不同高梁品系的淀粉糊化特征

利用差示扫描量热分析仪（DSC）和淀粉快速黏度分析仪（RVA）测定了14个高粱（Sorghumbicolor）品系的直链淀粉含量和淀粉糊化特性参数,并分析了各特征参数的变化规律及其相互关系。研究结果表明,高粱品系间直链淀粉含量存在较大差异,变幅为0．29％-29．45％;DSC分析所得糊化特性也表现出一定的差异,直链淀粉含量低的高粱品系的起始温度（To）、峰值温度（Tp）、终止温度（Tc）和热焓变化（△H）都较高：而直链淀粉含量高的高粱品系的To、Tp、Tc和△H都相对较低。不同品系的RVA谱差异主要表现在各个黏滞性特征值上,直链淀粉含量低的高粱品系的RVA谱具有较高的峰值黏度和最高的消减值：而直链淀粉含量高的高粱品系具有较低的峰值黏度。相关分析表明,直链淀粉含量和膨胀势与其它特征值间的相关性均达显著水平：峰值黏度（PV）与最终黏度（FV）、回冷恢复值、糊化时间和糊化温度间呈极显著负相关,与崩解值和消减值则呈极显著正相关。将直链淀粉含量的选择与RVA谱测定相结合,有助于提高选择的准确率,进而为高粱品质改良和育种提供理论依据。     

秸秆还田对旱作马铃薯块茎淀粉合成关键酶活性及基因表达的影响

为探讨秸秆还田下旱作马铃薯块茎形成过程中淀粉合成关键酶活性及基因表达特性,以马铃薯栽培品种"青薯9号"为材料,以露地栽培为对照,设置秸秆还田处理,研究了马铃薯块茎形成过程中淀粉合成关键酶活性、基因表达、淀粉糊化及累积指标。结果表明:秸秆还田显著提高了旱作马铃薯SSS酶活性,降低了AGPP、GBSS酶活性,而对SBE酶活性没有显著影响;显著提高了SSⅡ、SSⅢ基因表达量,降低了AGPase、GBSSⅠ、SBEⅠ、SBEⅡ基因表达量;显著增加了淀粉崩解值,减少了淀粉各阶段粘度、回生值,而对淀粉糊化温度没有显著影响;显著增加了直链淀粉含量及直/支链淀粉比,减少了总淀粉含量;GBSS酶活性与AGPase、SBEⅠ基因表达量呈显著正相关,与直链淀粉含量、直/支链淀粉比呈显著负相关;SBE酶活性与SSⅡ基因表达量、峰值粘度、低谷粘度、最终粘度、总淀粉含量呈显著正相关,与崩解值、糊化温度呈显著负相关;AGPase基因表达量与直链淀粉含量呈显著负相关;GBSSⅠ基因表达量与最终粘度、回生值呈显著正相关,与糊化温度呈显著负相关;淀粉糊化与累积无显著相关性。     

秸秆还田对旱作马铃薯块茎淀粉合成关键酶活性及基因表达的影响

为探讨秸秆还田下旱作马铃薯块茎形成过程中淀粉合成关键酶活性及基因表达特性,以马铃薯栽培品种"青薯9号"为材料,以露地栽培为对照,设置秸秆还田处理,研究了马铃薯块茎形成过程中淀粉合成关键酶活性、基因表达、淀粉糊化及累积指标。结果表明:秸秆还田显著提高了旱作马铃薯SSS酶活性,降低了AGPP、GBSS酶活性,而对SBE酶活性没有显著影响;显著提高了SSⅡ、SSⅢ基因表达量,降低了AGPase、GBSSⅠ、SBEⅠ、SBEⅡ基因表达量;显著增加了淀粉崩解值,减少了淀粉各阶段粘度、回生值,而对淀粉糊化温度没有显著影响;显著增加了直链淀粉含量及直/支链淀粉比,减少了总淀粉含量; GBSS酶活性与AGPase、SBEⅠ基因表达量呈显著正相关,与直链淀粉含量、直/支链淀粉比呈显著负相关; SBE酶活性与SSⅡ基因表达量、峰值粘度、低谷粘度、最终粘度、总淀粉含量呈显著正相关,与崩解值、糊化温度呈显著负相关; AGPase基因表达量与直链淀粉含量呈显著负相关;GBSSⅠ基因表达量与最终粘度、回生值呈显著正相关,与糊化温度呈显著负相关;淀粉糊化与累积无显著相关性。     

