Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Seed”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

[Seeds against smallpox: Joaquim Vás and the scientific translation of bananeira brava seeds in Goa, India (1894-1930)].

In 1914, in the former Portuguese colony of Goa, India, the physician António Joaquim Vás announced the discovery of a wonderful treatment for smallpox, entailing clinical application of seeds from the bananeira brava (Heliconia biabi Sw.m.), a plant remedy allegedly derived from Indian medical practices. The present article explores the circumstances surrounding the successes and failures of this discovery. The concept of scientific translation is used to interpret the transformation of bananeira brava seeds into an early twentieth-century remedy for smallpox. This transfer from indigenous use to scientific therapeutic constitutes the creation of a quasi-medicine, that is, a case of 'medium translation'. Although these seeds occupy a problematic place within the program of scientific translation, they enjoyed active circulation within science and remained a part of medical practices for combating smallpox.

Heliconiaceae↗

Endothelial cell seeding on PTFE vascular prostheses using a standardized seeding technique.

A standardized method was developed for seeding endothelial cells (EC) in tubular vascular grafts. A rotational cell seeding device for tubular prostheses is presented and parameters influencing the kinetics of cell adhesion (rotation speed, graft diameter, cell suspension level, inoculated cell number) are reported. Seeding EC in 14 mm ID PTFE vascular grafts with rotation rate of 10 rph gave an adhesion rate of 80% in a homogeneous monolayer.

Blood Vessel Prosthesis↗

[Seed globulins from legumes. III. Seed globulins from broad bean (Vicia faba L.)].

The seed globulins from Vicia faba predominantly consist of two components, vicilin and legumin, which are exclusively deposited within the protein bodies of the storage cotyledons. The globulin biosynthesis commences with high intensity within a distinct phase during seed development as a consequence of reactivated genetic information. Isolation and purification of vicilin and legumin were achieved by a combination of zone precipitation, ion exchange chromatography, and gel filtration. Purity was controlled by disc electrophoresis on polyacrylamide e gels at pH 4.3 and by two dimensional immunoelectrophoresis, respectively. Vicilin prepared by zone precipitation and ion exchange chromatography consists of several serologically different proteins. One of them occupies the legumin position on polyacrylamide gels, although not identic with legumin, as revealed by tandem immunoelectrophoresis. The serological nonrelationship of vicilin and legumin was confirmed. Vicilin is characterized by micro heterogeneity which seems to indicate a molecular polymorphism.

Globulins↗

The fate of aflatoxins during the production of "Ogiri", a West African fermented melon seed condiment from artificially contaminated seeds.

Twenty-six market samples and four laboratory-prepared samples of "ogiri" were screened for aflatoxin contamination. Aflatoxins were not detected in any of the samples. The fermented product (ogiri) was prepared with Aspergillus flavus-contaminated melon seeds. Losses of 64.7% aflatoxin B1 and 82.9% aflatoxin G1 were observed at the end of the third day of fermentation of the ground melon seeds. The samples were completely detoxified at the fourth day of fermentation. Increase in pH of the mash from 6.2 to 7.2 was observed during fermentation.

Aflatoxins↗

Induction, purification and characterisation of acyl-ACP thioesterase from developing seeds of oil seed rape (Brassica napus).

The level of two thioesterases, acyl-CoA thioesterase and acyl-ACP thioesterase was determined during seed maturation in oil seed rape. Both thioesterase activities rose markedly prior to the onset of lipid accumulation, but the induction kinetics suggest that the activities reside on distinct polypeptides. Acyl-ACP thioesterase (EC 3.1.2.14) was purified 2000-fold using a combination of ion exchange, ACP-affinity chromatography, chromatofocusing and gel filtration. Using native gel electrophoresis, and assays for enzymic activity, two polypeptides were identified on SDS-PAGE as associated with the activity. Cleveland mapping of these polypeptides, of 38 kDa component and 33 kDa respectively, demonstrated that they are related. An antibody was prepared against the 38 kDa component, and this also recognises the 33 kDa polypeptide in highly purified preparations. Western blotting of a crude extract identifies one band at 38 kDa consistent with the 33 kDa component being a degradation product generated during purification. The native molecule has a M(r) of 70 kDa indicating a dimeric structure. The enzyme has a pH optimum of 9.5 and shows strong preference for oleoyl-ACP as substrate. The intact enzyme has an N-terminus blocked to protein sequencing. We also found that two other polypeptides co-purify with acyl-ACP thioesterase under native conditions. The N-terminal amino-acid sequence of these polypeptides is shown and their possible identity is discussed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Studies on samh seeds (Mesembryanthemum forsskalei Hochst) growing in Saudi Arabia: 3. Utilization of samh seeds in bakery products.

