 27.4% in commercial decorticated rubber seed oil meal. The oil content of the rubber seeds and kernels was 24.0 and 40.1%, respectively. The available carbohydrate content of rubber seed and its products ranged from 6.3% in rubber seeds to 15.9% in commercial decorticated rubber seed oil meal; these values may be compared with the value of 59.0% for yellow maize.

Both undecorticated and decorticated rubber seed oil meals appeared to be deficient in sulphur-containing amino acids and lysine. The gross protein value of undecorticated and decorticated rubber seed oil meals and peanut oil meal was estimated to be 43.6, 47.0 and 49.7, respectively.

Both undecorticated and decorticated rubber seed oils were rich in oleic and stearic acids, but relatively poor in poly-unsaturated fatty acids, compared with peanut oil.

Determined apparent ME (AME) values were (kcal/g dry matter): rubber seeds, 2.91; kernels, 4.70; undecorticated rubber seed oil meal, 2.00; and decorticated rubber seed oil meal, 2.80. The true ME (TME) values were 3.24, 5.16, 2.22 and 3.00 kcal/g dry matter, respectively. In general, TME values were about 10% higher than the AME values.     

Quantitative and qualitative assessment on the suitability of seed oil from water plant (Trichilia emetica) for soap making

Despite widespread and its local available as a naturalized hedge and shade plant, the potential of Trichilia emetica was not utilized in soap making by the majority of local community in various parts of Dodoma, Tanzania. This study aimed to assess the quantity (yields) and quality (Acid Values (AVs), %Free Fatty Acids (%FFAs) and Saponification Values (SVs) of seed oil from water plant (T. emetica), suitable for soap making application. Solvent extraction method was used during oil extraction, where by 50gm of preheated and powdered seed materials were immersed in 250 ml of n-hexane in 1:5 (w/v) to dissolve the oil contained in the seed cake. The oil was collected by vaporizing solvent out through Rotary evaporation at 60 °C. Also standard titration methods were used to obtain SVs, AVs and %FFAs of the extracted oil. Results showed that T. emetica seeds contained higher quantity of oil (48.4%−50.2%) than many reported commercial plant seed oils. Also, the study found higher AV (7.4 mgKOH/g−7.8 mgKOH/g), %FFA (3.7% to 3.9%) and SVs (189.5 mgKOH/g − 191.4 mgKOH/g) than the maximum acceptable limits of 0.50 mg KOH/g, 0.020% and 175 mgKOH/g − 187 mgKOH/g prescribed by ASTM standards (2002). The obtained results showed that, T. emetica seeds yielded high oil quantity with low qualities due to higher levels of acidity. But high SVs guarantees the possibility of using T. emetica seed oil in soap making. However, the oil requires purification in order to bring levels of acidity to acceptable standards and guarantee its normal use in soap making.     

Potential production and utilisation of oil fromTrichilia SPP. (Meliaceae)

Trichilia emetica Vahl andT. dregeana Sonder are trees indigenous to Zimbabwe and are widely planted for shade in urban areas. The seed ofTrichilia contains oil concentrations as high as most oil-rich dicotyledonous seeds and is a potential source of income for rural people. The seed production of mature trees varies greatly from one year to the next, averaging 64.7 kg of fresh seed per tree annually in Harare. Fresh seed yields approximately 308 ml oil kg¹ (approximately 30%), using a simple ram press. Trichilia oil produces a good finish on wooden surfaces and would compete successfully with other commercial wood oils. No storage problems are envisaged for either seed or oil.     

Isolation of genomic DNA from defatted oil seed residue of rapeseed (Brassica napus)

A simple protocol for obtaining pure, restrictable and amplifiable megabase genomic DNA from oil-free seed residue of Brassica napus, an important oil seed plant, has been developed. Oil from the dry seeds was completely recovered in an organic solvent and quantified gravimetrically followed by processing of the residual biomass (defatted seed residue) for genomic DNA isolation. The isolated DNA can be cut by a range of restriction enzymes. The method enables simultaneous isolation and recovery of lipids and genomic DNA from the same test sample, thus allowing two independent analyses from a single sample. Multiple micro-scale oil extraction from the commercial seeds gave approximately 39% oil, which is close to the usual oil recovery from standard oil seed. Most of the amplified fragments were scored in the range of 2.5 to 0.5 kb, best suited for scoring as molecular diagnostics.     

