Genotypic variation in milling depression of iron and zinc concentration in rice grain

Plant and Soil - The loss of iron and zinc during milling to produce white rice can have serious consequences for human health. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate Fe and Zn partitioning...     

Phosphate,phytate and phytases in plants: from fundamental knowledge gained in Arabidopsis to potential biotechnological applications in wheat

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient for all living organisms. In plants, P is taken up from the rhizosphere by the roots mainly as inorganic phosphate (Pi), which is required in large and sufficient quantities to maximize crop yields. In today’s agricultural society, crop yield is mostly ensured by the excessive use of Pi fertilizers, a costly practice neither eco-friendly or sustainable. Therefore, generating plants with improved P use efficiency (PUE) is of major interest. Among the various strategies employed to date, attempts to engineer genetically modified crops with improved capacity to utilize phytate (PA), the largest soil P form and unfortunately not taken up by plants, remains a key challenge. To meet these challenges, we need a better understanding of the mechanisms regulating Pi sensing, signaling, transport and storage in plants. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on these aspects, which are mainly gained from investigations conducted in Arabidopsis thaliana, and we extended it to those available on an economically important crop, wheat. Strategies to enhance the PA use, through the use of bacterial or fungal phytases and other attempts of reducing seed PA levels, are also discussed. We critically review these data in terms of their potential for use as a technology for genetic manipulation of PUE in wheat, which would be both economically and environmentally beneficial.     

Phenotypic and Genetic Diversity of Local <Emphasis Type="Italic">Perilla</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Perilla frutescens</Emphasis> (L.) Britt.) from Northern Thailand

Phenotypic and Genetic Diversity of Local Perilla ( Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt.) from Northern Thailand. Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt., an important oil and culinary crop in Asia, is a valuable genetic resource. Despite its nutritional value and historic and cultural importance, research on Perilla has been scarce, particularly as far as its genetic diversity is concerned. The aims of the present study were to assess variability within and between 29 seed samples of P. frutescens collected from farmers in northern Thailand, and evaluation conducted of their genetic, morphological, and agronomic characteristics, and the seed composition, including polyunsaturated fatty acids omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9, and the vitamin E γ-tocopherols. Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt. of northern Thailand is genetically variable, and structured according to origin of collection which was the consequence of local adaptation. The discovery of high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, namely α-linolenic acid and γ-tocopherols, in some Perilla samples indicates the potential for utilizing Perilla for its high omega-3 content including as a vitamin E supplement for humans, a prospect that should be taken into account when planning conservation strategies or when Perilla variability is used in breeding programs.