Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain is a treasure trove of bioactive phenolic compounds, including soluble and wall-bound (WB) phenolic compounds. Ferulic acid (FA) is dominant in WB phenolics and a standout due to its potent antioxidant capabilities. However, dietary FA often falls short of recommended intakes. This study investigated the content, trend, regulation, and potential of FA in a wheat germplasm collection. A large-scale screening of over 600 wheat germplasms from Pakistan and China revealed that some modern Chinese cultivars have high FA contents comparable to those of colored wheat. In contrast, Pakistani wheat cultivars have ample room for further increases in FA content. Transcriptome analyses pointed to a correlation between high expression levels of HXXXD-type acyl transferase genes and FA contents in developing grains. FA remained stable through various food processing methods, including the production of noodles, bread, and steamed buns. Moreover, fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) fed HFA foods had a longer lifespan than those fed LFA in both acute oxidative stress (5% H2O2) and chronic high-temperature (29 degrees C) stress. Therefore, biofortification of FA in wheat grains has a significant potential for health and can be achieved using the identified wheat germplasms. The above results provide candidate genes, promising parental lines, and a theoretical basis for future wheat breeding aimed at enhancing the antioxidant and health-promoting properties of wheat.

Polyphenols have the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species and protect tissues against oxidative damage. However, the extraction, enrichment mechanisms, and antioxidant activities of rouge radish polyphenols (RRP) remained poorly understood. This study aimed to elucidate the key factors in extraction, enrichment mechanisms, and the characteristics of antioxidant activity. Response surface methodology was employed to optimize the probe-type ultrasonic-assisted extraction process. Resin enrichment mechanisms were investigated through adsorption/desorption kinetics and isothermal adsorption model. Antioxidant activity of RRP before and after enrichment was analyzed using the DPPH, ABTS+, and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay to provide theoretical support for the efficient development and antioxidant research of RRP. Results indicated that probe-type ultrasound significantly enhanced RRP yield compared to plate-type ultrasound and shaking-bed extraction (P<0.05). Optimal parameters were: Extraction solvent concentration 60% ethanol, solid-to-liquid ratio 1:55 g/mL, extraction temperature 55 ℃, ultrasonic power 350 W, and extraction time 20 min, yielding 33.03±0.12 mg/g. The adsorption/desorption process of HPD-400 resin was conformed to be the pseudo-second-order model, and the intraparticle diffusion was primary but not the sole rate-limiting step. Temkin model was more suitable for describing the adsorption behavior, and lower temperature was beneficial for adsorption. After enrichment, the scavenging concentration values for RRP in scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitrobenzene hydrazine radical and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radicals decreased to 35.5% and 83.0% of their pre-enrichment levels, respectively, while the ferric reducing antioxidant power assay value increased by 1.3-fold.

Interactions between dietary fibers and gluten critically define the structural integrity and textural performance of wheat-based foods. This study elucidates how calcium ions (Ca2+) orchestrate the molecular interplay between low-ester pectin (LEP, 13.5% DE) and high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) at the Glu-D1 locus (Dx2 and Dy12). Through an integrated approach combining multi-scale experimental analyses (SE-HPLC, RP-HPLC, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, CLSM, and rheology) with all-atom molecular dynamics simulations, we demonstrate that LEP alone disrupts disulfide cross-linking, β-sheet order, and hydrophobic packing within gluten networks, while Ca2+ reverses these perturbations by forming “egg-box” ionic bridges between LEP carboxyl groups and acidic residues on HMW-GSs. The extent of this structural recovery was highly subunit-dependent: Dx2 displayed superior structural compactness, stronger Ca2+ coordination, and greater electrostatic stabilization than y-type Dy12, which remained more flexible and less responsive. Consequently, Dx2 functions as the primary structural anchor enabling Ca2+-mediated recovery of polymerization, hydrogen bonding, and viscoelastic elasticity. These findings reveal that Dx2 impart reversible conformational resilience under Ca2+-regulated pectin coupling, providing a mechanistic framework for optimizing LEP fortification and informing subunit-oriented wheat breeding strategies to achieve nutritionally enhanced yet structurally stable fiber-enriched products.

