Inheritance of low linolenic acid content of the seed oil of a mutant in Glycine max

Summary Linolenic acid content of the oil from F₁, F₂, and F₃ seeds was compared with the parental values from a cross between a soybean cultivar with high (7.0%) and a mutant line with low (3.4%) linolenate (183). Linolenic acid content of F₁ seeds was intermediate to that of selfed seeds from the two parents and values from reciprocal crosses were essentially the same. This demonstrated that in this cross, linolenic acid content of the oil was controlled by the embryo rather than by the maternal parent. The distribution of linolenic acid in F₂ seeds from F₁ plants was trimodal and extended across the range of parental values. High and low linolenate F₂ plants bred true for 183 content and the F₃ distribution of seeds from F₂ plants with intermediate levels of 183 was similar to the F₂ distribution. The data were consistent with a model for two alleles with additive effects at a single locus controlling percent linolenic acid in these progenies. The simply-inherited alleles for low linolenate could be readily transferred to agronomically superior soybean cultivars, which would improve the fatty acid composition of the oil.Cooperative Investigations of the Northern Regional Research Center, ARS, USDA, Peoria, Illinois and the Purdue Univ. Agric. Exp. Stn. Journal Paper No. 10,020 of the Purdue Univ. Agric. Exp. Stn.     

Exogenously applied glycinebetaine enhances seed and seed oil quality of maize (Zea mays L.) under water deficit conditions

A field trial was carried out to appraise up to what extent exogenous application of a potential osmoprotectant, glycinebetaine (GB), could ameliorate the inhibitory effects of shortage of water on maize seed and seed oil composition and oil antioxidant potential. Two maize cultivars, Agaiti-2002 (drought tolerant) and EV-1098 (drought sensitive), were exposed to drought treatments at the vegetative growth stage. Both the maize cultivars used in the present study are being widely cultivated in Pakistan and have been an important source of developing different maize hybrids. Two levels of glycinebetaine (0 or 30 mM) were foliar-applied at the vegetative stage. Water stress reduced the kernel sugar, oil, protein, moisture contents and most of the seed micro- and macro-nutrients analyzed of both maize cultivars, but it increased the contents of seed fiber and ash contents. Among different seed oil un-saturated fatty acids, water stress increased the oil oleic acid contents with a decrease in linoleic acid contents, which resulted in increased oil oleic/linoleic ratio of both maize cultivars. However, no variation was observed in oil stearic and palmitic acid contents due to water stress. A considerable increase in seed oil α-, γ-, δ- and total tocopherols and flavonoids was observed in both maize cultivars. However, oil phenolic content and 1,1′-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity decreased. Foliar-applied GB significantly increased the contents of seed sugar, oil, protein, moisture, fiber, ash, GB contents and micro- and macro-nutrients of both maize cultivars under well irrigated and water deficit conditions. Furthermore, exogenous application of GB increased the oil oleic and linoleinic acid contents. All different lipophilic compounds estimated in the seed oil increased due to foliar applied GB. Furthermore, GB also increased seed oil antioxidant activity appraised in terms of oil DPPH free radical scavenging activity. By summarizing the results, it seemed that exogenously applied GB remained in intact form until later stages of growth and counteracted the inhibitory effects of water deficit on seed and seed oil composition similarly of both maize cultivars.     

油菜种子发育早期的油体发生与调控

以甘蓝型油菜( Brassica napus L.)品种‘Westar’和‘Topas’为材料,通过超微结构观察和荧光定量PCR技术对油菜胚胎发育早期油体的发生、油体蛋白及脂肪酸合成转录因子基因的表达情况进行分析。结果显示:油体出现在油菜胚胎发育早期,在授粉9 ~ 11 d后(球形胚时期)的胚体和胚柄中均存在直径小于0. 5 μm的油体;荧光定量实验结果表明,除 BnCLO3 的表达量在整个胚胎发育阶段无明显变化外,其他油体蛋白基因 Oleosins 、 Steroleosins 和 BnCLO1 的表达量在心形胚时期就明显增多并持续增长;脂肪酸合成转录因子 BnLEC1 、 BnL1L 、 BnWRI1 和 BnFUS3 在胚胎发育阶段,基因表达规律均呈先上升再下降的趋势,但达到最高值的时间存在差异,其中 BnLEC1 最早, BnL1L 其次, BnWRI1 和 BnFUS3 较晚。研究结果表明甘蓝型油菜在球形胚时期出现油体,其结构蛋白和转录调控因子基因的表达自心形胚开始明显增多。     

