Millets Cereal Grains: Nutritional Composition and Utilisation in Sub-Saharan Africa

Millets are small to medium size cereal grain crops that are cultivated throughout the tropics and subtropical region. The grains are used for food and fodder for feeding animals around the globe. Millets have great economic, health importance, gluten-free, have low glycemic index and are known as “nutra–cereals”. The grains are mostly utilised as a food source by population with lower socio-economic factors which are traditional consumers in the farm and village levels. They are rich sources of carbohydrates, protein, crude fibre, phytochemicals, minerals, and vitamins. They are processed by using different traditional processes such as soaking, germination, malting, fermentation, milling or grinding, cooking, roasting and popping. Millet grains/ flours are utilised and consumed as flat breads, biscuits, snacks, beverages, porridges, chapati, dosa, pastas. There is a need to produce new value-added products from millets which is underutilised crop to improve food security and prevent micronutrients deficiencies.

Wild cereal grain consumption among Early Holocene foragers of the Balkans predates the arrival of agriculture

Forager focus on wild cereal plants has been documented in the core zone of domestication in southwestern Asia, while evidence for forager use of wild grass grains remains sporadic elsewhere. In this paper, we present starch grain and phytolith analyses of dental calculus from 60 Mesolithic and Early Neolithic individuals from five sites in the Danube Gorges of the central Balkans. This zone was inhabited by likely complex Holocene foragers for several millennia before the appearance of the first farmers ~6200 cal BC. We also analyzed forager ground stone tools for evidence of plant processing. Our results based on the study of dental calculus show that certain species of Poaceae (species of the genus Aegilops) were used since the Early Mesolithic, while ground stone tools exhibit traces of a developed grass grain processing technology. The adoption of domesticated plants in this region after ~6500 cal BC might have been eased by the existing familiarity with wild cereals.

Trihelix Transcription Factor ZmThx20 Is Required for Kernel Development in Maize

Maize kernels are the harvested portion of the plant and are related to the yield and quality of maize. The endosperm of maize is a large storage organ that constitutes 80–90% of the dry weight of mature kernels. Maize kernels have long been the study of cereal grain development to increase yield. In this study, a natural mutation that causes abnormal kernel development, and displays a shrunken kernel phenotype, was identified and named “shrunken 2008 (sh2008)”. The starch grains in sh2008 are loose and have a less proteinaceous matrix surrounding them. The total storage protein and the major storage protein zeins are ~70% of that in the wild-type control (WT); in particular, the 19 kDa and 22 kDa α-zeins. Map-based cloning revealed that sh2008 encodes a GT-2 trihelix transcription factor, ZmThx20. Using CRISPR/Cas9, two other alleles with mutated ZmThx20 were found to have the same abnormal kernel. Shrunken kernels can be rescued by overexpressing normal ZmThx20. Comparative transcriptome analysis of the kernels from sh2008 and WT showed that the GO terms of translation, ribosome, and nutrient reservoir activity were enriched in the down-regulated genes (sh2008/WT). In short, these changes can lead to defects in endosperm development and storage reserve filling in seeds.

Late Mesolithic, Middle Bronze Age and Late Iron Age/romano-british Activity at Crowdhill, Fair Oak, Eastleigh

Nine areas, totalling 1.3ha were excavated after evaluation and desk-based assessment at land near Crowdhill, Eastleigh (NGR 448830 119560). Features were densest in Areas 1 and 2, with evidence dating from the Palaeolithic to the early Romano- British period. Three pieces of flint from a Long Blade assemblage were recovered, probably from a small localised scatter. A core tool rough-out, probably for a Mesolithic tranchet axe, was found in a pit with charred hazelnut shells from which two radiocarbon dates were obtained. Two cremation graves, each containing urned deposits, and an urned 'cenotaph' provide information about the inhabitants of the area although contemporary settlement evidence is lacking. By the Late Bronze Age there was evidence for settlement in the form of a pit containing flint-tempered pottery, worked flint and burnt flint along with charred cereal grain. A radiocarbon date was obtained on charred cereal grain from this pit confirming its age. There was sparse evidence for occupation in the late prehistoric period but by the early Romano-British period a number of ditches and intercutting pits as well as artefactual material (pottery, ceramic building material, fired clay and saddle quern fragments) indicates the presence of a small rural settlement in the vicinity of the site.

