Application of Polished‐Graded Wheat Grains for Sourdough Bread

Flours obtained by a specific polishing process were used to prepare sourdough and bread. Three fractions designated C‐1 (100–90%), C‐5 (60–50%), and C‐8 (30–0%) were studied. The pH, total titratable acidity levels, and buffering capacity of sourdoughs made from polished flours were significantly different from those of the control sourdough with No. 1 Canada Western Red Spring (CW), and they provided sourdough breads with better qualities than that of CW. The growth of lactic acid bacteria and yeast in polished flour sourdoughs were significantly accelerated during fermentation over that in CW sourdough. Higher maturation of polished flour sourdoughs softened the hardness of mixed dough. The intricate network of honeycomb structure gluten and uneven surface of starch granules were distinctly observed in SEM images. Substitutions of C‐5 or C‐8 sourdoughs for CW significantly increased the loaf volume and softened breadcrumbs more than CW sourdough. Flour qualities of polished flours such as suitable acidity and good buffering capacity caused by the bran fraction were effective for better growth and longer life of yeast in the dough during fermentation. Therefore, application of polished flours in sourdough bread would improve rheological properties of dough and bread as compared with CW sourdough.     

Effect of Glutamate Accumulation During Sourdough Fermentation with Lactobacillus reuteri on the Taste of Bread and Sodium‐Reduced Bread

NaCl is an important contributor to the taste and texture of bread; therefore, it is challenging to reduce NaCl in bread without compromising quality. This study investigated sensory properties of bread with sourdough fermented with Lactobacillus reuteri accumulating glutamate or γ‐aminobutyrate (GABA). Sourdough was fermented with the GABA‐producing L. reuteri 100‐23 and LTH5448 as well as the glutamate‐accumulating L. reuteri 100‐23ΔgadB and TMW1.106. A consumer panel detected significant differences in the taste of bread with 6% addition of sourdough fermented with glutamate‐ or GABA‐producing L. reuteri. Remarkably, this difference was also detected when GABA‐producing L. reuteri 100‐23 was compared with its glutamate‐producing isogenic mutant L. reuteri 100‐23ΔgadB. The intensity of the salty taste of sourdough bread produced with 1% (flour basis) salt was equivalent to the intensity of the salty taste of reference bread produced with 1.5% salt. A trained panel found that sourdough breads (1 or 2% NaCl flour base) had a higher sour and umami taste intensity when compared with reference bread with the same salt content. Bread produced with sourdough fermented with L. reuteri 100‐23ΔgadB consistently had a higher umami taste intensity when compared with other sourdough breads. Neither sourdough addition nor NaCl level influenced bread volume or texture. In conclusion, the use of sourdough fermented with glutamate‐accumulating lactobacilli allowed reduction of NaCl without adverse effects on the taste or other quality attributes of bread.     

Free Lipids in Air‐Classified High‐Protein Fractions of Hard Winter Wheat Flours and Their Effects on Breadmaking Quality

Free lipids (FL) were extracted from straight‐grade flours (SF) and the air‐classified high‐protein fractions (ACHPF) of nine hard winter wheats. The mean values of FL contents in 10 g (db) SF and ACHPF were, respectively, 92.8 and 178.5 mg for total FL, 74.1 and 141.9 mg for nonpolar lipids (NL), 12.8 and 20.9 mg for glycolipids (GL), and 4.9 and 12.0 mg for phospholipids (PL). FL compositions of SF and ACHPF showed nonsignificant differences in NL (80.7 and 81.1% of the FL) but significant differences in GL (13.9 and 12.0% of the FL) and PL (5.4 and 6.9% of the FL). Fortification of SF with ACHPF by blending to reach 13% protein content increased gluten quantity and thereby loaf volume but decreased gluten index, loaf volume regression, and crumb grain scores. NL contents showed significant relationships with dry gluten contents (r = 0.79) and gluten index (r = ‐0.83) values, indicating that high NL content in ACHPF could decrease gluten quality of fortified flours. Thus, an optimum balance should be maintained during fortification.     