Finishing season and feeding resources influence the quality of products from extensive-system Gascon pigs. Part 1: Carcass traits and quality of fresh loin

Consumers perceive pork products from local breeds reared in extensive systems positively because of their specific quality properties and regional identity. The sensory, nutritional and technological qualities of these products depend, among other things, on pig production, especially its climatic conditions and the availability of feed resources, which can influence traits of muscle and fat tissue. The present study (part 1) was part of a larger project that assessed the influence of the finishing season and feeding resources on carcass and tissue traits and the quality of meat and dry-cured ham from Gascon pigs in an extensive system. Following the specifications of the Protected Designation of Origin “Noir de Bigorre”, castrated Gascon males were reared on rangelands (grassland and forest areas) and received a supplementary diet from 5 to 6 months of age until slaughter at a minimum of 12 months of age and ca. 170 kg live weight. Three finishing seasons were considered as follows: Winter (n = 18), Spring (n = 22) and Autumn (n = 23). To estimate specific effects of season on productive and quality traits and avoid bias due to effects of genes known to influence these traits, polymorphisms in the RYR1, PRKAG3, MC4R and LEPR genes were included in the analysis models. The finishing season did not influence growth rate. Compared to Winter pigs, Spring and Autumn pigs had slightly lower carcass fatness (P < 0.05), higher ultimate pH and redder and darker color of the Longissimus muscle (LM) (P < 0.01). Loin drip loss was low overall, but was higher for Spring pigs, whereas cooking loss and shear force were similar among seasons. Spring pigs tended to have the lowest LM lipid content, whereas LM myoglobin content remained unaffected. Autumn pigs had lower potential of lipid oxidation in LM than Winter and Spring pigs (P < 0.01), but muscle metabolic traits assessed via glycolytic and oxidative enzyme activities did not differ among seasons. The finishing season modified the backfat fatty acid (FA) profile, with a lower polyunsaturated FA percentage in Autumn pigs than Winter or Spring pigs (P < 0.001), even though the saturated and monounsaturated FA percentages did not differ. In particular, Spring pigs had the lowest n-6:n-3 and C18:2:C18:3 ratios (P < 0.001), as a result of grazing. Overall, Spring and Autumn finishing seasons seem more favorable to technological and sensory pork attributes, with an additional positive effect of Spring finishing on pork nutritional value.     

油菜种子发育早期的油体发生与调控

以甘蓝型油菜（Brassica napus L.）品种‘Westar’和‘Topas’为材料,通过超微结构观察和荧光定量PCR技术对油菜胚胎发育早期油体的发生、油体蛋白及脂肪酸合成转录因子基因的表达情况进行分析。结果显示：油体出现在油菜胚胎发育早期,在授粉9~11 d后（球形胚时期）的胚体和胚柄中均存在直径小于0.5 μm的油体;荧光定量实验结果表明,除BnCLO3的表达量在整个胚胎发育阶段无明显变化外,其他油体蛋白基因Oleosins、Steroleosins和BnCLO1的表达量在心形胚时期就明显增多并持续增长;脂肪酸合成转录因子BnLEC1、BnL1L、BnWRI1和BnFUS3在胚胎发育阶段,基因表达规律均呈先上升再下降的趋势,但达到最高值的时间存在差异,其中BnLEC1最早,BnL1L其次,BnWRI1和BnFUS3较晚。研究结果表明甘蓝型油菜在球形胚时期出现油体,其结构蛋白和转录调控因子基因的表达自心形胚开始明显增多。     

