Ethanol fermentation of HTST extruded rye grain by bacteria and yeasts

High temperature extrusion cooking of rye was used as a pretreatment for ethanol fermentation, and yeasts and bacteria were compared for their fermentation rates. Extrusion cooking caused, on average, a 7.5% increase in ethanol yield in comparison to autoclaved samples. The best results were achieved for grain with a moisture of 21-23% which was extruded at temperatures of 160-180 °C. Extrusion decreased the relative viscosity of rye grain water extracts, so it was possible to mash it without α-amylase. The efficiency of fermentation of extruded rye without Termamyl was equal to that of autoclaved and traditionally mashed rye (using α-amylase). The rate of fermentation of extruded rye grain by Zymomonas was higher during the first stage, but the final ethanol yield was similar for the bacterium and the yeast. Though both microorganisms gave good quality distillates, the concentration of compounds other than ethanol achieved from extruded rye mashes, which were fermented by Z. mobilis, was five times lower than for yeasts.     

遮光对小麦籽粒淀粉品质和花前贮存非结构碳水化合物转运的影响

以耐荫品种扬麦158和不耐荫品种扬麦11两个小麦品种为材料,研究了拔节至成熟期遮光对小麦籽粒产量、淀粉含量和淀粉糊化特性的影响,并分析了花前营养器官非结构碳水化合物转运及其与籽粒产量、淀粉含量和淀粉糊化特性的关系.结果表明：遮光条件下小麦花前营养器官中可溶性总糖转运量的下降是造成小麦籽粒产量降低的原因之一;小麦支链淀粉在遮光条件下显著降低而直链淀粉变化不明显,导致小麦籽粒总淀粉含量和支／直显著下降;遮光降低了两品种小麦籽粒淀粉峰值粘度;降低了不耐荫品种扬麦11的低谷粘度,提高了其糊化温度,但对耐荫品种扬麦158的低谷粘度和糊化温度无显著影响.     

Enzymatic prebleaching of sulphite pulps

The ability of a crude enzyme preparation ofAureobasidium pullulans containing xylanase [61 units (U)/ml] and xylosidase (3 U/ml) activity to remove pentosans from unbleached sulphite pulps was investigated. Greater amounts of pentosans and reducing sugars were released from the pulp when the enzyme dosages and incubation times were increased. A combination of enzyme hydrolysis and alkali extraction resulted in a greater removal of pentosans than using the enzyme preparation alone. By treatment with a xylanase loading of 450 U/g pulp for 24 h followed by alkaline extraction, 35% of the pentosans were removed. The kappa number decreased up to 30% whereas viscosity was only slightly affected by these treatments. Enzymatic hydrolysis released mainly xylose whereas xylobiose was the main product liberated by alkaline extraction. Scanning electron micrographs indicated improved fibrillation and flexibility of the fibre structure by enzyme treatment.     

两种冠温型冬小麦籽粒蛋白质和淀粉组分积累动态

 于2001～2003年对河南省主要推广的3个冬小麦 (Triticum aestivum)品种冠温特征、籽粒蛋白质和淀粉组分积累动态进行了研究。结果表明：‘豫麦50’在灌浆后期冠层温度明显降低,表现为冷尾型,而‘豫麦34’、‘豫麦70’冠层温度有上升的趋势,表现为暖尾型 ,在灌浆末期冷尾型与暖尾型小麦冠层温度相差超过2.5 ℃。不同冠温小麦籽粒蛋白质和淀粉组分积累动态表现出差异：暖尾型小麦清蛋白、球蛋白积累量在灌浆后期显著高于冷尾型品种,最终醇溶蛋白积累量品种间差异不显著,麦谷蛋白积累量在花后15 d以前差异不显著,但开花 20 d后暖尾型小麦麦谷蛋白积累量增大,与冷尾型小麦差异达到1%显著水平,最终麦谷蛋白与总蛋白质含量比例亦表现出同样的趋势,麦谷蛋白含量与灌浆中、后期冠层温度和整个灌浆期平均冠层温度均达到显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.7781、0.865、0.968 7;不同冠温型 小麦淀粉组分积累量与直/支差异不大,但淀粉糊化特性表现出明显的差异,除稀懈值外, 暖尾型小麦与冷尾型小麦峰值粘度、低谷粘度、最终粘度、糊化时间、糊化温度和反弹值差异分别达到1%显著水平。     