贮藏种子的啮齿动物对油茶种子沉积形式的影响

种子沉积的质量常常涉及种子扩散作用者(如鸟类和小型啮齿动物)对生境和微生境的选择以及种子沉积的形式(如种子埋藏)。然而,很少的研究涉及到种子在离开母树后被这些动物沉积在何处。在四川省都江堰一个实验林场的2个林分(次生林和原生林)内,通过追踪用带编号的金属薄片标记的油茶(CamelliaoleiferaAbel.)种子的命运,研究了贮藏种子的啮齿动物对种子沉积的影响。研究发现在2个林分内,80%以上的种子被很好地埋藏在0~60mm深的土壤中,而小部分种子则被放置在地表(但有少量落叶遮盖)。小型啮齿动物喜好在灌丛下或灌丛边缘贮藏和取食种子,可能是在这样的微生境下它们在觅食时将遭遇较小的捕食风险。研究还发现,贮藏点的微生境分布随贮藏点等级而逐渐变化在两个林分内较高等级的贮藏点(如次贮藏点和三级贮藏点)比初级贮藏点有更多的种子被贮藏在灌丛下或灌丛边缘。这表明,啮齿动物对油茶种子的埋藏可能更有益于种子的存活、萌发以及幼苗的建成。啮齿动物将散落在母树下或其附近的油茶种子扩散到不同的微生境,这可能有利于他们遭遇到更多的适宜环境而萌发,实现幼苗补充。     

Extraction and composition of three naturally occurring anti-cancer alkaloids in Camptotheca acuminata seed and leaf extracts

Naturally occurring camptothecins (CPT) are important sources of chemotherapeutic agents for clinical treatment of cancer. Extraction of CPT from Camptotheca acuminata trees remains to be a cost-effective way in the supply equation compared with a total synthesis. This study conducted a series of experiments to determine efficient solvent for the maximal extraction of CPT and its two derivatives, hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) and methoxycamptothecin, from seeds and leaves of C. acuminata. Methanol as an extraction solvent demonstrated in seeds a significantly higher recovery of these three alkaloids than dichloromethane and acetone. Methanol concentrations at 70% in water resulted in maximum extraction of all the three alkaloids regardless of the type of plant materials. However, other strengths of methanol, lower or higher, either decreased the extracting power or showed no improvement in the extraction. Seed extract contained all the three alkaloids whereas leaf extract was absent of HCPT. A stable ratio of the three alkaloids was discovered but it was dependent upon seed or leaf extract of C. acuminata, which with various compositions can be produced. Ecological and medicinal implications of the leaf and seed extract characterized with different chemical compositions are discussed.     

贮藏种子的啮齿动物对油茶种子沉积形式的影响

种子沉积的质量常常涉及种子扩散作用者(如鸟类和小型啮齿动物)对生境和微生境的选择以及种子沉积的形式(如种子埋藏).然而,很少的研究涉及到种子在离开母树后被这些动物沉积在何处.在四川省都江堰一个实验林场的2个林分(次生林和原生林)内,通过追踪用带编号的金属薄片标记的油茶(Camellia oleifera Abel.)种子的命运,研究了贮藏种子的啮齿动物对种子沉积的影响.研究发现:在2个林分内,80%以上的种子被很好地埋藏在0～60 mm深的土壤中,而小部分种子则被放置在地表(但有少量落叶遮盖).小型啮齿动物喜好在灌丛下或灌丛边缘贮藏和取食种子,可能是在这样的微生境下它们在觅食时将遭遇较小的捕食风险.研究还发现,贮藏点的微生境分布随贮藏点等级而逐渐变化:在两个林分内较高等级的贮藏点(如次贮藏点和三级贮藏点)比初级贮藏点有更多的种子被贮藏在灌丛下或灌丛边缘.这表明,啮齿动物对油茶种子的埋藏可能更有益于种子的存活、萌发以及幼苗的建成.啮齿动物将散落在母树下或其附近的油茶种子扩散到不同的微生境,这可能有利于他们遭遇到更多的适宜环境而萌发,实现幼苗补充.     

