Potential Role and Involvement of Antioxidants and Other Secondary Metabolites of Wheat in the Infection Process and Resistance to Fusarium spp.

This article provides a summary of current knowledge about wheat metabolites that may affect resistance against Fusarium head blight (FHB). The mechanisms of resistance, the roles of secondary metabolites in wheat defense, and future directions for breeding are assessed. The soluble phenols play an important role in redox regulation in plant tissues and can act as antimicrobial compounds. The color of cereal hulls and grains is caused by such natural pigments as anthocyanins in the aleurone, endosperm, and pericarp layers of the grain. Phenolic acids, alkylresorcinols, and phytohormones actively participate in the defense system, whereas carotenoids show various effects against Fusarium species that are positively correlated with the levels of their mycotoxins. Pathogen infestation of vegetative tissues induces volatile organic compounds production, which can provide defensive functions to infested wheat. The efficient use of native resistance in the wheat gene pool, introgression of resistant alleles, and implementation of modern genotypic strategies to increase levels of native secondary metabolites with antifungal properties can enhance the FHB resistance of new varieties. Expanding the breeding interest in the use of forms with different grain color and plant organs can be a potential benefit for the creation of lines with increased resistance to various stresses.

Farmers’ preferences for composite corn in dry land area of Central Sulawesi

The success of a product is whether the product or technology is accepted by the user/consumer. To bridge the gap between breeders and farmers and to ensure that new varieties satisfy farmers’ preferences and suitable to the its socioeconomic situations, a study of farmers’ preference is needed. Therefore the study aims to know the preference and the feasibility of the composite corn in Central Sulawesi. The introduction composite corn consist of Srikandi Kuning, Lamuru, Sukmaraga, and Anoman which were applied in Kaji Terap Program. A survey had been conducted to users in Parigi Moutong and Sigi District Central Sulawesi, and a quantitative and descriptive analysis approach were employed in this study. Proportion analysis was used to measure the general perferences of farmers as user while the detail perception was calculated using scoring method. The findings show that more than 50% users in dry land have high preference to composite corn for some characteristics namely: productivity, drought, diseases resistant, grain color, market preferences, and number of corncob. Anoman which has high productivity but has lower preference because of its color does not suit with the market’ preference.

Genome-Wide Linkage Mapping for Preharvest Sprouting Resistance in Wheat Using 15K Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Arrays

Preharvest sprouting (PHS) significantly reduces grain yield and quality. Identification of genetic loci for PHS resistance will facilitate breeding sprouting-resistant wheat cultivars. In this study, we constructed a genetic map comprising 1,702 non-redundant markers in a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from cross Yangxiaomai/Zhongyou9507 using the wheat 15K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assay. Four quantitative trait loci (QTL) for germination index (GI), a major indicator of PHS, were identified, explaining 4.6–18.5% of the phenotypic variances. Resistance alleles of Qphs.caas-3AL, Qphs.caas-3DL, and Qphs.caas-7BL were from Yangxiaomai, and Zhongyou9507 contributed a resistance allele in Qphs.caas-4AL. No epistatic effects were detected among the QTL, and combined resistance alleles significantly increased PHS resistance. Sequencing and linkage mapping showed that Qphs.caas-3AL and Qphs.caas-3DL corresponded to grain color genes Tamyb10-A and Tamyb10-D, respectively, whereas Qphs.caas-4AL and Qphs.caas-7BL were probably new QTL for PHS. We further developed cost-effective, high-throughput kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) markers tightly linked to Qphs.caas-4AL and Qphs.caas-7BL and validated their association with GI in a test panel of cultivars. The resistance alleles at the Qphs.caas-4AL and Qphs.caas-7BL loci were present in 72.2 and 16.5% cultivars, respectively, suggesting that the former might be subjected to positive selection in wheat breeding. The findings provide not only genetic resources for PHS resistance but also breeding tools for marker-assisted selection.

Transcriptomics Integrated With Widely Targeted Metabolomics Reveals the Mechanism Underlying Grain Color Formation in Wheat at the Grain-Filling Stage

Colored wheat grains have a unique nutritional value. To elucidate the color formation mechanism in wheat seeds, comprehensive metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses were conducted on purple (Dianmai 20-1), blue (Dianmai 20-8), and white (Dianmai 16) wheat at the grain-filling stage. The results showed that the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was closely related to grain color formation. Among the 603 metabolites identified in all varieties, there were 98 flavonoids. Forty-six flavonoids were detected in purple and blue wheat, and there were fewer flavonoids in white wheat than in colored wheat. Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses showed that gene expression modulated the flavonoid composition and content, resulting in different metabolite levels of pelargonidin, cyanidin, and delphinidin, thus affecting the color formation of wheat grains. The present study clarifies the mechanism by which pigmentation develops in wheat grains and provides an empirical reference for colored wheat breeding.