不同高粱品系的淀粉糊化特征

利用差示扫描量热分析仪(DSC)和淀粉快速黏度分析仪(RVA)测定了14个高粱(Sorghum bicolor)品系的直链淀粉含量和淀粉糊化特性参数, 并分析了各特征参数的变化规律及其相互关系。研究结果表明, 高粱品系间直链淀粉含量存在较大差异, 变幅为0.29%–29.45%; DSC分析所得糊化特性也表现出一定的差异, 直链淀粉含量低的高粱品系的起始温度(T_o)、峰值温度(T_p)、终止温度(T_c)和热焓变化(ΔH)都较高; 而直链淀粉含量高的高粱品系的T_o、T_p、T_c和ΔH都相对较低。不同品系的RVA谱差异主要表现在各个黏滞性特征值上, 直链淀粉含量低的高粱品系的RVA谱具有较高的峰值黏度和最高的消减值; 而直链淀粉含量高的高粱品系具有较低的峰值黏度。相关分析表明, 直链淀粉含量和膨胀势与其它特征值间的相关性均达显著水平; 峰值黏度(PV)与最终黏度(FV)、回冷恢复值、糊化时间和糊化温度间呈极显著负相关, 与崩解值和消减值则呈极显著正相关。将直链淀粉含量的选择与RVA谱测定相结合, 有助于提高选择的准确率,进而为高粱品质改良和育种提供理论依据。     

高温、干旱及其互作对两个筋力小麦品种淀粉糊化特性的影响

以强筋和弱筋的两个代表性小麦品种为材料,采用盆栽与人工气候箱模拟的方法,研究了花后不同时期高温、干旱及其互作对籽粒淀粉糊化特性的影响。结果表明,高温和干旱均显著影响淀粉糊化特性,但两品种表现有所不同:高温胁迫使强筋小麦品种豫麦34的峰值黏度、最终黏度(除花后5 d外)、稀懈值(除花后15 d外)和反弹值显著增大;而弱筋小麦品种豫麦50低谷黏度和最终黏度显著下降,其峰值黏度、反弹值变化不明显,从不同时期看,花后15 d影响较大。干旱胁迫使豫麦34多数黏度参数增大;而使豫麦50峰值黏度、反弹值和稀懈值下降,其低谷黏度和最终黏度在灌浆前期和中期干旱胁迫下增大,后期干旱胁迫则明显下降。研究结果还表明,花后高温与干旱胁迫对小麦黏度参数的影响存在显著的互作效应。从F值大小看,互作对弱筋小麦品种豫麦50多数黏度参数影响较大,而对强筋小麦品种豫麦34淀粉黏度参数影响较小,反映了高温、干旱及其互作对小麦淀粉特性的影响存在着显著的基因型差异。     

不同氮肥基追比例对高温胁迫下小麦籽粒产量和品质的影响

选用强筋小麦品种济麦20、烟农19、藁麦8901做试验材料,设置不同氮肥基追比例和籽粒灌浆中后期高温胁迫处理,研究了不同氮肥基追比例对高温胁迫条件下小麦籽粒产量和品质的影响.研究结果表明,追氮比例由50%增加到70%,3个品种的千粒重、籽粒产量、粗蛋白含量、湿面筋含量、醇溶蛋白含量、谷蛋白含量、HMW-GS含量、LMW-GS含量、HMW-GS/LMW-GS比值显著提高.济麦20和烟农19的谷蛋白大聚合体含量、谷蛋白大聚合体体积加权平均粒径和表面积加权平均粒径因追氮比例提高而升高, 藁麦8901则无显著变化.济麦20和烟农19的面团形成时间、面团稳定时间因追氮比例提高而延长, 藁麦8901基本不受影响.追氮比例由50%增加到70%,3个品种的籽粒支链淀粉/直链淀粉比值显著降低,淀粉糊化高峰黏度、低谷黏度、稀懈值、最终黏度和反弹值相应降低.总之,提高氮肥追施比例可在一定程度上缓解灌浆期高温胁迫对小麦粒重和蛋白质质量的不利影响,但对淀粉质量产生负面效应,且品种间存在差异.     