Lipids in Japanese Noodle Flours

Lipids in Japanese salt and alkaline noodle flours and in Australian soft white wheat (SWW) flours were extracted and compared. Nonstarch lipid (NSL) and free lipid (FL) levels ranges were 1.33–1.71% and 0.84–1.04%, respectively, for nine Japanese salt noodle flours compared to 1.43–1.50% and 0.97–1.00% for three Australian SWW flours used mainly to prepare salt noodle. The six Japanese alkaline noodle flours averaged ≈15% less NSL and 20% less FL than the Australian flours. The NSL was separated by column chromatography into nonpolar lipid (NL), glycolipid (GL), and phospholipid (PL) fractions. The NSL extracted from salt noodle and Australian flours contained ≈36% more NL than that from alkaline noodle flour. The composition of NSL was similar for salt noodle and Australian SWW flours but was different for alkaline noodle flour. Japanese salt noodle flour could be differentiated from alkaline noodle flour by the higher levels of NSL and FL, although those elevated levels may be caused in part to the somewhat higher extraction rate for the salt-noodle flours. However, two parameters independent of extraction rate, the ratios of NL/PL and NL/ash were 47 and 15% higher, respectively, in the salt vs. alkaline noodle flours.     

Degradation of Secalins During Rye Sourdough Fermentation

Rye sourdough (RSD) gives rye bread mildly acidic taste and desired flavor. Flavor precursors (amino acids and small peptides) are generated in the proteolytic breakdown of rye proteins. Our aim was to study the protein degradation during RSD fermentations. Two sourdoughs were prepared of flours derived from two rye cultivars (Amilo and Akusti). RSD samples were collected during fermentations. Three protein fractions were obtained by sequential protein extraction and these were analyzed by SDS‐PAGE. Free amino nitrogen (FAN) was measured with a ninhydrin method. In addition, two rye incubations without starter microorganisms (with antibiotics) were made at pH 3.6 and 6.1, and proteinase profiles of the rye cultivars were analyzed at pH 4.3. SDS‐PAGE analysis showed that during RSD fermentations, rye proteins, especially the alcohol‐soluble secalins, were degraded. Secalins also evidently degraded during the incubation without starter microorganisms at pH 3.6. Aspartic proteinases were in the major proteinase group in both rye cultivars. This study confirms that endogenous proteinases of rye, mainly aspartic proteinases, hydrolyze rye proteins, especially secalins, during RSD fermentation. Protein degradation in rye sourdoughs may thus be enhanced by selecting rye flours with high proteolytic activity toward secalins.     

Formation of Oligosaccharides and Polysaccharides by Lactobacillus reuteri LTH5448 and Weissella cibaria 10M in Sorghum Sourdoughs

Gluten‐free breads, which are composed of gluten‐free flours, starch, and hydrocolloids, differ from wheat and rye breads in relation to texture, volume, and crumb structure. Moreover, the dietary fiber content is lower compared with wheat or rye breads. Cereal isolates of lactic acid bacteria frequently produce oligo‐ and homopolysaccharides from sucrose, which can improve the nutritional and technological properties of gluten‐free breads as prebiotic carbohydrates and hydrocolloids, respectively. Sorghum sourdough was fermented with Lactobacillus reuteri LTH5448 or Weissella cibaria 10M, which synthesize fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and levan, and isomaltooligosaccharides and dextran, respectively. The gluten‐free bread was produced with 14% sourdough addition. L. reuteri LTH5448 formed FOS and 1.5 g of levan/kg DM in quinoa sourdoughs. FOS were digested by the baker's yeast during proofing, and the levan could be qualitatively detected in the bread. W. cibaria 10M produced >60 g of isomaltooligosaccharides/kg DM and 0.6 g of dextran/kg DM, which could still be detected in the bread. Breads prepared with W. cibaria 10M were less firm compared with breads prepared with L. reuteri LTH5448 or a FOS and levan‐negative mutant of L. reuteri LTH5448. The addition of sourdoughs fermented with oligo‐ and polysaccharide forming starter cultures can increase the content of prebiotic oligosaccharides in gluten‐free breads.     

Characteristics of Noodles and Bread Prepared from Double‐Null Partial Waxy Wheat

Double‐null partial waxy wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) flours were used for isolation of starch and preparation of white salted noodles and pan bread. Starch characteristics, textural properties of cooked noodles, and staling properties of bread during storage were determined and compared with those of wheat flours with regular amylose content. Starches isolated from double‐null partial waxy wheat flours contained 15.4–18.9% amylose and exhibited higher peak viscosity than starches of single‐null partial waxy and regular wheat flours, which contained 22.7–25.8% amylose. Despite higher protein content, double‐null partial waxy wheat flours, produced softer, more cohesive and less adhesive noodles than soft white wheat flours. With incorporation of partial waxy prime starches, noodles produced from reconstituted soft white wheat flours became softer, less adhesive, and more cohesive, indicating that partial waxy starches of low amylose content are responsible for the improvement of cooked white salted noodle texture. Partial waxy wheat flours with >15.1% protein produced bread of larger loaf volume and softer bread crumb even after storage than did the hard red spring wheat flour of 15.3% protein. Regardless of whether malt was used, bread baked from double‐null partial waxy wheat flours exhibited a slower firming rate during storage than bread baked from HRS wheat flour.     

