Call number: LD2668 .T4 1985 W8 / Master of Science

Urea and ammonium nitrate were applied to leaves of maize plants growing in growth chambers on nutrient solutions containing three different concentrations of ammonium nitrate. Dry weights, and the soluble protein contents of leaves, sterns and roots we remeasured. Both urea and ammonium nitrate did increase the dry weights of leaves and stems when ammonium nitrate was used in the nutrient solutions (0.5 and 2.5 mM/ liter). When nitrogen was not used in the nutrient solutions, no increments of dry weight occurred. The protein contents of leaves were increased for plants in the same nutrient solutions that produced increases in the dry weights, except that urea did not increase protein contents of stems. The dry weights of roots were increased by foliar applied urea when ammonium nitrate was used in the nutrient solutions but not when the nutrient solutions were without nitrogen. Ammonium nitrate applied to the foliage did not increase the dry weights of roots. The protein contents of roots were not increased by urea or ammonium nitrate applied to the leaves. The increments in the dry weights and protein contents given by foliar applied urea were superior to those of foliar applied ammonium nitrate, with the exception of the protein content of stems.

Price premiums and discounts are currently paid for various classes of wheat in the US marketplace. These premiums and the known heterogeneity of grain protein across landscapes beg the question of whether grain could be separated on the farm to maximize revenues. Theoretically, the concavity or convexity of a price function defines if an opportunity to segregate grain exists. Although this is true, prices in the market place are paid in stepped increments, which result in unique revenue maximizing solutions. This study was conducted to determine the economic feasibility of segregating wheat by protein content on the combine harvester during harvest. Both web-based and spreadsheet calculators were built to predict the best point in which to segregate a crop at, as well as define the protein level and quantity of each segregated volume of grain. The costs of segregation vary by operation, but fixed, variable, and opportunity costs are estimated to total $0.1739 bu⁻¹ if segregation is used every year. Revenue gains varied with the price schedule, field mean protein value, and the standard deviation of protein. Revenue gains increased in proportion to the size of a price step in a price schedule. Soft white winter wheat showed the greatest potential for segregation; however, on average yearly expected premiums are less than $.05 bu⁻¹, well below total variable costs. Price schedules occur which allow for profits of over $1.00 bu⁻¹ from segregation, although these are not the norm. Historically, on-combine grain segregation would not be economically feasible for the average producer. However, under certain supply and demand conditions, premiums occur that would make on-combine grain segregation profitable. Individuals will have to evaluate the feasibility on a case-by-case basis. / Graduation date: 2013

<p>Basella alba (BA) and Hibiscus macranthus (HM) are used by traditional healers in Cameroon to treat male sexual fertility problems. Previous studies showed that in vivo administration of the leaf extracts of both plants caused a significant increase in rat seminal vesicle weight and spermatozoa numbers was accompanied by a significant increase in serum testosterone. The aim of this study was to establish the effects of BA and HM extracts on Sertoli cell functions. TM4 cell line was used in this study as it exhibited properties similar to the Sertoli cells (Mather, 1982). Sertoli cell play a key role in spermatogenesis by regulating and supporting germ cell development. Therefore, any alterations in Sertoli cell physiology or structure may lead to impaired spermatogenesis, germ cell loss and male infertility. Developing germ cells in the seminiferous tubule require a constant supply of lactate and pyruvate (Jutte et al, 1981 / 1982) and toxicant induced alterations in these nutrients have been shown to induce germ cell necrosis (Monsees et al., 2000). TM4 Sertoli cells were cultured in DMEM/Ham F-12 (M) for one day and exposed to<br /> 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 &mu / g/ml of BA and HM extracts, respectively, for four further days. The extracts were dissolved in 0.5 % DMSO in M, while 0.5 % and 2% DMSO in M were used as negative or positive controls, respectively, and 100mM ethanol as positive control where indicated. Results obtained from the Sertoli cells exposed to BA extracts, showed that the plant extract had no significant effect on the cell viability but induced a significant concentration-dependent increase in lactate (19-67%) and pyruvate levels (39-102%) and a concentration-dependent decrease in the protein content (9-42%). The H&amp / E histological study confirmed that the BA extract had no cytotoxic effect, as there were no changes in the morphology of the cell. Likewise, apoptotic study using DAPI showed no alteration in the nucleus when compared to the negative control. The HM plant extract significantly enhanced mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity (7fold) in the Sertoli cells but caused only slight alterations in the lactate and pyruvate levels. There was no effect seen in the protein content of the Sertoli cells. H&amp / E and DAPI staining revealed that there were neither changes in the morphology of the cells nor any alteration regarding the mitotic and apoptotic indices. Thus, the HM extract did not have a cytotoxic effect on the cells. This study demonstrated that the Basella alba methanol extract may enhance spermatogenesis as it stimulated the source of energy required for the development of germ cells without exerting a cytotoxic effect. The Hibiscus macranthus extract stimulated mitochondrial dehydrogenase activities and may thus trigger changes in Sertoli cell physiology. In summary, both plant extracts enhanced certain Sertoli cell<br /> functions and thus might explain the positive in vivo effects of the combined plant extracts on rat spermatogenesis observed by Moundipa et al. (1999).</p>