三种农作物中镉积累与全硫含量的关系

采用田间试验方法,研究了土壤中镉浓度分别为2和5 mg·kg^-1时,向日葵(Helianthus annuus)、玉米(Zea mays)和大豆(Glycine max)从苗期至成熟期各生长阶段茎叶中镉积累与全硫含量的关系。结果表明,玉米和向日葵各生长时期茎中镉含量与其全硫含量呈极显著相关,叶片中镉含量与硫含量没有相关性,说明硫在植物镉的运输过程中发挥着重要的作用。土壤中镉浓度为2 mg·kg^-1时,籽实中镉含量从高到低的顺序是：向日葵＞大豆＞玉米;土壤中镉浓度为5 mg·kg^-1时,籽实中镉含量从高到低的顺序是：大豆＞向日葵＞玉米,与籽实中硫含量的高低顺序一致;玉米籽实中镉含量最低,在2个镉浓度处理下平均值仅为0.01和0.03 mg·kg^-1,低于国家标准食品中镉限量值。     

施用硫肥对几种作物与牧草产量和硫素含量的影响

为了研究不同作物的需S状况。对我国北方3种主要农作物(小麦、玉米、油菜)和牧草(苜蓿)进行了5个施硫水平(0、5、10、20和40mg·kg^-1)的盆栽试验．结果表明。增施一定量的硫肥可以提高作物生物量和产量．4种作物生物量增加5％～32％．小麦和油菜籽粒产量增加3％～20％．同时。增施硫肥可以使作物体内S素增加,但不同作物含硫量明显不同,油菜含硫量最高(0．479％～1．228％)。玉米含硫量最低(0．043％～0．091％)．同一作物不同部位含硫量不同。但同一作物不同部位含硫量呈显著的线性正相关．如油菜I、油菜Ⅱ和小麦植株与其种子含硫量的相关性都达极显著水平,R2值分别为0．399、0．654和0．547(n=15)．作物生物量、产量与施硫量相关性除苜蓿外．都达显著或极显著水平;作物生物量、产量与作物体内硫素含量除苜蓿外也显著或极显著相关;作物从土壤中吸收的S开始时随土壤的有效硫增加而增加,但达到一定程度时。随着有效硫的增加吸收的S略有下降．     

Desaturation of oxygenated fatty acids in Lesquerella and other oil seeds

Species of the genus Lesquerella, within the Brassicaceae family, have seed oils containing hydroxy fatty acids. In most Lesquerella species, either lesquerolic (14-hydroxy-eicosa-11-enoic), auricolic (14-hydroxy-eicosa-11,17-dienoic) or densipolic (12-hydroxy-octadeca-9,15-dienoic) acid dominates in the seed oils. Incubations of developing seed from Lesquerella species with 1-¹⁴C-fatty acids were conducted in order to study the biosynthetic pathways of these hydroxylated fatty acids. [¹⁴C]Oleic (octadeca-9-enoic) acid, but not [¹⁴C]linoleic (octadeca-9,12-dienoic) acid, was converted into the hydroxy fatty acid, ricinoleic (12-hydroxy-octadeca-9-enoic) acid, which was rapidly desaturated to densipolic (12-hydroxy-octadeca-9,15-dienoic) acid. In addition, [¹⁴C] ricinoleic acid added to Lesquerella seeds was efficiently desaturated at the 15 carbon. A pathway for the biosynthesis of the various hydroxylated fatty acids in Lesquerella seeds is proposed. The demonstration of desaturation at position 15 of a fatty acid with a hydroxy group at position 12 in Lesquerella prompted a comparison of the substrate recognition of the desaturases from Lesquerella and linseed. It was demonstrated that developing linseed also was able to desaturate ricinoleate at position 15 into densipolic acid. In addition, the linseed 15 desaturase was able to desaturate vernolic (12,13-epoxy-octadeca-9-enoic) acid and safflower microsomal 12 desaturase was able to desaturate 9-hydroxy-stearate. Thus, hydroxy and epoxy groups may substitute for double bonds in substrate recognition for oil-seed 12 and 15 desaturases.Abbreviations GLC gas-liquid chromatography - lysoPC palmitoyl-lysophosphatidylcholine - PC phosphatidylcholine This work was supported by grants from Stifteisen Svensk Oljeväxtforskning, Skanska Lantmännen Foundation, Swedish Farmers Foundation for Agricultural research, The Swedish Natural Science Research Council and The Swedish Council for Forestry and Agricultural Research. Nicki Engeseth was supported by the National Science Foundation under a grant award in 1992.     

