Evaluation of the Functionality of Five Different Soybean Proteins in Hot‐Press Wheat Flour Tortillas

Five different soybean protein sources were added to wheat flour to increase the protein content by 15–25%, and the resulting composite flours were optimally processed into hot‐press tortillas in a pilot plant. The rheological properties of composite flours were evaluated with the farinograph, alveograph, and other wheat quality tests. Tortilla‐making qualities of the control and soybean‐fortified flours were evaluated during dough handling, hot pressing, and baking. The resulting tortillas were tested in terms of yield, physical and chemical parameters, sensory properties, color, and objective and subjective texture. The soybean‐fortified tortillas had increased yields because of the higher dough water absorption and enhanced essential amino acid scores. Among the five different soybean proteins, the defatted soybean flour (SBM1) with the lowest fat absorption index and protein dispersibility index (PDI) and the soybean concentrate produced the best fortified tortillas. The protein meals with high PDI and relatively lower water absorption index (SBM3 and SBM4) produced sticky doughs, lower alveograph P/L values, and defective tortillas. All soybean proteins produced higher yields of tortillas with an enhanced protein quality and amount of dietary fiber.     

Comparison of Solubility of Corn Proteins in Propanol,Ethanol, and tert‐Butyl Alcohol Solutions on the Tortilla Process Samples

To find the best solvent of those reported and to study changes in protein aggregation during corn processing to obtain tortillas, extractability of corn proteins with three alcoholic solutions (70% ethanol, 50% propanol, and 60% tert‐butyl alcohol) was compared in corn, nixtamal, masa, and tortillas. Relative solubility was assessed through size‐exclusion chromatography, SDS‐PAGE, and insoluble polymeric protein determination using the Dumas procedure. Differences in the behavior of solvents in the samples indicate that different protein interactions are promoted during each of the processing steps. All the three alcoholic solutions can be used to study changes in corn proteins, but the best solvent was 50% propanol. Ethanol (70%) extracted the lowest amounts of corn proteins in tortilla process samples.     

Functional Effects of Soybean Concentrates Obtained from Sprouted Seeds Enriched in Selenium in Wheat Breadmaking

Selenium is an essential mineral in nutrition, and a proper intake of this element in its organic form has been related to body protection against cancer. The objective of this study was to evaluate the protein functionality of soybean concentrates as affected by germination and selenium addition in yeast‐leavened pan breads. Protein concentrates from germinated and selenized soybean were obtained. All protein concentrates (from germinated and selenized samples) showed similar properties, with exception of 1) water solubility index (23% for raw soybean and 43% for germinated concentrated) and 2) water absorption index (2.45 for raw soybean and 4.07 for germinated and selenized soybean concentrate). Bread made with composite flours (wheat plus 6–7% soybean concentrates) showed changes in oven spring, bread volume, and density, with selenized and germinated treatments as the most different loaves when compared with wheat‐based products. Bread crumb texture was similar among samples, except for products containing germinated material, for which a higher hardness was reached after 24 h. The use of germinated and selenized soybean concentrates in yeast‐leavened wheat bread has not been reported before, and besides the enhancement in nutritional properties, functional properties such as water absorption of final products could be improved.     

Potential of Triticale as a Substitute for Wheat in Flour Tortilla Production

The potential of triticale as a partial or total substitute for wheat in flour tortilla production was evaluated. Different mixtures of triticale and wheat flours were tested in a typical hot‐press formulation. Both grains yielded similar amounts of flour. Wheat flour contained 1.5% more crude protein, 1.6× more gluten, and produced stronger dough than triticale. Triticale flour significantly reduced optimum water absorption and mix time of blends. Flour tortillas with 100% triticale absorbed 8% less water and required 25% of the mix time of the control wheat flour tortilla. The yield of triticale tortillas was lower than the rest of the tortillas due to lower moisture content and water absorption. Triticale dough balls required less proofing and ruptured during hot pressing, thus producing defective tortillas. The 50:50 flour mixture produced doughs with acceptable rheological properties and good quality tortillas. Addition of 1% vital gluten to the 75:25 triticale‐wheat flour mix or 2% to the 100% triticale flour significantly increased water absorption and mix time and improved dough properties and tortilla yields. Textural studies indicated that increasing levels of triticale flour reduced the force required to rupture tortillas. For all tortilla systems, rupture force gradually increased, and extensibility decreased during seven days of storage at room temperature; the highest rate of change occurred during the first day. Sensory evaluation tests indicated that triticale could substitute for 50% of wheat flour without affecting texture, color, flavor, and overall acceptability of tortillas. For production of 100% triticale flour tortillas, at least 2% vital gluten had to be added to the formulation.     