不同生态条件对云南和韩国粳稻品质及淀粉RVA谱特性的影响

以10个云南粳稻和6个韩国粳稻品种为材料,研究了不同生态条件对云南和韩国粳稻主要品质及RVA谱特性的影响.结果表明： 云南和韩国粳稻各指标的变异系数均以消减值最大.云南粳稻的粒长、垩白率、直链淀粉含量、蛋白质含量、碱消值、最终黏度、消减值和峰值时间的变异系数明显大于韩国粳稻,而其他品质指标则相反.随海拔升高,云南粳稻的粒长、粒宽、长宽比、精白度、直链淀粉含量、碱消值、最终黏度和回复值及韩国粳稻的粒长、粒宽、精白度、蛋白质含量、最高黏度、热浆黏度和崩解值明显降低,而云南粳稻的垩白率、蛋白质含量、热浆黏度和峰值时间及韩国粳稻的长宽比、直链淀粉含量、碱消值、消减值和回复值明显升高,但韩国粳稻的垩白率无明显变化.云南粳稻的最高黏度、崩解值和糊化温度及韩国粳稻的糊化温度随海拔升高呈先降后升趋势,而云南粳稻的消减值及韩国粳稻的最终黏度和峰值时间则表现相反趋势.     

籼型杂交稻淀粉RVA谱特征值的杂种优势分析

以6个籼型三系不育系和5个籼型恢复系按不完全双列杂交设计配制的30个杂交稻组合及其亲本为材料,对其籽粒淀粉RVA谱各特征值进行了测定和分析。结果表明：（1）亲本间和杂交稻组合间的淀粉RVA谱各特征值均存在极显著的差异,其中变异最大的是消减值,最小的是糊化开始温度。（2）杂交稻组合淀粉RVA谱各特征值的变异系数均小于杂交稻亲本的变异系数;峰值粘度、崩解值、最低粘度和最终粘度的平均值杂交稻组合大于亲本,其他性状的平均值杂交稻组合小于亲本。（3）峰值粘度存在极显著的正向超亲优势;崩解值、最低粘度、最终粘度和回复值存在极显著的正向中亲优势;消减值和峰值时间存在极显著的负向中亲优势和正向低亲优势;糊化开始温度存在极显著的负向低亲优势;最终粘度、回复值和糊化开始温度表现为极显著的负向竞争优势,其他性状表现为正向竞争优势。（4）峰值粘度、崩解值、消减值和回复值等4个性状,各杂交稻组合与其母本、中亲值呈现极显著正相关,峰值时间与中亲值呈显著正相关。而与其父本的相关均未达显著水平。     

小麦糊化特性参数稳定性分析及其与其它品质性状关系的研究

通过测定黄淮麦区2年度3试点13个小麦区试品种糊化特性(RVA)参数及其它主要品质性状,研究了小麦RVA参数稳定性及其与其它主要品质性状间的关系.结果表明:基因型对峰值粘度、保持粘度、稀懈值、最终粘度、回升值起主导作用,环境对糊化温度和峰值时间影响较大.峰值粘度、保持粘度、最终粘度在品种间变幅较大,分别为2 055.50 cp～3 935.50 cp、1 046.42 cp～2 589.00 cp和2 412.00 cp～4 341.50 cp,峰值粘度、保持粘度、稀懈值的变异系数较高,分别为10.74 %、12.17 %、21.25 %.除峰值时间外,其它RVA参数品种间差异极显著.峰值粘度与保持粘度、稀懈值、最终粘度及回升值间极显著正相关.峰值粘度、保持粘度、最终粘度、回升值与蛋白质含量、湿面筋含量和Zeleny沉降值间极显著负相关.同时依据RVA参数对参试品种进行了聚类分析.峰值粘度可作为衡量小麦淀粉特性的最重要指标,由于品种间淀粉品质差异大,因此品种选育过程中应同时注重蛋白质和淀粉品质.     

水稻储藏过程中淀粉黏度特性的变化

对水稻淀粉黏度特性特征值测定的统计分析表明：在避光自然温度储藏期间,不同类型稻谷淀粉黏度特征值均有明显的变化,各特征值在储藏1～5个月内变化较小,而6～7个月期间变化较大,大部分特征值变化差异达到显著或极显著水平。不同类型稻谷在储藏期间黏度特征值发生明显差异的时间点不同,粳糯类水稻品种在储藏期间发生明显差异的时间点明显早于粳稻和籼稻类。储藏时间与淀粉黏度特征值优化方程建立结果显示：与籼稻类品质变化关系密切的主要特征值为最高黏度（PKV）、崩解值（BDV）和峰值时间（PeT）,粳稻类为热浆黏度（HPV）、冷胶黏度（CPV）和回复值（CSV）,而粳糯类为PKV、BDV、CSV和起浆温度（PAT）。研究结果表明,通过RVA谱主要特征值来评价不同类型水稻品种稻谷耐储藏性具有可行性。     