This study investigates how specific high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS at the Glu-B1 locus), Bx7 and By8, differentially regulate heat-induced aggregation of gluten, a key process determining wheat-based product quality. By combining multiscale experiments with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and by introducing a metastable depolymerization index (MDI) and aggregation propensity coefficient (APC), distinct subunit-dependent aggregation behaviors were revealed. A transient metastable conformational stage emerges at intermediate heating (50 degrees C), during which reversible structural relaxation and exposure of reactive groups govern subsequent aggregation pathways and final network architecture. Deletion of Bx7 markedly delays aggregation and results in a weak and soft network, whereas deletion of By8 promotes premature rigid cross-linking and produces a hard but brittle structure. MD simulations further demonstrate that Bx7 undergoes controlled transitions across multiple metastable conformational states, facilitating ordered network assembly, while By8 exhibits more constrained conformational flexibility leading to less coordinated structural rearrangements. These findings clarify the specialized roles of HMW-GS in thermal aggregation and provide mechanistic insight for rational modulation of gluten structure in wheat processing.

With the increasing prevalence of plastic pollution, understanding its impact on soil nematodes is crucial for environmental sustainability and food security. Traditional fluorescence-based probes have the limitations of high background noise and interference from autofluorescence. In this study, the luminous upconverted NaYF4:Yb3+/Er3+ nanoparticles acted as high-sensitivity probes for real-time visualization of ingestion and biodistribution of polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) and nanoplastics (PS-NPs) in Caenorhabditis elegans. The novel probes enabled efficient near-infrared-to-visible light conversion. This approach improved the precision of nano- and microplastic detection in biological tissues. Microscopic imaging revealed that the probes effectively distinguished size-dependent plastic distribution patterns, with microplastics remaining in the digestive tract, whereas nanoparticles penetrated intestinal walls and entered systemic circulation. Quantitative fluorescence analysis confirmed that PS-NPs exhibited higher bioavailability and deeper tissue penetration, providing crucial insights into plastic behavior at the organismal level. The different toxicities of PS-NPs and PS-MPs were further confirmed by measurement of the locomotor impairments and the physiological disruptions. These findings emphasize the broader applications of upconverted nanoparticles as advanced bio-imaging probes, offering a sensitive and non-invasive tool for tracking pollutant interactions in environmental and biological systems.

The role of HMW-GSs in soft wheat quality remains inadequately understood. In Chinese soft wheat variety Ningmai 9, a nonsense mutation (Glu-B1x, 1Bx7null) reduced dough tenacity while enhancing dough extensibility under both low (LN) and high nitrogen (HN) inputs. The improved extensibility in the NIL carrying 1Bx7null was primarily due to a reduced glutenin/gliadin ratio, with HN further increasing extensibility compared to LN. Notably, the NIL under HN exhibited better cookie quality than WT under LN without yield loss (p < 0.05). A CAPS marker was developed based on a C-to-T SNP at 514 bp in the CDS of 1Bx7null, reliably distinguishing 1Bx7 and 1Bx7null alleles. This allele-marker combination shows promising potential for soft wheat breeding. Future studies should explore the effects of allele 1Bx7null across diverse genetic backgrounds and soft wheat products.

Wheat grains contain various bioactive substances, of which, condensed tannins (CT) are polymeric flavan-3-ols that accumulate in wheat seed coat influencing the end-use quality and nutritional value. However, the genetic architecture underlying CT biosynthesis in wheat grain remains unclear. Here, we studied the deposition and genetic regulation of CT in wheat grains, and found that CT deposited specifically in the testa layer of red-grained wheat as catechin- and epicatechin-formed polymers. Genome-wide association study identified 22 genetic loci affecting CT content, one of which, TaTAN, a single dominant gene controlling CT presence, was mapped to chromosome 3A in a segregation population. Further pan-genome analysis, transcriptome profiling and ethyl methanesulfonate induced mutants sequencing revealed a R2R3-MYB transcription factor, TaMYB10-3A, as the causal gene. Three loss-of-function alleles in TaMYB10-3A caused by large fragment inversion-deletion and insertion were identified which abolish both CT deposition and red pigmentation, demonstrating the pleiotropic effect of TaMYB10-3A on CT presence and grain color. TaMYB10-3A directly trans-activates core flavonoid genes such as chalcone synthase and dihydroflavonol 4-reductase to initiate CT biosynthesis. Our investigation provides a comprehensive understanding of CT presence in wheat grains and lays a solid foundation for manipulating CT metabolites to improve wheat grain end-use quality and nutrition values in wheat.

