Effects of NaCl on 4-Hydroxy-2-hexenal Formation in Yellowtail Meat Stored at 0 °C

Changes in the 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal (HHE) and malonaldehyde (MA) contents were investigated in the meat of the yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiate containing 0, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 M NaCl stored at 0 °C for 7 days. After 7 days of storage, the HHE content was significantly lower and the MA content significantly higher in the meat containing NaCl than in the control without NaCl.     

The effects of NaCl on lipid peroxidation-derived aldehyde, 4-hydroxy-2-hexenal formation in boiled yellowtail meat

Yellowtail meat containing 0 (control), 1% and 2% NaCl weas boiled and stored at 0 degrees C, and changes in 4-hydroxyhexenal (HHE) and malon aldehyde (MA) contents were analyzed after 0, 1, 2, and 3 d. The HHE contents in all samples increased significantly after 3 d. The MA contents in the NaCl-containing samples were significantly higher than those in the control after storage.     

Effect of NaCl on the lipid peroxidation-derived aldehyde, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, formation in boiled pork

Pork was boiled at 100 degrees C for 5, 10 and 15 min and stored at 0 degrees C, and changes in the 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), malonaldehyde (MA) and fatty acid (FA) contents were analyzed immediately and 3 days later. The HNE, MA and FA contents in all samples were not significantly different from each other. Pork samples containing none (control), 1% and 2% NaCl were boiled at 100 degrees C for 5 min and stored at 0 degrees C, and changes in the HNE, MA and FA contents and cooking yields were immediately analyzed and after 0, 1, 2 and 3 days. Cooking losses in the NaCl-containing samples were significantly lower than those of the control. The HNE contents in the control samples of boiled pork had significantly increased after 3 days of storage, while the contents in the NaCl-containing samples were significantly lower than those of the control after 1, 2 and 3 days of storage. The MA contents in all samples were not significantly different from each other. All FA contents analyzed had decreased in all samples after 3 days of storage. The decrease ratio of highly unsaturated fatty acids was lowest in the sample containing 2% NaCl.     

Expressions of adrenomedullin mRNA and protein in rats with hypobaric hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension

Experimental pulmonary hypertension induced in a hypobaric hypoxic environment (HHE) is characterized by structural remodeling of the heart and pulmonary arteries. Adrenomedullin (AM) has diuretic, natriuretic, and hypotensive effects. To study the possible effects of HHE on the AM synthesis system, 150 male Wistar rats were housed in a chamber at the equivalent of a 5,500-m altitude level for 21 days. After 14 days of exposure to HHE, pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) was significantly increased (compared with control rats). The plasma AM protein level was significantly increased on day 21 of exposure to HHE. In the right ventricle (RV), right atrium, and left atrium of the heart, the expressions of AM mRNA and protein were increased in the middle to late phase (5-21 days) of HHE, whereas in the brain and lung they were increased much earlier (0.5-5 days). In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry showed AM mRNA and protein staining to be more intense in the RV in animals in the middle to late phase of HHE exposure than in the controls. During HHE, these changes in AM synthesis, which occurred strongly in the RV, occurred alongside the increase in PAP. Conceivably, AM may play a role in modulating pulmonary hypertension in HHE.     

Ultrastructural characterization of somatic embryos regenerated from NaCl selected and nonselected calli ofDactylis glomerata

Summary Calli were induced from leaf expiants of aDactylis glomerata L. (orchardgrass) genotype which has a high capacity for somatic embryogenesis. After 7 months culture on SH medium containing NaCl, a line was selected which was tolerant to 200 mM NaCl. When both selected and nonselected calli were maintained for 56 days on media containing 0 to 300 mM NaCl, the selected line showed significantly higher regeneration capacity than nonselected calli when placed on media containing more than 50 mM NaCl. Ultrastructural features of control somatic embryos not exposed to the salt were compared to those from nonselected and selected embryos cultured on 200 mM NaCl medium. In the presence of NaCl there were changes in the appearance of cell walls and mitochondria, accumulation of lipids and a higher degree of vacuolation in cells of nonselected embryos compared to control and selected embryos.     