Change of granular and molecular structures of waxy maize and potato starches after treated in alcohols with or without hydrochloric acid

Starches from waxy maize and potato were treated in methanol and 2-propanol either with or without 0.36% hydrochloric acid at 65 °C for 1 h. The granule morphology, molecular structure and pasting properties of the starches were determined and the effects of treatments on the granule and molecular structures of starch were investigated. Starch treated in alcohols without acid showed loss of native order through the hilum of granules, and no obvious molecular degradation was found. However, acid–alcohol treated starch showed many cracks inside granules, and both waxy maize and potato starches showed obvious molecular degradation after treated. Furthermore, the amylose chains and long chains of amylopectin of starch were more easily degraded with acid–alcohol treatment. The pasting viscosity of acid–alcohol treated starches were also obviously less than that of their counterpart native starch and starch after alcohol treatment. The extent of degradation of molecules and the decrease of pasting viscosity on potato starch after acid–alcohol treated were more obvious than that of waxy maize starch. The result indicates that the degradation preferentially occur in the amorphous region when starch treated by acid–alcohol, and the degradation of starch molecules enhances the amorphous excretion and the occurrence of cracks inside the granules.     

Dissection of maize kernel composition and starch production by candidate gene association

Cereal starch production forms the basis of subsistence for much of the world's human and domesticated animal populations. Starch concentration and composition in the maize (Zea mays ssp mays) kernel are complex traits controlled by many genes. In this study, an association approach was used to evaluate six maize candidate genes involved in kernel starch biosynthesis: amylose extender1 (ae1), brittle endosperm2 (bt2), shrunken1 (sh1), sh2, sugary1, and waxy1. Major kernel composition traits, such as protein, oil, and starch concentration, were assessed as well as important starch composition quality traits, including pasting properties and amylose levels. Overall, bt2, sh1, and sh2 showed significant associations for kernel composition traits, whereas ae1 and sh2 showed significant associations for starch pasting properties. ae1 and sh1 both associated with amylose levels. Additionally, haplotype analysis of sh2 suggested this gene is involved in starch viscosity properties and amylose content. Despite starch concentration being only moderately heritable for this particular panel of diverse maize inbreds, high resolution was achieved when evaluating these starch candidate genes, and diverse alleles for breeding and further molecular analysis were identified.     

水氮配合对绿洲沙地农田玉米产量、土壤硝态氮和氮平衡的影响

在黑河中游边缘绿洲沙地农田研究了不同的水氮配合对玉米产量、土壤硝态氮在剖面中的累积和氮平衡的影响.结果表明,施氮处理较不施氮处理产量增加48.22%～108.6%,施氮量超过225 kg hm-2,玉米产量不再显著增加.受土壤结构影响土壤硝态氮在土壤中呈"W"型分布,即土壤硝态氮含量在0～20 cm、140～160 cm和260～300 cm土层均出现峰值,并随施氮量增加,峰值增高.在常规高灌溉量处理硝态氮含量峰值最高值出现在260～300 cm土层,节水25%灌溉处理硝态氮含量峰值最高值出现在土壤表层0～20 cm土层.在常规高灌溉量处理0～300 cm土层中200～300土层硝态氮累积量所占比例最高,介于27.56%～51.86%之间;节水25%灌溉处理在0～300 cm土层中100～200土层硝态氮累积量所占比例最高,介于32.94%～38.07%之间;表明低灌溉处理下土壤硝态氮在土壤浅层累积较多,而高灌溉处理使更多的硝态氮淋溶至土壤深层.与2006年相比,2007年不施氮处理0～200 cm土层土壤硝态氮含量和积累量均明显减少;而施氮处理变化很小,在低灌溉处理甚至表现出硝态氮含量和积累量增加,表明施氮是土壤硝态氮累积的主要来源,而灌溉则使硝态氮向土壤深层淋溶.0～200 cm 土层土壤硝态氮累积量平均介于27.66～116.68 kg hm-2、氮素表观损失量平均介于77.35～260.96 kg hm-2,和施氮量均呈线性相关,即随施氮量增加,土壤硝态氮累积量和氮素表观损失量均增加,相关系数R2介于0.79～0.99之间,相关均显著.随施氮量增加,玉米总吸氮量和氮收获指数增加,氮的农学利用率降低,而灌溉的影响较小.施氮量超过225 kg hm-2时,地上部植株氮肥吸收利用率和籽粒氮肥吸收利用率开始有降低趋势.所以,在沙地农田,节水10%～25%的灌溉水平和225 kg hm-2的施氮水平可以在避免水肥过量投入的基础上减少土壤有机氮淋溶对地下水造成的污染威胁.     