Technological and Nutritional Properties of Flours and Tortillas from Nixtamalized and Extruded Quality Protein Maize (Zea mays L.)

Nixtamalized and extruded flours from quality protein maize (QPM, V‐537C) and tortillas made from them were evaluated for some technological and nutritional properties and compared with the commercial brand MASECA. Both QPM flours showed higher (P < 0.05) protein content, total color difference, pH, available lysine, and lower (P < 0.05) total starch content, Hunter L value, water absorption index, gelatinization enthalpy, resistant starch, and retrograded resistant starch than nixtamalized MASECA flour. Tortillas from nixtamalized and extruded QPM flours had higher contents of essential amino acids than tortillas from MASECA flour, except for leucine. Tortillas from processed QPM flours also showed higher (P < 0.05) values of the nutritional indicators calculated protein efficiency ratio (C‐PER 1.80–1.85 vs. 1.04), apparent and true in vivo protein digestibility (78.4‐79.1 vs. 75.6% and 76.4–77.4 vs. 74.2%, respectively), PER (2.30–2.43 vs. 1.31), net protein retention (NPR; 2.88–2.89 vs. 2.11), and protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS; 54–55 vs. 29% based on preschool children and 100 vs. 85% based on adults) than MASECA flour. The use of QPM for flour and tortilla preparation may have a positive effect on the nutritional status of people from countries where these products are widely consumed.     

Generation of a Mixolab Profile After the Evaluation of the Functionality of Different Commercial Wheat Flours for Hot‐Press Tortilla Production

Refined wheat flours commercially produced by five different U.S. and Mexican wheat blends intended for tortilla production were tested for quality and then processed into tortillas through the hot‐press forming procedure. Tortilla‐making qualities of the flour samples were evaluated during dough handling, hot pressing, baking, and the first five days on the shelf at room temperature. The predominant variables that affected the flour tortilla performance were wet gluten content, alveograph W (220–303) and P/L (0.70–0.94) parameters, farinograph water absorption (57%) and stability (10.8–18.7 min), starch damage (5.43–6.71%), and size distribution curves (uniform particle distribution). Flours produced from a blend of Dark Northern Spring (80%) and Mexican Rayon (20%) wheat had the highest water absorption, and tortillas obtained from this blend showed the highest diameter and lowest thickness. The whitest and best textured tortillas were obtained from the flour milled from three hard types of Mexican wheat blend. A Mixolab profile was generated from the best tortilla flours, those produced by mills 3 and 4. The Mixolab profile showed that a good flour for hot‐press tortillas had a relatively lower absorption and short dough mix time compared with a bread flour and should have a significantly higher gluten compared with an all‐purpose flour. Compared with bread flour, the tortilla flour had higher retrogradation and viscosity values. The Mixolab profile proved to be a good preliminary test to evaluate flours for hot‐press tortillas.     

用于浸油的大豆挤压膨化研究

研究了大豆挤压膨化系统诸参数（模孔孔径、挤压温度、物料含水率、螺杆转速）对大豆粗脂肪、豆粕残油率、蛋白质含量、及其氮可溶解指数、脲酶活性的影响规律和挤压膨化系统最佳参数。结果表明,只要系统参数选择合适,可使膨化后大豆粗脂肪基本不减少,粕残油小于１％,使原设备浸出能力增加１５０％。且膨化前后大豆粗蛋白含量基本不变,氨基酸没有损失,膨化后氮可溶解指数和脲酶活性均略有下降。同时省去目前大豆膨化浸油和传统浸油过程的破碎、软化、轧胚、蒸炒等工序。需增加粉碎、膨化工序。     