Large-Scale Non-Targeted Metabolomics Reveals Antioxidant, Nutraceutical and Therapeutic Potentials of Sorghum

Sorghum is one of the most important food and feed cereal crops and has been gaining industrial importance in recent years for its biofuel, nutraceutical and antioxidant values. A genetic profile variation study was undertaken for the accumulation of phytochemicals in 61 diverse sorghum accessions differing in their growth habitat and grain color through non-targeted Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) analysis. Mass Spectrometry–Data Independent AnaLysis (MS-DIAL) and MetaboAnalyst identified 221 metabolites belonging to 27 different phytochemicals. Tropical and temperate sorghums were distinct in their metabolic profiles with minimum overlaps, and 51 different metabolites were crucial in differentiating the two groups. Temperate sorghums had the ability to accumulate more of phenolic acids, phytosterols, flavonoids, carotenoids, and tropical sorghums for stress-related amino acids, sugars and fatty acids. Grain-color-based Partial Least Square–Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) analysis identified 94 Variable Importance in Projections (VIP) metabolites containing majority of flavonoids, phenylpropanoids and phytosterols. This study identified two sorghum lines (IS 7748 and IS 14861) with rich amounts of antioxidants (catechins and epicatechins) belonging to the group of condensed tannins that otherwise do not accumulate commonly in sorghum. Out of 13 metabolic pathways identified, flavonoid biosynthesis showed the highest expression. This study provided new opportunities for developing biofortified sorghum with enhanced nutraceutical and therapeutics through molecular breeding and metabolic engineering.

Development of hull-less barley with ultra-low gluten content via target genes combination. I. Isolation of triple mutants and black grained genotypes

Aim. The purpose of the research, presented in this paper, is to develop (as the first one in Ukraine) hull-less barley breeding material with ultra-low gluten, combining three hordein-deficient mutations, derived from Risø56, Risø1508, and R118, with black grain color as an indication of bioactive pigments content, enhancing the functional status of grain as a food product. Methods. We used electrophoretic analysis of proteins in polyacrylamide gel, DNA isolation by the CTAB method, polymerase chain reaction with DNA-markers, restriction analysis and electrophoretic separa tion of DNA in agarose gel. Results. The article presents the results of the first stage of combining target hordeindefi cient mutations by binary crosses. The F2/3 and F3/4 populations were derived from binary crosses of Risø56 × Risø1508 (reciprocal Risø1508 × Risø56) and R118 × hull-less barley Achilles. The new PCR protocol was optimized. Markers B1hor, 3a5F and Dhor-m were selected to identify mutations in B, C and D hordeins. Conclusions. Several barley genotypes with one or two target hordein-deficient mutations and black grain color were isolated. The genotypes obtained will be used in a further backcrosses program, aimed at developing of a black hull-less barley variety with ultra-low gluten content.

Genetic parameters and selection of micromineral-biofortified Andean bean lines with high technological quality

The development of new micromineral-biofortified Andean bean cultivars with a grain pattern that meets consumers’ requirements is unprecedented. This study proposes to obtain estimates of genetic parameters for technological-quality traits and micromineral concentration and to select superior Andean bean lines. The cross between cultivars Hooter and Cal 96 generated the recombinant inbred line population that was evaluated in the F5:6 and F5:7 generations. Technological quality was analyzed based on grain color determined in a colorimeter: L* (dark to light), a* (green to red) and b* (blue to yellow) values; and mass of 100 grains. Micromineral concentration (iron and zinc) was obtained by acid digestion. A significant genotype effect was found for all evaluated traits, except for zinc concentration in the F5:7 generation. L*, a* and b* showed high heritability (h2 ≥ 90.85%) and qualitative inheritance. High heritability (h2 ≥ 75.57%) was also observed for mass of 100 grains and iron and zinc concentrations, which exhibited quantitative inheritance. Grains of the cranberry bean lines DFA 39-18 and DFA 01-18 are very light (L* ≥ 52.18), with light red (a* ≤ 9.49) and light yellow (b* ≤ 16.00) shades; large (mass of 100 grains > 40 g); and have high iron concentrations (Fe ≥ 95.00 mg kg-1 dry matter). Grains of the red mottled bean lines DFA 03-18, DFA 27-18 and DFA 44-18 exhibited high technological quality, i.e., they are dark (33.11 < L* < 37.28), light red (16.24 < a*< 18.72) and very light yellow (b* ≤ 9.45) in shade, and large (mass of 100 grains > 40 g). These lines will be selected by the breeding program.

QUALITY PARAMETERS AND POTENTIALS OF UTILIZATION OF DIFFERENT MAIZE HYBRIDS FOR FOOD AND FEED

Quality parameters of six maize hybrids created at the Maize Research Institute Zemun Polje were investigated in this study. Physical properties, kernel structure, and chemical composition of one yellow dent standard and five specialty maize hybrids of different grain color were analyzed. Whole-grain maize flour is naturally gluten-free which makes it suitable for persons suffering from celiac disease. Fiber, protein, and oil make maize grain an essential component for animal feed production. All maize hybrids showed favorable processing and nutritive characteristics which make them highly suitable for different uses.