Control of brown rot of stone fruits by brief heated water immersion treatments

The effectiveness of brief (30 or 60 s) immersion in water at 24, 50, 55, 60, 65, or 70 °C was evaluated for the control of brown rot, caused by Monilinia fructicola, on California-grown peaches, nectarines, and plums. Inoculated fruits were treated and either stored at 20 °C for 5 days or at 0 °C and 95% RH for 30 days followed by 5 days at 20 °C to simulate commercial marketing conditions. Immersion in water at 55 °C for 60 s or at 60 °C for 30 or 60 s significantly reduced both decay incidence and severity among the remaining wounds that developed the disease. Water temperatures of 65 °C or higher were phytotoxic and caused moderate to severe surface injuries. Immersion in water at 60 °C for 60 s was effective for plums and it reduced the incidence of brown rot from more than 80% among control fruit to less than 2%. In nectarines, this treatment reduced decay incidence from 100 to less than 5% on fruit stored at 20 °C and from 73 to 28% on cold-stored fruit. Therefore, brief immersion in heated water can be an effective approach to manage postharvest brown rot of stone fruits, especially for the organic fruit industry.     

Biochemical changes in wheat during storage at three temperatures

Biochemical changes in wheat grains stored at 10, 25 and 45 °C for six months were studied. A significant decrease in pH and an increase in titratable acidity was observed during storage of wheat grains at 25 °C and 45 °C. Moisture contents of wheat grains decreased by 15% at 25 °C and 26% at 45 °C during six months of storage. A significant decrease in water soluble amylose (20–28%) along with an increase in insoluble amylose contents (7.6–17%) were observed during storage at 25 and 45 °C. Amylase activity of the samples showed a decrease as the storage progressed. Total soluble sugars increased by 9% at 10 °C and 12% at 25 °C; a 37% decrease was observed after six months storage at 45 °C. Total available lysine decreased by 18.0% and 22.6% at 25 and 45 °C, respectively, after six months storage. In vitro protein digestibility of wheat grains decreased by 5.00% at 25 °C and 10.28% at 45 °C during six months of storage. However, no significant biochemical changes occurred during storage at 10 °C.     

High temperature storage of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) for processing — a feasibility study

Tubers of three potato cultivars were stored at room temperature (20–39°C, 30–75% RH), under an insulated storage run on passive evaporative cooling (16–30°C, 70–90% RH) and a refrigerated storage (2–4°C, 90–95% RH) for 14 weeks and studied periodically for storage losses, reducing sugar content and dry matter percent of tubers, in order to explore the possibility of storing potatoes for processing at higher temperatures. Physiological losses in tubers remained less than 10% until 12 weeks of storage under evaporatively cooled storage. Reducing sugar contents increased by only 52.4–242.1% in tubers stored in evaporatively cooled storage as compared to 90.5–484.2% increase in tubers stored in refrigerated storage until 14 weeks. Potatoes stored in evaporatively cooled store were more suitable for processing into chips and french fries due to lower physiological losses and lower reducing sugar content of tubers.     

Retrogradation of waxy and normal corn starch gels by temperature cycling

Gelatinized waxy and normal corn starches at various concentrations (20–50%) in water were stored under temperature cycles of 4°C and 30°C (each for 1 day) up to 7 cycles or at a constant temperature of 4°C for 14 days to investigate the effects of temperature cycling on the retrogradation of both starches. Compared to starches stored only at 4°C, both starches stored under the 4/30°C temperature cycles exhibited smaller melting enthalpy for retrogradation (ΔH_r), higher onset temperature (T_o), and lower melting temperature range (T_r) regardless of the starch concentration tested. Fewer crystallites might be formed under the temperature cycles compared to the isothermal storage, but the crystallites formed under temperature cycling appeared more homogeneous than those under the isothermal storage. The effect of starch content on the retrogradation was greater when the starch gels were stored under cycled temperatures. The reduction in ΔH_r and the increase in conclusion temperature (T_c) by retrogradation under 4/30°C temperature cycles became more apparent when the starch concentration was lower (20 or 30%). Degree of retrogradation based on melting enthalpy was greater in normal corn starch than in waxy corn starch when starch content was low.     