Comparative analysis of photosynthetic characteristics and productivity in F2 hybrids of winter rye

Diversity of photosynthetic characteristics determined by plant genotypes provides the grounds for the increase in potential crop productivity by means of producing plant forms whose photosynthetic apparatus (PSA) has optimal size and functional efficiency. Parental forms of winter rye (Secale cereale L.) and their interline and intravarietal reciprocal F₂ hybrids were compared in terms of photosynthetic pigment (PSP) content, characteristics of chlorophyll a (Chl) fluorescence, some morphological traits, and grain productivity. At the booting and anthesis stages, significant divergence in chlorophyllous pigment content and Chl a fluorescence parameters was observed for winter rye inbred lines, rye varieties, and hybrids. The hybrids were revealed whose elevated grain productivity correlated with high PSP content and the highest photosystem II (PSII) activity. Analysis of correlations in reciprocal F₂ hybrids at booting and anthesis stages of rye development showed that accumulation of PSII is related to stem-forming capacity and to the flag leaf surface area. In reciprocal hybrids, the correlations between morphological traits, grain productivity, plastid pigments, and photochemical activity were subject to variations. The relationships between PSA parameters and grain productivity in winter rye F₂ hybrids varied depending on the developmental stage as well as on crossing combination; this relation was largely determined by the choice of pairs for hybridization, by direction of crosses, and by genetic features of parental forms.     

Extrusion processing of high amylose potato starch materials

Thermoplastic starch was prepared by mixing native high amylose potato starch and normal potato starch in a Buss co-kneading extruder at starch to glycerol ratios of 100:45 and 100:30. The materials were also conditioned to different moisture contents at different relative humidities at 23 °C. After the mixing, the compounds were extruded into sheets with a Brabender laboratory extruder. The thermoplastic high amylose materials exhibited a higher melt viscosity than the normal potato starch materials when conditioned at 53% relative humidity. Increasing the moisture content in HAP from 27% to 30% (by weight) lowered the melt viscosity to the same level as that of normal potato starch with a moisture content of 28%. In general, the high amylose materials were more difficult to extrude than the thermoplastic material based on normal starch. The main extrusion problems encountered with the high amylose starch were unstable flow, insufficient melt tenacity and clogging of the die. By increasing the moisture content, increasing the compression ratio of the screw and increasing the rotation rate of the screw, the problems were reduced or eliminated. However, only with a starch to glycerol ratio of 100:45 was an acceptable extrusion result obtained. Extruded sheets of such high amylose materials had a stress at break of about 5 MPa at room temperature and 53% relative humidity, whereas the corresponding value for normal potato (thermoplastic) starch was 3 MPa. The elongation at break was also higher in the case of the high amylose material. The results are discussed in terms of residual crystallinity of the starch materials.     

Carbohydrate partitioning between upper and lower regions of the crown in oat and rye during cold acclimation and freezing

