The field of functional genomics aims to understand the complex relationship between genotype and phenotype by integrating genome-wide approaches, such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Large-scale "-omics" research has been made widely possible by the advent of high-throughput techniques, such as next-generation sequencing and mass-spectrometry. The vast data generated from such studies provide a wealth of information on the biological dynamics underlying phenotypes. Though functional genomics approaches are used extensively in human disease research, their use also spans organisms as miniscule as mycoplasmas to as great as sperm whales. In particular, functional genomics is instrumental in agricultural advancements for the improvement of productivity and sustainability in crop and livestock production. Improvement in soybean production is especially imperative, as soybeans are a primary source of oil and protein for human and livestock consumption, respectively. The research presented here employs functional genomics approaches – transcriptomics and metabolomics – to discern the transcriptional regulation and metabolic events underlying two economically important agronomic traits in soybean: seed phytic acid content and Soybean mosaic virus resistance. At normal levels, seed phytic acid content inhibits mineral absorption in humans and livestock, acting as an antinutrient and contributing to phosphorus pollution; however, the development of low phytic acid soybeans has helped mitigate these issues, as their seeds increase nutrient bioavailability and reduce environmental impact. Despite these desirable qualities, low phytic acid soybeans exhibit poor seed performance, which negatively affects germination rates and yield and has prevented their large-scale commercial production. Thus, part of the focus of this research was investigating the effects of mutations conferring the low phytic acid phenotype on seed germination. Comparative studies between low and normal phytic acid soybean seeds were carried out and revealed distinct differences in metabolite profiles and in the transcriptional regulation of biological pathways that may be vital for successful seed germination. The final part of this research concerns Rsv3-mediated extreme resistance, a unique mode of resistance that is effective against the most virulent strains of Soybean mosaic virus. The molecular mechanisms governing this type of resistance are poorly characterized. Therefore, the research presented here attempts to elucidate the regulatory elements responsible for the induction of the Rsv3-mediated extreme resistance response. Utilizing a comparative transcriptomic time series approach on Soybean mosaic virus-inoculated Rsv3 (resistant) and rsv3 (susceptible) soybean lines, this final study provides gene candidates putatively functioning in the regulation of biological pathways demonstrated to be crucial for Rsv3-mediated resistance. / Doctor of Philosophy / Soybeans are a crop of great economic importance, being a primary source of oil and protein for human and livestock consumption, respectively. Increasing demand for soybean calls for improvement in its production. An emerging field that has had tremendous impact on this endeavor is the field of functional genomics. Functional genomics approaches generate large-scale biological data that can aid in discerning how specific processes are regulated and controlled in an organism. The research presented in this work utilizes functional genomics approaches to elucidate the biological mechanisms underlying two economically important traits in soybean: seed phytic acid content and Soybean mosaic virus resistance. Phytic acid is a compound found in soybean seeds that causes nutrient deficiencies and phosphorus pollution. Soybeans with reduced to phytic acid content have been developed to mitigate these problems; they have poor seed germination and emergence. The studies in this work employ functional genomics approaches to compare unique sets of low and normal phytic acid soybeans to help establish the relationship between seed phytic acid content and seed performance. These studies resulted in new and promising hypotheses for future studies on investigating the low phytic acid trait. The final focus of this work used a functional genomics approach to discern the molecular mechanisms underlying a unique mode of resistance to Soybean mosaic virus. The study identified genes in soybean that are potentially critical to resistance against Soybean mosaic virus.