Textural Comparisons of Gluten‐Free and Wheat‐Based Doughs,Batters, and Breads

Studies were conducted with two newly developed gluten‐free bread recipes. One was based on corn starch (relative amount 54), brown rice (25), soya (12.5), and buckwheat flour (8.5), while the other contained brown rice flour (50), skim milk powder (37.5), whole egg (30), potato (25), and corn starch (12.5), and soya flour (12.5). The hydrocolloids used were xanthan gum (1.25) and xanthan (0.9) plus konjac gum (1.5), respectively. Wheat bread and gluten‐free bread made from commercial flour mix were included for comparison. Baking tests showed that wheat and the bread made from the commercial flour mix yielded significantly higher loaf volumes (P < 0.01). All the gluten‐free breads were brittle after two days of storage, detectable by the occurrence of fracture, and the decrease in springiness (P < 0.01), cohesiveness (P < 0.01), and resilience (P < 0.01) derived from texture profile analysis. However, these changes were generally less pronounced for the dairy‐based gluten‐free bread, indicating a better keeping quality. Confocal laser‐scanning microscopy showed that the dairy‐based gluten‐free bread crumb contained network‐like structures resembling the gluten network in wheat bread crumb. It was concluded that the formation of a continuous protein phase is critical for an improved keeping quality of gluten‐free bread.     

乳酸菌发酵豆渣酸面团对馒头面团特性和馒头品质的影响

为促进大豆副产物资源利用,开发新型营养面制品,本试验以豆渣为原料,利用柠檬明串珠菌E12为发酵剂制作豆渣酸面团,探究不同豆渣酸面团添加量(0%、20%、30%和40%)对馒头面团(对应编号分别为S0、S20、S30和S40)发酵活力、动态流变特性、抗氧化特性以及膳食纤维含量的影响,并研究豆渣酸面团馒头(对应编号分别为CS0、CS20、CS30和CS40)的感官品质,以及在贮藏期间馒头质构和水分含量的变化。结果表明,添加豆渣酸面团会降低馒头面团的弹性、黏性和综合黏弹性。馒头面团的抗氧化特性以及膳食纤维含量随着豆渣酸面团添加量的增加而显著增加;当添加量为40%时,S40馒头面团的1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼(DPPH)自由基清除率和2,2-联氮-二(3-乙基-苯并噻唑-6-磺酸)二铵盐(ABTS)自由基清除率分别达到15.61%和79.59%,比S0增加了5.10和15.02个百分点,总膳食纤维含量达到3.91 g·100g^-1,比S0增加了138.79%。豆渣酸面团的添加量为20%时,CS20馒头的比容和延展率与CS0相比无显著差异,但对馒头的外观、色泽、风味和口感产生了积极影响,整体可接受度达到7.8。在贮藏5 d后,CS0的硬度、咀嚼性和胶着性分别增加了180.85%、69.62%和98.08%,而CS40分别增加了76.19%、30.88%和33.96%,与CS0相比增加量显著减小,且在贮藏期间CS40的水分含量始终高于CS0,表明豆渣酸面团有利于减缓馒头的老化。本研究为实现豆渣资源的合理化应用以及新型营养的酸面团产品开发提供了一定的理论基础。     

Contribution of Sourdough Lactobacilli,Yeast, and Cereal Enzymes to the Generation of Amino Acids in Dough Relevant for Bread Flavor

The amino acid release was determined in wheat doughs supplied with salt, acid, dithiothreitol, or starter cultures to evaluate the relevance of the amino acid concentration on bread flavor. Wheat flour proteinases almost linearly released amino acids and the highest activity of wheat flour proteinases was found in acidified and reduced doughs. The effects of starter cultures on amino acid concentrations depended on their composition. Yeasts exhibited a high demand for amino acids, however, the total amino acid concentrations were not markedly affected by lactic acid bacteria. The individual amino acid contents were determined by the pH during fermentation and microbial metabolism. The formation of proline was favored by values higher than pH 5.5, whereas release of phenylalanine, leucine and cysteine mainly occurred at lower pH. Ornithine was found only in doughs fermented with Lactobacillus pontis. To determine effects of the amino acid concentration on bread aroma, fermented doughs were evaluated in baking experiments. An increased intensity of bread flavor was obtained by preferments prepared with lactic acid bacteria. The roasty note of wheat bread crust could be markedly enhanced by L. pontis. This results support the assumption that flavor of wheat bread is enhanced by increasing the concentration of free amino acids and especially ornithine in dough.     

