• Energy Research

L'avoine est une culture à double usage utilisée à la fois pour l'alimentation humaine et animale. L'objectif de ce travail est de caractériser les variétés d'avoine pour leur diversité génétique en termes de rendement, de traits physiques et de composition nutritionnelle, dans le but d'identifier des variétés parentes potentielles pour des programmes de sélection visant à développer de nouvelles variétés d'avoine pour une alimentation améliorée du bétail et diverses applications industrielles. Effectuer des analyses chimiques pour les fractions de protéines et de glucides, l'énergie et les nutriments digestibles estimés, des analyses stastiques effectuées pour évaluer les variations génétiques des traits parmi les vaillants. Une variation génétique significative (p<0,05) du rendement en grains, de la densité des grains, du pourcentage de tamisage, des protéines brutes, de l'extrait d'éther, des fibres détergentes neutres et acides, de la cellulose, de la lignine, de l'azote insoluble détergent neutre et acide a été observée dans les grains de huit variétés d'avoine. Toutes les fractions protéiques présentaient des différences significatives (p<0,05). La teneur totale en glucides variait significativement (p<0,05) de 73 % à 79 %. Les grains contenaient des niveaux plus élevés d'amidon et de pectine moyennement dégradables (54,12-60,16 %) par rapport à la paroi cellulaire lentement dégradable (26-33 %), à la paroi cellulaire liée à la lignine (6-10 %) et aux sucres rapidement dégradables (2-8 %). Une variation significative (p<0,05) a été observée en termes d'énergie brute, d'énergie digestible, d'énergie métabolisable, d'énergie nette pour l'entretien et la lactation d'environ (2 Mcal/kg de matière sèche), de gain (1,6-1,8 Mcal/kg de matière sèche), de nutriments digestibles totaux, de matière sèche digestible, de protéines dégradables du rumen et de nutriments digestibles totaux liés aux protéines brutes, aux acides gras, aux fibres détergentes neutres et aux glucides non fibreux. La matière organique et l'extrait d'éther étaient positivement associés (p<0,01) aux nutriments digestibles totaux, à l'énergie digestible et métabolisable, à la matière sèche digestible et aux glucides non fibreux véritablement digestibles, tandis que les fibres détergentes neutres et acides et la cellulose présentaient une corrélation négative. La recherche montre que les variétés d'avoine varient considérablement en termes de rendement, de caractéristiques physiques et de contenu nutritionnel, offrant un potentiel de sélection de meilleures variétés pour l'alimentation animale et les utilisations industrielles. La avena es un cultivo de doble propósito utilizado tanto para alimentos como para piensos para animales. El objetivo de este trabajo es caracterizar las variedades de avena por su diversidad genética en rendimiento, rasgos físicos y composición nutricional, con el objetivo de identificar posibles variedades madre para programas de mejoramiento para desarrollar nuevas variedades de avena para mejorar la alimentación del ganado y diversas aplicaciones industriales. Para realizar el análisis químico de las fracciones de proteínas y carbohidros, la estimación de la energía y los nutrientes digeribles, se realizaron análisis estadísticos para evaluar las variaciones genéticas de los rasgos entre los restos. Se observó una variación genética significativa (p<0.05) para el rendimiento de grano, densidad de grano, porcentaje de tamizado, proteína cruda, extracto de éter, fibra detergente neutra y ácida, celulosa, lignina, nitrógeno insoluble en detergente neutro y ácido en granos de ocho variedades de avena. Todas las fracciones proteicas mostraron diferencias significativas (p<0.05). El contenido total de carbohidratos varió significativamente (p<0.05) del 73% al 79%. Los granos contenían niveles más altos de almidón y pectina degradables de forma intermedia (54.12-60.16%) en comparación con la pared celular degradable lentamente (26-33%), pared celular unida a lignina (6-10%) y azúcares rápidamente degradables (2-8%). Se observó una variación significativa (p<0.05) en términos de energía bruta, energía digerible, energía metabolizable, energía