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The human population is projected to grow to more than 9 billion by 2050. New farming and fishing techniques are continually being developed. However, food production remains restricted by the finiteness of natural resources and the rapid increase in the global population. In the future, food production may decline because of the aggravated effects of climate change. Food production will be unable to satisfy the demands of the global population, leading to a food security crisis. As the world population continues to increase, food shortages will become increasingly severe, particularly for regions located in “climate impact hot spots” in tropical and subtropical zones and for small-island countries such as Taiwan. In the present study, supply and demand are analysed to examine the risks and uncertainties associated with the impact of climate change on the domestic and imported seafood supply. First, we conduct a literature review to identify the climate risk for sea food security, and then, we analyse the domestic production of both the marine fishing catch and aquaculture. This study also examines the critical problems of the imported seafood supply and applies a comparative analysis of impact type and differences in the top 10 seafood import countries to organize adaptation strategies to climate change. Moreover, due to the type of climate impact and the differences between long-term climate impact and extreme climate impact, we collect and compile the existing climate adaptation strategies of fishery production, seafood importing, and the demand and supply of seafood in Taiwan. Finally, we perform a comparative analysis to seek any deficiencies in the existing climate adaptation strategies and offer new adaptation guidelines based on the existing climate adaptation strategies. The results show that Taiwan’s major adaptation strategies have been precautionary mitigation measures. In terms of resilience management, only the buffer stock scheme plan and the stabilization funds method are selected for some specific species to mitigate the short-term fluctuation in both yield and price for imported domestic seafood. However, we will confront uncertainties stemming from global climate change in the future; the existing climate adaptation strategies of Taiwan are still not sufficient to respond to climate impacts. For example, the climate change early warning system is still very inadequate, the existing scientific knowledge is insufficient, and the current adaptation strategies are insufficient for resolving the fluctuations in the market mechanism of seafood. According to the principles of risk management, the adaptation strategies recommended in this study can be differentiated into two categories: precautionary mitigation measures can be used to adapt to domestic production and uncertainties; such measures include avoidance, transfer, and reduction to prevent the frequency and consequences of climate change for building a resilient fisheries sector. Moreover, resilience management (e.g., risk retention) can be used to respond to uncertainties in supply for adjusting production and mitigating the risks of climate change.

Typical japonica type rice is sensitive to high temperature. Pon-Lai rice is a special japonica type with adaptation to the subtropical climate in Taiwan. Facing climate change, rising temperatures would damage the yield and quality of rice production. This research was conducted using Pon-Lai rice in the field of a subtropical climate. We conducted 2 experiments, including a year-round experiment and collection of samples from different districts for building different temperature conditions. We analyzed the correlation between rising temperature and rice yield or quality. In our results, the critical period of temperature effect is 0–15 days after heading (H15). The threshold of high temperature damage in yield and appearance quality was 25–27 °C. Grain weight decreased about 2–6%, while the temperature of H15 was raised 1 °C above the thresholds. Perfect grain ratio and chalky grain ratio decreased and increased, respectively, while the temperature of H15 was raised above the thresholds. However, the high temperature in H15 affected the physicochemical characteristics. In addition, we found positive correlation between grain length to width ratio and perfect grain ratio. Grain length to width ratio could be an index of temperature effects for grain quality. In our study, when the temperature was below 30 °C, a rising temperature of H15 could damage rice yield and appearance quality, and change grain shape. Our results could provide reference for dealing with the warming future in other temperate rice-cultivated countries.

Due to Taiwan's subtropical location, this study investigates the water footprint of four energy crops (corn, sweet potatoes, sugarcane and sweet sorghum), and one food crop (rice), in order to establish the water footprint data of a subtropical region. Research results indicate that sweet potatoes have the smallest water footprint, followed by sugarcane and sweet sorghum, and corn has the largest water footprint of energy crops, though the water footprint of rice is much larger, which results are consistent with the average global water footprints for these crops. The green water component accounts for more than 50% of the overall water footprint for all energy crops except of corn, indicating that the cultivation processes of these energy crops relies more on rainwater, thus, fulfilling low input selection criteria. The water footprint of rice is about 13 times larger than that of sweet potatoes and 8.8–10.4 times that of sugarcane, indicating the relative resource inefficiency of cultivating rice as a food crop. Water footprint for Taiwan-grown sugarcane, corn, and sweet potatoes compare favourably to those in the top 3 producing countries (Brazil, United States and China), as the water footprint for Taiwan-cultivated corn is only 62% of that for corn planted in the United States. A comparison of energy crop water footprints in temperate, subtropical, and tropical climate zones indicates that sugarcane cultivation is relatively more efficient in tropical and subtropical regions, due to its heavy reliance on rainwater, while corn and sweet sorghum perform better in temperate and subtropical regions.