地菍果实成熟过程中品质及种子油脂肪酸组分的变化

对地菍果实不同成熟期品质的研究表明,成熟时的地菍果实,维生素C、总糖含量达最高值,酸度则降至最低。此期风味最好,软硬适宜,色泽甚佳,为地菍鲜食的最佳采收期。对不同成熟期的种子油脂肪酸分析表明,种子油以不饱和脂肪酸为主,尤其是亚油酸含量很高,达84%;果实成熟过程中脂肪酸各级分的含量变化趋势不明显。     

莱菔子脂肪酸成分的GC-MS分析

采用索氏提取法提取莱菔(Raphanussativus)种子中的脂肪酸成分,进行甲酯化处理后用气相色谱-质谱联用技术分离和鉴定脂肪酸成分的组成和含量。结果表明,从莱菔子中共分离鉴定出12种脂肪酸成分,占总量的99.32%,主要包括芥酸(32.47%)、油酸(29.07%)、亚油酸(9.45%)、亚麻酸(8.41%)、棕榈酸(4.31%)和硬脂酸(2.08%)等脂肪酸,其中饱和脂肪酸占9.25%,不饱和脂肪酸高达90.07%。     

Effect of foliar application of amino acid,humic acid and fulvic acid on the oil content and quality of olive

Olives are evergreen trees with a low growth rate that are cultivated in semi-tropical climates. The biochemical properties of three olive cultivars were explored under the foliar application of amino and organic acids in a two-factor factorial experiment based on a randomized complete block design with three replications in Rudbar County, Iran. The first factor was assigned to olive cultivar (‘Zard’, ‘Arbequina’, and ‘Manzanilla’) and the second factor to the foliar application of organic acids at 9 levels of control, arginine, glutamine, humic acid, fulvic acid, arginine + humic acid, arginine + fulvic acid, glutamine + humic acid, and glutamine + fulvic acid. The recorded traits included the Brix value, content of oil, protein, chlorophyll, carotenoid, anthocyanins, phenols, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The Results showed that cv. ‘Zard’ had the highest Brix value, fruit protein content, carotenoid, anthocyanins, and phenols, and cv. ‘Arbequina’ had the highest oil fraction. The Results of the simple effects of organic acids revealed that the trees treated with arginine + humic acid had the highest fruit protein content and total chlorophyll, and those treated with humic acid had the highest anthocyanin and phenol contents. Data on the interaction of ‘cultivar × organic acids’ showed that ‘Arbequina × glutamine’ had the highest oil content, ‘Manzanilla × fulvic acid’ and ‘Manzanilla × glutamine + fulvic acid’ had the highest fruit protein content, ‘Zard × humic acid’ had the highest phenol content, ‘Arbequina × arginine’ had the highest superoxide dismutase activity, and ‘Arbequina × glutamine + fulvic acid’ had the highest peroxidase activity. Finally, it can be concluded that Arbequina cultivar produced the most oil when foliar sprayed with glutamine.     

Deficit irrigation affects seasonal changes in leaf physiology and oil quality of Olea europaea (cultivars Frantoio and Leccino)

