• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.42-47
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• 2006

This study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of surface spraying of antimicrobial solutions, oil and application of both on performance of broiler chicken under heat stress and reared on leaves and ground corn cobs as two alternative bedding materials. Six hundred seventy five day-old straightrun Arian broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 45 pens (at density of $0.09m^2/bird$) in an open sided partially-controlled shed. Three bedding materials viz. wood shavings (WS), ground corn cobs (GCC) (1.5 cm in length) and leaves were subjected to surface spraying of oil ($0.4L/m^2$ animal food grade sunflower oil), anti microbial solutions (3%) and mix treatment of both. Data on performance traits, incidence of breast and food pad lesions and litter characteristics were gathered and analysed in an appropriate factorial arrangements. Body weight at 56 d, feed intake up to 14 d, litter moisture at 28 d, litter pH at 14 d and litter temperature at 14 and 56 d were significantly influenced by litter type (p<0.05). Litter treatment revealed significant impact on body weight at 28, 42 and 56 d, feed intake during 29-42 and 1-42 d, mortality up to 56 d, litter temperature at 28 and 56 d, and litter pH at 28 and 56 d. Leaves and ground corn cobs have shown good potential as alternative bedding materials for rearing broilers. Surface spraying of antimicrobial solutions, oil and applying both were not effective tools to promote the broiler's health and performance. Meat type poultry growers and integrators are considered as primary audiences of the results achieved.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.191-201
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• 2017

Background: Limited availability of corn stover due to the competing uses (organic manure, animal feed, bio-materials, and bioenergy) presents a major concern for its future in the bio-economy. Furthermore, biomass research has exhibited different results due to the differences in the supply of enzymes and dissimilar analytical methods. The effect of the two leading pretreatment techniques (dilute acid and alkaline) on glucose yield from three corn stover fractions (cob, stalk, and leaf) sourced from a single harvest in Uganda were studied at temperatures 100, 120, 140, and $160^{\circ}C$ over reaction times of 5, 10, 30, and 60 min. Results: From this study, the highest glucose concentrations obtained from the dilute acid (DA) pretreated cobs, stalks, and leaves were 18.4 g/L (66.8% glucose yield), 16.2 g/L (64.1% glucose yield), and 11.0 g/L (49.5% glucose yield), respectively. The optimal pretreatment settings needed to obtain these yields from the DA pretreated samples were at a temperature of $160^{\circ}C$ over an incubation time of 30 min. The highest glucose concentrations obtained from the alkaline (AL) pretreated cobs, stalks, and leaves were 24.7 g/L (81.73% glucose yield), 21.3 g/L (81.23% glucose yield), and 15.0 g/L (51.92% glucose yield), respectively. To be able to achieve these yields, the optimal pretreatment settings for the cobs and stalks were $140^{\circ}C$ and for a retention time of 30 min, while the leaves require optimal conditions of $140^{\circ}C$ and for a retention time of 60 min. Conclusions: The study recommends that the leaves could be left on the field during harvesting since the recovery of glucose from the pretreated cobs and stalks is higher.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.68 no.4
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• pp.392-401
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• 2023

Corn (Zea mays L.) is one of the world's most important crops, along with wheat and rice, with a global corn production expected to reach 1,154.5 million tons in 2023. Considering this grain production, The generation of corn cob is expected to reach approximately 207.8 million tons in 2023. However, as an agricultural by-product, corn cobs are often considered waste and remain underutilized. Phytosterols, which are abundant in vegetable oils such as corn oil, provide a number of health benefits, including liver health, cholesterol reduction, and protection against chronic diseases such as diabetes. In this study, we investigated the potential of Kwangpyeongok ears, which are commonly used as grain and silage corn in Korea. We also examined the variation in phytosterol content with the maturity of corn ears to identify the optimal time for utilization. At the beginning of physiological maturity, corn cobs had 113.3 mg/100g DW of total phytosterols, which was highest phytosterol abundance during the growth stage. Corn kernels also had the highest phytosterol content at the beginning of physiological maturity. While previous studies on corn bioactive compounds have mainly focused on the kernels, the results of this study highlight that cobs are an excellent source of these compounds. Furthermore, phytosterol levels were influenced by genetic factors and developmental stages, suggesting the to increase the use of cobs as a source of bioactive compounds.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.1469-1474
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• 2005