Oil content of Arabidopsis seeds: the influence of seed anatomy, light and plant-to-plant variation

Arabidopsis thaliana is frequently used as a model for the study of oilseed biology and metabolism. However, the very small seeds of Arabidopsis can complicate analysis of their oil content and influence the application of results to larger-seeded plants. Here, we describe how seed anatomy, light, and plant-to-plant variation influence the content and measurement of oil in Arabidopsis seeds. The anatomy of Arabidopsis and Brassica napus seeds were compared and the distribution of mass, oil and the fatty acid composition of different seed parts were determined. In Brassica, 90% of the seed oil resides in the cotyledons that contribute 74% of seed mass. By contrast, the values for Arabidopsis are 60% and 45%, respectively, with a higher fraction of the oil deposited in the radicle, hypocotyl, endosperm and seed coat. Growth of Arabidopsis plants with 600 micromol m(-2) s(-1) light resulted in a two-fold higher seed yield, a 40% increase in mass per seed and a 60% increase in oil per seed compared to growth at 100 micromol m(-2) s(-1). Factors that influence the analysis of oil content were evaluated. Intact-seed transmethylation followed by gas chromatography (GC) analysis provided reproducible analysis of Arabidopsis seed oil. However, plant-to-plant variation in oil content is large and we analyzed how this influences the ability to detect statistically valid changes in oil between different genotypes. These observations establish a reference data set on the fatty acid composition and distribution of mass and oil between tissues of Arabidopsis seeds that should help to predict the applicability of results obtained with Arabidopsis to other oilseeds.     

超临界CO_2萃取韭菜籽油成分的GC-MS分析

以索氏提取法为对照,采用超临界二氧化碳(SC-CO_2)萃取韭菜籽油,气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)对韭菜籽油成分进行分析,NIST 02质谱数据库对其进行分析和鉴定.结果表明,SC-CO_2萃取压力为22.25 MPa、温度为40.40℃条件下萃取86.7 min时,萃取得率为17.52%,共分离鉴定出17种物质,其中,饱和脂肪酸以棕榈酸(6.25%)为主,占脂肪酸总量的 9.05%;不饱和脂肪酸主要是亚油酸(69.71%)和油酸(19.53%),占脂肪酸总量的90.50%.采用索氏提取得率为16.50%,共鉴定出10种物质,饱和脂肪酸以棕榈酸(7.22%)为主,占总脂肪酸量的9.84%;不饱和脂肪酸主要是亚油酸(69.34%)和油酸(20.12%),不饱和脂肪酸占脂肪酸总量的90.16%.另外SC-CO_2萃取韭菜籽油还检出单不饱和脂肪酸7-棕榈烯酸、角鲨烯和β-谷甾醇.     

黄蜀葵种子形态及其化学成分的研究

本文报道了黄蜀葵种子的形态特征和化学成分。研究结果表明 :种子含有脂肪油 ,含量为31 16 % ,其主要成分为 :亚油酸 (82 179% )、油酸 (9 195 % )、棕榈酸 (4 75 6 % )、硬脂酸 (2 6 81% )、亚麻酸 (0 32 8% )等 ,此外 ,还含有 18种氨基酸和 2 4种矿质元素。其种子含有多种氨基酸和矿质元素 ,而且种子油含有大量人体所必需的不饱和脂肪酸 ,含量达 91 815 %。因此 ,其种子和种子油具有较高的营养价值和医疗保健功效 ,具有潜在开发利用的价值。     

猫儿屎和三叶木通种子油中脂肪酸成分的GC-MS分析

采用索氏提取法提取木通科植物猫儿屎和三叶木通种子的脂溶性成分,甲酯化处理后用气相色谱-质谱联用技术(GC-MS)分离和鉴定其组成和含量。从猫儿屎种子油中鉴定出9种脂肪酸,占检出物总质量分数的94.67%(其中饱和脂肪酸占12.63%,不饱和脂肪酸占82.04%),主要成分为9-十六烯酸(47.22%)、9-油酸(27.13%)、棕榈酸(10.75%)、亚油酸(7.47%)和硬脂酸(1.61%)。从三叶木通种子油中鉴定出10种脂肪酸,占检出物总质量分数的99.75%(其中饱和脂肪酸占23.39%,不饱和脂肪酸占76.36%),主要成分为11-油酸(47.63%)、亚油酸(27.05%)、棕榈酸(20.14%)、16-甲基-十七烷酸(3.03%)和8-油酸(1.07%)。结果表明,猫儿屎和三叶木通种子油中脂肪酸含量丰富,在食用、医疗保健等方面具有较高的应用潜力和综合开发前景。     

千年桐种子油提取工艺研究及其主要脂肪酸成分分析

本文以氯仿、石油醚和正己烷-异丙醇(3:2,v/v)三种不同溶剂对千年桐种子油进行提取,比较了不同溶剂对种子出油率的影响,结果表明以氯仿为溶剂时出油率最高,达到了35％;并考查了提取时间和提取溶剂体积对出油率的影响.最终优化的提取工艺为:以氯仿为溶剂,液料比为12:1(v/w),提取时间6h,出油率达到了37％.提取的种子油经转酯化后,GC-MS分析其主要脂肪酸组分,结果表明千年桐种子油中总脂肪酸占总油酯的90.55％,其中棕榈酸3.87％,硬脂酸4.11％,亚油酸12.15％,油酸13.31％,亚麻酸12.09％,共轭亚麻酸51.20％和EPA(二十碳五烯酸)3.30％.千年桐种子油中富含不饱和脂肪酸,是一种良好的干性油.     