Effects of high temperature during grain filling under control conditions on the physicochemical properties of waxy maize flour

The effects of high temperature during different grain filling stages (1–15 d and 16–30 d after pollination) on the physicochemical properties of four varieties of waxy maize grain were studied. Heat stress during grain filling decreased grain weight and starch deposition, while it increased protein content, starch granule size, abnormal granule numbers and iodine binding capacity. These effects were more severe when heat stress was introduced at early development stage than at late grain filling stage. The peak intensities and crystallinities were decreased when plants were exposed to high temperature at early development stage. By contrast, responses to high temperature at late development stage were variety-dependent. High temperature during grain filling decreased the peak and breakdown viscosities and increased the gelatinization temperature and enthalpy, and retrogradation percentage of flours, especially during early development stage. In conclusion, high temperature during grain filling changed the grain proximate and starch structure, resulting in the deterioration of pasting and thermal properties.     

辽西半干旱区小麦、玉米水肥耦合效应研究

采用312-D最优饱和设计和二次通用旋转组合设计,通过8年连续试验,对辽西半干旱区影响农业生产的水、肥因素的耦合作用进行了田间试验.讨论分析了N、P、水及其耦合作用对作物产量的影响.施N、施P、灌水和覆盖秸秆的合理匹配能够明显提高作物产量,否则,不仅增加成本,而且由于加重作物的水分或养分胁迫,造成减产.根据试验结果进行了生产要素的产量效益分析,提出了该地区小麦、玉米生产的水肥最佳经济配比:小麦为生育期供水120.2mm,N58.5kg·hm^-2,P₂O₅123.0kg·hm^-2;玉米为生育期灌水173.3mm,N256.5kg·hm^-2,P₂O₅85.5kg·hm^-2,覆秸秆8509.5kg·hm^-2.     

Pasting viscosity and in vitro digestibility of retrograded waxy and normal corn starch powders

Pasting viscosity and in vitro digestibility of oven-dried powders of waxy and normal corn starch gels (40% solids) retrograded under an isothermal (4 °C) or temperature cycled (4/30 °C) storage were investigated. Temperature cycling induced higher onset temperature for melting of amylopectin crystals than isothermal storage under a differential scanning calorimeter whereas little difference in crystalline type was observed under X-ray diffraction analysis. Temperature cycling caused higher pasting temperature and viscosity for the retrograded starches than isothermal storage. The retrograded waxy corn starch powders exhibited pasting behaviors similar to that of native waxy corn starch. However, the retrograded normal corn starch powders showed very much different pasting patterns with lower pasting viscosity but higher pasting temperature than native starch counterpart. The retrogradation increased slowly digestible starch content without changing resistant starch content, more effectively by the temperature cycling than the isothermal storage.     

小麦—玉米轮作长期肥料定位试验中土壤磷库的变化：Ⅰ.磷肥产？…

The effects of long-term applying fertilizer P and manure on the pools of soil total P and inorganic P and the crop yield in rotation of winter wheat-summer maize-->spring maize were studied. The results showed that the pool of soil total P and inorganic P were increased by applying fertilizer P and manure, and the phosphorus mostly accumulated in soil was inorganic P. The critical amounts of fertilizer P (P2O5) for balancing soil P were 94.7 kg.hm-2 to winter wheat-summer maize and 51.5 kg.hm-2 to spring maize. Based on regression equations, the application rates of fertilizer P (P2O5) for economic optimum and highest yields were 135.8 and 149.8 kg.hm-2 to winter wheat-summer maize, and 88.6 and 95.9 kg.hm-2 to spring maize, respectively.     