The olive tree is a traditionally nonirrigated crop that occupies quite an extensive agricultural area in Mediterranean-type agroecosystems. Improvements in water-use efficiency of crops are essential under the scenarios of water scarcity predicted by global change models for the Mediterranean region. Recently, irrigation has been introduced to increase the low land productivity, but there is little information on ecophysiological aspects and quality features intended for a sagacious use of water, while being of major importance for the achievement of high-quality products as olive oil. Therefore, deficit irrigation programmes were developed to improve water-use efficiency, crop productivity and quality in a subhumid zone of Southern Italy with good winter–spring precipitation. The response of mature olive trees to deficit irrigation in deep soils was studied on cultivars Frantoio and Leccino by examining atmospheric environment and soil moisture, gas exchange and plant water status, as well as oil yield and chemical analysis. Trees were not irrigated (rainfed) or subjected to irrigation at 66% and 100% of crop evapotranspiration (ET_C), starting from pit hardening to early fruit veraison. Improvements in the photosynthetic capacity induced by increasing soil water availability were only of minor importance. However, plant water status was positively influenced by deficit irrigation, with 66% and 100% of ET_C treatments hardly differing from one another though consistently diverging from rainfed plants. The effect of water stress on photosynthesis was mainly dependent on diffusion resistances in response to soil moisture. Leccino showed higher instantaneous water-use efficiency than Frantoio. Crop yield increased proportionally to the amount of seasonal water volume, confirming differences between cultivars in water-use efficiency. The unsaturated/saturated and the monounsaturated/polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios of the oil also differed between cultivars, while the watering regime had minor effects. Although irrigation can modify the fatty acid profile, polyphenol contents were scarcely affected by the water supply. Irrigation to 100% of ET_C in the period August–September might be advisable to achieve high-quality yields, while saving consistent amounts of water.     

Influence of salt stress on seed yield and oil quality of two sunflower hybrids

Sunflower is a major oil seed crop worldwide, and it is also an important crop in Mediterranean areas where salinity is an increasing problem. In this paper, the effect of saline irrigation water on seed yield and quality of sunflower was evaluated. A pot experiment was carried out over two crop seasons on two hybrids – a standard one (Carlos) and a high oleic one (Tenor) – submitted to five salinity levels of irrigation water (0.6, 3, 6, 9 and 12 dS m^?1). Soil salinity was monitored over the entire crop cycle, and leaf ion content was determined at maturity. Tenor showed higher Na⁺ and Mg²⁺ content but lower K⁺ values. No difference between the two hybrids was observed for Cl^? content. A progressive increase in leaf Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^? contents and Na⁺/K⁺ ratio with increasing salinity level was observed. Seed weight per head, 1000 achene weight, number of seeds per plant and oil yield significantly decreased under salt stress in both hybrids. The percent seed yield decrease was higher per unit increase in electrical conductivity of irrigation water, ECw (8%), than per unit increase in electrical conductivity of saturated‐soil extracts, ECe (5%). Concerning oil fatty acid composition, the main significant difference as result of salt stress was a progressive increase in oleic acid content, from 82.2% to 86.7% for Tenor and from 21.8% to 27.3% for Carlos, which was consistent with a decrease in linoleic acid content, from 5.9% to 3% for Tenor and from 66% to 61.3% for Carlos. These results confirm the possible inhibition of oleate desaturase under salt stress.     

Mapping QTL controlling fatty acid composition in a doubled haploid rapeseed population segregating for oil content

Increasing oil content and improving the fatty acid composition in the seed oil are important breeding goals for rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). The objective of the study was to investigate a possible relationship between fatty acid composition and oil content in an oilseed rape doubled haploid (DH) population. The DH population was derived from a cross between the German cultivar Sollux and the Chinese cultivar Gaoyou, both having a high erucic acid and a very high oil content. In total, 282 DH lines were evaluated in replicated field experiments in four environments, two each in Germany and in China. Fatty acid composition of the seed oil was analyzed by gas liquid chromatography and oil content was determined by NIRS. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) for fatty acid contents were mapped and their additive main effects were determined by a mixed model approach using the program QTLMapper. For all fatty acids large and highly significant genetic variations among the genotypes were observed. High heritabilities were determined for oil content and for all fatty acids (h ² = 0.82 to 0.94), except for stearic acid content (h ²= 0.38). Significant correlations were found between the contents of all individual fatty acids and oil content. Closest genetic correlations were found between oil content and the sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids (18:2 + 18:3; r _G = −0.46), the sum of monounsaturated fatty acids (18:1 + 20:1 + 22:1; r _G = 0.46) and palmitic acid (16:0; r _G = −0.34), respectively. Between one and eight QTL for the contents of the different fatty acids were detected. Together, their additive main effects explained between 28% and 65% of the genetic variance for the individual fatty acids. Ten QTL for fatty acid contents mapped within a distance of 0 to 10 cM to QTL for oil content, which were previously identified in this DH population. QTL mapped within this distance to each other are likely to be identical. The results indicate a close interrelationship between fatty acid composition and oil content, which should be considered when breeding for increased oil content or improved oil composition in rapeseed.     

