Increasing the Production of β-Glucan from Saccharomyces carlsbergensis RU01 by Using Tannic Acid

In this study, we increased β-glucan production from brewer’s yeast, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis RU01, by using tannic acid. High-pressure freezing and transmission electron microscopy (HPF-TEM) revealed that the yeast cell wall obtained from yeast malt (YM) medium supplemented with 0.1% w/v tannic acid was thicker than that of yeast cultured in YM medium alone. The production of β-glucan from S. carlsbergensis RU01 was optimized in 3% w/v molasses and 0.1% w/v diammonium sulfate (MDS) medium supplemented with 0.1% w/v tannic acid. The results showed that MDS medium supplemented with 0.1% w/v tannic acid significantly increased the dry cell weight (DCW), and the β-glucan production was 0.28±0.01% w/v and 11.99±0.04% w/w. Tannic acid enhanced the β-glucan content by up to 42.23%. β-Glucan production in the stirred tank reactor (STR) was 1.4-fold higher than that in the shake flask (SF) culture. Analysis of the β-glucan composition by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy showed that the β-glucan of S. carlsbergensis RU01 cultured in MDS medium supplemented with 0.1% w/v tannic acid had a higher proportion of polysaccharide than that of the control. In addition, β-glucans from brewer’s yeast can be used as prebiotic and functional foods for human health and in animal feed.

Directing the Viedma ripening of ethylenediammonium sulfate using “Tailor-made” chiral additives

Viedma ripening of ethylenediammonium sulfate can be directed with chiral 1,2-diammonium sulfate derivatives according to the “rule-of-reversal”.

Comparison of Glyphosate Salts (Isopropylamine, Diammonium, and Potassium) and Calcium and Magnesium Concentrations on the Control of Various Weeds

Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted near Knoxville, TN, during 2002 and 2003 to investigate the effects of calcium and magnesium ions on the performance of three glyphosate formulations with and without diammonium sulfate (AMS). Weed species investigated in the greenhouse were broadleaf signalgrass, pitted morningglory, Palmer amaranth, and yellow nutsedge. Three glyphosate formulations (isopropylamine salt, diammonium salt, and potassium salt) and two glyphosate application rates (0.42 and 0.84 kg ae/ha) were applied to weeds in water fortified with either calcium or magnesium at concentrations of 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 ppm. In all comparisons, there were no differences in the three glyphosate formulations. Glyphosate activity was reduced only when cation concentration was >250 ppm, and this antagonism was not observed when 2% w/ w AMS was added to the spray solution. A chemical analysis of the calcium and magnesium concentrations in water collected from farmers indicated that water samples from eight different producers contained relatively low amounts of cations, with calcium at <40 ppm and magnesium at <8 ppm. In the field results using these and other waters as the herbicide carrier, broadleaf signalgrass control was greater with the 0.84 kg ae/ha than 0.42 kg ae/ha glyphosate rate regardless of water source or addition of AMS. Pitted morningglory responded similarly to glyphosate with water from all farms and with AMS added, and the addition of AMS gave similar results for both glyphosate rates. In 2003, common cocklebur was evaluated and control was >93% regardless of glyphosate rate, water source, or AMS addition. Based on these results, the addition of AMS-based adjuvants to many glyphosate applications may not be warranted.

Cotton and Weed Response to Glyphosate Applied with Sulfur-Containing Additives

Field studies were conducted to assess two sulfur-containing additives for use with glyphosate applied postemergence to glyphosate-resistant cotton for the control of sicklepod and yellow nutsedge. Neither diammonium sulfate (AMS) nor ammonium thiosulfate (ATS), both applied at 2.24 kg/ha, increased control of either species. Effective control of both species was dependent on glyphosate (isopropylamine salt) rate alone, with optimum control at 1.26 kg ae/ha. Plant-mapping data further indicated that sulfur-containing additives generally had no effect on either cotton fruiting patterns or yield. However, applying glyphosate at any rate did increase seed cotton yield in 2 of 3 yr vs. no glyphosate. In addition, applying glyphosate at any rate resulted in an increase in the number of bolls vs. no glyphosate in the following plant-mapping responses: total number of bolls per plant, number of abcised bolls per plant, bolls at the top five sympodial nodes, and bolls at positions 1 and 2 on the sympodia. Glyphosate absorption and subsequent translocation, as influenced by the addition of the sulfur-containing additives, was evaluated using radiotracer techniques. Glyphosate absorption after 48 h was 86, 63, and 37% of amount applied in cotton, sicklepod, and yellow nutsedge, respectively. Absorption by sicklepod and yellow nutsedge was not affected by the addition of either of the additives. Absorption by cotton was reduced by ATS but was not affected by AMS. In yellow nutsedge and cotton, glyphosate concentration in the treated area and adjacent tissue was not affected by either additive. A greater portion of glyphosate was translocated away from the treated area in sicklepod with glyphosate plus AMS (32%) than with glyphosate plus ATS (21%). AMS and ATS may be used in glyphosate-resistant cotton without the risk of either crop injury or yield reduction. However, their use for increased control of annual weed species, such as sicklepod and yellow nutsedge, may not be warranted.

Optimizing Adjuvants to Overcome Glyphosate Antagonistic Salts

Glyphosate toxicity to wheat was antagonized more by calcium chloride than sodium bicarbonate. Mixtures of the salts at greater than 100 mg L−1sodium bicarbonate and 200 mg L−1calcium chloride were additive in antagonism of glyphosate in the greenhouse experiments. Surfactant and oil adjuvants did not overcome sodium bicarbonate or calcium chloride antagonism of glyphosate. Oil adjuvants were generally antagonistic to glyphosate. An equation is presented that determines the amount of diammonium sulfate required to overcome glyphosate antagonism based upon the sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium cations in the spray carrier.

Spray Carrier Salts Affect Herbicide Toxicity to Kochia (Kochia scoparia)

Calcium chloride in the spray carrier antagonized the toxicity of diethanolamine 2,4-D and sodium 2,4-D, dimethylamine MCPA, sodium bentazon, dimethylamine dicamba and sodium dicamba, sodium acifluorfen, imazamethabenz, ammonium imazethapyr, and isopropylamine glyphosate to kochia in greenhouse experiments. Diammonium sulfate overcame calcium chloride antagonism of the above herbicides, except for glyphosate and imazethapyr. Diammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate adjuvants overcame calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate antagonism of dicamba toxicity to kochia and enhanced toxicity of sodium dicamba to nearly equal that of dimethylamine dicamba.

Spray Droplet Residual of Glyphosate in Various Carriers

Scanning electron micrographs of spray droplet residual on wheat, sunflower, and kochia indicated that salts and various adjuvants applied with glyphosate affected deposit crystal content, thickness, and contact with the leaf surface. Spray deposits of glyphosate applied with diammonium sulfate contained distinct crystals, which related to enhanced toxicity of glyphosate applied alone, or to overcoming antagonism of glyphosate toxicity by calcium chloride, when applied to wheat. In general, glyphosate applied with antagonistic calcium chloride salt formed spray deposits that were amorphous, thick, and without crystals. Glyphosate sprayed with nonantagonistic diammonium sulfate and ammonium chloride salts had deposits with crystals and an evenly spread residue beneath the crystals. The various micrographs indicate that the antagonism of glyphosate phytotoxicity by salts may be in part from physical entrapment of glyphosate in the spray deposit. Glyphosate spray droplet residue contact with wheat, sunflower, and kochia surfaces related to observed differences in glyphosate toxicity to these species.