Acid rain (AR) is a serious environmental issue inducing harmful impacts on plant growth and development. It has been reported that Liquidambar formosana, considered as an AR-sensitive tree species, was largely injured by AR, compared with Schima superba, an AR-tolerant tree species. To clarify the different responses of these two species to AR, a comparative proteomic analysis was conducted in...

Transient starch in leaves is synthesized by various biosynthetic enzymes in the chloroplasts during the light period. This paper presents the first mathematical model for the (bio)synthesis of the chain-length distribution (CLD) of transient starch to aid the understanding of this synthesis. The model expresses the rate of change of the CLD in terms of the actions of the enzymes involved. Usin...

Generally, dietary fibre (DF) includes lignin, non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) and resistant starch (RS). In monogastric species, low levels of dietary fibre in the diet are associated with various diseases and high levels reduce nutrient digestibilities. In this study, the effects of different types and levels of NSP (soluble: β-glucan, insoluble cellulose) and resistant starch on mucin secre...

Cereal grain germination is central for plant early development, and efficient germination has a major role in crop propagation and malting. Endosperm starch is the prime energy reserve in germination and seedling establishment. In this study, it was hypothesized that optimized starch granule structure, and not only the endosperm starch content per se, is important for germination and seedling ...

Abstract Heat-moisture treatment is a physical method for starch modification to improve its functional properties depending on the application. The functional characteristics of the heat-moisture treated starch depend upon the source of starch and treatment conditions including time and temperature. The main objective of this study was to determine the functional properties of heat-moisture tr...

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major public health concern worldwide which can lead to a series of disabling complications and diseases. β-glucans are non-starch polysaccharides that are being used as food additives for their numerous health benefits including the ability to lower the postprandial glucose response. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of substituting β-glucans on the ...

Four crossbred steers (395 kg) with cannulas in the rumen, proximal duodenum and distal ileum were used to evaluate effects of steaming time of corn on characteristics of digestion. The basal diet contained (DM basis) 12% forage-and 75% corn. The corn portion of the diet was provided as either dry-rolled (DR) or steam-flaked (SF), which had been exposed to steam for 34, 47 or 67 min prior to fl...

To explain the low levels of starch, high levels of (1,3;1,4)-β-glucan, and thick cell walls in grains of Brachypodium distachyon L. relative to those in other Pooideae, aspects of grain development were compared between B. distachyon and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Cell proliferation, cell expansion, and endoreduplication were reduced in B. distachyon relative to barley and, consistent with t...

In the light, photosynthesis provides carbon for metabolism and growth. In the dark, plant growth depends on carbon reserves that were accumulated during previous light periods. Many plants accumulate part of their newly-fixed carbon as starch in their leaves in the day and remobilise it to support metabolism and growth at night. The daily rhythms of starch accumulation and degradation are dyna...

Starch represents a major nutrient in the human diet providing essentially a source of energy. More recently the modification of its composition has been associated with new functionalities both at the nutritional and technological level. Targeting the major starch biosynthetic enzymes has been shown to be a valuable strategy to manipulate the amylose-amylopectin ratio in reserve starch. In the...