Phytic acid (PA) accounts for up to 75% of the P in soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) seeds, but it is indigestible by mono- and agastric animals resulting in economic and environmental detriment. Soybean lines with genetically reduced PA contents have been developed using three distinct mutant alleles at the MIPS1, LPA1, and LPA2 genes resulting in up to a 75% reduction in PA. Low PA (LPA) soymeal-based feeds have been tested on several agricultural species and shown to reduce the P in the animal effluent, but they have not been tested on any aquacultural species. However, LPA soybean lines often exhibit low field emergence making them commercially inviable. The cause of this phenomenon is widely debated with possibilities ranging from increased disease pressure to decreased seedling vigor. The objectives of this research were to 1) enhance field emergence of LPA soybean varieties through pre-planting seed treatments, 2) study the impact of the LPA mutant alleles on agronomic, quality, and seed composition traits, and 3) design a low-error method for studying the effect of LPA soymeal-based feeds on aquatic animals using Pacific White Shrimp (Litoenaeus vannamei). These results describe a variety of agronomic and genetic strategies with which the low field emergence of LPA soybeans can be addressed, reveal a heretofore not reported interaction between the mips1 and lpa2 alleles to further increase the digestibility of soymeal, and a possible method for studying LPA soymeal based feed on aquacultural animals. / Master of Science

The objective of this research was to isolate genes encoding isoforms of the enzyme D-myo-inositol 3-phosphate synthase (MIPS, E.C. 5.5.1.4) from soybean and to characterize their expression, especially with respect to their involvement in phytic acid biosynthesis. A MIPS-homologous cDNA, designated GmMIPS1, was isolated via PCR using total RNA from developing seeds. Southern blot analysis and examination of MIPS-homologous soybean EST sequences suggested that GmMIPS1 is part of a multigene family of at least four similar members. The sequences of promoter and genomic regions of GmMIPS1 and GmMIPS2 revealed a high degree of sequence conservation. Northern and western blot analyses showed that MIPS transcript and protein are abundantly expressed early in seed development. Immunolocalization of MIPS protein in developing seeds confirmed expression of MIPS early in seed development and correlated MIPS protein accumulation in soybean seed tissue with tissues in which phytic acid is known to accumulate. The promoter region of GmMIPS1 was isolated and analyzed for possible seed-specificity using promoter:GUS fusions. Two GmMIPS1 promoter fragments were capable of conferring GUS expression when bombarded directly into developing soybean seeds. However, preliminary bombardment experiments into soybean cell suspension culture indicated that both promoter fragments drove expression of GUS in undifferentiated tissue, indicating a potential lack of seed-specificity. / Master of Science

The use of graphene and conductive polyaniline nanomaterials in the field of electrochemistry is increasing due to their excellent conductivity, rapid electron transfer and high specific surface area. However, these properties are strongly dependent on the preparation processes. To accelerate the development of advanced electrochemical sensors for the simultaneous detection of trace amounts of heavy metal ions, two facile and green methods are proposed to improve their performance in this thesis. The first one was dedicated to make graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid nanocomposites. The introduction of carbon nanotubes not only greatly enhances the conductivity of graphene but also suppresses, to some degree, the aggregation between graphene nanosheets. Another method proposed in this thesis work was to synthesize a phytic acid doped polyaniline nanofiber based nanocomposite. The synergistic contribution from polyaniline nanofibers and phytic acid enhances the accumulation efficiency and the charge transfer rate of metal ions during the differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry analysis. The above-mentioned nanocomposite modified electrodes were all successfully applied to real samples for the simultaneous detection of Cd2+ and Pb2+ with good recovery rates. Meanwhile, corrosion protection is another important branch in the field of electrochemistry. In this direction, an active alkyd-polyaniline composite coating with self-healing functionality was prepared. The polyaniline used in this thesis was doped with p-toluene sulfonic acid, which was employed to increase the conductivity of polyaniline, and 1 wt.% of as-prepared polyaniline nanoparticles were found to offer an effective conductive network for anticorrosion. Finally, the reasons that such low loading levels of nanomaterials can result in significantly reinforced properties in nanocomposites were studied with combined atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques. The results demonstrated that the interphase for a 40-nm-sized silica particle could extend to 55–70 nm in poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) and poly(isobutyl methacrylate) (PiBMA) polymer matrix, and the interphase exhibited a gradient distribution in surface nanomechanical properties. / <p>QC 20170315</p>