neta para mantenimiento y lactancia de aproximadamente (2 Mcal/kg de materia seca), ganancia (1.6-1.8 Mcal/kg de materia seca), nutrientes digeribles totales, materia seca digerible, proteína degradable del rumen y nutrientes digeribles totales relacionados con proteína bruta, ácido graso, fibra detergente neutra y carbohidratos sin fibra. La materia orgánica y el extracto de éter se asociaron positivamente (p<0,01) con los nutrientes digeribles totales, la energía digerible y metabolizable, la materia seca digerible y los cabohidratos no fibrosos verdaderamente digeribles, mientras que la fibra detergente neutra y ácida y la celulosa mostraron una correlación negativa. La investigación muestra que las variedades de avena varían ampliamente en su rendimiento, características físicas y contenido nutricional, lo que ofrece potencial para obtener mejores variedades tanto para alimentación animal como para usos industriales. Oat is a dual-purpose crop used for both food and feed for animals. The objective of this work is to characterize oat varieties for their genetic diversity in yield, physical traits, and nutritional composition, aiming to identify potential parent varieties for breeding programs to develop new oat varieties for improved livestock feed and diverse industrial applications. To conduct, chemical analysis for protein and carbohydare fractions, energy and digestible nutrient estimated, stastical analyses performed to assess genetic variations for traits among vaieties. Significant genetic variation (p<0.05) for grain yield, grain density, sieving percentage, crude protein, ether extract, neutral and acid detergent fiber, cellulose, lignin, neutral and acid detergent insoluble nitrogen were observed in grains of eight oat varieties. All protein fractions exhibited significant differences (p<0.05). Total carbohydrate content ranged significantly (p<0.05) from 73% to 79%. The grains contained higher levels of intermediately degradable starch and pectin (54.12-60.16%) compared to the slowly degradable cell wall (26-33%), lignin bounded cell wall (6-10%), and rapidly degradable sugars (2-8%). Significant variation (p<0.05) was observed in terms of gross energy, digestible energy, metabolizable energy, net energy for maintenance and lactation about (2 Mcal/kg dry matter), gain (1.6-1.8 Mcal/kg dry matter), total digestible nutrients, digestible dry matter, rumen degradable protein, and total digestible nutrients related to crude protein, fatty acid, neutral detergent fiber, and non-fiber carbohydrate. Organic matter and ether extract were positively associated (p<0.01) with total digestible nutrients, digestible and metabolizable energy, dry matter digestible and truly digestible non fibrous cabohydrates, while neutral and acid detergent fiber and cellulose showed negative correlation. The research shows that oat varieties vary widely in their yield, physical features, and nutritional content, offering potential for breeding better varieties for both animal feed and industrial uses. الشوفان هو محصول مزدوج الغرض يستخدم لكل من الغذاء والعلف للحيوانات. الهدف من هذا العمل هو توصيف أصناف الشوفان لتنوعها الجيني في الغلة والسمات الجسدية والتركيب الغذائي، بهدف تحديد الأصناف الأصلية المحتملة لبرامج التكاثر لتطوير أصناف جديدة من الشوفان لتحسين علف الماشية والتطبيقات الصناعية المتنوعة. إجراء تحليل كيميائي لأجزاء البروتين والكربوهيدرات والطاقة والمغذيات القابلة للهضم المقدرة، وإجراء تحليلات ثابتة لتقييم الاختلافات الجينية للسمات بين الأصناف. لوحظ تباين جيني كبير (p<0.05) لمحصول الحبوب، وكثافة الحبوب، ونسبة النخل، والبروتين الخام، ومستخلص الأثير، وألياف المنظفات المحايدة والحمضية، والسليلوز، واللجنين، والنيتروجين المحايد والمنظفات الحمضية غير القابلة للذوبان في الحبوب من ثمانية أنواع من الشوفان. أظهرت جميع أجزاء البروتين اختلافات كبيرة (p<0.05). تراوح إجمالي محتوى الكربوهيدرات بشكل كبير (p<0.05) من 73 ٪ إلى 79 ٪. تحتوي الحبوب على مستويات أعلى من النشا والبكتين القابلين للتحلل بشكل متوسط (54.12-60.16 ٪) مقارنة بجدار الخلية القابل للتحلل ببطء (26-33 ٪)، وجدار الخلية المحدود بالليغنين (6-10 ٪)، والسكريات سريعة التحلل (2-8 ٪). لوحظ تباين كبير (p<0.05) من حيث الطاقة الإجمالية، والطاقة القابلة للهضم، والطاقة القابلة للاستقلاب، والطاقة الصافية للصيانة