Samh seeds obtained from Al-Jouf area were ground into flour analyzed and used as a replacement for wheat in the ratio of 10, 20 and 30% for bread and 30, 60 100% for cookies. The rheological effect of the Samh flour on Saudi wheat flour was also studied. The bread and cookies obtained were evaluated physically and by sensory evaluation. The results obtained indicated that samh flour has high protein content and could be used as a replacement for wheat flour upto 30% without adversely affecting the bread specific volume much. Samh flour has improved the cookies appearance specially the colour (chocolate colour) and spreading ratio. The results also revealed that it is possible to make cookies from 100% samh flour. Due to the high protein content of the samh seeds the nutritional value of the bread and cookies made with samh flour will be improved. The results of the sensory evaluation of the bread and cookies indicated that the bread made with samh flour upto 30% has similar characters except for the crumb color and the overall acceptability which were rated as significantly inferior. The sensory evaluation of the cookies showed that the cookies made with samh flour upto 100% were significantly superior (p < 0.05) to the cookies made with 100% wheat flour (control).

Bread↗

Reducing complexity when studying seed dispersal at community scales: a functional classification of vertebrate seed dispersers in tropical forests.

The process of seed dispersal has a profound effect on vegetation structure and diversity in tropical forests. However, our understanding of the process and our ability to predict its outcomes at a community scale are limited by the frequently large number of interactions associated with it. Here, we outline an approach to dealing with this complexity that reduces the number of unique interactions considered by classifying the participants according to their functional similarity. We derived a classification of dispersers based on the nature of the dispersal service they provide to plants. We described the quantities of fruit handled, the quality of handling and the diversity of plants to which the service is provided. We used ten broad disperser traits to group 26 detailed measures for each disperser. We then applied this approach to vertebrate dispersers in Australia's tropical forests. Using this we also develop a classification that may be more generally applicable. For each disperser, data relating to each trait was obtained either from the field or published literature. First, we identified dispersers whose service outcomes were so distinct that statistical analysis was not required and assigned them to functional groups. The remaining dispersers were assigned to functional groups using cluster analysis. The combined processes created 15 functional groups from 65 vertebrate dispersers in Australian tropical forests. Our approach--grouping dispersers on the basis of the type of dispersal service provided and the fruit types it is provided to--represents a means of reducing the complexity encountered in tropical seed dispersal systems and could be effectively applied in community level studies. It also represents a useful tool for exploring changes in dispersal services when the distribution and abundance of animal populations change due to human impacts.

Animals↗

Mango seed uses: thermal behaviour of mango seed almond fat and its mixtures with cocoa butter.

This paper deals with the physicochemical characterization, including thermal behaviour, by differential scanning calorimetry of mango seed almond fat (MAF), alone and in mixtures with cocoa butter (CB). Results showed that mango almond seeds contain about 5.28-11.26% (dw) of fat. The refraction index is 1.466, the saponification index 189.0 and the iodine index 41.76. Fatty acids found in MAF are oleic, stearic, and palmitic acids (40.81%, 39.07% and 9.29% (w/w), respectively) as well as smaller amounts of linoleic, with arachidic, behenic, lignoceric, and linolenic acids, among others. Calorimetric analysis showed that MAF crystallizes between 14.6 and -24.27 degrees C with a DeltaHc of 56.06 J/g and melts between -17.1 and 53.8 degrees C, with fusion maxima at 18.54 degrees C and 40.0 degrees C for the alpha and beta polymorphic forms. Their fusion enthalpies are 70.12 and 115.7 J/g. The MAF solids content profile is very similar to that of CB, both in stabilized and non-stabilized samples. The mixing compatibility was analyzed using isosolids curves of mixtures of different compositions.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗

The prohibitin genes in Arabidopsis thaliana: expression in seeds, hormonal regulation and possible role in cell cycle control during seed germination.