Extraction and Characterization of Lipids from the Kernels,Leaves, and Stalks of Nine Grain Sorghum Parent Lines

The objectives of this study were to identify and quantify lipid classes extracted from the stalk, leaves, and the whole kernels of nine different sorghum parent lines. All extractions were performed with a Soxtec using n-hexane as the extraction solvent. Analytical methods including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) were used to identify and quantify the extracted lipid classes: triacylglycerides (TAG), diglycerides (DG), policosanols (PA), free sterols (FS), phytosterols (PS), free fatty acids (FFA), tocopherols (T), and fatty aldehydes. Overall, extracts from the leaves had higher amounts of soluble matter. Extracts from leaves contained more alcohols and sterols, whereas extracts from the stalks and the whole kernels contained the greatest amount of free fatty acids and fatty aldehydes, respectively. Trace amounts of tocopherol were detected by HPLC in all 27 samples. The lipid profiles of extracts from the whole kernels, leaves, and stalks from the same plant differed. The lipid profiles of extracts from each anatomical part of the sorghum plant differed between the nine parent lines.     

Composition and Regiodistribution of Fatty Acids in Triacylglycerols and Phospholipids from Red and Black Rices

Regiospecific profiles of fatty acids (FA) of triacylglycerols (TAG) and phospholipids (PL) isolated from red and black rices were investigated. The lipids extracted from red and black rices were separated by thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) into eight subfractions, respectively. With a few exceptions, the major lipid components were TAG (76.4–80.5%), free FA (7.2–9.8%), and phospholipids (3.5–3.6%), while hydrocarbons, steryl esters, diacylglycerols (1,3‐DAG and 1,2‐DAG), and monoacylglycerols were present in minor proportions (0.1–4.1%). The PL components isolated from the two cultivars were phosphatidyl choline (52.3–53.7%), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (22.3–23.1%), phosphatidyl inositol (20.6–21.3%), and others (<3.4%). No significant differences (P < 0.05) in FA distribution were found when these cultivars were compared. The principal characteristics of the FA distribution in the TAG and PL were evident in the rices between the two cultivars: unsaturated FA were predominantly located at the sn‐2 position (77.3–96.8%), while saturated FA primary occupied the sn‐1 or the sn‐3 position (35.0–78.7%) in these lipids. The results of this study could provide useful information to both consumers and producers during manufacture of traditional rice foods in Japan.     

Degradation of HMW Glutenins During Wheat Sourdough Fermentations

Bakeries use sourdoughs to improve bread properties such as flavor and shelf life. The degradation of gluten proteins during fermentation may, however, crucially alter the gluten network formation. We observed changes that occurred in the HMW glutenins during wheat sourdough fermentations. As fermentation starters, we used either rye sourdough or pure cultures of lactobacilli and yeast. In addition, we incubated wheat flour (WF) in the presence of antibiotics under different pH conditions. The proteolytic activities of cereal and sourdough‐derived proteinases were studied with edestin and casein. During sourdough fermentations, most of the highly polymerized HMW glutenins degraded. A new area of alcohol‐soluble proteins (≈30.000 MW) appeared as a result of the proteolytic breakdown of gluten proteins. Very similar changes were observable as WF was incubated in the presence of antibiotics at pH 3.7. Cereal and sourdough‐derived proteinases hydrolyzed edestin at pH 3.5 but showed no activity at pH 5.5. An aspartic proteinase inhibitor (pepstatin A) arrested 88–100% of the activities of sourdough enzymes. According to these results, the most active proteinases in wheat sourdoughs were the cereal aspartic proteinases. Acidic conditions present in sourdoughs create an ideal environment for cereal aspartic proteinases to be active against gluten proteins.     