والرضاعة حوالي (2 مكال/كجم من المادة الجافة)، والكسب (1.6-1.8 مكال/كجم من المادة الجافة)، ومجموع العناصر الغذائية القابلة للهضم، والمادة الجافة القابلة للهضم، والبروتين القابل للتحلل، ومجموع العناصر الغذائية القابلة للهضم المتعلقة بالبروتين الخام، والأحماض الدهنية، وألياف المنظفات المحايدة، والكربوهيدرات غير الألياف. ارتبطت المادة العضوية ومستخلص الأثير بشكل إيجابي (p<0.01) بالمغذيات الكلية القابلة للهضم، والطاقة القابلة للهضم والاستقلاب، والمادة الجافة القابلة للهضم والكابوهيدرات غير الليفية القابلة للهضم حقًا، في حين أظهرت الألياف المحايدة والمنظفات الحمضية والسليلوز ارتباطًا سلبيًا. يُظهر البحث أن أصناف الشوفان تختلف اختلافًا كبيرًا في إنتاجها وخصائصها الفيزيائية ومحتواها الغذائي، مما يوفر إمكانية لتربية أصناف أفضل لكل من الأعلاف الحيوانية والاستخدامات الصناعية.

Heat stress (HS) is one of the major abiotic stresses affecting the production and quality of wheat. Rising temperatures are particularly threatening to wheat production. A detailed overview of morpho-physio-biochemical responses of wheat to HS is critical to identify various tolerance mechanisms and their use in identifying strategies to safeguard wheat production under changing climates. The development of thermotolerant wheat cultivars using conventional or molecular breeding and transgenic approaches is promising. Over the last decade, different omics approaches have revolutionized the way plant breeders and biotechnologists investigate underlying stress tolerance mechanisms and cellular homeostasis. Therefore, developing genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data sets and a deeper understanding of HS tolerance mechanisms of different wheat cultivars are needed. The most reliable method to improve plant resilience to HS must include agronomic management strategies, such as the adoption of climate-smart cultivation practices and use of osmoprotectants and cultured soil microbes. However, looking at the complex nature of HS, the adoption of a holistic approach integrating outcomes of breeding, physiological, agronomical, and biotechnological options is required. Our review aims to provide insights concerning morpho-physiological and molecular impacts, tolerance mechanisms, and adaptation strategies of HS in wheat. This review will help scientific communities in the identification, development, and promotion of thermotolerant wheat cultivars and management strategies to minimize negative impacts of HS.

Micronutrient deficiencies, particularly iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn), in human diets are affecting over three billion people globally, especially in developing nations where diet is cereal-based. Wheat is one of several important cereal crops that provide food calories to nearly one-third of the population of the world. However, the bioavailability of Zn and Fe in wheat is inherently low, especially under Zn deficient soils. Although various fortification approaches are available, biofortification, i.e., development of mineral-enriched cultivars, is an efficient and sustainable approach to alleviate malnutrition. There is enormous variability in Fe and Zn in wheat germplasm, especially in wild relatives, but this is not utilized to the full extent. Grain Fe and Zn are quantitatively inherited, but high-heritability and genetic correlation at multiple locations indicate the high stability of Fe and Zn in wheat. In the last decade, pre-breeding activities have explored the potential of wild relatives to develop Fe and Zn rich wheat varieties. Furthermore, recent advances in molecular biology have improved the understanding of the uptake, storage, and bioavailability of Fe and Zn. Various transportation proteins encoding genes like YSL 2, IRT 1, OsNAS 3, VIT 1, and VIT 2 have been identified for Fe and Zn uptake, transfer, and accumulation at different developing stages. Hence, the availability of major genomic regions for Fe and Zn content and genome editing technologies are likely to result in high-yielding Fe and Zn biofortified wheat varieties. This review covers the importance of wheat wild relatives for Fe and Zn biofortification, progress in genomics-assisted breeding, and transgenic breeding for improving Fe and Zn content in wheat.