Arroz e feijão são alimentos comuns em uma refeição típica brasileira, oferecendo grande variedade de nutrientes. São fontes de minerais, como o ferro e zinco, que são essenciais ao bom funcionamento do organismo. O ferro participa de importantes processos metabólicos de transporte e é componente de muitas proteínas. O zinco, por sua vez, é constituinte essencial para a atividade de muitas enzimas. A deficiência destes minerais pode levar a uma série de doenças e ao impedimento do funcionamento normal do organismo. Sabe-se que o ferro não heme, oriundo dos vegetais, possui menor absorção do que o ferro heme, de origem animal, assim como o zinco vegetal, que acaba sofrendo interferência de inibidores, naturalmente presentes em vegetais. Os inibidores mais comuns em arroz e feijão são os polifenóis, com maior abrangência dos taninos, e o ácido fítico conhecido por seu efeito quelante. Promover estratégias que visem aumentar a absorção de nutrientes são interessantes, visto que eles podem ser reduzidos pelos inibidores. Neste estudo, foram elaborados quatro tratamentos, sendo que todos continham arroz e feijão e variaram entre si quanto à promotores adicionados à esta mistura. Ácido ascórbico e aminoácidos sulfurados, como a cisteína foram os escolhidos para este estudo para verificar a promoção de ferro e zinco. Para simular uma realidade nutricional, como fonte de ácido ascórbico foi escolhido o tomate, e, como fonte de aminoácidos sulfurados foram escolhidos o alho e a cebola. O objetivo foi avaliar a bioacessibilidade do ferro e zinco em arroz e feijão, bem como analisar a influência de promotores e inibidores na absorção destes micronutrientes. A bioacessibilidade foi determinada pela utilização de células caco-2, que é um método validado tanto para ferro como para zinco, e o teor de ferritina e zinco foram usados como indicadores de bioacessibilidade. Como resultado, observou-se que tanto a cisteína como o ácido ascórbico estiveram associados com o aumento na absorção de ferro, porém tal efeito só foi significativo quando permaneceram juntos no mesmo tratamento. Em relação aos inibidores, somente o ácido fítico influenciou a bioacessibilidade de ferro, enquanto que para taninos não foi observada influência. A ação dos promotores e inibidores não teve relação significativa para zinco. / Rice and beans are common foods in a typical Brazilian meal, offering great variety of nutrients. They are sources of minerals such as iron and zinc, which are essential to the proper functioning of the body. Iron participates in important metabolic processes of transport and is a component of many proteins. Zinc, in turn, is an essential constituent for the activity of many enzymes. The deficiency of these minerals can lead to several diseases and to the impediment of normal functioning of the body. It is known that non-heme iron, derived from vegetables has less absorption than heme iron, of animal origin, as well as plant zinc that ends up suffering interference from inhibitors, naturally present in vegetables. The most common inhibitors in rice and beans are polyphenols, with greater coverage of tannins and phytic acid, known for its chelating effect. Promoting strategies to increase nutrient uptake are interesting, as they can be reduced by inhibitors. In this study, four treatments were elaborated, all of which contained rice and beans and varied among them for the promoters added to this mixture. Ascorbic acid and sulfur amino acids such as cysteine were chosen for this study to verify the promotion of iron and zinc. For simulate a nutritional reality tomato was chosen as a source of ascorbic acid and garlic and onion was chosen as a source of sulfur amino acids. The objective was to evaluate the bioaccessibility of iron and zinc in rice and beans, as well as to analyze the influence of promoters and inhibitors on the absorption of these micronutrients. Bioaccessibility was determined using caco-2 cells, which is a validated method for both iron and zinc and the content of ferritin and zinc were used as indicators of bioaccessibility. As a result, both cysteine and ascorbic acid were found to be associated with increased iron absorption, but this effect was only significant when they were in the same treatment. In relation to the inhibitors, only phytic acid influenced the bioaccessibility of iron, while for tannins no influence was observed. The action of promoters and inhibitors was not significantly related to zinc.