Physical and biochemical properties of maize hardness and extrudates of selected hybrids

Protein and starch determinants of maize kernel hardness and extruded products were characterized to better define the role of endosperm texture during extrusion. Maize physical properties were correlated with total proteins and zein subclasses (p < 0.01). The extrusion process significantly altered protein solubility and increased protein fragmentation as measured by RP-HPLC and size exclusion chromatography. Harder grits and extrudates demonstrated higher amylose content, lower degree of starch damage, and fragmentation at different screw speeds than softer grits and extrudates. Differences in extrudate expansion ratio, water absorption index, water solubility index, oil absorption capacity, and breaking stress between harder and softer hybrids were related to protein aggregation and fragmentation as well as starch damage and fragmentation.     

Small‐Scale Extrusion of Corn Masa By‐Products

Corn masa by‐product streams are high in fiber and are amenable for utilization in livestock feed rations. This approach is a potentially viable alternative to landfilling, the traditional disposal method for these processing residues. Suspended solids were separated from a masa processing waste stream, blended with soybean meal at four levels (0, 10, 20, and 30% wb), and extruded in a laboratory‐scale extruder at speeds of 50 rpm (5.24 rad/sec) and 100 rpm (10.47 rad/sec) with temperature profiles of 80‐90‐100°C and 100‐110‐120°C. Processing conditions, including dough and die temperatures, drive torque, specific mechanical energy consumption, product and feed material throughput rates, dough apparent viscosity, and dough density, were monitored during extrusion. The resulting products were subjected to physical and nutritional characterization to determine the effects of processing conditions for these blends. Extrudate analysis included moisture content, water activity, crude protein, in vitro protein digestibility, crude fat, ash, product diameter, expansion ratios, unit and true density, color, water absorption and solubility, and durability. All blends were suitable for extrusion at the processing conditions used. Blend ratio had little effect on either processing parameters or extrudate properties; extrusion temperature and screw speed, on the other hand, significantly affected both processing and product properties.     

Selective Nixtamalization of Fractions of Maize Grain (Zea mays L.) and Their Use in the Preparation of Instant Tortilla Flours Analyzed Using Response Surface Methodology

Using a continuous decorticating machine, white dent corn was efficiently separated, after brief steeping in water, into two fractions: the first (12.5%) consisting mainly of pericarp, germ, and tip cap (PGT); the second (87.5%) consisting of endosperm. Nixtamalization of the maize fractions in the presence of 0.6% (w/w) lime caused an increase in the hot‐paste viscosity at 90°C, while nixtamalization of PGT at lime inputs <0.6% (w/w) resulted in decreased viscosity. Three domains were found for the viscosity of nixtamalized endosperm at 90°C: lower concentrations of lime (< 0.15%, w/w) resulted in lower viscosity values; increased lime (0.15% – <0.3%, w/w) increased the viscosity values; and a lime concentration of 0.3% (w/w) resulted in a lower viscosity value. The response variables (water absorption index, water solubility index, initial viscosity, and viscosity at 90°C for nixtamalized PGT, and compression force and compression area of tortillas) indicated that the mathematical models fit the experimental data and the variance of the models was highly significant. Tortillas of good functional characteristics similar to tortillas produced by the traditional process were obtained when 5% nixtamalized fractions of PGT were blended with 95% nixtamalized endosperm.     