Comparison of β-Glucan Content in Milled Rice, Rice Husk and Rice Bran from Rice Cultivars Grown in Different Locations of Thailand and the Relationship between β-Glucan and Amylose Contents

β-glucan is a dietary fiber that is beneficial to human health, and its content varies according to its different parts, type of cereal grain, and growing environment. In this study, the β-glucan of milled rice, rice husk, and rice bran fractions, as well as the amylose content of milled rice fraction, from 38 selected rice-paddy grains from six regions of Thailand were quantitatively determined. The milled rice of the Sakon Nakhon (SN) cultivar grown in the northeast contained the highest β-glucan content (0.88 ± 0.03%), followed by the milled rice of the Jow Khao Chiangmai (JKC) cultivar (0.71 ± 0.03%) and rice bran of the Sew Mae Jan (SMJ) cultivar (0.67 ± 0.03%) grown in the north. The results reveal that the rice cultivars from each region showing variation in the β-glucan level in each fraction, which is mainly found in milled rice and rice bran, are similar to those found in other cereal grains, although low amounts are found in the husk. The amylose and β-glucan contents in the milled rice fraction showed a strong negative correlation (r = −0.805; p < 0.0001). This new information about the β-glucan content of Thai rice cultivars could be used for the development of cereal-based functional food.

Assessment of waste grain densities to aid waterfowl conservation in the Klamath Basin of northeastern California and southeastern Oregon

Post-harvest waste seed from cereal grains is a major dietary component of waterfowl in the Klamath Basin in northeastern California and southeastern Oregon, a region that plays host to over a million waterfowl annually. Understanding food abundance is critical to local waterfowl management, therefore we conducted a study in 2008 to investigate waste grain densities in barley, oat and wheat fields. We used hierarchal mixed effect models to assess several factors that may affect waste grain densities post-harvest. We also compared the effects of residue management practices to measure the effect of these treatments. To understand the scope of post-harvest practices, we conducted a weekly road survey to document treatments applied to fields in our study area. We found that, region, best explained the variance of post-harvest waste grain in barley fields, where the Tule Lake region had 89% greater densities than Lower Klamath. Neither harvester age or baling affected waste grain in oats fields. In wheat fields, the model containing region and lodging ranked highest, where the Tule Lake region had 66% greater waste densities than Lower Klamath and lodging increased waste grain by 70%. Burning did not reduce waste grain in barley or oat fields. Chisel-disking reduced waste grain by 94% in wheat fields, compared to post-harvest. Our field treatment survey found that 70% of barley fields were untreated while 18% were disked and 13% were burned and flooded. We estimated that 82% of oat fields were burned post-harvest while 18% were burned and flooded. In wheat, 61% of fields were left untreated, while 16% were disked, 8% were chisel-plowed and 7% were flooded post-harvest. Flooding and burning occurred primarily on National Wildlife Refuges while disking, chisel-plowing and post-harvest irrigation occurred solely on private properties. Our results indicate that reducing tillage treatments would boost accessibility of cereal grain food resources to waterfowl in the Klamath Basin, and incentives to flood grain fields on private properties should be considered for the same purpose when and where possible.

Isorhamnetin Protects Zearalenone-induced Damage via the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway in Porcine Granulosa Cells

Background: Zearalenone (ZEA) is widely derived from moldy cereal grain, which has adverse effects on animal reproduction. In particular, pigs are more sensitive to ZEA-induced toxicity than other animals. Isorhamnetin, a flavonoid has extensive of pharmacological activities. However, little is known about the effects of isorhamnetin on reproduction. Thus, it would be interesting to clarify the effect and the underlying molecular mechanism of isorhamnetin involvement in ZEA-induced cytotoxicity in porcine granulosa cells.Results: Our findings showed that isorhamnetin suppressed ZEA-induced apoptosis by regulating Bcl-2 and Bax protein changes. Changes in intracellular Ca2+ levels and CHOP, ATF6, GRP78 indicated that isorhamnetin rescued ZEA-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Furthermore, isorhamnetin prevented ZEA-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) via P38 signaling pathway. Mechanistically, isorhamnetin stimulated the expression of PCNA and CyclinD, thereby raising the ratio of S phases cells in response to ZEA-induced apoptosis via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Isorhamnetin also recovered ZEA-induced steroidogenesis disorder by regulating steroidogenic enzyme gene and proteins (FSH-R, CYP19A1). Conclusions: Collectively, these findings show that isorhamnetin protects granulosa cells from ZEA-induced damage via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which promotes proliferation, alleviates steroidogenesis disorder, ERS and oxidative stress.