Digestibility of protein and amino acids in selected foods as determined by a rat balance method

Values (%) for true digestibility of crude protein and individual amino acids in 20 selected foods were determined by the rat balance (fecal) method. The products were fed as the sole source of protein in diets containing 8% crude protein (N × 6.25). Lowest true protein digestibility values (79–84) were obtained for pinto beans, kidney beans and lentils; intermediate values (89–92) were obtained for chick peas, beef stew, skim milk (over heated), rolled oats, whole wheat cereal, and pea protein concentrate; and highest values (94–100) were obtained for sausage, macaroni-cheese, rice-wheat gluten cereal, skim milk, tuna, soy isolate, peanut butter, chicken frankfurters, beef salami, casein and casein + methionine. In animal foods, peanut butter and soy isolate, the differences between true digestibility of crude protein and most individual amino acids were less than 5%. However, the values for true digestibility of methionine and cystine were up to 44% lower than those of crude protein in pinto beans, kidney beans, lentils, chick peas and pea concentrate. In these legumes, digestibility of crude protein was not a good predictor of digestibility of the limiting amino acids.     

Composite materials of thermoplastic starch and fibers from the ethanol-water fractionation of bagasse

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of the fibrous material obtained from ethanol-water fractionation of bagasse as reinforcement of thermoplastic starches in order to improve their mechanical properties. The composites were elaborated using matrices of corn and cassava starches plasticized with 30 wt% glycerin. The mixtures (0, 5, 10 and 15 wt% bagasse fiber) were elaborated in a rheometer at 150 °C. The mixtures obtained were pressed on a hot plate press at 155 °C. The test specimens were obtained according to ASTM D638. Tensile tests, moisture absorption tests for 24 days (20-23 °C and 53% RH, ASTM E104), and dynamic-mechanical analyses (DMA) in tensile mode were carried out. Images by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction were obtained. Fibers (10 wt% bagasse fiber) increased tensile strength by 44% and 47% compared to corn and cassava starches, respectively. The reinforcement (15 wt% bagasse fiber) increased more than fourfold the elastic modulus on starch matrices. The storage modulus at 30 °C (E_30 °C′) increased as the bagasse fiber content increased, following the trend of tensile elastic modulus. The results indicate that these fibers have potential applications in the development of biodegradable composite materials.     

Effects of roasting and storage on proteins and oil in peanut kernels

Peanut kernels, untreated or soaked in salt solution, were roasted at 160°C for 30 min in a hot air oven or oil roasted at 147°C for 2 min and, stored at 27°C and 5°C up to 150 days. The heat treatments significantly decreased methionine, tryptophan and in vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) and, increased the soluble proteins and acid value of kernel oil. Storage of heated peanuts caused an increase in water-soluble proteins, IVPD, acid value and saponification value and a decrease in methionine, tryptophan and iodine value. The oil roasting was found to be more detrimental to nutritional quality and storage stability of peanuts as compared to dry roasting. The storage of heated peanuts at 5°C was found to be beneficial in lowering the undesirable nutritional changes in the peanut kernels.     

Changes in gelatinization and rheological characteristics of japonica rice starch induced by pressure/heat combinations

Rice starch suspensions of 10% dry matter (DM) were treated by heat (0.1 MPa at 20–85 °C) or pressure/heat combinations (100–600 MPa at 20, 40 and 50 °C) for 15 min to investigate their gelatinization and rheological characteristics. The maximum swelling index of about 12 g water per gram of DM was obtained by thermal treatment at 85 °C, meanwhile, that of 7.0 g was observed by 600-MPa pressurization at 50 °C. The higher temperatures or pressures resulted in the higher degrees of gelatinization. Furthermore, treatments of 0.1 MPa at 85 °C, 500 MPa at 50 °C and 600 MPa at various temperatures caused complete gelatinization of rice starch. The consistency index (K) and storage modulus (G′) dramatically increased from 70 °C or 400 MPa. The G′ values were higher in pressure-treated samples than those in thermal-treated samples. Therefore, an application of pressure/heat combinations as a processing method to improve the quality of rice starch products would be possible.     