Arroz e feijão são alimentos comuns em uma refeição típica brasileira, oferecendo grande variedade de nutrientes. São fontes de minerais, como o ferro e zinco, que são essenciais ao bom funcionamento do organismo. O ferro participa de importantes processos metabólicos de transporte e é componente de muitas proteínas. O zinco, por sua vez, é constituinte essencial para a atividade de muitas enzimas. A deficiência destes minerais pode levar a uma série de doenças e ao impedimento do funcionamento normal do organismo. Sabe-se que o ferro não heme, oriundo dos vegetais, possui menor absorção do que o ferro heme, de origem animal, assim como o zinco vegetal, que acaba sofrendo interferência de inibidores, naturalmente presentes em vegetais. Os inibidores mais comuns em arroz e feijão são os polifenóis, com maior abrangência dos taninos, e o ácido fítico conhecido por seu efeito quelante. Promover estratégias que visem aumentar a absorção de nutrientes são interessantes, visto que eles podem ser reduzidos pelos inibidores. Neste estudo, foram elaborados quatro tratamentos, sendo que todos continham arroz e feijão e variaram entre si quanto à promotores adicionados à esta mistura. Ácido ascórbico e aminoácidos sulfurados, como a cisteína foram os escolhidos para este estudo para verificar a promoção de ferro e zinco. Para simular uma realidade nutricional, como fonte de ácido ascórbico foi escolhido o tomate, e, como fonte de aminoácidos sulfurados foram escolhidos o alho e a cebola. O objetivo foi avaliar a bioacessibilidade do ferro e zinco em arroz e feijão, bem como analisar a influência de promotores e inibidores na absorção destes micronutrientes. A bioacessibilidade foi determinada pela utilização de células caco-2, que é um método validado tanto para ferro como para zinco, e o teor de ferritina e zinco foram usados como indicadores de bioacessibilidade. Como resultado, observou-se que tanto a cisteína como o ácido ascórbico estiveram associados com o aumento na absorção de ferro, porém tal efeito só foi significativo quando permaneceram juntos no mesmo tratamento. Em relação aos inibidores, somente o ácido fítico influenciou a bioacessibilidade de ferro, enquanto que para taninos não foi observada influência. A ação dos promotores e inibidores não teve relação significativa para zinco. / Rice and beans are common foods in a typical Brazilian meal, offering great variety of nutrients. They are sources of minerals such as iron and zinc, which are essential to the proper functioning of the body. Iron participates in important metabolic processes of transport and is a component of many proteins. Zinc, in turn, is an essential constituent for the activity of many enzymes. The deficiency of these minerals can lead to several diseases and to the impediment of normal functioning of the body. It is known that non-heme iron, derived from vegetables has less absorption than heme iron, of animal origin, as well as plant zinc that ends up suffering interference from inhibitors, naturally present in vegetables. The most common inhibitors in rice and beans are polyphenols, with greater coverage of tannins and phytic acid, known for its chelating effect. Promoting strategies to increase nutrient uptake are interesting, as they can be reduced by inhibitors. In this study, four treatments were elaborated, all of which contained rice and beans and varied among them for the promoters added to this mixture. Ascorbic acid and sulfur amino acids such as cysteine were chosen for this study to verify the promotion of iron and zinc. For simulate a nutritional reality tomato was chosen as a source of ascorbic acid and garlic and onion was chosen as a source of sulfur amino acids. The objective was to evaluate the bioaccessibility of iron and zinc in rice and beans, as well as to analyze the influence of promoters and inhibitors on the absorption of these micronutrients. Bioaccessibility was determined using caco-2 cells, which is a validated method for both iron and zinc and the content of ferritin and zinc were used as indicators of bioaccessibility. As a result, both cysteine and ascorbic acid were found to be associated with increased iron absorption, but this effect was only significant when they were in the same treatment. In relation to the inhibitors, only phytic acid influenced the bioaccessibility of iron, while for tannins no influence was observed. The action of promoters and inhibitors was not significantly related to zinc.