A fragment encoding a partial sequence of a prohibitin (Phb) gene was isolated. The expression of Phb mRNA and protein in seeds of wild type and mutant Arabidopsis thaliana is presented. Phb mRNA is abundant in wild-type seeds; thus, it may have sequence or structural characteristics responsible for this stability. The 3' untranslated region sequence of a Phb gene has interesting features. We found that Arabidopsis Phb does not interact with a retinoblastoma-related protein or E2F in a yeast two-hybrid system, thus suggesting that the plant protein may have not conserved such interaction, described for mammalian Phb. The possible role of Phb in cell cycle regulation during germination is discussed.

Arabidopsis↗

Characterisation and some possible uses of Plukenetia conophora and Adenopus breviflorus seeds and seed oils.

Two non-conventional seeds, Plukenetia conophora (PKCP) and Adenopus breviflorus (ADB) were analysed for their proximate, fatty acids, sterols composition and physico-chemical characteristics. Crude protein was 25.65% for PKCP and 28.25% for ADB. ADB had lower moisture content (4.5%) than PKCP (8.0%) indicating that the former has better shelf life. Oil yields of the seeds were 49.58% for PKCP and 56.22% for ADB. The major sterols were stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol in PKCP and ADB respectively. PKCP oil had 98.8% unsaturated fatty acids with linolenic acid predominating (70.1%) while ADB had 85.1% unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic acid being most abundant (65.3%). The very high saponification and iodine values of PKCP oil suggest its utilisation in alkyd resin, shoe polish, liquid soap and shampoo production. There is the possibility of using ADB oil in these regards as well as for edible purposes.

Chemical Phenomena↗

Sucrose transport into barley seeds: molecular characterization of two transporters and implications for seed development and starch accumulation.

In order to understand sucrose transport in developing seeds of cereals at the molecular level, we cloned from a caryopses library two cDNAs encoding sucrose transporters, designated HvSUT1 and HvSUT2. Sucrose uptake activity was confirmed by heterologous expression in yeast. Both transporter genes are expressed in maternal as well as filial tissues. In a series of in situ hybridizations we analysed the cell type-specific expression in developing seeds. HvSUT1 is preferentially expressed in caryopses in the cells of the nucellar projection and the endospermal transfer layer, which represent the sites of sucrose exchange between the maternal and the filial generation and are characterized by transfer cell formation. HvSUT2 is expressed in all sink and source tissues analysed and may have a general housekeeping role. The rapid induction of HvSUT1 gene expression in caryopses at approximately 5-6 days after fertilization coincides with increasing levels of sucrose as well as sucrose synthase mRNA and activity, and occurs immediately before the onset of rapid starch accumulation within the endosperm. Starch biosynthesis requires sucrose to be imported into the endosperm, as direct precursor for starch synthesis and to promote storage-associated processes. We discuss the possible role of HvSUT1 as a control element for the endospermal sucrose concentration.

Base Sequence↗

Identification of new members of Fertilisation Independent Seed Polycomb Group pathway involved in the control of seed development in Arabidopsis thaliana.