Synthesis and characterization of hazelnut oil-based biodiesel

The demand for diesel fuel far exceeds the current and future biodiesel production capabilities of the vegetable oil and animal fat industries. New oilseed crops that do not compete with traditional food crop are needed to meet existing energy demands. Hybrid hazelnut oil is just such an attractive raw material for production of biodiesel. Hazelnut oil was extracted from hybrid hazelnuts and the crude oil was refined. Hazelnut oil-based biodiesel was prepared via the transesterification of the refined hazelnut oil with excess methanol using an alkaline catalyst. The effects of reaction temperature, time and catalyst concentration on the yield of diesel were examined, and selected physical and chemical properties of the biodiesel were evaluated. The biodiesel yield increased with increasing temperature from 25 to 65 °C and with increasing catalyst concentration from 0.1 to 0.7 wt%. The increase in yield with reaction time was nonlinear and characterized by an initial faster rate, followed by a slow rate. Hazelnut oil-based biodiesel had an average viscosity of 8.82 cP at 25 °C, which was slightly higher than that of the commercial soy-based diesel (7.92 cP at 25 °C). An approximate 12 °C higher onset oxidative temperature and a 10 °C lower cloud point of hazelnut oil biodiesel than those of its commercial soy counterpart indicated a better oxidative stability and flowability at low temperature. The average heat of combustion of hazelnut oil biodiesel was 40.23 kJ/g, and accounted for approximately 88% of energy content of diesel fuel. The fatty acid composition of hazelnut oil-based biodiesel was the same as the nature oil.     

Effects of fruit dipping in hydrochloric acid then rinsing in water on fruit decay and browning of longan fruit

The objective of this study was to find alternative methods for the control of pericarp browning in longan fruits (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) cv. Daw in order to replace the use of sulfur dioxide (SO₂). Experiments were conducted by dipping fruits in 1.5 N HCl solution (pH 0.21) for 20 min followed by draining. The effects of subsequent rinsing in water were also investigated. Untreated fruits and SO₂ fumigated fruits were used as controls. Fruits from each treatment were then packaged in commercial perforated plastic baskets and stored at 3 ± 1 °C, 85% RH for 60 days. It was found that dipping the fruits in HCl controlled disease development compared with the untreated fruits. In addition, dipping the fruits in HCl as well as fumigating with SO₂ gave the best control of pericarp browning. After 5 days, the pericarp of untreated fruits became brown. Dipping fruits in HCl without rinsing reduced pericarp and juice pH and increased titratable acidity which lowered eating quality. Sensory analysis was carried out to determine aril color as well as appearance, firmness, flavor and taste. Dipping in 1.5 N HCl for 20 min and rinsing exhibited higher efficacy than dipping for 0, 10 or 15 min in controlling fruit decay and maintaining fruit color and eating qualities during 7 days storage at 25 °C following 45 days storage at 5 ± 1 °C. Therefore, dipping in 1.5 N HCl for 20 min, followed by rinsing in water can be considered for commercial application in extending shelf life, decreasing fruit decay and maintaining fruit quality of longan fruits.     

Impact of baking conditions and storage temperature on staling of fully and part-baked Sangak bread

Bread staling involves a combination of physico-chemical phenomena that leads to a reduction of quality. This study aims at evaluating the impact of baking conditions (280 °C, 8 min; 310 °C, 5.5 min; 340 °C, 4 min), baking type (of fully baked (FB) and part-baked (PB)) and storage temperature (−18, 4 and 20 °C) on the staling of Sangak bread. Results showed that lower baking temperature with longer baking time produced drier bread with higher firmness. In FB Sangak breads, amylopectin retrogradation, amount of unfreezable water and firmness (measured by compression test) increased during storage at positive temperatures but hardness (determined by Kramer shear test) decreased significantly during first day of storage. The recrystallized amylopectin traps the free water resulting in crumb hardening. Water is also absorbed by the dry crust resulting in changes of rheological properties in the crust and crumb, and finally in staling. Storage at 4 °C resulted in increasing melting enthalpy of amylopectin crystallite in comparison with storage at 20 °C. Also it was found that firmness of PB breads due to rebaking was significantly lower than FB breads. There were no significant changes in staling parameters of FB and PB stored at −18 °C.     

Influence of storage on chemical,microbial and consumer acceptability of a milk-like product made from melon seeds

The storage stability of melon milk at room (30 ± 2 ^°C)and refrigeration (10 ± 2 ^°C) temperatures was determined by analyzing changes in the chemical, microbial andsensory properties of the milk stored for 7 days. Theresults showed that at both storage temperatures, solublesolids and pH of the milk decreased while titratableacidity increased with storage. The standard plate countsincreased appreciably while coliforms were absent in themilk with storage at both storage temperatures. The overallacceptability score of the melon milk dropped duringstorage, the drop being faster at 30 ± 2 ^°C than at 10 ± 2 ^°C. The milk samples stored at 30 ± 2 ^°C and 10 ± 2 ^°C were acceptable only within one and three days, respectively; thereafter, theywere unacceptable.     

