More Like this

1. Evaluation of lauric acid enhancement of black soldier fly larvae from coconut

   Gatlin, D; Carvalho, P; Flint, C; Miranda, C; Tomberlin, JK (May 2024, Journal of economic entomology)

   The current study evaluated the potential enhancement of lauric acid (LA) in black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens, (L.) (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae (BSFL), a source of this short-chain fatty acid which has antimicrobial and immunostimulatory properties. Replicate groups of BSFL were reared on either the coconut or Gainesville diet for 7 days. After the rearing period, BSFL were harvested, purged, dried, and subjected to proximate, fatty acid and amino acid compositions, and pepsin digestibility analyses. Results demonstrate changes in proximate composition. BSFL reared on the coconut had significantly (P = 0.002) higher lipid content (47.3% vs. 25.2%) on a dry-matter basis. The LA concentration in BSFL produced on the coconut was 31% greater than those reared on Gainesville, resulting in almost 150% more LA. Furthermore, BSFL-fed coconut had reduced crude protein (29.7% of dry weight) and ash (3.7% of dry weight) relative to those fed Gainesville (43.4% and 7.5% for crude protein and ash, respectively) but higher pepsin digestibility (91.0% vs. 87.0%). The relative amounts of various amino acids in the 2 BSFL meals did not differ extensively, with statistically lower concentrations of only phenylalanine and tryptophan and higher concentrations of alanine, arginine, isoleucine, leucine, and serine in BSFL reared on coconut. Results demonstrate that the nutritional composition of BSFL can be manipulated, and an enhancement of LA concentrations of 150% was achieved with coconut, which has value for BSFL as a feed for various livestock, including aquaculture. Lower protein content is a tradeoff in terms of BSFL value as a feed additive. 

   more » « less
2. Effects of a blend of mannan and glucan on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, energy status, and whole-blood immune gene expression of beef steers during a 42-d receiving period

   https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaa226  

   Ogunade, Ibukun M; Taiwo, Godstime; Estrada-Reyes, Zaira M; Yun, Jiang; Pech-Cervantes, Andres A; Peters, Sunday O (January 2021, Translational Animal Science)

   Abstract We examined the effects of dietary supplementation of a blend of mannan and glucan on the growth performance, energy status, and whole-blood immune gene expression of newly weaned beef steers during a 42-d receiving period. Forty-eight newly weaned Angus crossbred steers (2-d post-weaning; 199 ± 13 kg of initial body weight [BW]) from a single source were stratified by BW and randomly assigned to one of the two treatments: basal diet with no additive (CON; n = 24) or a basal diet top-dressed with 5 g of a blend of mannan and glucan (MANGLU; n = 24). Average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (FE) from days 1 to 14, 15 to 42, and 1 to 42 were calculated from daily dry matter intake (DMI) and weekly BW. Blood samples were collected on days 0, 14, and 42 for measurement of plasma glucose and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA). Blood samples collected on days 14 and 42 were composited for each steer for untargeted carbonyl-metabolome analysis (measurement of carbonyl-containing metabolites). Expression of 84 immune-related genes was analyzed on blood samples collected on day 42. Beginning on days 37 to 42, total mixed ration, refusals, and fecal samples were collected once daily to determine apparent total tract digestibility of DM, CP, NDF, and ADF using indigestible NDF as an internal marker. Over the 42-d feeding trial, supplemental MANGLU tended to increase final BW (P = 0.07) and ADG (P = 0.06). Compared to CON, beef steers fed supplemental MANGLU had greater (P = 0.01) DMI during the first 14 d, greater DM digestibility (P = 0.03), and tended to have greater NDF digestibility (P = 0.09). No treatment effects (P > 0.10) on plasma glucose and NEFA on days 14 and 42 were detected; however, carbonyl-metabolome analysis revealed increased (FDR ≤ 0.05) plasma concentrations of galactose and glyceraldehydes, and altered (FDR ≤ 0.05) concentrations of some microbiome-derived metabolites in beef steers fed MANGLU. Compared with CON, MANGLU increased (P ≤ 0.05) the expression of five immune-related genes involved in recognition of and mounting immune defense against microbial pathogens. In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrated that supplemental MANGLU enhances beef cattle immunocompetence and productivity during feedlot receiving period. 

   more » « less
3. A comprehensive characterization of agronomic and end-use quality phenotypes across a quinoa world core collection

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2023.1101547  

   Craine, Evan B.; Davies, Alathea; Packer, Daniel; Miller, Nathan D.; Schmöckel, Sandra M.; Spalding, Edgar P.; Tester, Mark; Murphy, Kevin M. (February 2023, Frontiers in Plant Science)

