DMA thermal analysis of different parts of potato tuber

Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was applied to three potato tissues (‘cortex’, ‘pith’, and ‘side’ surface) of two cultivars (more waxy ‘Nicola’ and more mealy ‘Saturna’) in temperature scans in the range 30–90 °C and constant air humidity of 90%. The obtained scans indicate peaks in both storage and loss module of elasticity (SM and LM, respectively) at temperatures higher than 70 °C – so called ‘starch’ peak (SP) – as was observed previously. The peak value increase with increasing potato dry matter (DM) content, below DM content approximately 14% no SP is observed (‘Nicola pith’). Slope analysis of the basic parameters: SM, LM, and loss tangent (LT) was performed and further characteristic points on the temperature plots were found: (i) in temperature range A (30–40 °C) maximum of SM and LM and minimum of LT, (ii) in temperature range B (40–50 °C) minimum of SM and LM slopes corresponding to point of inflection on SM-T and LM-T plots, (iii) at about 50 °C, big peak in LT in side tissue only, (iv) at about 70 °C just prior the ‘starch’ peak, big peak in LT that is more marked in ‘pith’; this peak denoted as ‘I’ influenced the ‘starch’ peak ‘II’. It was found that both cultivar and part of the tuber influences the DMA temperature plots.     

Assessing the shapes and speech sounds that people associate with chocolate samples varying in cocoa content

We report a series of three experiments designed to highlight the reliable crossmodal correspondences that exist between the cocoa content of various commercially-available chocolate products and both visually-presented shapes and nonsense words. The chocolates tested in this study included three kinds of Lindt chocolate and a milk chocolate truffle (‘Koko’ brand from Cadbury). Participants were given paper-based line scales, anchored at either end with either a nonsense word or simple outline shape. They tasted the chocolates and indicated whether their perception of the flavor better matched one or other of the items anchoring the scales by marking the appropriate point along the scale. The results demonstrate that certain chocolates were more strongly associated with angular shapes and ‘sharp’ inflected, high-pitched meaningless words, such as ‘tuki’ and ‘takete’. Specifically, Lindt extra creamy milk chocolate (30% cocoa) and Cadbury’s Koko milk chocolate truffles were both more strongly associated with rounded shapes and softer sounding, lower-pitched pseudo-words, such as ‘maluma’. By contrast, Lindt 70% and 90% cocoa chocolates were more strongly associated with sharper (angular) shapes and sounds, such as ‘takete’. These results demonstrate that the phenomenon of sound symbolism extends beyond the visual modality into the domain of flavor perception where, in particular, speech sounds carry meaning in terms of the taste/flavor of chocolates. These results have implications for the development of novel brand names for new products (such as, in this case, chocolate) that best connote the product’s likely sensory attributes.     

Quality properties of wine from Korean kiwifruit new cultivars

Several domestic varieties of kiwifruit including Actinidia deliciosa cv. ‘Hayward’, ‘Daeheung’, ‘Monty’, ‘Arimold’, ‘Jinmi’, ‘Hyangrok’ and A. chinensis cv. ‘Haenam’ and ‘Golden King’ were utilized for the processing of wines. Kiwifruit wines were analyzed for sugar content, alcohol, acidity, pH, color, total phenols and antioxidant activity by radical scavenging assay ABTS. The soluble solid content of the kiwifruit must ranged between 22 and 25% and then was fermented at 14 °C during 4 months. The amount of alcohol productions differed especially during the first week of fermentation. Among cultivars, ‘Haenam’ and ‘Arimold’ were relatively slower than other wines with regard to alcohol production rate. The yield of wine production was increased from 63.35% to 66.19% in weight by using processing with pectinase.The ‘L’ values of wine made from ‘Hayward’ and ‘Monty’ were lower and darker than those of wines prepared from other cultivars. Wine made from ‘Daeheung’ had total phenols of 790 mg L⁻¹, which was the highest among wines, followed by ‘Haenam’ and ‘Golden King’. ‘Daeheung’ also showed the highest antioxidant activity (22.55 mM TE L⁻¹), while ‘Arimold’ showed the lowest one (10.91 mM TE L⁻¹). The mean overall acceptability scores among kiwifruit wines ranged between 3.8 and 4.5. The sensory evaluations were higher in ‘Golden King’, ‘Monty’, ‘Daeheung’, ‘Arimold’, and ‘Hayward’ than those of ‘Haenam’, ‘Jinmi’, and ‘Hyangrok’. However, for commercial kiwifruit wine production not only overall sensory acceptance, but also functional properties such as total phenols and antioxidant activity, and fruit cultivation volume should be concerned. Therefore, three of kiwifruit cultivars which are ‘Golden King’, ‘Daeheung’, and ‘Hayward’ had the most desirable characteristics suitable for kiwifruit wine production.     