Stability of fatty acids and leaf protein concentrate of Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum)

Freeze-dried leaf protein concentrate (LPC) contained 18% lipids in which linolenic acid (61.5%) was the major component. Linolenic acid in LPC was almost stable when stored at ambient temperature (30 to 35°C) and exposed to air for 24 weeks. Heating of LPC (50 to 200°C) in presence of moisture (6 to 12%) progressively increased the rate of destruction of linolenic acid. Below 100°C the presence of lipids did not affect the protein quality but at higher temperatures due to the lipid oxidation protein quality as estimated by dye-binding capacity was considerably affected.     

Jatropha curcas seed cake as substrate for production of xylanase and cellulase by Aspergillus niger FGSCA733 in solid-state fermentation

Jatropha curcas seed-cake was evaluated for use as a solid state fermentation substrate for production of cellulolytic and xylanolytic enzymes by Aspergillus niger. Supplementation of the seedcake with 10% thatch grass (Hyperrhaenia sp.) resulted in a fivefold increase in xylanase production. Ammonium chloride supplementation increased production of xylanase by 13%. Under the same conditions, cellulase production was not influenced by supplementation with grass or the nitrogen sources used. Maximum xylanase was produced at 25 °C whilst cellulase was maximally produced at 40 °C. Highest xylanase activity was obtained when the cultures had an initial pH of 3 whereas cellulase was maximally produced at an initial pH of 5. Under optimised conditions, 6087 U and 3974 U of xylanase and cellulase respectively were obtained per gram of substrate. Zymograms of crude enzyme extracts showed six active bands ranging from 20 kDa to 43 kDa for cellulase and a 31 kDa active band for xylanase.     

Temperature,cyanide, and oxygen effects on the respiration,chip color,sugars, and organic acids of stored tubers

The possibility that sugar accumulation of potatoes stored at low temperatures may be linked to activation of cyanide-resistant respiration (CRR) was investigated. After a lag period of several days, continuous HCN treatment stimulated CO₂ production of tubers stored in 20% O₂. At 1°C in 20% O₂, HCN treatment increased respiration over that effected by low temperature treatment. After several weeks of treatment, cyanide-stimulated CO₂ production was greater at 1°C than at 10°C. Sucrose and malate levels of HCN treated tubers were sometimes higher than those of the 10°C control tubers, but they were always lower than those of the 1°C control tubers. This indicated that CRR alone could not account for the sugar increases at 1°C. Storage in 2% O₂ blocked the increase in CO₂ production and changes in constituents associated with HCN treatments in 20% O₂. HCN treatment had no significant effect on chip color. The level of CRR was measured in freshly cut slices from Monona, Norchip, and Kennebec tubers previously stored at 10°, 5°, or 1°C for several months. Slices from tubers previously stored at 1°C had increased CRR, but there was no difference in CRR between the 5°C and 10°C treatments. Sugars accumulated at 5°C, again indicating that sugar accumulation in potatoes stored at low temperatures was at least partially independent of the activation of CRR.     

A quantitative approach to characterize sink–source relationships during grain filling in contrasting wheat genotypes

We present a simple generic framework to quantify source–sink relationships during grain filling, by using a determinate growth function which has a unique property, namely being able of explicitly describing the time for the end of a growth process. This model framework was applied to analyze these relationships in plants of six wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes grown in pots in climate-controlled greenhouses under two temperature regimes (day/night: 20/15 and 25/20 °C). The function accurately described the sigmoid pattern of grain growth (sink activity), as its modified form did for the reversed sigmoid shape of flag-leaf area (source capacity), during grain filling. The six genotypes differed significantly in grain number as well as in grain yield, ranging from 54 to 81 grains and from 2.67 to 4.52 g DM per culm, respectively, when grown at 20/15 °C. Biomass and grain yield were significantly reduced by a rise of 5 °C. Grain nitrogen contents raised from 2.1 to 2.6% as a consequence of less carbon accumulation resulting in lower grain weights at the high temperature. On average, a rise of 5 °C in temperature reduced the duration of grain growth by 12 days (>30%), and increased the growth rate from 1.32 to 1.67 mg grain⁻¹ d⁻¹ (20%). Genotypic differences in grain-filling duration were also larger than in rate of grain growth. The genetic variation in the flag-leaf area duration (a proxy for the capacity for intercepting radiation and photosynthesis) was positively associated with sink size. Model analysis showed that whether or not the timing for the cessation of grain filling and for the end of post-anthesis source activity was synchronized depended on temperature. The quantitative approach yielded parameters that characterize genotypic differences of post-anthesis source and sink capacity in responding to environmental variables.     