In higher plants, double fertilisation initiates seed development. One sperm cell fuses with the egg cell and gives rise to the embryo, the second sperm cell fuses with the central cell and gives rise to the endosperm. The endosperm develops as a syncytium with the gradual organisation of domains along an anteroposterior axis defined by the position of the embryo at the anterior pole and by the attachment to the placenta at the posterior pole. We report that ontogenesis of the posterior pole in Arabidopsis thaliana involves oriented migration of nuclei in the syncytium. We show that this migration is impaired in mutants of the three founding members of the FERTILIZATION INDEPENDENT SEED (FIS) class, MEDEA (MEA), FIS2 and FERTILIZATION INDEPENDENT ENDOSPERM (FIE). A screen based on a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter line allowed us to identify two new loci in the FIS pathway, medicis and borgia. We have cloned the MEDICIS gene and show that it encodes the Arabidopsis homologue of the yeast WD40 domain protein MULTICOPY SUPRESSOR OF IRA (MSI1). The mutations at the new fis loci cause the same cellular defects in endosperm development as other fis mutations, including parthenogenetic development, absence of cellularisation, ectopic development of posterior structures and overexpression of the GFP marker.

Arabidopsis↗

Medicinal foodstuffs. IV. Fenugreek seed. (1): structures of trigoneosides Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa, and IIIb, new furostanol saponins from the seeds of Indian Trigonella foenum-graecum L.

Six new furostanol saponins called trigoneosides Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa, and IIIb were isolated from a medicinal foodstuff, fenugreek seed, the seed of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (Leguminosae) originating from India, together with two known saponins, glycoside D and trigofoenoside A. The structures of trigoneosides Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa, and IIIb were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence as 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25S)-5 alpha-furostane-2 alpha,3 beta,22 zeta,26-tetraol 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1 --> 6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)- 5 alpha-furostane-2 alpha,3 beta,22 zeta,26-tetraol 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-5 beta-furostane-3 beta,22 zeta,26-triol 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1 --> 6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-5 beta-furostane-3 beta,22 zeta,26-triol 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1-->6)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25S)-5 alpha-furostane-3 beta,22 zeta,26-triol 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1 --> 2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(25R)-5 alpha-furostane-3 beta,22 zeta,26-triol 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1 --> 2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside, respectively.

India↗

The contents of phytic acid in protein concentrates prepared from nigerseed, sunflower seed, rapeseed and poppy seed.

The contents of phytic acid were determined for protein-rich flours and protein concentrates prepared from nigerseed, sunflower seed, rapeseed and poppy seed. The values ranged from 6.89 to 8.80 mg phytate-P per g of fat free weight. This means that the phytate content of the analysed oilseed flours was at least about 4 times higher than the phytate content of common grain cereals. The precipitation of extracted phytic acid with trivalent Fe was an important step in the analytical procedure. The Fe:P mole ratios of the precipitates from the different oilseeds were lower than the corresponding ratios previously reported for cereal materials.

Edible Grain↗

[Seed proteins as markers in resolving the problems of genetic plant resources, selection and seed production].

The article discusses the main directions and prospects of usage of protein and DNA markers in decision applied and theoretical problems of plant genetic resources (gene banks), plant breeding, seed production and seed testing. The examples of usage of protein and DNA markers for solving important problems of applied botany, genetics and plant breeding were considered.

Crops, Agricultural↗

NMR study of seed hydration: the role of the seed anatomical structures in water uptake of soaked cowpeas.

A NMR method based on the analysis of the transverse magnetization decay curve of water protons, was employed to study the hydration process of commercial cowpeas. In order to investigate the role of the different anatomical parts of the seeds, hilum and micropyle, or alternatively seed coat, were inhibited by a water resistant epoxy resin. The kinetic constant for the hydration of the different sets of beans was measured.

Epoxy Resins↗

Seed vigour in Iranian wheat seeds exposed to cold condition.

Cold stress occurring in the seedbed of winter wheat at the end of autumn results in reduced emergence, even of undeteriorated seed lots (which have not been subjected to a long period of storage and have not been kept in bad storage conditions). The purpose of the present study was to determine the ability of different wheat cultivars at emerging at low field temperatures and the usefulness of a number of laboratory tests in predicting relative emergence of undeteriorated seed lots of different wheat cultivars. Due to genotype variability there were different categories of vigour tested through field and laboratory tests. There were no significant correlations between laboratory tests and field emergence. Our results suggest that conventional vigour tests like standard germination and accelerated ageing do not have enough capacity for identifying genotype differences when emerging in cold conditions.

Cold Temperature↗