Hierarchical porous carbon materials hold great potential for energy storage applications due to their high porosity, large specific surface area, and excellent electrical conductivity. Cellulose and sodium alginate are naturally abundant high-molecular-weight biopolymer materials. Utilizing them as precursors for the fabrication of high-performance electrochemical carbon materials is highly significant for achieving carbon neutrality goals. In this study, porous carbon aerogels were successfully synthesized using a combination of freeze-drying and a simple carbonization process, with nanocellulose and sodium alginate as precursors. Among the prepared samples, SC-0.03 (sodium alginate: nanocellulose = 0.1:0.03) exhibited the best performance, achieving a specific surface area of 713.7 m2 g-1. This material features an optimized hierarchical pore structure and a substantial intrinsic oxygen doping content, resulting in excellent capacitance performance. Benefiting from these structural advantages and their synergistic effects, the SC-0.03 electrode demonstrated a high specific capacitance of 251.5 F g-1 at a current density of 0.5 A g-1. This study shows that the construction of three-dimensional porous structures by taking advantage of the self-supporting properties of natural polymer materials does not require the introduction of external binders. Due to the nanoscale dimensions and high aspect ratio, nanocellulose enables the formation of a more refined and interconnected hierarchical pore network, enhancing ion accessibility and conductivity. The hierarchical porous carbon aerogel developed in this study, based on a biomass self-reinforcement strategy, not only shows great promise as an advanced energy storage material but also possesses environmentally friendly properties, offering new insights for the development of sustainable energy materials.

Abstract Wheat is one of the major food crops worldwide. Stripe rust can cause a great loss of wheat yield, especially when the disease is prevalent. Chemical control not only causes the loss of resistance to stripe rust but also has a serious impact on the human body and environment. Therefore, the most economical measure to control wheat stripe rust is to cultivate resistant varieties. Rapid variation of stripe rust races often leads to rapid "loss" of resistance to stripe rust disease; therefore, breeders and researchers have to continuously explore new stripe rust resistance genes to provide new resistance sources for the rapid variation of stripe rust races. Previous studies have confirmed that PI660076, a spring wheat line, showed stripe rust resistance under natural conditions at the adult stage, which has great value in breeding programs. In this study, a recombinant inbred lines (RIL) population was constructed by crossing the wheat line PI660076 with the stripe rust-susceptible line AvS. Genotyping of the population was performed using a wheat 15 K SNP array. Three QTLs were identified using phenotypic data over four years across three environments. The resistance type of each QTL was determined by inoculating the RIL lines with single and homozygous QTL during the seedling and adult stages under controlled conditions. The all-stage resistance (ASR) QTL, QYr076.jaas-2A (flanked by SNP marker AX-11048464 and Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) marker KASP_4940) explained 7.13–16.58% and 6.95–7.25% of infection type (IT) and disease severity (DS), respectively. The adult-plant resistance (APR) resistance QTL, QYr076.jaas-4D.1 (flanked by KASP marker KASP_0795 and SNP marker AX-111567243,) explained 6.85–12.70% and 7.94–17.26% of IT and DS, respectively. The APR resistance QTL, QYr076.jaas-4D.2 flanked by KASP markers KASP_9130 and KASP_6535, explained 7.97–39.19% and 8.77–20.55% of the phenotypic variation in IT and DS, respectively. All the three QTLs are likely to be new. The obtained results lay a foundation for further utilization of the stripe rust-resistant line PI660076, as well as for fine mapping and molecular marker-assisted selection breeding. Graphical Abstract

High molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) encoded by the Glu-1 loci are key factors in determining wheat processing quality. However, the contributions of single HMW-GS to dough viscoelastic properties and end-use quality have not been well understood, especially in soft wheat. In this study, the kernel samples of five Near Isogenic Lines (NILs) of a soft wheat each with individual HMW-GS null were investigated. Significant lower SDS-sedimentation volume and lactic acid solvent retention capacity (SRC) were observed in the NILs, compared to the wild type (WT). Except for the NIL with Glu-D1y12 null, the other NILs were associated with significantly lower dough mixing tolerance compared to the WT. Also, the deletion of individual HMW-GS was associated with reduction in dough elasticity and strength, compared to the WT, with the exception of the Glu-A1x1 null. Moreover, Glu-B1x7 was the most important HMW-GS in determining dough mixing tolerance and elasticity. Compared to the WT, the deletions of Glu-D1x2, Glu-B1x7 and Glu-B1y8 significantly increased alveograph L, and decreased alveograph P and P/L ratios. All NILs with single HMW-GS null showed better sugar snap cookie baking quality than the WT. New germplasm and tools are identified for improving dough viscoelasticity and baking quality in soft wheat.

The global prevalence of (3-lactam antibiotics (BlaR) pollution has posed a considerable threat to human health, and a sensitive and quick detection method is urgently needed. In this study, a (3-lactam antibiotic-targeting sensor based on DNA switching and heter-(3-lactam receptors was developed for the rapid and sensitive detection of (3-lactam antibiotics. In this system, a stem-loop DNA fluorescence switch responding to conformational changes was designed and synthesized. The stem strands of the fluorescence switch were labeled with small molecules. The recognition elements bind to each of the two stem strands, thereby "opening" the stalk and enhancing the emission of the attached fluorophore. In the presence of a target molecule in solution, competition between the target and labeled molecule causes the binding protein to dissociate, weakening the fluorescence signal. This method showed good linearity between 22.32 and 715.50 pM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 3.45 pM for ampicillin (AMP). This system can also be used for the detection of other (3-lactam antibiotics. This method was used for the determination of AMP residues in milk and honey, and the results indicated satisfactory recoveries of 92.4-100.7 % and 90.59-101.4 %, respectively, with corresponding relative standard deviations of 2.3-2.8 % and 0.6-3.1 %, respectively. Therefore, we believe that this method will be useful for screening (3-lactam antibiotic residues in food and provide a useful route for the quantitative analysis of other small molecules.

