Metabonomic and transcriptomic profiling reveals amino acid metabolism affects the quality of premium japonica rice varieties in Northeast China.

Rice consumption and demand for premium rice are increasing worldwide. However, the characterizations and how to identify the premium rice are still unclear. Small molecular metabolites have a great advantage in distinguishing subtle differences among similar agricultural products.

Advancements in Cold-Region Rice Breeding: The 4S Phenotypic-Design Breeding System and Its Applications in Heilongjiang.

Heilongjiang, located in the cold region, is China's largest rice-producing and commercializing province. The variety selection of rice in cold regions (RCR) is indispensable in promoting the rice industry's development, and technological innovation in breeding theory plays a significant role in breeding breakthrough. Based primarily on long-term research, contemplation, and breeding practices, the 4S (selected topic, selected breeding, selected progenies, and selected promotion) phenotypic-design breeding technical system for RCR, which has revolutionized the theoretical basis and deepened the conceptual model, has been developed through systematic analyses and generalization.

Genetic analysis of QTLs for lysine content in four maize DH populations.

Background: Low levels of the essential amino acid lysine in maize endosperm is considered to be a major problem regarding the nutritional quality of food and feed. Increasing the lysine content of maize is important to improve the quality of food and feed nutrition. Although the genetic basis of quality protein maize (QPM) has been studied, the further exploration of the quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying lysine content variation still needs more attention.

Analysis of volatile compounds by GCMS reveals their rice cultivars.

Due to the similarity in the grain and difference in the market value among many rice varieties, deliberate mislabeling and adulteration has become a serious problem. To check the authenticity, we aimed to discriminate rice varieties based on their volatile organic compounds (VOCs) composition by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) coupled with gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The VOC profiles of Wuyoudao 4 from nine sites in Wuchang were compared to 11 rice cultivar from other regions.

A comparison of the mineral element content of 70 different varieties of pear fruit () in China.

Background: (Maxim.) is a unique pear tree that grows in northern China. The tree has strong cold resistance and can withstand low temperatures from -30 °C to -35 °C.

Genetic dissection of QTLs for oil content in four maize DH populations.

Oil is one of the main components in maize kernels. Increasing the total oil content (TOC) is favorable to optimize feeding requirement by improving maize quality. To better understand the genetic basis of TOC, quantitative trait loci (QTL) in four double haploid (DH) populations were explored.

Nano-selenium alleviates cadmium-induced cerebellar injury by activating metal regulatory transcription factor 1 mediated metal response.

This study aims to investigate the role of metal regulatory transcription factor 1 (MTF1)-mediated metal response in cadmium (Cd)-induced cerebellar injury, and to evaluate the antagonistic effects of nano-selenium (Nano-Se) against Cd toxicity. A total of 80 chicks (1 d old, male, Hy-Line Variety White) were randomly allocated to 4 treatment groups for 3 months: the control group (fed with a basic diet,  = 20), the Nano-Se group (basic diet with 1 mg/kg nano-Se 1 mg/kg Nano-Se in basic diet,  = 20), the Nano-Se + Cd group (basic diet with 1 mg/kg Nano-Se and 140 mg/kg CdCl,  = 20) and the Cd group (basic diet with 140 mg/kg CdCl ,  = 20). The results of the experiment showed that the Purkinje cells were significantly decreased with their degradation and indistinct nucleoli after Cd exposure.

Genetic dissection of QTLs for starch content in four maize DH populations.

Starch is the principal carbohydrate source in maize kernels. Understanding the genetic basis of starch content (SC) benefits greatly in improving maize yield and optimizing end-use quality. Here, four double haploid (DH) populations were generated and were used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with SC.

Cadmium Through Disturbing MTF1-Mediated Metal Response Induced Cerebellar Injury.

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic environmental contaminant, which bio-accumulate in animals through the food chain. Cerebellum is one of the primary target organs for Cd exposure. In this study, we established a chronic Cd exposure model; 60 chickens were treated with Cd (0 mg/kg, 35 mg/kg, 70 mg/kg) for 90 days.

The protective effect of nnano-selenium against cadmium-induced cerebellar injury via the heat shock protein pathway in chicken.

Cadmium (Cd) is one of the toxic environmental heavy metals that poses health hazard to animals due to its toxicity. Nano-Selenium (Nano-Se) is a Nano-composite form of Se, which has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent for its protective roles against heavy metals-induced toxicity. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play a critical role in cellular homeostasis.

Genetic analysis of three maize husk traits by QTL mapping in a maize-teosinte population.

Background: The maize husk consists of numerous leafy layers and plays vital roles in protecting the ear from pathogen infection and dehydration. Teosinte, the wild ancestor of maize, has about three layers of small husk outer covering the ear. Although several quantitative trait loci (QTL) underlying husk morphology variation have been reported, the genetic basis of husk traits between teosinte and maize remains unclear.

Cadmium induced cerebral toxicity via modulating MTF1-MTs regulatory axis.

Metal-responsive transcription factor 1 (MTF1) participates in redox homeostasis and heavy metals detoxification via regulating the expression of metal responsive genes. However, the exact role of MTF1 in Cd-induced cerebral toxicity remains unclear. Herein, we explored the mechanism of Cd-elicited cerebral toxicity through modulating MTF1/MTs pathway in chicken cerebrum exposed to different concentrations of Cd (35 mg, 70 mg, and 140 mg/kg CdCl) via diet.

Cadmium induces the thymus apoptosis of pigs through ROS-dependent PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Cadmium (Cd) is a transition metal that is toxic to living organisms in the environment and endangers living organisms. To explore whether Cd induces apoptosis in pig thymus and its possible mechanism, the role Cd induction of the PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway in apoptosis of thymus cells was studied in pigs. We found that Cd exposure (the feed is treated with Cd) significantly increased Cd accumulation in the thymus of pigs.

Negligible transcriptome and metabolome alterations in RNAi insecticidal maize against Monolepta hieroglyphica.

RNAi-based genetically modified maize resistant to Monolepta hieroglyphica (Motschulsky) was demonstrated with negligible transcriptome and metabolome alterations compared to its unmodified equivalent. As one of the most prevalent insect pests afflicting various crops, Monolepta hieroglyphica (Motschulsky) causes severe loss of agricultural and economic productivity for many years in China. In an effort to reduce damages, in this study, an RNA interference (RNAi)-based genetically modified (GM) maize was developed.

Establishment of comprehensive quality evaluation model of fresh instant rice.

Background: Although the rice processing characteristics and processing quality evaluation technologies have been studied for many years in China, there have been few reports on the evaluation index system and evaluation method of fresh instant rice processing quality.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish a comprehensive quality evaluation model of fresh instant rice to achieve the effective quantitative quality analysis.

Methods: A total of 108 japonica rice varieties were selected as the test samples, followed by the production of fresh instant rice.

Physicochemical measurements of Japonica rice cultivars in Heilongjiang Province.

We here characterized 27 japonica rice cultivars grown in Heilongjiang province and evaluated the relationship among their iodine absorption curve, physical properties, and ratio of 13 kDa prolamin. We developed the novel estimation formulae for ratio of 13 kDa prolamin and overall hardness (H2) with the use of A and λmax.