黄土高原南部春玉米地膜栽培的水肥效应与氮肥去向

在黄土高原南部采用田间小区和微区试验,研究了春玉米地膜栽培下氮肥-水分-产量关系与氮肥去向。结果表明,相同施肥条件下地膜栽培(N120C)比平作栽培(N120UC)增产显著(46．7％),施用氮肥显著地发挥了地膜的增产潜力,处理N120(尿素氮120kg·hm^-2)、N180(尿素氮180kg·hm^-2)和N120M(尿素氮120kg·hm^-2+有机肥氮60kg·hm^-2),籽粒产量比对照CK(不施氮)分别增产41．8％、43．9％和34．7％,地膜栽培或施用氮肥都极大地改善了玉米水分生产效率(WUE)和降水利用率(RUE),试验中N120C比N120UC水分生产效率提高57．9％。降水利用效率提高54．5％;处理N120、N180和N120M比CK处理WUE分别提高38．4％、47．4％和32．4％,RUE分别提高42．3％、43．9％和34．7％,由于供试有机肥是半腐解的牛粪,比尿素氮素供给迟缓,所以对玉米产量和WUE提高幅度小,试验水分测定反映出,玉米利用的水分73．0％～83．7％来自降雨,表明决定春玉米产量的关键水分是生育期降水,玉米地膜栽培对氮肥去向有微弱影响,相对于平作玉米,氮肥总的回收率差异不大,但氮肥利用率下降7．3个百分点,土壤残留率上升6．4个百分点,土壤当季残留氮主要集中在0～20cm,不会发生向深层大量的淋溶和累积。     

Sequence polymorphisms in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zmisa2</Emphasis> gene are significantly associated with starch pasting and gelatinization properties in maize (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zea mays</Emphasis> L.)

Researches on the genetic basis of starch pasting and gelatinization properties will provide foundation of maize improvement for quality, feed and industrial applications. Maize gene Zmisa2, encoding an isoamylase-type starch debranching enzyme, plays important roles in starch biosynthesis. In this study, the genomic sequences of the gene Zmisa2 in 72 elite maize inbred lines were obtained, and the nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotype diversity were detected. In addition, seven pasting and four gelatinization properties of maize were measured for the tested inbred lines using rapid visco analyzer and differential scanning calorimeter, respectively. A total of 99 sequence variants, including 91 SNPs and 8 indels, were identified at the promoter and coding regions of this gene. Although the frequency of polymorphism in promoter region is much higher than that of coding region, the SNPs in the coding region of maize gene Zmisa2 classified this gene into 21 haplotypes, which encode 11 different ISA2 proteins. Furthermore, the association of the variants of Zmisa2 gene with maize starch pasting and gelatinization properties was estimated, and the results revealed that seven SNPs in coding region, including four nonsynonymous sites, were significantly associated with phenotypic variations of pasting time and enthalpy of transition (ΔH). These results suggested that the polymorphism in maize Zmisa2 locus could be used in molecular marker-assisted selection for improvement of quality in maize breeding programs.     

Waxy versus regular maize: Energy value for growing pigs and utilization in piglet diets

Two experiments were performed to determine the feeding value of amylopectin-rich waxy maize.A digestibility trial (A) was made with growing pigs (5 castrated Large White males per group) kept in digestibility crates for total collection of excreta for 10 consecutive days. The diets consisted exclusively of Funk's G 4384 maize cultivars, either regular (Group 1) or waxy (Group 2), supplemented with minerals, vitamins and essential amino acids. Waxy maize was better utilized than regular maize, the respective values being: digestibility of energy, 90.3 versus 88.4 (P < 0.05); digestible energy, 3980 ± 28 vs. 3914 ± 13 kcal/kg dry matter (P < 0.10); apparent metabolisable energy, 3887 vs. 3832 kcal/kg dry matter (P < 0.10) or corrected ME, 3839 vs. 3787 kcal/kg dry matter (P < 0.10). The utilization of crude protein was slightly in favour of waxy maize; nitrogen digestibility being 86.3 vs. 85.6 (NS) and retained nitrogen, 15.2 vs. 14.2 g/d (P < 0.10).In Trial B, utilization of two types of maize of the same variety, LG 11, which were isogenic except for the waxy gene, was studied with a total of 128 piglets weaned at 5 weeks. The waxy maize (Group 2) or regular maize (Group 1) was introduced at the level of 70% into isonitrogenous diets (20% CP) offered until the age of 9 weeks. In these conditions, a noticeable effect was found in favour of waxy maize. Average daily gain was 470 g (Group 2) versus 434 g (Group 1), a significant increase of 8% (P < 0.05); feed conversion ratio was 1.76 (Group 2) versus 1.84 (Group 1) (P < 0.10).The digestibility in vitro of the two types of maize used in Trial B was also assayed. The rate of hydrolysis of waxy maize starch was more rapid in the presence of piglet pancreatic juice, a fact suggesting that the energy of this type of maize is more available for monogastric animals.