The objective of this study was to determine the levels of nutritionally related blood metabolites, age and body weight at puberty in gilts fed on corn cob-based diet in Mukota and Landrace${\times}$Mukota crossbred gilts. Ten gilts of each of Mukota and crossbred genotypes were fed two diets for 14 weeks in a 2${\times}$2 (breed${\times}$diet) factorial treatment arrangement. A corn-cob based diet, designed to contain 2,304 kcal ME/kg, and a standard pig grower diet, were used. The corn cob constituted 20 percent of the total ration. Fortnightly, bodyweights and feed conversion ratios (FCR) were recorded. Blood samples were collected to determine blood glucose, urea and creatinine levels. The average daily bodyweight gain (ADG) in the Mukota was lower (p<0.05) than in the crossbred gilts. Crossbred gilts fed on the corn cob-based diet had lower (p<0.05) urea values from eight weeks from the start of the experiment (p<0.05) compared to Mukota gilts fed the same diet. There were no differences in blood glucose and creatinine concentrations between diets and genotypes. The lack of differences in the nutritionally-related blood metabolites suggest that corn cobs could be incorporated at 20 percent inclusion without compromising blood metabolite concentrations and age at puberty of the Mukota and Landrace${\times}$Mukota gilts.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.476-485
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• 1992

M1 plants which were produced from seed soaking in chemical mutagen, EMS or NaN$_3$, appeared wide morphorogical variations such as dwarf, albino, twisted leaf, white streaked leaf, and purpled stem. In mutants of reproductive organs, there were monoecious plants such as female-flower plant and male-flower plant, multiple spikes, and steriled plants among M1 plants. Also, barren stalk was increased significantly in M1 plants. Ear bagging at ear initiation stage prevented seed set on cob in normal plants. In spite of ear bagging, M1 plants which had cobs with seed set was 3.9-11.2% of stalks developed from seeds soaking with mutagens, but only three or four kernels could be matured on a cob. Ear bagging after mutagen injection into initiating ear produced 5.1-10% in cobs with seed set, but only 1.7-6.3 kernels could be matured. Cobs removed silk at four hours after artificial pollination increased the rate of cobs with seed set to 27%. Microscopic observation confirmed that ontogeny of kernels matured from ear bagging and mutagen treatment would be both adventitious and diplosporous apomictic reproduction. Chromosome set of M2 seedling was found to be diploid type in chromosomal counting of root tip. As M$_2$ plants showed an uniform appearence within each lines and their CV of plant height were ranged 4-6% in each lines, we concluded that they were apomictic progeny. But we could not find any marker traits combined with apomixis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.1084-1092
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• 2015

In the present work, the in vitro prebiotic activity of xylooligosaccharides (XOS) derived from corn cobs combined with Lactobacillus plantarum, a probiotic microorganism, was determined. These probiotics exhibited different growth characteristics depending on strain specificity. L. plantarum S2 cells were denser and their growth rates were higher when cultured on XOS. Acetate was found to be the major short-chain fatty acid produced as the end-product of fermentation, and its amount varied from 1.50 to 1.78 mg/ml. The antimicrobial activity of XOS combined with L. plantarum S2 was determined against gastrointestinal pathogens. The results showed that XOS proved to be an effective substrate, enhancing antimicrobial activity for L. plantarum S2. In vivo evaluation of the influence of XOS and L. plantarum S2, used both alone and together, on the intestinal microbiota in a mouse model showed that XOS combined with L. plantarum S2 could increase the viable lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in mice feces and decrease the viable Enterococcus, Enterobacter, and Clostridia spp. Furthermore, in the in vitro antioxidant assay, XOS combined with L. plantarum S2 possessed significant 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azino-bis, and superoxide anion radical-scavenging activities, and the combinations showed better antioxidant activity than either XOS or L. plantarum S2 alone.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.395-402
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• 2023

