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Summary: To acclimate to waterlogged conditions, wetland plants form a barrier to radial oxygen loss (ROL) that can enhance oxygen transport to the root apex. We hypothesized that one or more hormones are involved in the induction of the barrier and searched for such hormones in rice.We previously identified 98 genes that were tissue‐specifically upregulated during ROL barrier formation in rice. The RiceXPro database showed that most of these genes were highly enhanced by exogenous abscisic acid (ABA). We then examined the effect of ABA on ROL barrier formation by using an ABA biosynthesis inhibitor (fluridone, FLU), by applying exogenous ABA and by examining a mutant with a defective ABA biosynthesis gene (osaba1).FLU suppressed barrier formation in a stagnant solution that mimics waterlogged soil. Under aerobic conditions, rice does not naturally form a barrier, but 24 h of ABA treatment induced barrier formation. osaba1 did not form a barrier under stagnant conditions, but the application of ABA rescued the barrier. In parallel with ROL barrier formation, suberin lamellae formed in the exodermis.These findings strongly suggest that ABA is an inducer of suberin lamellae formation in the exodermis, resulting in an ROL barrier formation in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectroscopic studies reveal the formation of ammonium ylide, during the reactions of (2-(dimethylamino)alkyl)phenylcarbenes. Intramolecular interaction between the carbonic center and the proximal amine nitrogen is responsible for the formation of ammonium ylide. Use of CHCl3 helps trap the ammonium ylide, generating ammonium salts and dichlorocarbene.

Root growth into hypoxic or anoxic waterlogged soil relies on internal aeration in plants. The plant hormone ethylene helps adapt to waterlogging by inducing the formation of aerenchyma, which provides a low-resistance pathway for the transport of oxygen from the shoot to the root apex. Waterlogging-susceptible crops including barley start to form aerenchyma after suffering waterlogging stress. But waterlogging can be fatal if aerenchyma formation is not fast enough. Here, we investigated whether pre-treating barley with ethephon, an ethylene-releasing agrochemical, could improve its tolerance to mimicked waterlogging conditions (using stagnant deoxygenated agar nutrient solution). In barley growing in aerated nutrient solution, ethephon treatment enhanced aerenchyma formation at the root tips and induced the development of shorter and shallower roots. Pre-treating barley leaves also delayed waterlogging-caused whiting and increased the percentages of viable root-tips under waterlogging conditions. However, the pretreatment did not noticeably increase fresh weight or shoot length. Further studies are needed to optimize ethephon treatment conditions to improve barley production under waterlogged conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oryzanol contained in rice bran is a complex mixture of steryl ferulates (SFs) with many identified health benefits. Recently, SF has been shown to exist in other cereals such as wheat, rye, and corn. In this study, SFs in several wheats produced in Japan were analyzed. For instance, SF content of whole wheat grain, Yumekaori (Japan) was 15.2 ± 1.4 mg-oryzanol-equivalent/100 g grain, while that of the imported one, 1CW (Canada) was 11.4 ± 1.3 mg-oryzanol-equivalent/100 g grain. The main SF components in the examined wheats were campesteryl ferulate, campestanyl ferulate, and sitostanyl ferulate. SF distribution in whole wheat grain was investigated using 14 fractions produced by a conventional test milling machine. SF was intensively accumulated in the four bran fractions (24 − 95 mg-oryzanol-equivalent/100 g bran fraction). These results suggest that the wheat bran would be an important source of SF. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Because rapid rancidities of lipids in unpolished grains, such as brown rice and whole grain wheat, are often problematic, Suppressions of their lipid degradations during postharvest therefore important for their further utilization. In this study, effect of oxygen absorber on lipid deterioration in unpolished grain during storage was investigated. Kernels and flours of brown rice, rice with germ and whole grain wheat were stored for eight weeks at 4 °C and 26 °C, with and without oxygen absorber. Free fatty acids (FFAs) accumulation in the unpolished grains during storage was accelerated by polishing, milling and storage at high temperature (26 °C), because these storage conditions stimulated activities of their lipid hydrolyses. When oxygen absorber was added and the storage system was sealed, additional FFAs accumulations in these unpolished grains. Decreases both in absolute amounts of linoleic acids of the lipids and in total tocochromanols contained in these unpolished grains were depressed by addition of oxygen absorber to the storage system, which was confirmed by an anti-oxidative effect of oxygen absorber. These results suggested that introduction of oxygen absorber into the storage system of unpolished grains would be effective under the condition where their hydrolytic activities of lipids are suppressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]