Maize grain contains high levels of phytic acid which chelates iron, zinc and other micronutrients as it passes through the digestive systems of monogastric consumers reducing their bioavailability. Breeding for low phytic acid (LPA) content to improve micronutrient bioavailability is hampered by a tedious and destructive colorimetric method on the grain, low yields compared to the wild-types and reduced seed germination and vigour of LPA mutants. Breeding for LPA therefore should also incorporate breeding for improved germination and vigour in the mutants. Molecular markers to speed up the selection process and studies on gene action and combining ability for germination, vigour and yield parameters of the LPA mutants in combinations with other different maize germplasm will speed up breeding for this trait. The objectives of this study were: to develop a molecular marker linked to the lpa1-1 gene and apply this marker for foreground selection in a backcross breeding programme and to use amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers for background selection to recover the recurrent parent genome to speed up the backcrossing process; to study gene action and combining ability for seed germination, vigour and yield from diallel crosses involving LPA mutants, QPM and normal endosperm maize inbred lines by replicated laboratory seed tests ( standard germination test and accelerated aging test) and field evaluations in South Africa and Zimbabwe. A co-dominant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker which detects the transition base change of C/T nucleotides was developed from the gene sequence to identify the lpa1-1 trait. The 150 bp lpa1-1 SNP marker was validated by forward and reverse DNA sequencing of the parental amplification products which confirmed the C to T base change resulting in the LPA phenotype. The lpa1-1 SNP marker was used for foreground selection in 250 BC(2)F(1) progenies of CM 32 (LPA) x P 16 as the recurrent parent. This SNP marker was used to genotype the lines into homozygous dominant (wild type) and homozygous recessive (LPA) genotypes by their melting profiles and heterozygous genotypes by the normalised difference plots using high resolution melt (HRM) analysis. Seventeen heterozygous and 11 homozygous recessive lines were identified for background selection by fingerprinting with AFLP markers to determine the amount of recurrent parent (P 16) genome present. There were six EcoRI/MseI primer combinations tested with 277 data points scored (84% polymorphism rate). The amount of recurrent parent (P 16) genome recovered ranged from 62% to 92% with 13 lines showing greater than 83% of the recurrent parent genome. The effects of diallel crosses generated between four LPA, three QPM and three normal endosperm maize lines were determined for seed germination and vigour using the standard germination and accelerated aging seed tests under laboratory conditions in accordance with the procedures of the International Seed Testing Association. The specific combining ability (SCA) effects and general combining ability (GCA) effects were significant for the seed germination and vigour traits, indicating that genes with non-additive and additive effects were important in controlling these traits. However, the SCA effects were greater than GCA effects suggesting that genes with non-additive effects were predominant. The LPA parents showed reduced vigour compared to the normal and QPM inbred lines under both conditions, with LPA lines CM 31 and CM 32 showing stress tolerance. There were some combinations involving LPA lines, such as LPA x normal, LPA x QPM and LPA x LPA that retained high vigour and high germination rates under accelerated aging conditions, suggesting that they could be stress-tolerant.. A 10 x 10 diallel involving four LPA, three QPM and three Nm inbred lines was evaluated in replicated trials across six environments. Results show that both additive and non-additive gene effects were significant for resistance to northern corn leaf blight (NCLB), grey leaf spot (GLS) and Phaeosphaeria leaf spot (PLS) diseases. The additive gene effects were predominant for the yield and associated secondary traits such as days to mid-pollen shed (DMP), days to mid-silking (DMS), ear per plant (EPP) and grain moisture content (GMC) and grain yield. The LPA lines were early flowering and had quick grain dry down rate but all showed undesirable negative and significant GCA effects for yield. The yield of the LPA x LPA, LPA x Nm and LPA x QPM group of crosses was lower than the check hybrids by about 32 to 67% showing the need for yield improvement of the LPA combinations. An eight x eight diallel involving two LPA and six normal endosperm lines was evaluated over two seasons in five locations with two replications for grain yield components and foliar diseases. There was significant additive and non-additive gene action for both seed germination and vigour traits with predominance of non-additive gene effects. Both additive and non-additive gene effects were significant for yield and associated traits such as anthesis dates and number of ears per plant. However, the additive gene action was predominant for yield and associated traits. Generally the LPA lines and their combinations showed lower germination and vigour. The LPA line, CM 32 showed stress tolerance under accelerated aging conditions. There were three LPA x Nm crosses that showed improvements to the means of seed germination and vigour and yield traits. Results indicated that there was not any significant correlation between yield and seed germination and between yield and vigour. Yield was, however, significantly and positively correlated with anthesis dates and GMC, indicating that higher yield was associated with longer growing cycles. This study was able to successfully develop and apply the lpa1-1 SNP marker for foreground selection and AFLP markers for background selection in a backcross breeding programme. Problems of low seed germination, seedling vigour and grain yield of LPA lines and their combinations were confirmed. However results also indicated some potential of combining the LPA and QPM traits in a single cultivar. In general, procedures such as reciprocal recurrent selection, that emphasise both GCA and SCA effects would be recommended to improve seed germination, seedling vigour and yield in developing varieties with LPA trait. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2010.