PSXII-28 Effects of the nutritional plane before and after breeding on performance of different hair sheep breeds

Female hair sheep, 27 Dorper (DOR), 41 Katahdin (KAT), and 39 St. Croix (STC), were used to determine influences of nutritional planes before and after breeding on performance. There were 35 multiparous and 72 primiparous sheep, the latter 2.8±0.20 yr of age. Wheat straw [4% crude protein; dry matter (DM) basis] was consumed ad libitum and supplemented with approximately 0.25% initial body weight (BW) of soybean meal (SBM; Low) or a 1:3 mixture of SBM and rolled corn at 1% BW (High; DM). The supplementation period was 162 d, and with breeding of animals in 2 groups sequentially the pre-breeding period was 84 and 97 d and that after breeding began was 78 and 65 d. Wheat straw DM intake (1.75, 1.30, 1.57, 1.15, 1.80, and 1.38% BW; SEM=0.112), average daily gain (-46, 42, -44, 70, -47, and 51 g; SEM=7.3), and change in body condition score (-0.61, 0.36, -0.53, 0.27, -0.39, and -0.18 for DOR-Low, DOR-High, KAT-Low, KAT-High, STC-Low, and STC-High, respectively; SEM=0.058) were influenced (P &lt; 0.05) by supplement treatment. Birth rate (66.7, 93.5, 84.6, 95.5, 82.8, and 100.0; SEM=9.83) and individual lamb birth weight (4.50, 4.61, 4.28, 3.98, 3.73, and 3.88 kg; SEM=0.201) were not affected by supplement treatment (P = 0.063 and 0.787, respectively), although litter size (0.92, 1.21, 1.17, 1.86, 1.12, and 1.82; SEM=0.221) and total litter birth weight (5.84, 5.74, 5.92, 7.52, 5.04, and 6.78 kg for DOR-Low, DOR-High, KAT-Low, KAT-High, STC-Low, and STC-High, respectively; SEM=0.529) were greater (P &lt; 0.05) for High than for Low. In conclusion, although there was some compensation in wheat straw intake for the different levels of supplementation, SBM given alone rather than with cereal grain adversely affected body weight and condition and reproductive performance, the latter primarily through litter size but also via a trend for an effect on birth rate.

Supplemental protease with phytase and xylanase and cereal grain source affected nutrient digestibility and performance of broilers

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplemental protease and cereal grain type on nutrient digestibility (jejunum and ileum) and performance of broilers offered diets with reduced amino acid concentrations and supplemental xylanase and phytase. A total of 624 male broiler chicks (Ross 308) were randomly distributed into 48 floor pens (13 chicks/pen; 0.07 m2/bird) and offered one of six dietary treatments with eight replicates per treatment. Dietary treatments were either maize- or wheat-based with a positive control (PC) reference diet, a negative control diet without protease (NC; 60 g/kg lower amino acid density than PC), and an NC diet with protease. The reduction in amino acid density affected (P<0.05) nutrient digestibility by varying degrees depending on cereal grain source. At 14 d of age, cereal grain and protease showed a significant interaction (P<0.05) which affected jejunal and ileal starch digestibility, whereby protease increased digestibility in birds fed wheat-based diets but not in those fed maize-based diets. Cereal grain source affected (P<0.05) nitrogen (jejunum and ileum) and digestible energy (DE; ileum), where birds fed wheat-based diets had higher digestibility than those fed maize-based diets. At 28 d of age, birds fed wheat-based diets had a higher (P<0.01) jejunal and ileal nitrogen digestibility, whereas protease reduced ileal nitrogen digestion. Protease affected ileal starch digestion in birds fed wheat, but not maize-based diets, resulting in a significant cereal grain × protease interaction (P<0.05). Wheat-based diets had a higher DE than maize-based diets in both the jejunum and ileum. From 15 to 35 d of age, cereal grain source (P<0.05) affected performance, whereby broilers offered maize-based diets had better performance than those fed wheat-based diets.