蛋白原料及其混合粉料理化性质对颗粒饲料加工质量的影响

该研究旨在探究豆粕、棉粕、菜粕、酒糟蛋白(Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles,DDGS)、乙醇梭菌蛋白5种蛋白原料及其混合粉料的营养指标和理化性质的差异,确定影响颗粒饲料质量和制粒能耗的关键指标,对5种蛋白原料的制粒效果进行综合评价。以豆粕为对照组,仅改变蛋白原料,采用相同的加工参数制备颗粒饲料,比较不同蛋白原料的制粒效果,进行主成分分析及偏最小二乘回归分析(Partial Least Squares Regression,PLS)。结果表明:在原料营养指标和理化特性方面,乙醇梭菌蛋白具有高蛋白含量、高蛋白溶解度、低脂肪、低纤维的特点,棉粕具有高纤维的特点,菜粕具有高纤维和低蛋白溶解度的特点,DDGS具有低蛋白和高脂肪的特点。蛋白原料吸水性强弱排列顺序为乙醇梭菌蛋白、豆粕、棉粕、菜粕、DDGS,水溶性与之相反。乙醇梭菌蛋白组和棉粕组的制粒能耗较高,豆粕组的制粒能耗最低;棉粕组和乙醇梭菌蛋白组的修正耐久性(Modified Pellet Durability Index,MPDI)较高分别为92.72%和90.57%,菜粕组的MPDI最低为79.68%;乙醇梭菌蛋白组的硬度最高为130.95N,DDGS组的硬度最低为74.26N;乙醇梭菌蛋白组的糊化度最高为45.56%,DDGS组的糊化度最低为31.36%。通过偏最小二乘回归模型得到,蛋白含量、蛋白溶解度和吸水性的增加会提高颗粒饲料硬度、PDI和MPDI;粗纤维含量、蛋白溶解度和吸水性的增加会增加制粒能耗。综合分析5种蛋白原料制粒特性,由高到低排序为乙醇梭菌蛋白、棉粕、豆粕、菜粕、DDGS。研究结果为实际生产颗粒饲料时蛋白原料的选择提供参考依据。     

磷素营养对青饲玉米产量品质形成与肥水利用效果的影响

在华北农牧交错区旱滩地条件下,以饲用玉米白马牙为试验材料,研究了磷肥不同施用量对青饲玉米产量品质形成与肥水利用效果的影响。结果表明,施磷使饲用玉米的生物产量增产10.5 %～25.1 %;显著促进了玉米植株氮素和磷素的吸收,使植株比不施磷分别多吸收氮素26.03～51.10 kg/hm2和磷素8.63～28.95 kg/hm2;植株粗蛋白、粗脂肪和粗纤维的含量随施磷量增加而显著增加;粗蛋白和粗脂肪的产量也增加显著,增幅分别为9.26 %～37.82 %和14.95 %～33.33 %。试验结果还表明,施磷比不施磷显著提高了青饲玉米的水分利用效率,增幅为10.44%～16.77%, 相当于多供水27.51～47.36 mm。因此,施用磷肥是提高饲用玉米饲草产量、营养品质和肥水利用效果的有效技术手段。     

Effects of Lime‐Cooking on Carotenoids Present in Masa and Tortillas Produced from Different Types of Maize

Yellow and white maize kernels, masas, tortillas, and nejayote solids were analyzed in terms of lutein, zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, β‐carotene, and lipophilic antioxidant (AOX) capacity. The germplasm analyzed included two normal yellow maize, two high‐carotenoid genotypes, and one white for comparison purposes. In general, the yellow maize required 34% more lime‐cooking time compared with the white counterpart. Lime‐cooking significantly changed the extractability of carotenoids in masa and tortillas. No carotenoids were detected in the steepwater or nejayote. The lipophilic AOX activity increased 280‐fold from kernel to masa, but only 70% was retained in the baked tortillas. When masa was baked into tortillas, less than 10% of the carotenoids were retained because of the high temperatures used during baking. Interestingly, tortillas made with the maize kernels with the highest carotenoid content did not have the highest amount of these phytochemicals. Therefore, maize varieties should be evaluated based on the carotenoid content in finished food products instead of the amounts originally found in raw kernels.     

Characteristics of Vegetable‐Based Twin‐Screw Extruded Yellow Perch (Perca flavescens) Diets Containing Fermented High‐Protein Soybean Meal and Graded Levels of Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles

A twin‐screw extrusion study was performed in replicated trials to produce vegetable‐based feeds for juvenile yellow perch. Two isocaloric (3.06 kcal/g) experimental diets were balanced to contain 20 and 40% distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and a constant amount (20%) of fermented high‐protein soybean meal (PepSoyGen) as the fishmeal protein replacers; crude protein content was targeted at 40%. A fishmeal‐based diet was used as a control. Extrusion conditions included conditioner steam (0.11–0.16 kg/min), extruder water (0.11–0.19 kg/min), and screw speed (230–300 rpm). Increasing DDGS from 0 to 40% led to a considerable rise in bulk density, lightness L*), yellowness (b*), and unit density but to decreases in water activity (a_w) and expansion ratio by 12.6, 14.4, 23, 21, 31, and 13%, respectively. The lowest unit density of 791.6 kg/m³ and highest bulk density of 654.5 kg/m³ were achieved with diets containing 20 and 40% DDGS, respectively; changes in DDGS content did not affect extrudate moisture, absorption index, or thermal properties. Raising DDGS from 0 to 40% resulted in an increase in water solubility and redness (a*) by 13.4 and 35%, respectively. All extrudates had high durability (>98%), and low a_w of less than 0.5. Overall, this study yielded viable feeds for yellow perch.     

Effects of Wheat Protein Fractions on Flour Tortilla Quality

Commercial wheat protein fractions (10) were evaluated during processing for quality of tortillas prepared using pastry, tortilla, and bread flours. Protein fractions that separately modify dough resistance and extensibility were evaluated in tortillas to determine whether the proteins could increase diameter, opacity, and shelf stability. Tortillas were prepared using laboratory‐scale, commercial equipment with fixed processing parameters. Dough and tortilla properties were evaluated using analytical methods, a texture analyzer, and subjective methods. Tortillas were stored in plastic bags at 22°C for up to 20 days. Adjustments in water absorption and level of reducing agent were made to normalize differences in functionality of 3% added proteins on dough properties. Tortilla weight, moisture, pH, opacity, and specific volume were not affected by added proteins, except for glutenin and vital wheat gluten treatments, which had decreased opacity in tortillas prepared from pastry flour. Increased insoluble polymeric protein content corresponded to decreased tortilla diameter and improved shelf stability. Treatments yielding tortillas with improved shelf stability and similar tortilla properties were produced when commercially processed vital wheat gluten products, FP600, FP6000, FP5000, or gliadin were added to pastry or tortilla flour. These wheat protein fractions improved processing and tortilla quality of wheat flours, especially pastry flour, by modifying protein content and quality.     

Cropping rotations: Effect on aggregate stability and biological activity

Abstract

Growing crops and crop sequences over a period of 14 years leads to changes in soil properties. The effect of nine cropping rotations (wheat/soybean‐maize, wheat/soybean‐soybean, wheat/soybean, wheat‐wheat soybean‐soybean, maize‐maize, sunflower‐soybean, sunflower‐sunflower and soybean‐maize) on bulk density, structural stability, biological activity, and organic carbon (C) was investigated in experimental plots subject to conventional tillage. Type of soil used was a well‐drained Typic Argiudoll, with a silty loam texture and an easily alterable structure by cultivation and rainfall. Bulk density, structural stability and biological activity showed statistically significant differences between treatments, a high correlation between biological activity and stable aggregates was also found. Four of the crop sequences (wheat/ soybean‐maize, soybean‐maize, sunflower‐soybean, soybean‐soybean) were chosen because they represented extreme behaviour patterns as regards the effects of water. For these soil samples, the following fractions of organic C: fulvic acids, humic acids, humins, and light C and water soluble C were determined. The results indicated that maintenance of structure was stable in those sequences which included maize and wheat as opposed to soybean monoculture or soybean‐sunflower combinations.     

Particle Size Effects on the Quality of Flour Tortillas Enriched with Whole Grain Waxy Barley

Wheat tortillas were enriched with whole barley flour (WBF) of different particle sizes including 237 μm (regular [R]), 131 μm (intermediate [IM]), and 68 μm (microground [MG]). Topographical and fluorescent microstructure images of flours, doughs, and tortillas were examined. Flours and tortillas were analyzed for color, protein, ash, starch, moisture, and β‐glucan content. Farinograph testing was conducted on the flour blends. Water activity and texture analyses of tortillas were conducted. A 9‐point hedonic scale was used by 95 untrained panelists to evaluate tortilla appearance, color, flavor, texture, and overall acceptability. Two commercial products (CP) were included in some analyses. As WBF particle size decreased, color was lighter; protein, moisture content and mixing stability decreased; ash, starch content, water absorption and farinograph peak time increased; and β‐glucan content was constant. WBF tortillas were darker than the control (C), while IM and MG tortillas had lower peak forces than C. No flavor differences were reported among C, R, and MG tortillas but higher scores were given to both CP in all attributes tested. Tortillas made with the largest WBF particle size (R) were the most similar in protein content, texture and flavor when compared with C tortillas made with refined bread flour.     