Rose hip (Rosa canina L.) oil obtained from waste hip seeds by different extraction methods

From the rose hip seed, which is generally a waste material, valuable oil can be obtained for medicinal use. Various extraction methods have been compared: traditional solvent extraction with ultrasound-, microwave-, sub- and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). Unsaturated fatty acid (UFA: oleic-, linoleic- and linolenic acid; 16.25-22.11%, 35.94-54.75%, 20.29-26.48%) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA:linoleic- and linolenic acid) content were over 90% and 60% in the recovered oils. The oils contained different amounts of metals. The concentration of some metals, particularly iron in microwave oil (27.11 microg g(-1)) is undesirable from the aspect of stability. By traditional solvent extraction, oil was obtained in 4.85 wt/wt%. Subcritical FE appeared to be the best method for the recovery of rose hip oil with highest oil yield (6.68 wt/wt%), carotene- (145.3 microg g(-1)) and linoleic acid content (54.75%). Supercritical FE without organic solvent is suitable for mild recovery of oil. The oil was rich in UFA and PUFA (92.7% and 76.25%) and contained the lowest amount of carotene and pheophytin (36.3 and 45.8 microg g(-1)). Oil yield in most new extraction methods (microwave extraction, super- and subcritical FE) was higher than in the case of traditional Soxhlet extraction. The main benefit of supercritical FE with CO2 is the solvent free oil while in the case of other extractions evaporation of the solvent is needed. Although the content of bioactive compounds in oils was different, all oils may be appropriate for medicinal use.     

Effect of processing on the recovery of recombinant beta-glucuronidase (rGUS) from transgenic canola

This study addresses the processing of transgenic canola seed for production of recombinant proteins by using beta-glucuronidase (rGUS) as a model protein. The major processing steps that were investigated included dry and wet grinding of the seed, solvent extraction of canola oil, and protein extraction. rGUS in canola seed was stable for at least 2 weeks of incubation at 38 degrees C and for more than 5 months at 10 degrees C. At 70 degrees C, the residual activity changed inversely to the initial moisture content of the seed. The comparison of wet and dry processing revealed no significant differences in protein recovery. rGUS was stable during the defatting of transgenic canola flakes with hexane at 66 degrees C, whereas 2-propanol extraction at the same temperature reduced the extractable enzyme activity by almost 50%. The particle size of the ground seed was important for the extraction efficiency. A faster extraction and greater protein yield was achieved by extracting particles with an average diameter equal to or smaller than 255 microm. More than 80% rGUS was extracted in one stage with sodium phosphate buffer of pH 7.5.     

Maturity of surface structures in northern Pinus sylvestris L. seeds: A key to improved prediction of germination potential

Prediction of germination potential prior to cone harvesting is problematic due to great variation of maturity between and within northern Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seed lots. In forest seed centres maturity is traditionally evaluated on the basis of the embryo size using X-radiography, which is a relevant method for predicting germination potential of mature seeds. Still, except for embryo growth, maturation also includes morphological changes in the surface tissues, i.e. the seed coat, the nucellar layers, and the megaspore membrane, which we explored in this study. During two growing seasons 10–30 developing cones were harvested 11 times on two trees at each of three locations, at the boreal conifer forest line (68°48′ N), at the Arctic Circle (66°53′ N), and in central Finland (62°70′ N). Seeds were detached by hand for moisture content measurements, X-radiography, germination tests, light microscopic and field emission scanning electron microscopic studies. Our results confirmed the close relationship between temperature and the embryo growth, whereas maturation of the surface structures and the embryo were partly separate processes. Microscopy proved that biochemical maturation of the sheltering surface structures was partly light-reactive and continued as well as further development of the embryo for several weeks after the embryo had reached its full size. The reliability of radiography improved when the moisture content of seeds approached 30% and the temperature sum was about 800 degree days. The simple drying test of seeds from manually opened cones presented here can supply needed additional information for early prediction of the germination capacity particularly in the northern seed lots.