Specific regulation of SOD isoforms by NaCl and osmotic stress in leaves of the C3 halophyte Suaeda salsa L

The halophyte Suaeda salsa L., exposed to different NaCl concentrations (100 and 400 mmol/L) and polyethylene glycol (isoosomotic to 100 mmol/L NaCl) containing nutrient solutions under normal or K+-deficient conditions for 7 days, was used to study effects of NaCl salinity and osmotic stress on chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics, malonedialdehyde (MDA) content, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) isoform activities. Photosynthetic capacity was not decreased by NaCl treatment, indicating that S. salsa possesses an effective antioxidative response system for avoiding oxidative damage. Seven SOD activity bands were detected in S. salsa leaf extracts, including an Mn-SOD and several isoforms of Fe-SOD and CuZn-SOD. It turned out that NaCl salinity and osmotic stress lead to a differential regulation of distinct SOD isoenzymes. This differential regulation is suggested to play a major role in stress tolerance of S. salsa.     

Reduced effect on apoptosis of 4-hydroxyhexenal and oxidized LDL enriched with n-3 fatty acids from postmenopausal women

BACKGROUND: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) promotes apoptosis in atherosclerotic plaques in the vascular wall, a process mediated through its oxidized lipids. 4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE) and 4-hydroxyhexenal (HHE), derived from oxidation of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids, respectively, are among the major oxidized products in oxLDL. HYPOTHESIS: This study hypothesized that eicosapentaenoic acid/docosahexaenoic acid (EPA/DHA)-rich versus linoleic acid-rich oxLDL obtained from postmenopausal women and HNE versus HHE differentially influence apoptosis in U937 cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Thirty healthy postmenopausal women were supplemented with 14 g/day safflower oil (SO), 7 g/day of both fish oil and SO (low dose LFO) or 14 g/day fish oil (high dose HFO) for 5 weeks. Low-density lipoprotein, obtained after supplementation, was oxidized with 5 microM CuSO(4) at 37 degrees C for 6 h. The concentration of cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides (CEOOH) and conjugated dienes was measured in the oxidized LDL (oxLDL). U937 cells were incubated with the oxLDL, 10 microM of HHE, 7 muM of HHE plus 3 microM of HNE, 5 microM of both HHE and HNE or 10 microM of HNE and the extent of apoptosis measured three ways. RESULTS: The concentration of CEOOH and conjugated dienes in oxLDL did not differ among the three treatment groups. The percent of apoptotic cells was approximately 40% lower when incubated with oxLDL obtained from the HFO-supplemented group than the SO-supplemented group measured by both the Annexin V and the DNA fragmentation assays (P = .04 and .004, respectively). Apoptosis of U937 cells was significantly lower in cells incubated with 10 microM of HHE, and mixtures of HHE and HNE than the 10 microM HNE when measured by the Annexin V, DNA fragmentation and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the cardioprotective properties of n-3 fatty acids may derive in part from their less reactive oxidized lipid metabolites.     

Antioxidant enzymes and physiological characteristics in two Jerusalem artichoke cultivars under salt stress

The effects of NaCl stress on the activity of antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, cell membrane stability, net photosynthetic rate, gas-exchange, and chlorophyll content were investigated in two Jerusalem artichoke cultivars, Dafeng (salt-tolerant) and Wuxi (salt-sensitive), grown under control (nutrient solution) or salt stress (nutrient solution containing 75, 150, and 225 mM NaCl) conditions for 7 days. In leaves of salt-tolerant cv. Dafeng, superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1), peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7), and catalase (EC 1.11.1.6) activities significantly increased as compared to the controls, whereas no significant change was observed in cv. Wuxi. Lipid peroxidation and cell membrane injury were enhanced in both cultivars. Net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance decreased in response to salt stress, but cv. Dafeng showed a smaller reduction in photosynthesis than cv. Wuxi. The results indicated that stomatal aperture limited leaf photosynthetic capacity in the NaCl-treated plants of both cultivars. However, significant reduction in the leaf chlorophyll content due to NaCl stress was observed only in cv. Wuxi. These results suggested that salt-tolerant Jerusalem artichoke varieties may have a better protection against reactive oxygen species, at least in part, by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes under salt stress.     