Carbohydrates have long been recognized as an important aspect of freezing tolerance in plants but the association between these two factors is often ambiguous. To help clarify the relationship, the allocation of carbohydrates between specific tissues within the over wintering organ (crown) of winter cereals was measured. A winter-hardy and non-winter-hardy oat (Avena sativa L.), and a rye (Secale cereale L.) cultivar were grown and frozen under controlled conditions. Crown tissue was fractionated into an upper portion, called the apical region, and a lower portion, called the lower crown. These tissues were ground in liquid N and extracted with water. Extracts were analyzed by HPLC for the simple sugars, sucrose, glucose, fructose, and for fructan of various size classes. After 3 weeks of cold acclimation at 3 degrees C, carbohydrates accounted for approximately 40% of the dry weight of oats and 60% of the dry weight of rye. The apical region, which is the tissue within the crown that acclimates to the greatest extent, was generally 10% higher in total carbohydrates than the lower crown. During a mild freeze, various carbohydrates were allocated differently between specific tissues in the three genotypes. When frozen, fructan generally decreased to a greater extent in the lower crown than in the apical region but sugars increased more in the apical region than in the lower crown. Results suggest that to understand how carbohydrates relate to freezing tolerance, regions of the crown that endure freezing stress differently should be compared.     

Content dynamics of free carbohydrates,abscisic acid,and cytokinins in both leaves and tillering nodes of winter crops in an abnormally warm winter

The free water-soluble carbohydrates, cytokinins (Cyt), and abscisic acid (ABA) content in the leaves and tillering nodes tissues of winter crops, wheat, rye, and wheat-wheatgrass hybrid (WWG) in connection with their survival in the abnormally warm winters of 2006–2008 was studied. A correlation between the monosaccharide and phytohormone content dynamics and weather conditions, i.e., plant survival, was revealed. Frost resistant winter rye was the least resistant to frequent and long thaws, 50% of which died in the winter 2006/07 and more than 90% of which in the winter 2007/08. The Cyt and monosaccharide level increased in the tissues of wintering organs in the period that preceded mass mortality of the plants. Middle frost resistant wheat and WWG changed their metabolism rate more appropriately in the abnormal warm winters of 2006–2008, which allowed them to survive more successfully in the atypical wintering conditions.     

Waterlogging and simulated acid rain after anthesis deteriorate starch quality in wheat grain

The synthesis and accumulation of starch is greatly affected by environmental stress. Wheat grown in the downstream area of the Yangtze River is easily subjected to stress of waterlogging and acid rain. In order to probe the effect of waterlogging and acid rain on yield and starch characteristic, we used winter wheat cultivars of Yangmai 16 (more resistant) and Wennong 17 (relatively sensitive) to sole stress of acid rain or waterlogging and to their combinations during grain filling. The responses of grain yield, the physiochemical properties and morphology of starch granules in endosperm to the stresses were investigated. Compared with CT (control), grain yield in Wennong 17 were significantly decreased by both pH 4.0 acid rain and pH 2.5 acid rain, while in Yangmai 16 only by pH 2.5 acid rain. Waterlogging combined with acid rain significantly reduced grain weight and grain yield in both wheat cultivars. Acid rain, waterlogging and their combination depressed activities of ADP glucose pyrophosphorylase and soluble starch synthase (SSS) in grains of both cultivars. Acid rain and waterlogging damaged endosperm cell structure and caused abnormal starch granules. Starch granules at maturity became fragile and failed to keep in shape and some granules were even totally submerged in the protein matrix and other tissue under acid rain and waterlogging. Content of amylopectin and amylopectin/amylose ratio was also decreased, while content of amylose was increased under acid rain and waterlogging. As a result, swelling power and most viscosity parameters decreased, while the pasting temperature increased in both cultivars due to stresses. In sum, acid rain and waterlogging and their combination damaged cell structure and depressed synthesis of amylopectin, and led to the formation of abnormal fragile starch granules, and finally reduced grain weight and then yield, and deteriorated starch quality.     