myo-Inositol-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakisphosphate (InsP6), also called phytic acid, is ubiquitous in eukaryotic cells and the most abundant inositol phosphate derivative. Loblolly pine (LP, Pinus taeda) constitutes the primary commercial species in the southern forest of U.S. Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is an effective technique to maintain the desirable genetic composition of the progeny and to accomplish the efficiency of propagation. SE can also serve as a tool for study of plant development. Unlike angiosperm embryos with attached cotyledons as seed storage organs, the diploid conifer embryo is surrounded by the unattached haploid female gametophyte (FG). In LP SE, FG tissue is absent in the embryogenic tissue culture. We found that extracts from early-stage FG stimulate growth and multiplication of early-stage somatic embryos, whereas FG water extracts from late stage contain substance(s) inhibitory to early-stage somatic embryo growth (DeSilva et al., 2007). We now present the isolation and identification of the inhibitory substance as InsP6 by means of water extraction, two gel filtrations and two ion exchange FPLC chromatographies. The results represent the first complete structural characterization of InsP6 from a natural product using LC/MS, LC/MS/MS, exact MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR analyses. We also report that there is a good correlation between the amount of InsP6 purified from FG tissue (1.3 nmoles per full-term FG) and the amount of InsP6 which inhibits somatic embryo growth. This novel approach of isolating and characterizing InsP6 from plant tissue, and investigating its role on SE can allow us to improve SE technology by circumventing current bottleneck, to elucidate enigmatic functions of InsP6 in plants, and most importantly, to utilize this molecule properly.

Com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade da carne de frangos recebendo dietas com inclusão de ácido fítico (AF) ou com farelo de trigo (FT) e adição ou não de fitase, foram utilizados 216 frangos de corte Cobb 500®, machos, de 22 a 35 dias de idade. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com 6 tratamentos e 6 repetições com 6 animais cada. Foram testadas 6 dietas: 1- dieta controle (a base de milho e farelo de soja); 2- dieta controle com adição de AF; 3- dieta com 25% de FT e sem fitase; 4- dieta com 25% de FT + 6-fitase/2500 FTU/g (fitase A); 5- dieta com 25% de FT + 6-fitase/5000 FTU/g (fitase B); 6- dieta com 25% de FT + 3-fitase/5000 FTU/g (fitase C). Os parâmetros avaliados foram: peso da carcaça, peso e rendimento dos cortes de peito, de coxa e de perna de frango, pH inicial e final da carne, cor, lipídeo total, colesterol total (CT), oxidação lipídica (TBARS), perda de peso por descongelamento (PPD), perda de peso por cocção (PPC) e força de cisalhamento (FC). Os resultados indicaram não haver interação das diferentes dietas para as respostas de: peso da carcaça, peso e rendimento dos cortes, lipídio total, PPD, PPC e pH inicial, ou seja, todas estas variáveis mostraram-se semelhantes entre as dietas testadas, conferindo uma carne de igual qualidade para estes parâmetros. Entretanto, o pH final da carne do peito foi menor para os frangos alimentados com a dieta controle (com milho e soja) que, ainda mostrou na avaliação de cor, um peito de frango com teor de amarelo (b*) mais intenso do que os apresentados pelas outras dietas. Embora tenham sido diferentes, esses dois parâmetros apresentaram valores que são considerados normais para peito de frango. A adição de AF na dieta controle promoveu um efeito muito importante na redução do colesterol total (CT) e da oxidação lipídica (TBARS) da carne