The gut microbiota play an important role in the growth and intestinal health of broilers. The present study was to investigate the gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, and intestinal morphology of broilers at different ages. A total of 320 one-day-old male broilers were raised in 8 replicates and fed the same corn–soybean diets for 42 D. The duodenal, jejunal, and ileal segments and their and cecal microbiota were collected on day 1, 7, 14, 21, and 42, respectively. The villous height ( VH ), crypt depth ( CD ), and their ratio of VH:CD in the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum all increased ( P < 0.05) with age. Caecal acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, and isovalerate increased ( P < 0.01), but isobutyrate decreased ( P < 0.001) with age. The cecum had the greatest ( P < 0.001) alpha diversity of bacterial community in broilers at different ages. Beta diversities showed distinct differences in gut microbial compositions among different ages (R = 0.55, P < 0.002) and different intestinal segments (R = 0.53, P < 0.002). Lactobacillus was the most abundant genus in the duodenum (36∼97%), jejunum (39∼72%), and ileum (24∼96%) at all ages, and in the ileum, it was positively correlated with VH (R = 0.559, P < 0.03), VH:CD (R = 0.55, P < 0.03), and acetate contents (R = 0.541, P < 0.04) but negatively correlated (R = -0.50, P < 0.05) with isobutyrate contents. Escherichia–Shigella and Salmonella dominated in the cecum of newly hatched broilers, and then the Bacteroides dominated in the cecum on day 42. In the cecum, Escherichia–Shigella was positively correlated (R = 0.577∼0.662, P < 0.05) with isobutyrate contents and Salmonella negatively correlated (R = -0.539∼-0.843, P < 0.05) with isovalerate, butyrate, and acetate contents. These aforementioned results indicated that the most abundant Lactobacillus from the small intestine and the most diversity of microflora community and short-chain fatty acids in the cecum might contribute to the development of intestinal structure in the whole growing period of broilers.

Abstract:The fruit physico-chemical properties, antioxidant activity and mineral contents of 26 pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.] genotypes grown in China were measured. The results showed great quantitative differences in the composition of these pineapple genotypes. Sucrose was the dominant sugar in all 26 genotypes, while citric acid was the principal organic acid. Potassium, calcium and magnesium were the major mineral constituents. The ascorbic acid (AsA) content ranged from 5.08 to 33.57 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW), while the total phenolic (TP) content varied from 31.48 to 77.55 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/100 g FW. The two parameters in the predominant cultivars Comte de Paris and Smooth Cayenne were relative low. However, MD-2 indicated the highest AsA and TP contents (33.57 mg/100 g and 77.55 mg GAE/100 g FM, respectively), and it also showed the strongest antioxidant capacity 22.85 and 17.30 μmol TE/g FW using DPPH and TEAC methods, respectively. The antioxidant capacity of pineapple was correlated with the contents of phenolics, flavonoids and AsA. The present study provided important information for the further application of those pineapple genotypes.

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Volatile compounds from two pineapples varieties (Tainong No.4 and No.6) were isolated by headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). In the Tainong No. 4 and No. 6 pineapples, a total of 11 and 28 volatile compounds were identified according to their retention time on capillary columns and their mass spectra, and quantified with total concentrations of 1080.44 μg·kg−1 and 380.66 μg·kg−1 in the Tainong No.4 and No. 6 pineapples, respectively. The odor active values (OAVs) of volatile compounds from pineapples were also calculated. According to the OAVs, four compounds were defined as the characteristic aroma compounds for the Tainong No. 4 pineapple, including furaneol, 3-(methylthio)propanoic acid methyl ester, 3-(methylthio)propanoic acid ethyl ester and δ-octalactone. The OAVs of five compounds including ethyl-2-methylbutyrate, methyl-2-methylbutyrate, 3-(methylthio)propanoic acid ethyl ester, ethyl hexanoate and decanal were considered to be the characteristic aroma compounds for the Tainong No. 6 pineapple.

A somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase (SERK) gene, designated as AcSERK1, was isolated from pineapple (Ananas comosus cv. Shenwan). AcSERK1 shared all the characteristic domains of the SERK family, including five leucine-rich repeats, one proline-rich region motif, transmembrane domain, and kinase domains. Somatic embryogenic cultures of pineapple were established following transfer of callus cultures to Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium containing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. The role of AcSERK1 during establishment of somatic embryogenesis in culture was investigated. The AcSERK1 was highly expressed during embryogenic competence acquisition and global embryo formation in culture. These findings were obtained along with morphological changes in callus cultures exhibiting embryogenic potential. Overall, levels of expression of AcSERK1 were lower in nonembryogenic tissues and organs than in embryogenic callus. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that AcSERK1 expression was detected in embryogenic tissues, including single competent cells, meristematic centers wherein embryogenic structures are formed, and global embryos. These results suggested that AcSERK1 expression was associated with induction of somatic embryogenesis and that it could be used as a potential marker gene to monitor the transition of pineapple callus tissues into competent and embryogenic cells and tissues.

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Phenological studies are important to understand the influence of climate dynamics on vegetative and reproductive growth of pineapple. In this study, 10 principal stages (0-9) and 48 secondary stages in the entire growth cycle of pineapple were accurately detailed using the extended Biologische Bundesantalt, Bundessortenamt and Chemische Industrie scale. This study focused on the entire flower and fruit development stages of pineapple and presented the correlation between phenophase and temperature. Normative descriptions can facilitate the implementation of production management measures and guidance for scientific experimental design.