Production of ethanol from raw cassava starch by a nonconventional fermentation method

Raw cassava root starch was transformed into ethanol in a one-step process of fermentation, in which are combined the conventional processes of liquefaction, saccharification, and fermentation to alcohol. Aspergillus awamori NRRL 3112 and Aspergillus niger were cultivated on wheat bran and used as Koji enzymes. Commercial A. niger amyloglucosidase was also used in this experiment. A raw cassava root homogenate–enzymes–yeast mixture fermented optimally at pH 3.5 and 30°C, for five days and produced ethanol. Alcohol yields from raw cassava roots were between 82.3 and 99.6%. Fungal Koji enzymes effectively decreased the viscosity of cassava root fermentation mashes during incubation. Commercial A. niger amyloglucosidase decreased the viscosity slightly. Reduction of viscosity of fermentation mashes was 40, 84, and 93% by commercial amyloglucosidase, A. awamori, and A. niger enzymes, respectively. The reduction of viscosity of fermentation mashes is probably due to the hydrolysis of pentosans by Koji enzymes.     

Starch hydrolysis and its effect on product yield and microbial contamination in yeast ethanol fermentation

The influence of temperature and incubation time on starch gelatinization in wheat, rye and corn grain were studied. Rye starch was the most susceptlble to enzyme hydrolysls. Heat treatment of ground grain during starch gelatinlzation significantly reduced microblal contamination. In the batch fermentation of wheat, a high sugar utillization ranged from 92 to 94%. The highest alcohol yield was 65% from rye starch. The results obtained show that the high pressure cooking used for mash preparation can be replaced successfully by low temperature treatment.The authors are with the Institute of Food Technology of Plant Origin, The University of Agriculture, 60-624 Poznan, ul. Wojska Polskiego 31, Poland.     

Seasonal Changes of the Metabolites in the Leaves, Bark and Xylem Tissues of Olive Tree (Olea europaea. L) II. Carbohydrates

Seasonal changes of starch and soluble carbohydrates in leaves,bark and xylem tissues of olive tree were examined during acomplete annual cycle. Leaf starch and soluble carbohydrateswere detected at high levels during the spring and autumn metabolicallyactive periods. The low level of leaf starch in combinationwith the drastic reduction of soluble carbohydrates and mannitol,defined the summer period of the low metabolic state of thetree. The low leaf starch level in conjunction with the risensoluble carbohydrate levels in leaves in winter were associatedwith cold acclimation processes. The bark and xylem tissueswere performing as starch deposition sites, and differencesin the extent of starch accumulation in these tissues were detectedduring the seasons. The starch fluctuations in bark and xylemwere discussed in relation to the translocation of metabolitesand other physiological processes. Mannitol, the most abundantleaf carbohydrate, was examined in relation to the reducingsugars exported to the bark. The bark mannitol was examinedin conjunction with the sucrose, glucose and starch levels inthe maturing bark tissues and was correlated to the low wintertemperatures. During the winter there was a drastic reductionof mannitol circulation from the bark to xylem. Olive tree, Olea europaea, L, carbohydrates     

赤松毛虫越冬幼虫生化物质变化与抗寒性的关系

昆虫的抗寒性与其体内生化物质的种类、含量密切相关。测定了赤松毛虫(Dendrolimusspectabilis)越冬幼虫体内和血淋巴内抗寒物质含量的变化,结果表明,血淋巴内小分子碳水化合物总量1月份为10月份的3.8倍,其中以葡萄糖、海藻糖和山梨醇增加幅度较大,依次为10月份的10.08倍、2.84倍、7.44倍。3月份有较大幅度的下降,虫体内糖原含量下降了56.5%。越冬期苏氨酸、丝氨酸、谷氨酸、丙氨酸、胱氨酸增加幅度较大,分别比越冬前增加了493.8%、433.7%、474.2%、21.5%和47.1%,甘氨酸、天门冬氨酸、蛋氨酸、亮氨酸、酪氨酸、苯丙氨酸、组氨酸、精氨酸、脯氨酸含量则有较大幅度的降低。越冬幼虫体内脂肪含量下降,蛋白质含量上升。应用蛋白质垂直平板电泳法对糖蛋白进行电泳分析发现糖蛋白含量增加,为越冬前的300%。综合分析认为赤松毛虫越冬幼虫体内抗寒物质系统为小分子碳水化合物类(山梨醇、海藻糖、葡萄糖)-糖蛋白-氨基酸类(丙氨酸、苏氨酸、谷氨酸等)。该系统可随生态条件的改变而变化。     