BACKGROUND:Chinese steamed bread (CSB) is one of the most important staple foods in China and is also popular in South-East Asia. Developing functional CSB could improve people's resistance to inflammatory and non inflammatory diseases. This work investigated the effect of sorghum bran addition on antioxidant activities, sensory properties, and in vitro starch digestibility of Chinese southern-style steamed bread (CSSB). RESULTS:In this study, the enhanced CSSB with 0-200 g kg-1 of fine black and tannin (sumac) sorghum bran addition was developed. A small change in phenol content and antioxidant activity was observed at various stages in the processing procedure before steaming. Moreover, a high retention of antioxidant phenolics CSSB with sorghum bran addition was observed. Sorghum bran addition significantly increased the total phenol content and antioxidant activity of CSSB by 4.5-10 times, on average, relative to control. Sorghum bran addition significantly also increased the content of resistant starch, and significantly decreased in vitro starch digestibility in CSSB; these effects were likely due to the joint inhibitory effect of tannins and ferulic acid on starch digestibility. Interestingly, the sorghum bran breads scored higher or similar to control in sensory color preference and overall appearance, but lower on most textural and mouthfeel attributes. CONCLUSION:Sorghum bran addition significantly increased the antioxidant activity of CSSB and significantly decreased starch digestibility. Moreover, the color and appearance properties were maintained or improved. However, the sensorial textural attributes were negatively impacted by the sorghum bran substitutions. Strategies to improve the texture of bran-fortified breads would likely enhance their consumer acceptability. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Wheat genes Yr39, Yr48, Yr52, Yr59, and Yr62 conferring different levels of adult-plant resistance (APR) to stripe rust have been introgressed into Chinese wheat cultivars. To determine the effects of five newly developed wheat lines carrying these APR genes on reduction of stripe rust severity, grain yield, and quality, field experiments including non-sprayed and fungicide sprayed plots were conducted in the 2021 and 2022 growth seasons. Compared to the 100% relative area under the disease progress curve (rAUDPC) of a susceptible check cultivar, the resistant lines had relatively low rAUDPC values, ranging from 0.38% in SWUST-445 (Yr62) to 42.04% in SWUST-006 (Yr39 + Yr26) on average of the two years in the non-sprayed plots. The two-time fungicide applications almost completely controlled stripe rust on the susceptible check and the resistant lines in both years. Stripe rust significantly reduced yield by 29.96% in 2021 and by 84.40% in 2022, whereas the yield differences of the resistant lines were not significant in both years, except SWUST-006 and SWUST-445 in 2022. Stripe rust significantly reduced the thousand kernel weight (TKW) of the susceptible check by 30.36% on the average of both years but did not cause significant TKW reduction in the resistant lines. Except few cases, the various measurements for grain quality did not show significant differences for the susceptible check and resistant lines. The results showed that the resistant lines are useful for further development of wheat cultivars with adequate and durable resistance to stripe rust.

小麦籽粒硬度是影响小麦商品分类分级、小麦制粉工艺和小麦面粉最终加工用途的重要指标,分子标记辅助选择可以有效提高小麦籽粒硬度的选育效率.为了发掘和开发更多与小麦籽粒硬度紧密连锁的分子标记,本研究采用硬质小麦扬麦158与软质小麦西风配制重组自交系群体,利用55KSNP芯片分析群体基因型并构建了群体遗传连锁图,结合4年群体籽粒硬度的表型资料对影响小麦籽粒硬度的QTL进行了分子定位.结果显示,构建的遗传连锁图覆盖2784.9 cM,含有3830个非共分离的SNP标记;除PIN基因外,共定位到12个可重复的QTL位点,分别位于1A、1B、1D、2A(2个)、3A、4D、5A、5D、6B、6D和7A染色体,单个QTL可解释3.2％～15.2％籽粒硬度变异;11个QTL来自软质小麦西风,1个QTL由硬质小麦扬麦158贡献;7个QTL表现稳定,可在4年试验中重复,其中5个QTL未见报道,为新发现QTL,特别是5D染色体新发现的QTL最高可解释15.2％表型变异.与这些稳定QTL紧密连锁的SNP标记将为今后开展长江中下游麦区软质小麦的分子标记辅助选择提供帮助.

Polysaccharides and proteins are coexisting biological macromolecules in food,which are rich in nutrition,and since their interaction can improve the quality of food,they have become a research hotspot. This paper summarized the studies on the interaction between polysaccharides and proteins in China and abroad and discussed the interaction types,influencing factors,preparation methods and functional properties of their complexes,and prospects for their applications in food,to provide theoretical references for the further research and applications of polysaccharide-protein complexes.

Antibiotics and microplastics (MPs) coexisting as unique environmental contaminants may cause unintended environmental issues. In this study, the adsorption-desorption behaviors of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) on both original and UV-aged MPs were examined. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) and polyethylene (PE), which repre-sent degradable and refractory MPs, respectively, were chosen as two distinct types of MPs. Furthermore, simulated fish intestinal fluids (SFIF) and simulated mammalian stomach fluids (SMGF) were employed to evaluate the desorption behaviors of SMX from aged MPs. Our findings demonstrate that UV-aging altered the polarity, hydrophilicity, and structure of the MPs. Aged MPs showed a higher adsorption capacity than the original MPs and they have a higher desorption capacity than original MPs in simulated body fluids. PE has a higher SMX desorption capacity in SFIF and the opposite happened in SMGF. Our results highlight the impor-tance of considering the different adsorption-desorption behaviors of antibiotics on MPs when evaluating their environmental impact.