   Quinoa ( Chenopodium quinoa Willd.), a pseudocereal with high protein quality originating from the Andean region of South America, has broad genetic variation and adaptability to diverse agroecological conditions, contributing to the potential to serve as a global keystone protein crop in a changing climate. However, the germplasm resources currently available to facilitate quinoa expansion worldwide are restricted to a small portion of quinoa’s total genetic diversity, in part because of day-length sensitivity and issues related to seed sovereignty. This study aimed to characterize phenotypic relationships and variation within a quinoa world core collection. The 360 accessions were planted in a randomized complete block design with four replicates in each of two greenhouses in Pullman, WA during the summer of 2018. Phenological stages, plant height, and inflorescence characteristics were recorded. Seed yield, composition, thousand seed weight, nutritional composition, shape, size, and color were measured using a high-throughput phenotyping pipeline. Considerable variation existed among the germplasm. Crude protein content ranged from 11.24% to 17.81% (fixed at 14% moisture). We found that protein content was negatively correlated with yield and positively correlated with total amino acid content and days to harvest. Mean essential amino acids values met adult daily requirements but not leucine and lysine infant requirements. Yield was positively correlated with thousand seed weight and seed area, and negatively correlated with ash content and days to harvest. The accessions clustered into four groups, with one-group representing useful accessions for long-day breeding programs. The results of this study establish a practical resource for plant breeders to leverage as they strategically develop germplasm in support of the global expansion of quinoa. 

   more » « less
4. Mutating alfalfa COUMARATE 3-HYDROXYLASE using multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 leads to reduced lignin deposition and improved forage quality

   https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1363182  

   Wolabu, Tezera W.; Mahmood, Kashif; Chen, Fang; Torres-Jerez, Ivone; Udvardi, Michael; Tadege, Million; Cong, Lili; Wang, Zengyu; Wen, Jiangqi (March 2024, Frontiers in Plant Science)

   Alfalfa (Medicago sativaL.) forage quality is adversely affected by lignin deposition in cell walls at advanced maturity stages. Reducing lignin content through RNA interference or antisense approaches has been shown to improve alfalfa forage quality and digestibility. We employed a multiplex CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene-editing system to reduce lignin content and alter lignin composition in alfalfa by targeting theCOUMARATE 3-HYDROXYLASE (MsC3H)gene, which encodes a key enzyme in lignin biosynthesis. Four guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting the first exon ofMsC3Hwere designed and clustered into a tRNA-gRNA polycistronic system and introduced into tetraploid alfalfa viaAgrobacterium-mediated transformation. Out of 130 transgenic lines, at least 73 lines were confirmed to contain gene-editing events in one or more alleles ofMsC3H. Fifty-five lines were selected for lignin content/composition analysis. Amongst these lines, three independent tetra-allelic homozygous lines (Msc3h-013, Msc3h-121, andMsc3h-158) with different mutation events inMsC3Hwere characterized in detail. Homozygous mutation ofMsC3Hin these three lines significantly reduced the lignin content and altered lignin composition in stems. Moreover, these lines had significantly lower levels of acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber as well as higher levels of total digestible nutrients, relative feed values, andin vitrotrue dry matter digestibility. Taken together, these results showed that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing ofMsC3Hsuccessfully reduced shoot lignin content, improved digestibility, and nutritional values without sacrificing plant growth and biomass yield. These lines could be used in alfalfa breeding programs to generate elite transgene-free alfalfa cultivars with reduced lignin and improved forage quality. 

   more » « less
5. Comparison of the quality of soybean meal and oil by soybean production origin

   https://doi.org/10.1002/aocs.12835  

   Liu, Huazhen; Gishini, Mohammad_Fazel Soltani; Pope, Micah; Doehring, Todd; Kachroo, Pradeep; Hildebrand, David (September 2024, Journal of the American Oil Chemists' Society)

   Abstract Previous reports indicate variable soybean quality parameters exported from different geographic regions. This review compares soybean and soybean co‐products grown under diverse environmental conditions. While numerous studies have been conducted on whole soybean and soybean meal (SBM) composition by origin, similar analysis of soybean oil is lacking. This review has two objectives: 1) summarize soybean and SBM quality by origin using a meta‐analysis approach, and 2) analyze collected crude degummed soybean oil samples that originate from the US, Brazil and Argentina for key quality attributes. Soybeans from Brazil have higher levels of protein (P < 0.05) than US soybeans, but US soybeans have lower heat damage (P < 0.05) and total damage (P < 0.05) than soybeans from Brazil. US and Brazil SBM have higher crude protein (CP) (P < 0.05) than SBM from Argentina. At equal CP content, US SBM had less fiber (P < 0.0001), more sucrose (P < 0.0001) and lysine (P < 0.0001) and better protein quality than South American SBMs. Methionine, threonine, and cysteine levels were similar in soybean protein from US and Argentina and higher than that in soybean protein from Brazil. Crude degummed soybean oil from Brazil had more (P < 0.05) free fatty acids, neutral oil loss, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium than crude degummed soybean oil from the US or Argentina. Our analysis suggests that environmental conditions under which soybeans are grown, stored, and handled can have a large impact on chemical composition and nutrient quality of soybean meal and soybean oil. 

   more » « less