Rapid characterization of molecular chemistry, nutrient make-up and microlocation of internal seed tissue

Abstract

Wheat differs from corn in biodegradation kinetics and fermentation characteristics. Wheat exhibits a relatively high rate (23% h(-1)) and extent (78% DM) of biodegradation, which can lead to metabolic problems such as acidosis and bloat in ruminants. The objective of this study was to rapidly characterize the molecular chemistry of the internal structure of wheat (cv. AC Barrie) and reveal both its structural chemical make-up and nutrient component matrix by analyzing the intensity and spatial distribution of molecular functional groups within the intact seed using advanced synchrotron-powered Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy. The experiment was performed at the U2B station of the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York, USA. The wheat tissue was imaged systematically from the pericarp, seed coat, aleurone layer and endosperm under the peaks at approximately 1732 (carbonyl C=O ester), 1515 (aromatic compound of lignin), 1650 (amide I), 1025 (non-structural CHO), 1550 (amide II), 1246 (cellulosic material), 1160, 1150, 1080, 930, 860 (all CHO), 3350 (OH and NH stretching), 2928 (CH(2) stretching band) and 2885 cm(-1) (CH(3) stretching band). Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis were applied to analyze the molecular FTIR spectra obtained from the different inherent structures within the intact wheat tissues. The results showed that, with synchrotron-powered FTIR microspectroscopy, images of the molecular chemistry of wheat could be generated at an ultra-spatial resolution. The features of aromatic lignin, structural and non-structural carbohydrates, as well as nutrient make-up and interactions in the seeds, could be revealed. Both principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis methods are conclusive in showing that they can discriminate and classify the different inherent structures within the seed tissue. The wheat exhibited distinguishable differences in the structural and nutrient make-up among the pericarp, seed coat, aleurone layer and endosperm. Such information on the molecular chemistry can be used for grain-breeding programs for selecting a superior variety of wheat targeted for food and feed purposes and for predicting wheat quality and nutritive value in humans and animals. Thus advanced synchrotron-powered FTIR technology can provide a greater understanding of the plant-animal interface.

Phylogeny of cultivated and wild wheat species using ATR–FTIR spectroscopy

“…First derivative spectra on the other hand, are used to minimize the baseline variability [41] and to emphasize the structural differences between spectra [43]. The differentiation of Triticum species from Aegilops species were achieved when the lignin band centred at 1514 cm À1 was employed [33]. Fig.…”

Plant‐based food and feed protein structure changes induced by gene‐transformation, heating and bio‐ethanol processing: A synchrotron‐based molecular structure and nutrition research program

“…Figure 6 shows that with synchrotron FTIR microspectroscopy, the images of molecular chemistry could be generated [29,30].…”

Biochemical, mechanical, and spectroscopic analyses of genetically engineered flax fibers producing bioplastic (poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate)

“…18 Their integral intensities as subtracted from the cellulose background are nearly the same (Figure 6). This suggests that the relative amount of lignin is comparable in the control and transgenic flax fibers, which is in agreement with the data from chemical analysis.…”