结实期相对高温对稻米淀粉粘滞性谱及镁、钾含量的影响

选用武育粳3号(粳稻)和扬稻6号(籼稻)两个水稻品种,利用人工气候室在水稻灌浆结实期进行控温试验,设置全结实期相对高温、结实前期相对高温、结实后期相对高温、全结实期适温(对照,日均温23 ℃)对照4个处理,探讨结实期不同时段相对高温(日均温度-30 ℃)对稻米淀粉粘滞性谱和Mg、K等元素含量的影响.结果表明：结实期相对高温使武育粳3号和扬稻6号淀粉粘滞性谱特征值发生改变,其中糊化开始温度、冷胶粘度、回复值和消减值升高,最高粘度、热浆粘度和崩解值下降;结实期相对高温促进了米粉中Mg、K、N含量的提高,特别是K含量的大幅提高,使稻米中Mg/K和Mg/(N·AC·K)明显降低;而2个水稻品种的直链淀粉含量（AC）对相对高温的反应截然相反,武育粳3号的AC降低、扬稻6号的AC升高.全结实期相对高温对稻米淀粉粘滞性谱和Mg、K等元素含量的影响最大,结实前期其次,结实后期的影响较小,开花后20 d内是稻米淀粉粘滞性谱和Mg、K等元素含量受温度影响的关键时期.Mg/K和Mg/(N·AC·K)与淀粉粘滞性谱特征值显著相关,可以作为稻米食味品质评价的参考指标.     

Effects of Fertilization and Irrigation on the Seasonal Changes of Carbohydrate Reserves in Different Age-Classes of Needle on 20-Year-Old Scots Pine Trees (Pinus silvestris)

The effects of fertilization, irrigation or both on the seasonal changes of starch and soluble carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, myo-inositol, pinitol and sucrose) in needles of 20-year-old Scots pine trees (Pinus silvestris L.) were studied during three consecutive years. The starch content of the mature needles increased during spring and early summer to about 25% of dry weight. Neither fertilization nor irrigation affected the general pattern of starch accumulation during the spring. The starch reserves were mobilized when the shoot started to grow. Starch content decreased more rapidly in needles from fertilized than in those from unfertilized trees. The current needles from the control trees accumulated starch while they were still growing. The current needles of the fertilized trees did so to a lesser extent. The amount of starch was closely correlated to the air temperature and to the growth rate. Large amounts were found at low temperatures and low growth rates. The concentrations of soluble carbohydrates showed the well-known seasonal variation, with the highest value during the winter. The levels of sugars were nearly similar, irrespective of fertilization. An exception was sucrose, which was found in small quantities in needles from fertilized plots. Small amounts of sucrose were also found in growing current needles. The results are discussed in relation to growth limitation by assimilate availability and indicate that the ‘sink demand’ is the limiting factor.     

花后土壤水分状况对小麦籽粒淀粉和蛋白质积累关键调控酶活性的影响

在温室盆栽条件下,以2个不同蛋白质含量的冬小麦(Triticum aestivum L．)品种皖麦38和扬麦9为材料,研究了花后第4天开始的土壤干旱(SRWC=45％～50％)和渍水对籽粒蛋白质和淀粉积累关键调控酶活性的影响。小麦叶片和籽粒的测定结果均表明,小麦源库器官中籽粒蛋白质和淀粉积累的关键调控酶活性变化趋势在2个品种间基本一致。与对照(SRWC=75％～80％)相比,干旱和渍水均明显降低了花后旗叶中蔗糖含量和磷酸蔗糖合成酶(SPS)活性,而氨基酸含量和谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性略有下降。干旱和渍水均降低了籽粒库蔗糖合成酶(SS)和结合态淀粉合成酶(GBSS)活性,可溶性淀粉合成酶(SSS)活性降低尤甚。其中干旱处理下SS的下降比渍水更为明显。与对照相比,渍水明显降低了籽粒谷丙转氨酶(GPT)和GS活性,而干旱的影响较小。相关性分析结果表明籽粒淀粉产量和含量与SPS,SSS和GBSS活性的关系比与SS活性的关系更为密切,籽粒蛋白质产量和含量与叶中GS和籽粒中GPT活性的关系比与籽粒中GS关系活性更为密切。这些结果表明小麦源库器官中调控籽粒蛋白质和淀粉积累的关键酶活性变化是花后不同水分状况影响籽粒淀粉和蛋白质特性的重要因素。     