能源植物杂交狼尾草对NaCl胁迫的响应及其耐盐阈值

以能源植物杂交狼尾草(Pennisetum americanum × P. purpureum)为实验材料, 用沙培盆栽的方法, 分别用0、0.3%、0.5%、0.9%和1.2%的NaCl处理4周后, 测定植株鲜重、干重、含水量、株高、分蘖数和不同部位的离子含量, 以确定其耐盐阈值和耐盐方式。结果表明, 随着NaCl浓度的增加, 杂交狼尾草的鲜重、干重、株高和分蘖数都显著降低, 地上部分鲜重和干重分别在NaCl浓度为0.568%和0.570%时下降了50%, 1.2% NaCl处理的杂交狼尾草几乎全部死掉。表明杂交狼尾草的耐盐阈值为0.57%; 但植株含水量和功能叶的Na⁺含量变化不明显, 老叶Na⁺含量在NaCl浓度为0.9%时明显升高, 是对照的2倍; 随NaCl浓度的升高, 根中的Na⁺含量显著升高, 在NaCl浓度为0.9%时, 根中的Na⁺含量达到对照的3倍以上。Na⁺含量在功能叶, 老叶和根中含量依次升高; 随NaCl浓度的升高, 地上部分和根中的K⁺含量都无明显变化; 随NaCl浓度的升高, 根中的Na⁺/K⁺明显增加, 而地上部分Na⁺/K⁺只有当NaCl浓度为0.9%时明显增加。以上结果表明杂交狼尾草具有一定的耐盐性, 其耐盐方式为拒盐, 耐盐阈值为0.57% (约100 mmol·L^-1)。     

Incorporation of nisin into a meat binding system to inhibit bacteria on beef surfaces

In two separate experiments, the bacteriocin, nisin, was incorporated into a commercially available meat binding system (Fibrimex^®) and applied to meat surfaces as a way of inhibiting the meat spoilage organism, Brochothrix thermosphacta during extended refrigerated storage. In experiment 1, pre-rigor lean beef carcass tissue (BCT) was inoculated with B. thermosphacta , left untreated (U), treated with 10 μg ml⁻¹ nisin (N), Fibrimex^® (F) or Fibrimex^® containing 10 μg ml⁻¹ nisin (FN), held aerobically at 4 °C for up to 7 d, and populations of B. thermosphacta and nisin activity determined. Experiment 2 determined the effects of the same treatments but on post-rigor, frozen and thawed lean BCT that was inoculated, vacuum-packaged, and stored at 4 °C for up to 14 d. In both experiments, N- and FN-treated tissues exhibited significantly lower populations of B. thermosphacta compared to U- and F-treated tissues, for the duration of refrigerated storage. Nisin activity was detected up to 7 d in N- and FN-treated samples from experiment 1. However, activity was detected only to days 0 and 2 in FN- and N-treated samples, respectively, from experiment 2. These studies indicate that the addition of a bacteriocin to a meat binding system and application to meat surfaces may be useful in reducing undesirable bacteria in restructured meat products.     

Trans-4-hydroxy-2-hexenal is a neurotoxic product of docosahexaenoic (22:6; n-3) acid oxidation

Lipid peroxidation of docosahexaenoic (22:6; n-3) acid (DHA) is elevated in the CNS in patients with Alzheimer's disease and in animal models of seizure and ethanol withdrawal. One product of DHA oxidation is trans -4-hydroxy-2-hexenal (HHE), a six carbon analog of the n-6 fatty acid derived trans -4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE). In this work, we studied the neurotoxic potential of HHE. HHE and HNE were toxic to primary cultures of cerebral cortical neurons with LD₅₀'s of 23 and 18 μmol/L, respectively. Toxicity was prevented by the addition of thiol scavengers. HHE and HNE depleted neuronal GSH content identically with depletion observed with 10 μmol/L of either compound. Using an antibody raised against HHE–protein adducts, we show that HHE modified specific proteins of 75, 50, and 45 kDa in concentration- and time-dependent manners. The time-dependent formation of HHE differed from that of F₄-neuroprostanes following in vitro DHA oxidation likely as a result of the different oxidation pathways involved. Using purified mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase ALDH5A, we found that HHE was oxidized 6.5-fold less efficiently than HNE. Our data demonstrate that HHE and HNE have similarities but also differences in their neurotoxic mechanisms and metabolism.     

