Water phase distribution and its dependence on internal structure in soaking maize kernels: a study using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray micro-computed tomography
IntroductionThe formation of yield and quality in maize involves the accumulation of substances such as starch, proteins, and fats, which interact with water within the kernel. Although temporal dynamics of grain moisture and its functional and environmental determinants have been broadly demonstrat...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Plant Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1529514/full |
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| author | Baiyan Wang Baiyan Wang Shenghao Gu Juan Wang Guangtao Wang Xinyu Guo Chunjiang Zhao Chunjiang Zhao |
| author_facet | Baiyan Wang Baiyan Wang Shenghao Gu Juan Wang Guangtao Wang Xinyu Guo Chunjiang Zhao Chunjiang Zhao |
| author_sort | Baiyan Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionThe formation of yield and quality in maize involves the accumulation of substances such as starch, proteins, and fats, which interact with water within the kernel. Although temporal dynamics of grain moisture and its functional and environmental determinants have been broadly demonstrated, we still do not have a comprehensive understanding of the distribution of water phase within a kernel.MethodsWe investigated the relationship between tissue structural traits, including embryo volume (EMBV), endosperm volume (ENDV), vitreous endosperm volume (VEV), floury endosperm volume (FEV), and water content in different phases, such as bound water, semi-bound water, and free water, in maize kernels under different cultivars, nitrogen application rates, and soaking durations by combining low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and X-ray microcomputed tomography (μ-CT) for kernels.ResultsThe results demonstrate that bound water is the major phase (57-82%) in maize kernels, and this proportion decreases with prolonged soaking duration. The bound water content and semi-bound water content positively correlate to ENDV, VEV, and EMBV, whereas free water content correlates to ENDV, EMBV, and VEV in descending order of correlation coefficient. This indicates that water might penetrate the embryo through the pedicel and vitreous endosperm through the pericarp during soaking.DiscussionFinally, we suggested that the proportion of semi-bound water could be a robust indicator to predict moisture content in maize kernels. The study provides a preliminary understanding of the structural basis of water distribution in maize kernels, thereby opening up the potential for designing efficient production systems and breeding cultivars well-suited for mechanical harvesting. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-73d7cf3631c143b6b1928f8cd85429cf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-462X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Plant Science |
| spelling | doaj-art-73d7cf3631c143b6b1928f8cd85429cf2025-01-24T05:21:16ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-01-011510.3389/fpls.2024.15295141529514Water phase distribution and its dependence on internal structure in soaking maize kernels: a study using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray micro-computed tomographyBaiyan Wang0Baiyan Wang1Shenghao Gu2Juan Wang3Guangtao Wang4Xinyu Guo5Chunjiang Zhao6Chunjiang Zhao7Nanjing Agricultural University, MSU Institute, Nanjing, ChinaBeijing Key Lab of Digital Plant, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Lab of Digital Plant, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Lab of Digital Plant, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Lab of Digital Plant, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, ChinaBeijing Key Lab of Digital Plant, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, ChinaNanjing Agricultural University, MSU Institute, Nanjing, ChinaBeijing Key Lab of Digital Plant, Information Technology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, ChinaIntroductionThe formation of yield and quality in maize involves the accumulation of substances such as starch, proteins, and fats, which interact with water within the kernel. Although temporal dynamics of grain moisture and its functional and environmental determinants have been broadly demonstrated, we still do not have a comprehensive understanding of the distribution of water phase within a kernel.MethodsWe investigated the relationship between tissue structural traits, including embryo volume (EMBV), endosperm volume (ENDV), vitreous endosperm volume (VEV), floury endosperm volume (FEV), and water content in different phases, such as bound water, semi-bound water, and free water, in maize kernels under different cultivars, nitrogen application rates, and soaking durations by combining low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) and X-ray microcomputed tomography (μ-CT) for kernels.ResultsThe results demonstrate that bound water is the major phase (57-82%) in maize kernels, and this proportion decreases with prolonged soaking duration. The bound water content and semi-bound water content positively correlate to ENDV, VEV, and EMBV, whereas free water content correlates to ENDV, EMBV, and VEV in descending order of correlation coefficient. This indicates that water might penetrate the embryo through the pedicel and vitreous endosperm through the pericarp during soaking.DiscussionFinally, we suggested that the proportion of semi-bound water could be a robust indicator to predict moisture content in maize kernels. The study provides a preliminary understanding of the structural basis of water distribution in maize kernels, thereby opening up the potential for designing efficient production systems and breeding cultivars well-suited for mechanical harvesting.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1529514/fullphenotypinghydrationwater absorptionseed emergencekernel moisture |
| spellingShingle | Baiyan Wang Baiyan Wang Shenghao Gu Juan Wang Guangtao Wang Xinyu Guo Chunjiang Zhao Chunjiang Zhao Water phase distribution and its dependence on internal structure in soaking maize kernels: a study using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray micro-computed tomography Frontiers in Plant Science phenotyping hydration water absorption seed emergence kernel moisture |
| title | Water phase distribution and its dependence on internal structure in soaking maize kernels: a study using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray micro-computed tomography |
| title_full | Water phase distribution and its dependence on internal structure in soaking maize kernels: a study using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray micro-computed tomography |
| title_fullStr | Water phase distribution and its dependence on internal structure in soaking maize kernels: a study using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray micro-computed tomography |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water phase distribution and its dependence on internal structure in soaking maize kernels: a study using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray micro-computed tomography |
| title_short | Water phase distribution and its dependence on internal structure in soaking maize kernels: a study using low-field nuclear magnetic resonance and X-ray micro-computed tomography |
| title_sort | water phase distribution and its dependence on internal structure in soaking maize kernels a study using low field nuclear magnetic resonance and x ray micro computed tomography |
| topic | phenotyping hydration water absorption seed emergence kernel moisture |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1529514/full |
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