Alternations in phenolic acids content in developing rye grains in normal environment and during enforced dehydration

A series of high pressure liquid chroamtography analyses revealed the presence of five phenolic acids in rye caryopses (vanillic, caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic and sinapic), three of which (p-coumaric, ferulic and sinapic) were found in the free phenolic fraction. Ferulic acid was predominant, both among free acids and total phenolic acids (i.e. free, liberated from soluble esters and glycosides). The highest content of the free phenolic acids in rye caryopses was observed at the beginning of development, when on 22 DAF it was estimated at 11.55 μg·g⁻¹ DW. During dehydratation the total level of free phenolic acids in rye caryopses decreased in all investigated samples. Although total phenolic acids contents in all samples of unripe rye caryopses always decreased after dehydration, in rye sample collected in full ripeness (57 DAF), the amount of these compounds increased after the enforced dehydration. It should be added that in ester-bound-soluble phenolic acids fraction (the largest part in the total phenolic acids fraction), irrespective of the total amount decrease, much increase of sinapic acid content in this fraction was observed after dehydratation treatment in all investigated samples of caryopses of various ripeness. During the development and ripening of rye caryopses, a gradual increase in the precocious germination ability of the grain was observed. The enforced dehydration stimulated the process of precocious germination of developing and ripening rye caryopses. A possible role of phenolics in preventing precocious germination and acclimation to dehydration of developing and ripening rye grains is discussed.     

Partitioning of carbohydrates and biomass of needles in Scots pine canopy

The study was aimed at the quantitative evaluation of the temporal and spatial partitioning of non-structural carbohydrates and needle biomass in a canopy of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in a Myrtillus site type forest stand (predominant in Estonia). The tree canopy was divided into ten equal layers and the material for the spatial partitioning of the investigated characteristics was sampled from all layers. Our findings revealed a significant variation in morphology and in the partitioning of carbohydrates in needles in different layers of the canopy. The study of the temporal dynamics of carbohydrates showed that starch content in needles started to increase in early spring before budbreak, which was accompanied by a decline in soluble carbohydrates. In October, the starch content of needles was low, but the concentration of soluble sugars started to increase attaining a maximum in winter. Regression analysis indicated that before budbreak, the partitioning of soluble sugars in different canopy layers was relatively weakly correlated with the height of the layer; however, a strong correlation was observed for starch. In autumn, when the growth of trees stopped and daily temperatures decreased, the allocation of soluble sugars was correlated with the height of the canopy layer.     

Microwave-assisted silication of potato starch

Silication of potato starch was performed by microwave irradiation and convectional heating of starch with sodium metasilicate. The study has shown that microwaves offered more selective silication than convectional heating. Depending on the dose of metasilicate products of either monoesterification or crosslinking esterification were formed. Increase in the amount of the silicating agent favoured crosslinking of starch. In the case of microwave irradiation, the C–O–SiO₂Na moieties were formed, whereas the convectional heating generated the C–O–Si–O–Si–O–C crosslinks.     

Modified Method for the Determination of Grain Amylase Activity by the Falling Number

The standard method for determination of amylase activity by the falling number was modified by us to study the carbohydrate–amylase complex and time course of starch hydrolysis by amylases from rye grain. The method is based on the use of potato starch as a standard substrate and aqueous extract of grain amylases as an enzyme source.