Heat stress is an important factor that has a negative impact on rice (Oryza sativa) production. To alleviate this problem, it is necessary to extensively understand the genetic basis of heat tolerance and adaptability to heat stress in rice. Here, we report the molecular mechanism underlying heat acclimation memory that confers long-term acquired thermotolerance (LAT) in this monocot plant. Our results showed that a positive feedback loop formed by two heat-inducible genes, HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN101 (HSP101) and HEAT STRESS-ASSOCIATED 32-KD PROTEIN (HSA32), at the posttranscriptional level prolongs the effect of heat acclimation in rice seedlings. The interplay between HSP101 and HSA32 also affects basal thermotolerance of rice seeds. These findings are similar to those reported for the dicot plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana), suggesting a conserved function in plant heat stress response. Comparison between two rice cultivars, japonica Nipponbare and indica N22 showed opposite performance in basal thermotolerance and LAT assays. 'N22' seedlings have a higher basal thermotolerance level than cv Nipponbare and vice versa at the LAT level, indicating that these two types of thermotolerance can be decoupled. The HSP101 and HSA32 protein levels were substantially higher in cv Nipponbare than in cv N22 after a long recovery following heat acclimation treatment, at least partly explaining the difference in the LAT phenotype. Our results point out the complexity of thermotolerance diversity in rice cultivars, which may need to be taken into consideration when breeding for heat tolerance for different climate scenarios.

Armillariella mellea is an edible mushroom which contains important nutritious properties including proteins, cellulose, fatty acids, and polysaccharides (PSs). PSs and sulfated polysaccharides (SPSs) were prepared and their anti-inflammatory activities were studied from cultured A. mellea . Fucose, galactose, glucose, and mannose were the major sugars of SPSs and non-SPSs. The area percentage of high-molecular-weight SPSs of 1358 kDa and low-molecular-weight SPSs of 13.4 kDa covered over half of the SPS mixture. Secretions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6 after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation were detected in RAW264.7 macrophages. Time-course study showed that PSs from 49-day-cultured mycelia exhibited maximal inhibition of TNF-α and IL-6 with respective values of 31.17% and 62.74%. Harvest time is an important factor to obtain bioactive PSs. SPSs exhibited more-effective inhibition of TNF-α and IL-6 secretions compared to those of non-sulfated PSs with respective values of 100% and 56.82% suppression. IκB degradation induced by LPS in macrophages was reversed by PS and SPS pretreatment. Suppression of NF-κB activation might be responsible for their anti-inflammatory effects.

Use of local leguminous manure crops as forage has become important in southern Asia because regularly producing high-quality forage legumes is difficult with the high amount of precipitation. This study evaluated whether manure soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] could be used as forage and silage. Two cultivars of manure soybean were produced in two growing seasons and harvested at different growth stages. The highest forage yields were 9.3 Mg ha⁻¹ for soybean cultivar Tainan No. 4 (TN4) at stage R5 (beginning seed) and 13.0 Mg ha⁻¹ for cultivar Tainan No. 7 (TN7) at stage R7 (beginning maturity). Crude protein (CP) content was highest at R5 for TN4 and at R7 for TN7. The CP content of TN7 did not differ between spring and fall crops, but that of TN4 was 5 to 8% higher in the spring than fall. With advanced growth from R5 to R7, acid detergent fiber (ADF) content increased for TN7 but not TN4. The mean Flieg's point for silage was 26.5, 50.7, and 56.1 for ensiling treatments of soybean alone and soybean with Nilegrass (Acroceras macrum Stapf.) or corn (Zea mays L.) meal, respectively. The mean Flieg's point for silage made from soybean harvested at R3 (beginning bloom), R5 and R7 was 38.4, 47.5 and 47.3, respectively. Thus, manure soybean harvested at R5 can produce forage with high yield and good quality. The silage quality of manure soybean can be improved by ensiling with Nilegrass or corn meal.

Synthesis of heat shock proteins (HSPs) in response to heat shock (HS) is essential for thermotolerance. The effect of a Ca(2+) chelator, EGTA, was investigated before a lethal HS treatment in soybean (Glycine max) seedlings with acquired thermotolerance induced by preheating. Such seedlings became non-thermotolerant with EGTA treatment. The addition of Ca(2+), Sr(2+) or Ba(2+) to the EGTA-treated samples rescued the seedlings from death by preventing the increased cellular leakage of electrolytes, amino acids, and sugars caused by EGTA. It was confirmed that EGTA did not affect HSP accumulation and physiological functions but interfered with the recovery of HS-released Ca(2+) concentration which was required for thermotolerance. Pectin methylesterase (PME, EC 3.1.1.11), a cell wall remodelling enzyme, was activated in response to HS, and its elevated activity caused an increased level of demethylesterified pectin which was related to the recovery of the HS-released Ca(2+) concentration. Thus, the recovery of HS-released Ca(2+) in Ca(2+)-pectate reconstitution through PME activity is required for cell wall remodelling during HS in soybean which, in turn, retains plasma membrane integrity and co-ordinates with HSPs to confer thermotolerance.