Fish oil and treatment of cancer cachexia

Cancer cachexia is a syndrome characterized by high prevalence and multifactorial etiology. The pathophysiology of cancer-induced weight loss is mainly due to failure of food intake and to various metabolic abnormalities, including hypermetabolism. Multiple biologic pathways are involved in this process, including pro-inflammatory cytokines, neuroendocrine hormones and tumour specific factors such as proteolysis inducing factor (PIF). As a result, a protein and energy depletion is observed that is greater than what would be expected based on the simple decrease of food intake and is associated with marked reduction of lean body mass (LBM). Therapy requires a multi-model approach with control of reduced food intake and of the metabolic abnormalities. Combination treatment with nutritional support and modulation of metabolic/inflammation changes is promising. In this regard, n-3 fatty acids in dose of at least 1.5 g/day for a prolonged time to advanced cancer patients with weight loss, are associated with an improvement of clinical, biological and functional parameters and with amelioration of quality of life.     

Taxonomy of Pinus species based on the seed oil fatty acid compositions

 The fatty acid compositions of the seed oils from ten pine species have been established by capillary gas-liquid chromatography of the methyl esters. With regard to either normal fatty acids or Δ5-olefinic acids, the general pattern of fatty acids did not differ from that of other pine seed oils reported previously. The main fatty acid was linoleic (9,12–18:2) acid (44.4–57.1%), followed by either oleic (9–18:1) acid (13.4–24.5%) or pinolenic (5,9,12–18:3) acid (1.5–25.2%). When applying multivariate analyses to the chemometric data (13 variables) of 49 pine species (ca. 40% of the living pine species), it was possible to distinguish between several sections: Pinea, Longifolia, Halepensis, Ponderosa-Banksiana, Sylvestris, and Cembra. The latter section was clearly divided into two sub-groups. A few species that presented a low overall content of Δ5-olefinic acids, and that grow in warm-temperate regions, were isolated from the bulk of other pine species. It is hypothesized that Δ5-olefinic acids might be related to cold-acclimation. Received: 5 June 1997 / Accepted: 17 August 1997     

Biomechanical bone strength and bone mass in young male and female rats fed a fish oil diet

The study objective was to determine if male and female rats fed a diet rich in fish oil had femurs and vertebrae that were stronger and more resistant to fracture than rats not fed omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. Weanling rats were randomized to a control or a fish oil diet for 5 weeks. Feeding fish oil to males had no effect on biomechanical strength properties of femurs and vertebrae as measured by three point bending and compression, respectively. In contrast, females fed fish oil had reduced length growth and a lower vertebral peak load. These effects may have been partly mediated by a lower food intake but were not associated with differences in serum IGF-I, estradiol or urinary calcium. The effect of consuming a fish oil diet into later adulthood should be investigated to determine if femur strength is also affected among females.     

Lipid content and related fatty acid composition in fallow and cultivated soil in Southern Italy

Summary Lipid content and fatty acid composition were studied on two soil samples—one fallow and one cultivated with durum wheat. Differences between the cultivated and the fallow subunits in respect of total lipid content and the saponifiable fraction were found to be statistically significant. The same observations were made on some fatty acids showing either accumulation or decrease after three years. The interaction years x cultivation for total lipid content and the saponifiable fraction was significant showing that accumulation and reduction of lipids in the cultivated subunit are in equilibrium. The interaction dates of sampling x cultivation was significant for C150, C160, C180, C240 as their contents increase in the cultivated subunit in July as a result of the decomposition of plant tissues.Results discussed in this paper have been partially presented at the 7th International Symposium Humus et Planta Brno (Czechoslovakia) on August 20–25th 1979. This research has been partially supported by the National Research Council of Italy and carried out at the Experimental Institute of Agronomy — Bari — Italy (Director: F. Lanza).