<p>Basella alba (BA) and Hibiscus macranthus (HM) are used by traditional healers in Cameroon to treat male sexual fertility problems. Previous studies showed that in vivo administration of the leaf extracts of both plants caused a significant increase in rat seminal vesicle weight and spermatozoa numbers was accompanied by a significant increase in serum testosterone. The aim of this study was to establish the effects of BA and HM extracts on Sertoli cell functions. TM4 cell line was used in this study as it exhibited properties similar to the Sertoli cells (Mather, 1982). Sertoli cell play a key role in spermatogenesis by regulating and supporting germ cell development. Therefore, any alterations in Sertoli cell physiology or structure may lead to impaired spermatogenesis, germ cell loss and male infertility. Developing germ cells in the seminiferous tubule require a constant supply of lactate and pyruvate (Jutte et al, 1981 / 1982) and toxicant induced alterations in these nutrients have been shown to induce germ cell necrosis (Monsees et al., 2000). TM4 Sertoli cells were cultured in DMEM/Ham F-12 (M) for one day and exposed to<br /> 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 &mu / g/ml of BA and HM extracts, respectively, for four further days. The extracts were dissolved in 0.5 % DMSO in M, while 0.5 % and 2% DMSO in M were used as negative or positive controls, respectively, and 100mM ethanol as positive control where indicated. Results obtained from the Sertoli cells exposed to BA extracts, showed that the plant extract had no significant effect on the cell viability but induced a significant concentration-dependent increase in lactate (19-67%) and pyruvate levels (39-102%) and a concentration-dependent decrease in the protein content (9-42%). The H&amp / E histological study confirmed that the BA extract had no cytotoxic effect, as there were no changes in the morphology of the cell. Likewise, apoptotic study using DAPI showed no alteration in the nucleus when compared to the negative control. The HM plant extract significantly enhanced mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity (7fold) in the Sertoli cells but caused only slight alterations in the lactate and pyruvate levels. There was no effect seen in the protein content of the Sertoli cells. H&amp / E and DAPI staining revealed that there were neither changes in the morphology of the cells nor any alteration regarding the mitotic and apoptotic indices. Thus, the HM extract did not have a cytotoxic effect on the cells. This study demonstrated that the Basella alba methanol extract may enhance spermatogenesis as it stimulated the source of energy required for the development of germ cells without exerting a cytotoxic effect. The Hibiscus macranthus extract stimulated mitochondrial dehydrogenase activities and may thus trigger changes in Sertoli cell physiology. In summary, both plant extracts enhanced certain Sertoli cell<br /> functions and thus might explain the positive in vivo effects of the combined plant extracts on rat spermatogenesis observed by Moundipa et al. (1999).</p>

Examensarbete.

Diss. (sammanfattning). Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

No description available.

Soybeans are among seeds the common plant foods that contains high protein contents and high oil. The protein provides about 35 to 38 percent of the seeds calories compared to around 20 to 30 percent in other legumes and many animal products. The quality of soy protein is notable and approaches the quality of meat and milk. Unlike many other good sources of protein, soybeans are low in saturated fat and are cholesterol-free. Its proteins provide all the important amino acids, most the amounts needed by humans (NSRL, 2010). As the most consumed vegetable oil in the world, soybean oil has been used substantially in the food industry (Soystats, 2010). Its utilization is determined by its fatty acid composition, with commodity soybean oil typically 13% palmatic acid (16:0), 4% stearic acid (18:0), 20% oleic acid (18:1), 55% linoleic acid (18:2), and 8% linolenic acid (18:3). The change of fatty acid profiles to improve soybean oil quality has been a long time goal of many researchers throughout the world. Biodiesel is an up and coming trend in energy production. Breeding effort can be undertaken in order to produce a higher energy profile soybean oil. Using ethyl-methanesulfonate (EMS) mutagenesis effects on DNA, significant changes to the genes and gene network underlying the protein and oil profile can be achieved. These changes are hard to accomplish using standard breeding techniques. In addition, high amount of linolenic and stearic acid are very important for fuel and biodiesel production, but are not good for food production due to the fact that such oil is oxidized easily and the food goes rancid quickly. However, soybean oil with elevated amount of oleic acid is desirable for food, because this monounsaturated fatty acid improves the nutrition and oxidative stability of soybean oil compared to other oils. In order to improve the quality of soybean oil and processed foods, chemically mutagenized soybeans have been developed in this project. Seeds harvested from individual M3 and M4 plants (from 2 successive years 2012 and 2013) were analyzed for protein content, oil composition, and content. Moreover, seven phenotypic traits including oil analysis (stearic, palmitic, oleic, linolenic and linoleic), seed protein content, weight of the seeds (High yield), seeds color, stem length, germination rates, and branch architecture were collected and analyzed in this project of soybean `Forrest' mutagenized population. The result of this research showed that there were 25 significantly different lines (p< 0.05) compare to the wild type, which is useful for developing mutants with altered oil and fatty acid compositions in soybean.

Today, the livestock sector accounts for 18 % of greenhouse gas emissions. To prevent negative environmental effects, dietary changes are required. Locally cultivated legumes with high protein content can be used in order to produce plant-based protein, which can replace animal-based protein. In Sweden, pea (Pisum sativum L.) has been cultivated for centuries and been a valuable protein source for both human consumption and animal feed. VicJ, a gene in pea, has previously been associated with variation in protein content. In the present study, a primarily Swedish material of 31 accessions from different improvement stages were analysed for differences in protein content. It was also tested if genetic variation of VicJ was associated with variation in protein content. The result showed no differences in protein content between various improvement stages, which indicated that selection on the trait has not occurred. No genetic variation associated with variation in protein content in VicJ was detected either. However a stop codon in VicJ, known to be associated with reduced protein content was missing in the material, suggesting that the accessions studied may be suitable for breeding to increase protein content in pea.