为研究不同原料制备的板栗黄芪饮料的抗氧化性质,以板栗、黄芪为原料,经打浆、酶解、调配、煮浆和杀菌等工艺制备饮料,测定饮料活性成分、检测抗氧化能力并进行比较.结果表明:以筑波栗为原料的板栗黄芪饮料粗多糖含量为(163.43±0.5)mg/mL,总黄酮(23±0.02)mg/100mL,总皂苷(7.89±0.05)mg/mL;以蒙山魁栗为原料的板栗黄芪饮料中粗多糖含量为(152.05±0.65)mg/mL,总黄酮(36±0.02)mg/100mL,总皂苷(9.67±0.06)mg/mL;两种板栗黄芪饮料抗氧化能力均较强,其中,两种饮料 5倍稀释液总抗氧化能力在 0.18 以上、还原力在 0.2 以上、DPPH自由基清除率在 40％以上、羟自由基清除能力在 50％以上、O2-清除能力在 38％以上;以筑波栗为原料的板栗黄芪饮料DPPH自由基清除率、羟自由基清除能力和O2-清除能力,高于以蒙山魁栗为原料的板栗黄芪饮料,而总抗氧化能力和还原力则反之.两种饮料中粗多糖、总皂苷和总黄酮含量不同,导致两种饮料的抗氧化性能有所差别.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) wild relatives are rich genetic resources for genetic improvement of wheat. The short arm of rye (Secale cereale L.) chromosome 1 (1RS) contains many beneficial genes for resistance to drought, insects, and diseases, therefore the 1RS wheat translocations have been widely used in wheat breeding programs worldwide. To facilitate marker-assisted identification of 1RS in wheat breeding, we designed a set of Kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP) markers to detect the translocations of 1RS with long arm from wheat chromosome 1A (1RS.1AL) and 1RS with long arm from wheat chromosome 1B (1RS.1BL) based on the sequence flanking single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated by genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) between wheat and rye panels. We identified a set of three SNP markers for diagnosis and differentiation of the two 1RS translocations in wheat. Among the three KASP markers, 1AS-05056 is 1RS specific, and clearly separated the genotypes with 1RS (1RS.1AL and 1RS.1BL) from those without the two 1RS translocations; whereas 1AS-29875 clearly identified the 1RS.1AL translocation and 1BS-16654 separated 1RS.1BL from 1RS.1AL. The three new KASP markers together accurately identified the presence of 1RS translocation on either 1A or 1B chromosome in a panel of 95 representative U.S. winter wheat accessions, which were further validated in two additional U.S. hard winter wheat panels. Therefore, they can be used for routine screening of 1RS.1BL and 1RS.1AL translocation lines in wheat breeding programs.

为了研究小麦拔节期渍害对小麦籽粒和加工品质的影响,通过试验池淹水的方式,设置对照和渍水2周、3周3个水平的试验,研究了拔节期渍害对籽粒的容重、千粒质量、蛋白质含量、粒径和硬度,面粉的蛋白质含量、湿面筋含量、降落数值、SDS沉淀值和SRC,以及面团的揉混仪参数、粉质仪参数和拉伸仪参数等小麦品质相关性状的影响.结果表明:拔节期渍水2周,渍害对籽粒蛋白质含量、面粉蛋白质含量、湿面筋含量和蔗糖SRC值及面团的峰值时间、峰值面积、形成时间、稳定时间、粉质仪分数、拉伸能量、延伸度和拉伸比无显著影响;拔节期渍水2周以上,小麦的容重、千粒质量、籽粒蛋白含量、粒径和籽粒硬度指数显著降低,面粉蛋白质含量、湿面筋含量、降落数值、SDS沉淀值和4种SRC值显著降低,面团的峰值面积和延伸度显著降低,面团阻力增加,面团的其他流变学特性影响不显著,饼干直径显著减小.可见,渍害2周以上对小麦品质相关性状有显著影响,并影响饼干品质等相关指标.