Solvent-free lipase-catalyzed preparation of diacylglycerols

Various methods have been applied for the enzymatic preparation of diacylglycerols that are used as dietary oils for weight reduction in obesity and related disorders. Interesterification of rapeseed oil triacylglycerols with commercial preparations of monoacylglycerols, such as Monomuls 90-O18, Mulgaprime 90, and Nutrisoft 55, catalyzed by immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei (Lipozyme RM IM) in vacuo at 60 degrees C led to extensive (from 60 to 75%) formation of diacylglycerols. Esterification of rapeseed oil fatty acids with Nutrisoft, catalyzed by Lipozyme RM in vacuo at 60 degrees C, also led to extensive (from 60 to 70%) formation of diacylglycerols. Esterification of rapeseed oil fatty acids with glycerol in vacuo at 60 degrees C, catalyzed by Lipozyme RM and lipases from Thermomyces lanuginosus (Lipozyme TL IM) and Candida antarctica (lipase B, Novozym 435), also provided diacylglycerols, however, to a lower extent (40-45%). Glycerolysis of rapeseed oil triacylglycerols with glycerol in vacuo at 60 degrees C, catalyzed by Lipozyme TL and Novozym 435, led to diacylglycerols to the extent of 相似文献   

Volatile Compounds in Crumb of Whole‐Meal Wheat Bread Fermented with Different Yeast Levels and Fermentation Temperatures

The influence of fermentation temperatures (8, 16, and 32°C) and yeast levels (2, 4, and 6%) on the formation of volatile compounds in the crumb of whole‐meal wheat bread was investigated. Volatile compounds were extracted by dynamic headspace extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Results were evaluated with multivariate data analysis and ANOVA. Bread fermented at a high temperature (32°C) had higher peak areas of the Maillard reaction products 2‐furancarboxaldehyde, 2‐acetylfuran, 2‐methylpyrazine, and phenylacetaldehyde compared with bread fermented at lower fermentation temperatures. Bread fermented at low temperatures (8 and 16°C) was characterized by having higher peak areas of the fermentation products 3‐methylbutanal, 2‐methylbutanal, ethyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl propanoate, and 3‐methylbutanol. Fermentation of bread with 6% yeast resulted in a higher peak area of the important fermentation product 2‐phenylethanol. It also reduced the peak areas of important lipid oxidation products. The peak area of 2,3‐butanedione was also relatively higher in bread fermented with 6% yeast compared with lower yeast levels; however, an interaction was seen between the high yeast level and all three fermentation temperatures. In contrast, fermentation with a low yeast level (2%) resulted in bread with relatively higher peak areas of 2‐ and 3‐methylbutanal, as well as (E)‐2‐nonenal and (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal, which are important lipid oxidation compounds in bread.     

Monovarietal extra virgin olive oils: correlation between thermal properties and chemical composition

Thermal properties of monovarietal extra virgin olive oils were evaluated by means of differential scanning calorimetry (upon cooling) and related to their chemical composition (triacylglycerols, diacylglycerols, total and free fatty acids, oxidation status). The overall crystallization enthalpy did not significantly differ among samples and did not account for the differences observed in chemical compositions. On the contrary, a higher degree of unsaturation in the lipid profile induced a shift of the crystallization onset towards lower temperatures and narrowing of the crystallization temperature range. The presence of triacylglycerol lysis and lipid oxidation products shifted the crystallization towards higher temperatures and the phase transition developed over a larger temperature range. Differential scanning calorimetry thermograms were deconvoluted into three constituent exothermic peaks for all samples. The area of the two lower-temperature exotherms was found to be statistically correlated with the amount of triunsaturated and monosaturated triacylglycerols present in the oil. Thermal properties of extra virgin olive oil were found to be affected by oil chemical composition.     

Influence of sulfur fertilization on the amounts of free amino acids in wheat. correlation with baking properties as well as with 3-aminopropionamide and acrylamide generation during baking

Sulfur (S) fertilization has been long-known to influence the amounts of total free amino acids in plants. To determine the impact of S deficiency in wheat on the concentration of, in particular, free asparagine, the spring wheat cultivar 'Star' was grown in a laboratory scale (5 L pot) at five different levels of S fertilization. After maturity, the kernels were milled into white flours (1-5) and analyzed for their contents of total S and total nitrogen as well as for free amino acids and glucose, fructose, maltose, and sucrose. Extremely high concentrations of free asparagine (Asn; 3.9-5.7 g/kg) were determined in flours 1 and 2 (30 and 60 mg of S), whereas much lower amounts (0.03-0.4 g/kg) were present in flours grown at higher S levels. The amounts of the reducing carbohydrates were, however, scarcely affected by S fertilization. In agreement with the high amount of Asn in flours 1 and 2, heating of both flours led to the generation of very high amounts of acrylamide (1.7-3.1 mg/kg) as well as of 3-aminopropionamide (40-76 mg/kg). Similar concentrations were measured in crispbread prepared from both flours. Application of rheological measurements on doughs prepared from each flour and a determination of the loaf volume of bread baked therefrom clearly indicated that flours 1 and 2 would be excluded from commercial bread processing due to their poor technological properties. Two commercial flours showed relatively low concentrations of acrylamide after a thermal treatment.     