钾素营养对饲用玉米养分吸收动态及产量品质形成的影响

在冀西北高原旱滩地条件下,以饲用玉米白马牙为试验材料,研究了钾肥不同施用量对饲用玉米养分吸收动态及产量品质形成的影响。结果表明,施钾使饲用玉米的生物产量增产7.96%～17.60%;显著促进了玉米植株氮素和磷素的吸收。施钾植株的氮素和磷素吸收量分别比不施钾植株提高17.73～40.28.kg/hm2和9.32～28.69kg/hm2;植株粗蛋白、粗脂肪的含量随施钾量增加而增加,且二者产量增幅分别为9.40%～21.5%和8.90%～38.12%。试验结果还看出,随钾肥用量的增加,饲用玉米株高、茎粗、叶面积指数和叶绿素相对含量均有提高,为饲用玉米的高产优质奠定了基础。因此,饲用玉米施用钾肥是提高其产量与营养品质的有效技术手段。     

施氮量对玉米/大豆套作系统土壤微生物数量及土壤酶活性的影响

为揭示玉米/大豆套作体系下土壤氮素转换的调控机理和根际微生态效应,以种植模式为主因素[设玉米单作(MM)、大豆单作(SS)和玉米/大豆套作(IMS)3种处理],以玉米、大豆施氮总量(玉米、大豆施氮比例为3∶1)为副因素[设不施氮(NN,0 kg?hm~(-2))、减量施氮(RN,180 kg?hm~(-2))和常量施氮(CN,240 kg?hm~(-2))3个处理],研究了玉米/大豆套作系统下不同施氮量对作物根际土壤微生物数量及土壤酶活性的影响。结果表明:与相应单作相比,套作下玉米根际土壤真菌、放线菌数量分别提高25.37%和8.79%;套作大豆根际土壤真菌、放线菌、固氮菌数量高于单作大豆;套作玉米根际土壤蛋白酶、脲酶活性和套作大豆根际土壤蛋白酶活性均显著升高。各施氮水平间,减量施氮下玉米、大豆根际土壤真菌数量较常量施氮和不施氮均有所提高;施氮提高了玉米、大豆根际土壤放线菌数量;大豆根际土壤固氮菌数量以减量施氮最高,比不施氮和常量施氮高17.78%和5.67%;玉米根际土壤蛋白酶活性、脲酶活性和大豆根际土壤脲酶活性均以减量施氮为最高。适宜的施氮量不仅能增加玉米/大豆套作土壤中真菌、放线菌、固氮菌的数量,还能提高土壤蛋白酶、脲酶活性,调节土壤氮素的转化,促进玉米/大豆对土壤中氮素的吸收,实现节能增效。     

Role of Gluten in Flour Tortilla Staling

Effects of protease and transglutaminase (TG) on dough and tortilla microstructures, shelf‐stability, and protein profile were determined to infer the role of gluten in tortilla staling. Control and enzyme‐treated tortillas were prepared using a standard bake test procedure and evaluated for three weeks. Confocal micrographs of control dough showed thin protein strands forming a continuous web‐like matrix. Protease‐treated dough had pieces of proteins in place of the continuous matrix, while TG‐treated dough had thicker protein strands that were heterogeneously distributed. Control tortillas had a well‐distributed continuous protein structure. Protease‐treated tortilla had a continuous structure despite being composed of hydrolyzed proteins in the dough, while the TG‐treated tortilla retained clumps of proteins. Both treatments resulted in shorter shelf‐stability of tortillas. An evenly distributed and moderately stronger gluten network is necessary for longer retention of tortilla flexibility. Solubility of protein fractions differed among treatments, but molecular weight distribution did not differentiate control and treated dough or tortillas. The proportion of each protein fraction appears to affect staling.