The objective of this study was to rapidly evaluate fatty acids in a collection of millet (Panicum miliaceum subsp. miliaceum) of different origins so that this information could be disseminated to breeders to advance germplasm use and breeding. To develop the calibration equations for rapid and nondestructive evaluation of fatty acid content, near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRs) spectra (1104-2494 nm) of samples ground into flour (n =100) were obtained using a dispersive spectrometer. A modified partial least-squares model was developed to predict each component. For foxtail millet germplasm, our models returned coefficients of determination (R2 ) of 0.89, 0.89, 0.89, and 0.92 for palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and total fatty acids, respectively. The prediction of the external validation set (n=10) showed significant correlation between references values and NIRs values (r2 =0.64, 0.90, 0.79, and 0.89 for palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and total fatty acids, respectively). Standard deviation/standard errors of cross-validation (SD/SECV) values were close to 3 (2.62, 2.40, 1.85, and 2.23 for palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and total fatty acids, respectively). These results indicate that these NIRs equations are functional for the mass screening and rapid quantification of the oleic and total fatty acids characterizing millet germplasm. Among the samples, IT153514 showed an especially high content of fatty acids (48.14mg~;g-1 ), whereas IT123909 had a very low content (34.44mg~;g-1 ).
This experiment was carried out to investigate the appropriate chilling requirements for breaking dormancy by treating the dormant plant of Hanabusaya asiatica with low temperature (4℃) for different time periods. The rates of sprouting and flowering were higher with longer treatment periods at low temperature. In addition, the growth and flowering of the plant were better when it was potted after treatment at a low temperature for 90 days. The abscisic acid levels and polyphenoloxidase activity of the dormant plant increased during the low temperature treatment, reached a climax 90 days and decreased thereafter. The catalase activity was the lowest after the low temperature treatment for 90 days and increased subsequently. The peroxidase activity increased and showed a sharp rise after the low temperature treatment for more than 90 days. Considering the physiological activities of the enzymes, the changes in the abscisic acid levels, and the characteristics of growth and flowering after sprouting of the plant, the appropriate cold periods required for breaking dormancy could be 90 days.