Effects of whole linseed supplementation and treatment duration on fatty acid profile and endogenous bioactive compounds of beef muscle

Diet supplementation with oilseeds is known to improve the fatty acid profile of meat, but few studies have been carried out to determine the time required for the incorporation of a significant quantity of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) into meat from steers. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the effects of linseed supplementation and feeding duration on the fatty acid profile, cholesterol and bioactive compounds of bovine meat. In total, 54 Friesian steers were randomly allocated during the finishing period into six experimental treatments following a 2×3 factorial design. The six treatments consisted of two diets, the control diet (CO) with no supplemental fat and the linseed diet (LS) containing 10% whole linseed, fed 40, 75 or 120 days before slaughter. At the end of each finishing period, steers from the CO and LS groups were slaughtered. After 8 days of ageing chemical analysis, the fatty acid profile, cholesterol content and bioactive compounds were determined from the longissimus thoracis muscle. Including linseed in the diet increased the content of monounsaturated fatty acids, CLA and n-3 PUFA, and reduced the proportion of saturated fatty acids and n-6 PUFA. The percentage of myristic fatty acid increased with the duration of feeding, regardless of diet and a decrease in PUFA and n-6 PUFA was observed in the CO and LS diets, respectively. Furthermore, meat from steers fed linseed showed an increased percentage of n-3 PUFA, linolenic acid, and EPA from 40 to 75 days of feeding, whereas vaccenic acid, CLA 9c,11t, and total CLA increased from 40 and 75 days but declined at 120 days. Beef from the linseed group had a higher content of bioactive substances such as creatine, carnosine and anserine than beef from the control group. The duration of feeding significantly affected the creatine concentrations, with an increase in the LS group from 40 to 75 days of feeding. Feeding linseed did not modify the cholesterol content, on average and the lowest cholesterol content was found in meat after 75 days of linseed administration. This study demonstrates that a short-term diet manipulation is sufficient to improve the nutritional properties of meat, including n-3 PUFA and bioactive compounds.     

四季竹对不同浓度NaCl胁迫的生理响应

以夏秋季优良笋用竹种四季竹盆栽苗为材料,研究了土壤中1‰~6‰浓度NaCl(干重)处理对四季竹叶片脱落率、离子渗漏率、丙二醛(MDA)含量、抗氧化酶活性以及渗透调节物质含量的变化特征,以探讨四季竹的抗盐机理。结果表明:(1)随NaCl浓度的增大和处理时间的延长,四季竹叶片脱落率逐渐增加;四季竹在1‰~2‰NaCl浓度下的土壤中生长良好,在3‰~5‰浓度下随处理浓度的增大伤害逐渐加重,但这种伤害是可逆的,6‰是四季竹的半致死盐浓度。(2)叶片离子渗漏率随NaCl浓度的增大而显著增大,在6‰浓度处理下随处理时间的延长近直线升高,在3‰~5‰浓度下先升高后降低,而在1‰~2‰浓度处理下变化平缓且与同期对照无显著差异;叶片MDA含量随NaCl浓度的增大而增加,随处理时间的延长先增加后降低。(3)四季竹叶片SOD和POD活性在胁迫3~15 d均出现先下降后上升的过程,其有一定的锻炼适应性;叶片脯氨酸含量随NaCl处理浓度的增大而增加,其随处理时间的延长在1‰~2‰浓度处理下变化平缓,在3‰~6‰浓度处理下显著增加后减小;各浓度处理的可溶性蛋白含量随处理时间的延长先增加后减小,但均高于对照。研究发现,四季竹是较耐盐竹种,其可以通过调控自身保护酶活性和渗透调节物质含量来有效缓解盐胁迫伤害,从而表现出一定的耐盐能力。     

Rice can acclimate to lethal level of salinity by pretreatment with sublethal level of salinity through osmotic adjustment