This research involved a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that was applied to examine water distribution and migration in single rice kernels during the tempering process. The imaging experiments were performed in a Bruker 9.4T MRI system. Three-dimensional spin-echo (SE) imaging sequences were optimized by adjusting the scanning parameters of echo time (TE) and repetition time (TR) to obtain images with maximum contrast. The MR images showed that the moisture distribution in the rice kernel is non-uniform and compartmental. The embryo region exhibited much higher MR signal intensity than the starchy endosperm portion. The tempering process was analyzed with spatial-temporal signal intensities of the endosperm following the drying process of the rice kernel. The transient change of the signal intensities in the endosperm was well fitted with a double exponential function suggesting that both convection and diffusion contributed to the reduction of the moisture gradient within the rice kernel during tempering. This hypothesis was further supported by the experimental data of the insulated rice kernel whose convective mass transfer was excluded. The experimental results revealed that MR imaging of rice kernels could be used as an efficient tool to examine the mechanisms of moisture migration within cereal grains.

Sulfated polysaccharides (SPSs) of Antrodia cinnamomea were extracted by an exhaustive papain digestion and characterized, and their biological functions were evaluated. In this study, we demonstrated the existence of SPSs in the medicinal fungus, A. cinnamomea . Since no SPSs had previously been identified in any fungal organism, we attempted to characterize those from A. cinnamomea . SPSs from A. cinnamomea inhibited in vitro Matrigel tube formation, in an angiogenesis model, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, using serum deprivation-induced apoptosis in neuronal-like PC12 cells as a stress model, the SPSs of A. cinnamomea were effective in preventing serum-deprived apoptosis. Compositional analysis revealed that myo-inositol, fucose, galactose, and glucose were the neutral sugars in SPSs of A. cinnamomea , and these SPSs had a high sulfate content. The sulfation degree paralleled their antiangiogenic and neuroprotective activities. In this work, we report novel data on the structure, antiangiogenic, and neuroprotective effects of these fungal SPSs.

Fomitopsis pinicola is used as a medicinal fungus in Asia. Polysaccharides extracted from 35-day-cultured fungus and its ethanolic extract showed no toxicity to endothelial cells (ECs). Extracted polysaccharides had a strong inhibitory effect on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced tube formation in ECs in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the ethanolic extract dose-dependently suppressed production of the interferon (IFN)-γ-induced inflammation marker, IP-10. High-molecular-weight of 5367 and 1056 kDa accounted for 19.6% and 19.3% of the total polysaccharides, and a low-molecular-weight one of 14.7 kDa accounted for 53.6% of the total polysaccharides. Chemical analyses of the polysaccharides revealed that myo-inositol, fucose, galactose, glucose, mannose, and fructose were neutral sugars in the polysaccharide. Six nucleoside-type compounds including cytidine, adenosine monophosphate (AMP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine, inosine, and thymidine were identified in the ethanolic extract. These results suggest that different extracts from F. pinicola play different roles in regulating the angiogenic process and inflammation.

Carbofuran (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethyl-7-benzofuranol-N-methylcarbamate) and carbaryl (1-naphthyl-N-methylcarbamate) are insecticides widely used in tea plantations. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the dissipation of carbofuran and carbaryl during the growth periods of Oolong tea, processing and roasting. Analysis of the residual insecticides was carried out using high-pressure liquid chromatography with a post-column fluorescence detector. Results showed that in the tea field carbofuran dissipated faster then carbaryl. Manufacturing processes of Oolong tea further reduced the carbofuran and carbaryl contents. The persistence of carbofuran and carbaryl was decreased with increasing roasting temperature. From the results, we conclude that the presence of carbofuran and carbaryl in tea can be reduced by proper field management, manufacturing and roasting processes.

Physiological and biochemical changes related to methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-induced chilling tolerance of rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Taichung Native 1) seedlings were investigated. Treatment of whole plants with 10 mmol m -3 MeJA for 48 h before chilling (5 °C) was optimal for the induction of chilling tolerance. MeJA greatly improved the survival ratio of chilled seedlings and ameliorated chilling injury such as demolition of membrane structure (estimated by electrolyte leakage). MeJA also prevented water loss in chilled seedlings by reducing the opening of stomata and decreasing the root bleeding rate. Putrescine and spermine levels in shoots increased but spermidine levels decreased on exposure to MeJA. In roots, putrescine levels also increased and spermidine levels increased transiently on exposure to MeJA. Activities of arginine decarboxylase (ADC ; EC 4.1.1.19) and S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC ; EC 4.1.1.50) in both shoots and roots increased on exposure to MeJA, while the activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC ; EC 4.1.1.17) remained unchanged. The MeJA-induced putrescine increase was inhibited by 50 mmol m -3 α-difluoromethylarginine (DFMA), an irreversible inhibitor of ADC, but not by 50 mmol m -3 α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an irreversible inhibitor of ODC. The effect of MeJA on the induction of chilling tolerance was also reduced by 50 mmol m -3 DFMA. The effects of DFMA were partly prevented by 1 mol m -3 putrescine. This indicates that putrescine accumulation is required for the induction of chilling tolerance of rice seedlings by MeJA.