Lipid Extraction from Wheat Flour Using Supercritical Fluid Extraction

Environmental concerns, the disposal cost of hazardous waste, and the time required for extraction in current methods encouraged us to develop an alternate method for analysis of wheat flour lipids. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with carbon dioxide has provided that medium and the method is fully automatic. Crude fats or nonstarch free lipids (FL) were extracted from 4–5 g of wheat flour by an SFE system. To develop optimum conditions for SFE, various extraction pressures, temperatures, and modifier volumes were tried to provide a method that would produce an amount of lipids comparable to those extracted by the AACC Approved Soxhlet Method and the AOCS Official Butt Method using petroleum ether as solvent. Using several wheat flour samples, the best conditions were 12.0 vol% ethanol (10.8 mol%) at 7,500 psi and 80°C to extract the amount of FL similar to those by the AACC and AOCS methods. Using solid‐phase extraction, lipids were separated into nonpolar lipid (NL), glycolipid (GL), and phospholipid (PL) fractions. The mean value of five flours was 1.15% (flour weight, db) by the SFE method, 1.07% by the Butt method, and 1.01% by the Soxhlet methhod. The SFE‐extracted lipids contained less NL and more GL than either the Butt or Soxhlet methods. All three methods extracted lipids with qualitatively similar components. The overall benefit for SFE over the Soxhlet or Butt methods was to increase the number of samples analyzed in a given time, reduce the cost of analysis, and reduce exposure to toxic chemicals.     

Stability of needle‐ and root‐derived biomarkers during litter decomposition

Background and aims: Plant‐derived, ester‐bound substituted fatty acids have been used for decades as biomarkers to identify input of plant materials in sediments and soils. However, the long‐term decomposition patterns of these biomarker compounds under natural conditions are not well understood, although this is a basic prerequisite for quantitative biomarker applications. Methods: For this study, we analyzed the decomposition patterns of root‐ and needle‐specific compounds of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) in a litterbag study conducted over 3 years. Samples were analyzed by methanolic KOH extraction with previous removal of free extractable lipids. Results: The concentrations of most detectable compounds had decreased after three years of incubation. The observed changes of concentrations followed a non‐linear path and cannot be explained by microbial uptake and metabolism alone. Other factors controlling the breakdown of ester‐bound lipids, like lipid oxidation must play a role. Between similar plant parts and different plant parts of the same species, the observed degradation patterns were heterogeneous. The estimated ratio of remaining root and needle biomass that may arise with the choice of a particular biomarker varies in this study between 0.6 and 40 times after three years. Conclusion: This range of variation does not allow reliable conclusions about the contribution of roots and needles to decomposed organic matter based on biomarkers ratios.     

Changes in the concentrations of free fatty acid, monoacylglycerol, and diacylglycerol in the subcutaneous fat of Iberian ham during the dry-curing process

Changes in diacylglycerols, monoacylglycerols, and free fatty acid composition of subcutaneous fat of six Iberian hams during the dry-cured process were investigated. In addition, an analytical method for simultaneous quantification of diacylglycerols, monoacylglycerols, and free fatty acid by solid-phase extraction-gas chromatography was developed. The different molecular species of free fatty acids, monoacylglycerols, and diacylglycerols and 1,2- and 1,3-isomers of diacylglycerols have been described for the first time in this type of sample. A logarithmic increase of the 1,3-diacylglycerol profile throughout the processing time has been found, reaching a balance value of 62% around 500 days. The formation of diacylglycerol isomers takes place, although the 1,3-/1,2-diacylglycerol ratio increases during the process to 1.65 due to isomerization of the 1,2-form toward the 1,3-form. The profiles of monoacyl- and diacylglycerols and free fatty acids follow the same trend. The experimental values of free fatty acid are greater than theoretical prediction, probably due to phospholipid and monoacylglycerol hydrolysis.