Evaluation of lifespan promoting effects of biofortified wheat in Drosophila melanogaster

Evaluation of nutritionally enhanced biofortified dietary interventions that increase lifespan may uncover cost-effective and sustainable approaches for treatment of age-related morbidities and increasing healthy life expectancy. In this study, we report that anthocyanin rich, high yielding crossbred blue wheat prolongs lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster in different dietary contexts. In addition to functioning as an antioxidant rich intervention, the biofortified blue wheat also works through modulating expression of DR pathway genes including AMPK alpha, SREBP, PEPCK and Cry. Supplementation with blue- or purple-colored wheat provided better protection against paraquat-induced oxidative stress than control diet and increased survivability of flies in which superoxide dismutase 2 was knocked down conditionally in adults. Lastly, our findings indicate that supplementing biofortified blue wheat formulated diet prevented the decrease in lifespan and cardiac structural pathologies associated with intake of high fat diet. Overall, our findings indicate that plant-based diets formulated with biofortified cereal crops promote healthy ageing and delay progression of diseases that are exacerbated by accumulation of oxidative damage.

Effect of selenium-sulfur interaction on the anabolism of sulforaphane in broccoli

The effects of S (as sulphate) and Se (as selenite) treatment (S mM/Se μM: 1/0, 1/50, 1/100, 1/150, 4/0, 4/50, 4/100, and 4/150) on the production of sulforaphane (an anticancer compound), the accumulation of its precursor substance, and the expression of genes related to glucoraphanin biosynthesis in broccoli were examined. Sulforaphane yield and myrosinase activity increased significantly with the combined application of 4 mM S and 100 μM Se on broccoli. Furthermore, the concentrations of glucoraphanin (a sulforaphane precursor) and methionine (a glucoraphanin substrate) slightly changed after Se application. And the strong anticancer activity of compound Se-SMC was further improved. Analysis of related gene expression showed that MY, which encodes myrosinase, was strongly induced by Se treatment. Thus, the myrosinase activity induced by Se treatment is the dominant factor affecting sulforaphane yield from glucoraphanin hydrolyzation. Selenium-sulfur biofortification provides a technical support for the cultivation of broccoli with high sulforaphane and high anti-cancer selenium compounds.

[Evaluation of the Acute Toxicity and Genotoxicity of the Rice Biofortified with β-Glucan]

OBJECTIVE

To provide a scientific evaluation of the food safety of the rice biofortified with β-glucan.

METHODS

The acute toxicity and genotoxicity of the rice were evaluated by 14-day feeding experiment, Ames experiment, erythrocyte micronucleus test and mouse lymphoma thymidine kinase gene ( TK) mutation assay respectively.

RESULTS

In the acute toxicity test, there was no obvious toxicity of rice biofortified with β-glucan, and no abnormality was found in anatomical observation. The median lethal dose (LD ₅₀) to rats and mice wereall greater than 15 mg/kg, which belonged to the actual non-toxic level. Whether with S ₉ activation or not, no genotoxicity was found to the tested strains TA97a, TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA1535. No induction of polychromatic erythrocytes and inhibition of bone marrow were found in erythrocyte micronucleus test. The results of TK gene mutation assay did not show the mutagenicity of β-glucan bioaugmentation rice. All results of the three genotoxicity tests were negative.

CONCLUSION

Under the current experimental conditions, β-glucan biofortified rice showed no obvious acute toxicity and genotoxicity.

Economic benefits of blast-resistant biofortified wheat in Bangladesh: The case of BARI Gom 33

The first occurrence of wheat blast in 2016 threatened Bangladesh's already precarious food security situation. The Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), together with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) developed and released the wheat variety BARI Gom 33 that is resistant to wheat blast and other common diseases. The new variety provides a 5-8% yield gain over the available popular varieties, as well as being zinc enriched. This study examines the potential economic benefits of BARI Gom 33 in Bangladesh. First, applying a climate analogue model, this study identified that more than 55% of the total wheat-growing area in Bangladesh (across 45 districts) is vulnerable to wheat blast. Second, applying an ex-ante impact assessment framework, this study shows that with an assumed cumulative adoption starting from 2019-20 and increasing to 30% by 2027-28, the potential economic benefits of the newly developed wheat variety far exceeds its dissemination cost by 2029-30. Even if dissemination of the new wheat variety is limited to only the ten currently blast-affected districts, the yearly average net benefits could amount to USD 0.23-1.6 million. Based on the findings, international funder agencies are urged to support the national system in scaling out the new wheat variety and wheat research in general to ensure overall food security in Bangladesh and South Asia.