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ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #275853

Title: Application of capillary electrophoresis in agricultural and soil chemistry research

Author
item He, Zhongqi
item Waldrip, Heidi
item YUN, WANG - Northwestern University

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/21/2011
Publication Date: 11/13/2012
Citation: He, Z., Waldrip, H.M., Yun, W. 2012. Application of capillary electrophoresis in agricultural and soil chemistry research. In: He, Z., editor. Capillary Electrophoresis: Fundamentals, Techniques and Applications. New York, NY:Nova Science. p. 131-151.

Interpretive Summary: Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is an attractive separation and analysis technique, providing automated, efficient, high resolution output coupled with short analysis times and minimal consumption of sample and reagents. To promote broader applications of CE technology in agricultural and soil chemistry studies, this chapter reviews, as case studies, the research in CE characterization and quantification of cotton physiological (developmental) enzyme and protein products, cottonseed ingredient gossypol, and soil humic acids. Through these case studies, this chapter aims to stimulate new research ideas and directions towards improving CE characterization of factors that affect crop growth and agricultural products, soil cycling and availability of plant nutrients; ultimately promoting broader applications of CE technology in agricultural and soil chemistry research.

Technical Abstract: As a modern analytical technique, capillary electrophoresis (CE) has become an attractive method for characterizing molecules wit high structural complexity and a wide range of molecular weights. CE can be used to analyze many natural chemical components such as acids, biogenic amines, peptides, proteins, DNAs, carbohydrates, phenols, polyphenols, pigments, toxins, pesticides, vitamins, small organic and inorganic ions, and chiral compounds. To promote broader applications of CE technology in agricultural and soil chemistry studies, this chapter reviews, as case studies, the research in CE characterization and quantification of cotton physiological (developmental) enzyme and protein products, cottonseed ingredient gossypol, and soil humic acids. Monitoring changes of three pectin-degrading enzyme activities reveals the possible involvement of these enzymes in cotton cotyledon expansion. CE measurement of cottonseed ingredient gossypol with or without post-column chemiluminecence reaction provides an alternative for rapid determination of gossypol in cottonseed and other biological samples. This chapter details the CE profiles of the International Humic Substances Society (IHHS) humid substances and the mobile humic acid (MHA) and recalcitrant calcium humate (CaHA) fractions extracted from Philippine rice soils and Nebraska (USA) corn soils under different fertilizer managements. These studies demonstrate that CE could contribute to a better understanding of agricultural and soil chemistry for crop growths, products, and nutrients.