de frango. E a inclusão de FT na dieta, em relação à dieta basal de frangos, ainda refletiu em teores de CT semelhantes ou menores aos obtidos por esta última dieta (dieta controle). Porém, nos valores de TBARS não ocorreu a mesma resposta, pois o FT só conseguiu ter efeito na inibição da oxidação lipídica (em relação à dieta controle) quando ele foi adicionado de fitase (mais especificamente uma 6-fitase de E. coli, definida como fitase B no presente estudo). Ao mesmo tempo, a adição desta fitase na dieta com FT, foi a que refletiu na maior força de cisalhamento (FC) dos peitos de frango entre as distintas dietas. Entretanto, o valor de FC obtido nesta dieta e nas outras, está dentro do valor considerado como macio. Ou seja, todas as dietas conferiram em uma carne de textura macia. Contudo, o FT pode ser utilizado em dietas para frangos de corte sem prejudicar as respostas de qualidade de carne. Além disso, o AF parece ser o componente responsável por diminuir o CT e a oxidação lipídica da carne de frango. / With the objective to evaluate of meat quality of broilers receiving diets with inclusion of phytic acid (PA) or wheat bran (WB) and addition or not of phytase, were used 216 Cobb 500® broilers, males, from 22 to 35 days old. The experimental design was completely randomized with six treatments and six replicates of six animals each. Six diets were tested: 1- control diet (with corn and soybeans); 2- control diet with addition of PA; 3- diet with 25% WB and without phytase; 4- diet with 25% of WB + 6-phytase/2500 FTU/g (phytase A); 5- diet with 25% of WB + 6-phytase/5000 FTU/g (phytase B); 6- diet with 25% of WB + 3-phytase/5000 FTU/g (phytase C). Were evaluated the parameters: carcass weight, cuts weight and income of chicken breast, of thigh and of on-thigh, initial and final pH of chicken, color, total lipid, total cholesterol (TC), lipid oxidation, (TBARS), weight loss by thawing (WLT), weight loss by cooking (WLC) and shear force (SF). The results showed there is not interaction of the different diets for the answers of: carcass weight, cuts weight and income, total lipid, WLT, WLC and pH initial, that is, all these variables were similar among the diets tested, resulting in an quality equal meat for these parameters. However, the final pH of breast meat was lower in chickens fed the control diet (corn and soybeans) that also showed in the evaluation of color, a chicken breast with content of yellow (b *) more intense than the presented by the other diets. Although have been different, these two parameters had values that are considered normal for chicken breast. The addition of PA in the control diet promoted a significant effect in reducing total cholesterol (TC) and lipid oxidation (TBARS) of chicken meat. And the inclusion of WB in the diet in relation to the chicken basal diet, reflected still in TC levels similar or lower to those obtained by this diet latter (control diet). However, on TBARS values did not occur the same answer, because the WB only managed to have an effect on the inhibition of lipid oxidation (in relation to the control diet) when it was added of phytase (more specifically a 6-phytase from E. coli, defined as phytase B in this study). At the same time, the addition of phytase in the diet with WB, was the which reflected in higher shear force (SF) of the chicken breasts between the different diets. However, the SF value obtained in this diet and on the other is within of the value regarded as tender. That is, all diets resulting in a soft texture meat. However, the WB can be used in diets for broilers without affecting meat quality answers. In addition, the PA seems to be the component responsible for reducing of the TC and lipid oxidation of chicken meat.