The physiological ability to adapt for various environmental changes is known as acclimation. When exposed to sublethal level of stress, plants develop the ability to withstand severe stress, as acquired tolerance. The present study was conducted to explicate the physiological basis of acquired tolerance in rice. Rice seedlings (variety IR 20) were grown in half strength Hoagland solution, and after 22nd day, they were kept in half strength Hoagland solution containing 50 mM NaCl (sublethal dose) for 7 days followed by half strength Hoagland solution containing 100 mM NaCl (lethal dose) for another 7 days. The non-pretreated 29 days old rice seedlings maintained in half strength Hoagland solution were directly transferred to half strength Hoagland solution containing 100 mM NaCl (lethal dose) solution for 7 days. The control plants were maintained in half strength Hoagland solution without NaCl. Various morphological and physiological parameters were recorded on 29th and 36th days old seedlings from control, pretreated and non-pretreated plants. The results revealed significant reduction in growth parameters (shoot length, root length, leaf area and total dry matter production) of non-pretreated plants below that of pretreated plants. The pretreated plants showed increased values to the extreme of 19.8 per cent in leaf water potential (ψ_w), 9 per cent in relative water content (RWC), 26 per cent in photosynthetic rate (P _N), 28 per cent in leaf stomatal conductance, and 47 per cent in chlorophyll a over non-pretreated plants. The same trend was also observed in chlorophyll a/b ratio (6.6%) and F _v/F _m ratio (19.3%). However, a reverse trend was seen in F _o value. The pretreated plants showed improved ionic regulation as evident from low Na⁺, Cl⁻ and high K⁺ contents, which is attributed to enhanced plant water status and photosynthesis. Both pretreated and non-pretreated plants had higher contents of osmolytes viz., sucrose, leaf soluble sugars and proline contents than control plants. However, starch content revealed an inverse trend. Therefore, the present study reveals that rice can acclimate to lethal dose of salinity stress by pretreatment with sublethal dose of NaCl. Section Editor: J. M. Cheeseman     

Effect of dietary chromium supplementation on meat nutritional quality and antioxidant status from broilers fed with Camelina-meal-supplemented diets

Poultry meat is a valuable source of nutrients and the enrichment with health-promoting substances such as polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) is an important factor for consumers’ choice. Camelina meal (Camelina sativa) is an animal feedstuff used to achieve this goal, but the administration of n-3 PUFA-enriched diets in broiler nutrition can accelerate the oxidative processes in meat leading to a decreased quality of final product. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the organic Cr as chromium picolinate (CrPic) on meat quality, fatty acid profile of fat and oxidative stability of meat from broilers fed supplemented dietary Camelina meal. An experiment was conducted on 240 Ross 308 broiler chicken aged 14 days which were assigned to 6 dietary treatments in a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Within the treatment arrangement two concentrations of Camelina meal (0% and 3%) and three concentrations of Cr³⁺ (0, 200 and 400 μg/kg) were used. Dietary treatments were: (1) Control diet (C) containing a corn–soybean diet with no added Camelina meal or Cr³⁺; (2) a C diet containing an additional 200 μg/kg of Cr³⁺ as CrPic; (3) a C diet containing an additional 400 μg/kg of Cr³⁺ as CrPic; (4) a C diet containing an additional 3% Camelina meal; (5) diet 2 containing an additional 3% Camelina meal; (6) diet 3 containing an additional 3% Camelina meal. Chromium supplementation significantly (P<0.05) increased the CP concentrations and significantly (P<0.05) decreased the crude fat concentrations in breast samples. The Camelina meal groups presented higher values of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly n-3 fatty acids (P<0.05). In CrPic groups, increased retention of Zn and Fe (P < 0.05) was observed in breast samples, compared to control group, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values were significantly (P<0.05) smaller. Myoglobin fraction (metmyoglobin and oximyoglobin) concentrations differ significantly (P<0.05) from the control group, under the influence of Cr³⁺ supplements. This study found that broilers fed with CrPic supplements showed improved mineral composition and oxidative stability of breast meat, proving an effective protection of lipid molecules from oxidation in PUFA-enriched meat.     

含连翘的青贮饲料对肉鹅饲喂效果研究

为研究含连翘的青贮饲料对肉鹅的生长力、发病率和成活率的影响,提高鹅群的整体健康水平,将乳酸菌、宇佐美曲霉菌悬液按比例接入含连翘组分的青贮饲料中自然发酵60 d后用于肉鹅饲喂试验,28日龄肉鹅随机分为3组,饲喂42 d,在青贮饲料中添加不同比例的连翘枝条,观察含连翘的青贮饲料对肉鹅生产性能的影响。结果显示,含5%和10%连翘枝条的青贮饲料中功能成分连翘苷与连翘脂苷A的含量差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）;含连翘的青贮饲料能够使肉鹅成活率提高4.38%～4.63%,日增重提高3.07%～4.33%,显著降低料肉比（P<0.05）。乳酸菌与宇佐美曲霉菌发酵含连翘青贮饲料能够有效改善连翘枝条的适口性,应用于肉鹅饲喂后,可以提高肉鹅的健康水平。利用废弃中药原料开展饲料添加剂的应用研究,可为降低生产成本、预防与治疗禽类疾病提供新的思路。     

