Nanoreinforcement as a strategy to improve physical properties of biodegradable composite films based on biopolymers.

Food packaging is evolving from inert plastic to renewable biopolymer film that acts as barrier against gases, light radiation, and microorganisms, reducing food waste without environmental damage. Distinct starting systems were selected to prepare films: single polymer matrix, blend of polymers, cross-linked polymers, and emulsion-based matrix. The blend of polymers was one of the best approaches to improve mechanical and barrier properties of films, especially when one of the polymers was pectin, gelatin or xanthan gum.

Comparison of mathematical models to predict glass transition temperature of rice (cultivar IRGA 424) measured by dynamic mechanical analysis.

Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was applied to measure the Tg of rice IRGA 424 at different moisture content values (9.3%-22.3% wet basis).

Bell-like homeodomain selectively regulates the high-irradiance response of phytochrome A.

Plant responses mediated by phytochrome A display a first phase saturated by transient light signals and a second phase requiring sustained excitation with far-red light (FR). These discrete outcomes, respectively so-called very-low-fluence response (VLFR) and high-irradiance response (HIR), are appropriate in different environmental and developmental contexts but the mechanisms that regulate the switch remain unexplored. Promoter analysis of a light-responsive target gene revealed a motif necessary for HIR but not for VLFR.

Abscisic acid, high-light, and oxidative stress down-regulate a photosynthetic gene via a promoter motif not involved in phytochrome-mediated transcriptional regulation.

In etiolated seedlings, light perceived by phytochrome promotes the expression of light-harvesting chlorophyll a/b protein of photosystem II (Lhcb) genes. However, excess of photosynthetically active radiation can reduce Lhcb expression. Here, we investigate the convergence and divergence of phytochrome, high-light stress and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling, which could connect these processes.

Phytochrome control of the Arabidopsis transcriptome anticipates seedling exposure to light.

Phytochromes mediate a profound developmental shift when dark-grown seedlings are exposed to light. Here, we show that a subset of genes is upregulated in phytochrome B (phyB) mutants even before dark-grown Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings are exposed to light. Most of these genes bear the RY cis motif, which is a binding site of the transcription factor ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), and the phyB mutation also enhances ABI3 expression.