Com o objetivo de avaliar a qualidade da carne de frangos recebendo dietas com inclusão de ácido fítico (AF) ou com farelo de trigo (FT) e adição ou não de fitase, foram utilizados 216 frangos de corte Cobb 500®, machos, de 22 a 35 dias de idade. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com 6 tratamentos e 6 repetições com 6 animais cada. Foram testadas 6 dietas: 1- dieta controle (a base de milho e farelo de soja); 2- dieta controle com adição de AF; 3- dieta com 25% de FT e sem fitase; 4- dieta com 25% de FT + 6-fitase/2500 FTU/g (fitase A); 5- dieta com 25% de FT + 6-fitase/5000 FTU/g (fitase B); 6- dieta com 25% de FT + 3-fitase/5000 FTU/g (fitase C). Os parâmetros avaliados foram: peso da carcaça, peso e rendimento dos cortes de peito, de coxa e de perna de frango, pH inicial e final da carne, cor, lipídeo total, colesterol total (CT), oxidação lipídica (TBARS), perda de peso por descongelamento (PPD), perda de peso por cocção (PPC) e força de cisalhamento (FC). Os resultados indicaram não haver interação das diferentes dietas para as respostas de: peso da carcaça, peso e rendimento dos cortes, lipídio total, PPD, PPC e pH inicial, ou seja, todas estas variáveis mostraram-se semelhantes entre as dietas testadas, conferindo uma carne de igual qualidade para estes parâmetros. Entretanto, o pH final da carne do peito foi menor para os frangos alimentados com a dieta controle (com milho e soja) que, ainda mostrou na avaliação de cor, um peito de frango com teor de amarelo (b*) mais intenso do que os apresentados pelas outras dietas. Embora tenham sido diferentes, esses dois parâmetros apresentaram valores que são considerados normais para peito de frango. A adição de AF na dieta controle promoveu um efeito muito importante na redução do colesterol total (CT) e da oxidação lipídica (TBARS) da carne de frango. E a inclusão de FT na dieta, em relação à dieta basal de frangos, ainda refletiu em teores de CT semelhantes ou menores aos obtidos por esta última dieta (dieta controle). Porém, nos valores de TBARS não ocorreu a mesma resposta, pois o FT só conseguiu ter efeito na inibição da oxidação lipídica (em relação à dieta controle) quando ele foi adicionado de fitase (mais especificamente uma 6-fitase de E. coli, definida como fitase B no presente estudo). Ao mesmo tempo, a adição desta fitase na dieta com FT, foi a que refletiu na maior força de cisalhamento (FC) dos peitos de frango entre as distintas dietas. Entretanto, o valor de FC obtido nesta dieta e nas outras, está dentro do valor considerado como macio. Ou seja, todas as dietas conferiram em uma carne de textura macia. Contudo, o FT pode ser utilizado em dietas para frangos de corte sem prejudicar as respostas de qualidade de carne. Além disso, o AF parece ser o componente responsável por diminuir o CT e a oxidação lipídica da carne de frango. / With the objective to evaluate of meat quality of broilers receiving diets with inclusion of phytic acid (PA) or wheat bran (WB) and addition or not of phytase, were used 216 Cobb 500® broilers, males, from 22 to 35 days old. The experimental design was completely randomized with six treatments and six replicates of six animals each. Six diets were tested: 1- control diet (with corn and soybeans); 2- control diet with addition of PA; 3- diet with 25% WB and without phytase; 4- diet with 25% of WB + 6-phytase/2500 FTU/g (phytase A); 5- diet with 25% of WB + 6-phytase/5000 FTU/g (phytase B); 6- diet with 25% of WB + 3-phytase/5000 FTU/g (phytase C). Were evaluated the parameters: carcass weight, cuts weight and income of chicken breast, of thigh and of on-thigh, initial and final pH of chicken, color, total lipid, total cholesterol (TC), lipid oxidation, (TBARS), weight loss by thawing (WLT), weight loss by cooking (WLC) and shear force (SF). The results showed there is not interaction of the different diets for the answers of: carcass weight, cuts weight and income, total lipid, WLT, WLC and pH initial, that is, all these variables were similar among the diets tested, resulting in an quality equal meat for these parameters. However, the final pH of breast meat was lower in chickens fed the control diet (corn and soybeans) that also showed in the evaluation of color, a chicken breast with content of yellow (b *) more intense than the presented by the other diets. Although have been different, these two parameters had values that are considered normal for chicken breast. The addition of PA in the control diet promoted a significant effect in reducing total cholesterol (TC) and lipid oxidation (TBARS) of chicken meat. And the inclusion of WB in the diet in relation to the chicken basal diet, reflected still in TC levels similar or lower to those obtained by this diet latter (control diet). However, on TBARS values did not occur the same answer, because the WB only managed to have an effect on the inhibition of lipid oxidation (in relation to the control diet) when it was added of phytase (more specifically a 6-phytase from E. coli, defined as phytase B in this study). At the same time, the addition of phytase in the diet with WB, was the which reflected in higher shear force (SF) of the chicken breasts between the different diets. However, the SF value obtained in this diet and on the other is within of the value regarded as tender. That is, all diets resulting in a soft texture meat. However, the WB can be used in diets for broilers without affecting meat quality answers. In addition, the PA seems to be the component responsible for reducing of the TC and lipid oxidation of chicken meat.