NaCl胁迫过程中喷施ALA对菘蓝幼苗生长及主要活性成分含量的影响

以来源于安徽亳州和山西运城的菘蓝（Isatis indigotica Fort.）幼苗为实验材料,对100 mmol·L-1NaCl胁迫条件下喷施50.0、25.0、16.7、12.5和0.0 mg·L-15-氨基乙酰丙酸（ALA）后幼苗部分生长指标、叶片中靛蓝和靛玉红含量以及根中表告依春含量的变化进行了研究。结果表明：在100 mmol·L-1NaCl单一胁迫条件下,来源于安徽亳州的幼苗单株叶鲜质量和叶片中靛蓝和靛玉红含量均低于对照,单株根鲜质量、根冠比以及根中表告依春含量均高于对照;来源于山西运城的幼苗单株叶和根鲜质量、叶片中靛玉红含量和根中表告依春含量均低于对照,根冠比和叶片中靛蓝含量均高于对照。在NaCl胁迫过程中喷施ALA对菘蓝幼苗生长和有效成分的积累均有不同效应。其中,喷施25.0 mg·L-1ALA后安徽亳州产幼苗单株叶和根鲜质量均最高且显著高于NaCl单一胁迫处理组;喷施16.7 mg·L-1ALA后山西运城产幼苗单株叶和根鲜质量均较高但与NaCl单一胁迫处理组无显著差异。喷施50.0 mg·L-1ALA后安徽亳州产幼苗叶片中靛蓝含量最高（0.376 mg·g-1）,喷施25.0 mg·L-1ALA后其叶片中靛玉红含量最高（9.977 mg·g-1）,喷施16.7 mg·L-1ALA后其根中表告依春含量最高（0.229 mg·g-1）,且均显著高于NaCl单一胁迫处理组;喷施16.7 mg·L-1ALA后山西运城产幼苗叶片中靛蓝含量最高（0.282 mg·g-1）,喷施12.5 mg·L-1ALA后其叶片中靛玉红含量和根中表告依春含量均最高（分别为4.526和0.301 mg·g-1）,且均显著高于NaCl单一胁迫处理组。研究结果表明：喷施适宜浓度ALA能够有效减轻NaCl胁迫对菘蓝幼苗生长的影响、提高其体内药用活性成分的含量;总体上看,产自安徽亳州的菘蓝幼苗的耐盐性较强,且不同种源适宜的ALA浓度也有一定差异。     

Effects of temperature and sodium chloride concentration on the phospholipid and fatty acid compositions of a halotolerant Planococcus sp.

The phospholipid headgroup composition and fatty acid composition of a gram-positive halotolerant Planococcus sp. (strain A4a) were examined as a function of growth temperature (5 to 35 degrees C) and NaCl content (0 to 1.5 M) of the growth medium. When the growth temperature was decreased, the relative amount of mono-unsaturated branched-chain fatty acids increased. When Planococcus sp. strain A4a was grown in media containing high NaCl concentrations, the relative amount of the major fatty acid, Ca15:0, increased. The relative amount of anionic phospholipid also increased when the NaCl concentration of the growth medium was increased. The increase in anionic phospholipid content resulted from a decrease in the relative mole percent content of phosphatidylethanolamine and an increase in the relative mole percent content of cardiolipin.     

Preferential accumulation of d-pinitol in Acrostichum aureum gametophytes in response to salt stress

Growth and metabolic responses to salt stress were studied in gametophytes of Acrostichum aureum L. (a mangrove fern). Gametophytes were cultured in 0–170 m M NaCl solutions. The growth of gametophytes was best in low NaCl concentrations (35 and 85 m M ), and was retarded at higher NaCl concentrations. Photosynthetic rate of gametophytes was also significantly reduced when grown in high NaCl concentrations. Severe salt stress (>120 m M NaCl) led to a preferential accumulation of d -pinitol in gametophytes, whereas the sporophyte accumulated d -1- O -methyl- muco -inositol. The content of d -pinitol reached up to 50% of the soluble carbohydrate pool of gametophytes under 155 and 170 m M NaCl. The accumulation of d -pinitol and other cyclitols in gametophytes was correlated with the retention of photochemical efficiency of photosystem II and the survival of gametophytes after transfer to solutions containing 340 and 600 m M NaCl, respectively.