As the consumption of corn increases, the production of by-products is also increasing. In this study, functional substances and antioxidant activities of corn by-products were investigated to determine their applicability as functional materials. Total polyphenol, flavonoid contents, and ABTS antioxidant activity were the highest in leaves. The total phenolic acid content was the highest in cobs; p-coumaric and ferulic acid were the main components. Phytosterol content in leaves and stems was high at 64 and 50 days after sowing, 261.4 and 274.7 mg/100 g, respectively. β-sitosterol of the leaves and stems was the highest, 149.2 and 138.7 mg/100 g. The total phytosterol content of grains and by-products harvested 106 days after sowing was in the order of: corn silk, husk, grain, leaf, stem, and cob. Among the phytosterols, β-sitosterol was the highest, followed by stigmasterol and campesterol, and the composition was different depending on part. The total phytosterol content was the highest in husk and corn silk, but the stems and leaves, which account for 50% of the total corn biomass, also contained high phytosterol content. Therefore, corn leaves and stems are expected to be used as functional raw materials for the development of functional materials in the future.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 1983

Systematic bioconversion process for the production of xylose from agricultural wastes such as barley straw and corn cobs was studied. After the pretreatment in 1 % NaOH solution for 24 hours at 3$0^{\circ}C$, enzymatic hydrolysis of barley straw for 48 hours at 3$0^{\circ}C$ resulted in the liberation of 15.8% of reducing sugar which is equivalent to 87% of total D-xylose content. Among various agricultural wastes, corn cob as well as barley straw was demonstrated to be potent sources for the production of D-xylose by the process of enzymatic conversion.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.399-405
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of sakso 2 corn kernels and cobs extracts on antioxidant activity in rats fed a high fat-cholesterol diet (HFC) for 2 weeks. 48 male Sprague-Dawley (4-weeks-old) were randomly divided into 6 groups: normal diet (N), HFC (C), HFC and 0.05% kernel extracts of Saekso 2 (T1), HFC and 0.25% kernel extracts of Saekso 2 (T2), HFC and 0.05% cob extracts of Saekso 2 (T3), HFC and 0.25% cob extracts of Saekso 2 (T4). The weight gain in all treatment groups were significantly lower and the food efficiency ratio (FER) in all treatment groups except T3 were lower than C group. Liver index (liver weight/100 g body weight) in N group and T2 were significantly lower than C group. The level of total cholesterol in plasma of N group and T2 were significantly lower than C group and HDL-cholesterol in plasma of N group and T2 were significantly lower than C group. Malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in N group, T3 and T4 were significantly lower than C group. Activity of catalase (CAT) in all treatment groups were lower than C group. These result suggest that saekso 2 corn kernels and cobs extracts may reduce oxidative damage through the activation of antioxidative defense systems in rats fed high fat-cholesterol diets.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.1854-1863
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• 2019

Objective: To effectively use corn stover resources as animal feed, we explored the chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of corn stover during field exposure and the fermentation characteristics of silage prepared with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and cellulase. Methods: Corn ears including the cobs and shucks were harvested at the ripe stage. The corn stover was exposed in the field under natural weather conditions. Silages were prepared after 0, 2, 4, 7, 15, 30, and 60 d of exposure. Corn stover was chopped into approximately 1 to 2 cm lengths and then packed into 5 liter plastic silos. The ensiling density was $550.1{\pm}20.0g/L$ of fresh matter, and the silos were kept at room temperature ($10^{\circ}C$ to $25^{\circ}C$). Silage treatments were designed as follows: without additives (control), with LAB, with cellulase, and with LAB+ cellulase. After 45 d of fermentation, the silos were opened for chemical composition, fermentation quality and in vitro digestion analyses. Results: After harvest, corn stover contained 78.19% moisture, 9.01% crude protein (CP) and 64.54% neutral detergent fiber (NDF) on a dry matter (DM) basis. During field exposure, the DM, NDF, and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents of corn stover increased, whereas the CP and water-soluble carbohydrate contents and in vitro digestibility of the DM and CP decreased (p<0.05). Compared to the control silage, cellulase-treated silage had lower (p<0.05) NDF and ADF contents. The pH values were lower in silage treated with LAB, cellulase, or LAB+cellulase, and lactic acid contents were higher (p<0.05) than those of the control. Silage treated with cellulase or LAB+cellulase improved (p<0.05) the in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) compared to that of the control or LAB-treated silage. Conclusion: Corn stover silage should be prepared using fresh materials since stover nutrients are lost during field exposure, and LAB and cellulase can improve silage fermentation and IVDMD.