AbstractLow‐moisture stress, also referred to as drought, is one of the major factors that negatively impact the agricultural yield. The present scenario of climate change is expected to aggravate it further. Considering the extended time required to develop resistant crops, it is important to prioritize research efforts for coping with low moisture, prevalent in arid and semi‐arid regions of the world. While agricultural yield is a tradeoff between many choices, tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses comes with yield penalties. To balance the tradeoffs and maximize productivity, the use of region‐specific cultivars and/or introgression of precise genetic proportions in an elite variety may prove useful. Stress memory is an emerging approach that helps plants to record and respond to repeated stress in an effective manner. In this context, we discuss the role of “stress memory” in imparting drought tolerance in plants. Future research efforts for its effective deployment for “drought hardening” in agricultural settings, along with a discussion on the yield tradeoff involved, is implicated.

The ever-rising population of the twenty-first century together with the prevailing challenges, such as deteriorating quality of arable land and water, has placed a big challenge for plant breeders to satisfy human needs for food under erratic weather patterns. Rice, wheat, and maize are the major staple crops consumed globally. Drought, waterlogging, heat, salinity, and mineral toxicity are the key abiotic stresses drastically affecting crop yield. Conventional plant breeding approaches towards abiotic stress tolerance have gained success to limited extent, due to the complex (multigenic) nature of these stresses. Progress in breeding climate-resilient crop plants has gained momentum in the last decade, due to improved understanding of the physiochemical and molecular basis of various stresses. A good number of genes have been characterized for adaptation to various stresses. In the era of novel molecular markers, mapping of QTLs has emerged as viable solution for breeding crops tolerant to abiotic stresses. Therefore, molecular breeding-based development and deployment of high-yielding climate-resilient crop cultivars together with climate-smart agricultural practices can pave the path to enhanced crop yields for smallholder farmers in areas vulnerable to the climate change. Advances in fine mapping and expression studies integrated with cheaper prices offer new avenues for the plant breeders engaged in climate-resilient plant breeding, and thereby, hope persists to ensure food security in the era of climate change.

AbstractLimited supplies of fossil fuels have led to a search for alternative sources of fuel to drive economic growth. Maize, and especially the grain portion, has been utilized to a large extent for biofuel production while the abundant lignocellulosic portion has remained underexplored owing to its recalcitrant nature. The diversion of grain for bioethanol production has consequences for food security. However, the lignocellulosic portion can easily be directed for ethanol production without any consequences for food security. Maize has emerged as the leading crop in the last decade and hence provides a vast amount of grain and biomass. Biomass quantity and its digestibility are the two key traits for efficient biofuel production. Significant variation has been reported for these traits in maize. The brown midrib mutants (bm) of maize, with reduced lignin content, can be exploited for the development of cultivars with better digestibility. Recent advances in genetics and genomics revealed key genomic regions associated with biomass‐contributing traits. The molecular markers associated with the identified genomic regions can be utilized for marker‐aided development of cultivars with high biomass and better digestibility. Advances in phenomics have also facilitated bioethanol‐targeted breeding in maize. Biorefining uses feedstock as input and processes it into biofuel. In this review, the improvement of maize as a feedstock and biological conversion strategies of lignocellulosic biomass are assessed. Research and development platforms to enable improvements in feedstock and biological processing are also discussed. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.