Effect of the drying rate on the complex viscosity of wheat flour dough transforming into crust and crumb during baking

This study aimed at characterizing the effect of hydrothermal dynamics on the dough rheology, in order to develop a complete dough viscosity model valid at different locations during baking. The dough rheology was characterised using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). Temperature and water content (WC) were monitored during DMTA. At high heating rates (15–30°C/min), relevant to the top crust, viscosity behaved as if WC was kept constant, in spite of dehydration (37%); such similarity was valid up to 80°C (stage A). Beyond, the viscosity decrease observed in the samples at constant WC was replaced by a long-lasting plateau (stage B, 3–4 × 10⁶ Pa.s), attributed to WC reduction below ∼37%. Above the boiling water temperature, the logarithm of viscosity increased linearly with decreasing WC (stage C). At lower heating rates (5°C/min), relevant to the bottom crust, viscosity was two-fold higher than that at higher heating rates, suggesting lower oven-rise. The viscosity decrease, observed at high temperatures (>80°C) for samples at constant WC, was not observed if drying occurred late (case of crumb beneath the crust); instead, viscosity increased up to levels close to that of the top crust (2–3 × 10⁷ Pa.s at WC∼20%). Despite these deviations, viscosity as a WC function was modelled with a unique equation set.     

Nutritional evaluation of wheat and maize breads supplemented with a mixture of peanut-chickpea flour

Whole wheat and maize (corn) flours were supplemented with 10, 20 and 30% levels of a 1:1 mixture of peanut and chickpea flours (PCF). Supplementation increased the protein content of the wheat and maize blends by 20–61%. Significant increases in other proximate constituents as well as K, Ca, P, Fe, Zn and Cu levels and lysine were observed. The chemical score (FAO/WHO, 1973) of wheat flour increased from 53 to 72 and that of maize flour from 49 to 71 with 30% PCF. Biological evaluation of wheat breads (baking time = 7 min at 220°C) at 10% protein level and maize breads (baking time = 15 min at 250°C) at 8% protein level in the diet showed significant (P<0.05) improvement in the protein quality of PCF-supplemented breads as judged by gain in body weight, protein efficiency ratio, net protein ratio, net protein utilization, biological value and utilizable protein (NPU% × protein% ÷ 100) content. A supplementation level of 20% was considered adequate to achieve the desired nutritive benefits.     

Effect of heat treatment on the proximate composition,energy values,and levels of some toxicants in African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) seed varieties

The effects of heat treatments on the proximate composition, energy content, and levels of some antinutritional factors in brown and marble-colored African yam bean (AYB) seed flours were investigated. In raw brown and marble-colored AYB seed flours; moisture content, dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, ash, total carbohydrate and caloric value did not differ significantly at the 5% level. Autoclaving and cooking slightly increased the moisture level. Crude protein, crude fat, and ash contents were decreased by autoclaving and were further decreased by cooking. The decrease was not, however, considerable for the AYB that is not eaten raw and whose full nutritional potential as a legume can be derived only when heat treated, as previous reports have indicated for legume seeds.The levels of the toxicants were generally higher in the raw brown AYB compared to the marble-colored, and were generally reduced by both autoclaving and cooking. In the most commonly available and consumed marble-colored AYB, autoclaving at 121 ^°C, 15 psi for 20 min decreased cyanogenic glycosides by 46%, oxalate by 48.9%, tannin by 15.0%, saponin by 14.8% and trypsin inhibitors by 61.3% while cooking for 3.5 hours in tap water decreased these toxic factors by 66.5%, 70.3%, 72.2%, 48.7%, and 86.0%, respectively.The results indicate that for raw samples, varietal difference did not significantly affect nutrient composition though the toxicants were generally higher in the brown AYB than the marble-colored. Autoclaving decreased both nutrient value and the level of toxicants in the two seed types; values were further reduced by cooking. Of the toxicants, trypsin inhibitor was found to be the most heat-labile and of the heat treatment methods, cooking to tenderness is recommendable.     

The study of shea butter. VI: The extraction of shea butter

Shea butter has been extracted from the seeds of the shea tree,B. parkii, with various organic solvents. Petroleum ether (40°–60°C),n-hexane, chloroform, and benzene extracted 32%–38% of fat and 8–9 mg% of vitamin E. These solvents, particularly petroleum ether andn-hexane, can be used for the production of shea butter that is free from any oxidized fat and coloring impurities.