Effects of refrigerated storage and processing technologies on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacities of ‘Marion’ and ‘Evergreen’ blackberries

The effects of refrigerated storage at 2 °C and 95% RH and processing treatments on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacities of ‘Marion’ and ‘Evergreen’ blackberries were investigated. During refrigerated storage, total phenolics (TPC), total monomeric anthocyanins (ACY), and radical scavenging activity (RSA) fluctuated in ‘Marion’, but TPC and ACY continuously declined in ‘Evergreen’. Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) decreased by 20% and increased by 19% in ‘Evergreen’, respectively after 7-d refrigerated storage, while no changes (P > 0.05) in ‘Marion’ were observed. Compared with frozen samples, freeze-dried ‘Evergreen’ had higher TPC (21%), ACY (5.5%), and RSA (14%), while hot-air dried “Marion” had lower ACY (56%), ORAC (37%), and FRAP (27%) and hot-air dried ‘Evergreen’ had lower TPC (37%), ACY (84%), and RSA (13%). ORAC and FRAP in canned ‘Marion’ was 21-61% lower than that of frozen samples. Jam also had lower TPC and ACY (67-84%), RSA (˜80%), and ORAC and FRAP (65-77%) values than frozen ones in both varieties (P < 0.05). The 6-mo post-process room storage had little effect on the bioactive compounds of frozen and freeze dried samples, but reduced ACY in hot-air dried, canned, and jam samples, and antioxidant capacities of all samples (P < 0.05).     

Comparison of volatile components in fermented soybean pastes using simultaneous distillation and extraction (SDE) with sensory characterisation

In this study, the volatile compounds in nine fermented soybean pastes were extracted and analysed by simultaneous steam distillation and extraction (SDE) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), respectively. A total of 91 volatile components were identified. The differences in volatiles were observed by applying principal component analyses (PCA) to GC–MS data sets. Most of the samples did not show apparent groupings; however, a three sample clustering (CJW, SIN and HAE) was observed for pastes made by Aspergillus oryzae inoculation. From the PCA of the sensory data, samples are primarily separated along the first PC (explained 68% of the total variance), between samples like SUJA, CHJA and SOHI with high intensities of ‘briny’, ‘soy sauce’, ‘musty’ and ‘astringent’ and the samples (CJW and SIN) with intense levels in ‘sweet-grain’, ‘sweet’ and ‘MSG’ attributes. The individual concentrations of volatile compounds such as isoamyl acetate, furfuryl alcohol, maltol, pyrazines, 1-octen-3-ol and 2-methoxy-4-vinyl phenol corresponded well to the intensities of related sensory attributes by the correlation analysis.     

Flavonoid constituents and their contribution to antioxidant activity in cultivars and hybrids of rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade)

Fruit from 42 blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) cultivars, including 36 rabbiteye cultivars (Vaccinium ashei Reade), three V. ashei hybrid derivatives, and three northern highbush (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) standards were evaluated for antioxidant capacity, individual flavonoid content, and the contribution of each identified phenolic compound to total antioxidant activity. Considerable variation was found in flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and their contribution to total antioxidant activity among cultivars. Among 42 blueberry cultivars, the rabbiteye ‘Early May’ contained the highest amount of chlorogenic acid, myricetin 3-arabinoside, quercetin derivatives, and delphinidin-, cyanidin-, petunidin-, and malvidin-basis anthocyanins. ‘Early May’ cultivar also had the highest antioxidant activity (88.2 μmol TE/g fw). ‘Owen’, ‘Bluegem’, ‘Clara’, Climax’, and ‘Centurion’ were among the other rabbiteye cultivars that also had high levels of flavonoids and antioxidant activities. In contrast, the pink-fruited V. ashei hybrid, ‘Pink Lemonade’, had the lowest content of flavonoids and lowest antioxidant activity. The mean flavonoid content and antioxidant activity of rabbiteye cultivars was higher than those among northern highbush and V. ashei hybrids. The antioxidant activity of V. ashei hybrid derivatives was derived mainly from chlorogenic acid, myricetin, and quercetin, which contributed 62.5% of total antioxidant activity, whereas anthocyanins (malvidin, petunidin, delphinidin, and cyanidin) were the main contributors to the antioxidant activity of rabbiteye cultivars (76.2%) and northern highbush standards (76.8%). Blueberry cultivars identified to have high phenolic content and high antioxidant activity could be used as parents for future blueberry breeding programmes to develop new blueberry cultivars with higher antioxidant activity and further improve human health.     

Improved loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) cultivars: Variation of phenolics and antioxidative potential

Leaves and fruits (peel and flesh) of six improved cultivars (‘Mizuho’, ‘Néctar de Cristal’, ‘Mizauto’, ‘Mizumo’, ‘Centenária’ and ‘NE-3’) of loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) were studied for their phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity. The analysis by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS allowed the identification of 18 compounds (8 hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and 10 flavonoid glycosides). The quantification of the identified compounds revealed distinct profiles amongst the three analysed materials. Loquat leaves exhibited the lowest amounts of phenolics. 3- And 5-caffeoylquinic, and 5-feruloylquinic acids were the major compounds. Generally, ‘Mizauto’ cultivar presented the highest phenolic content. All loquat materials exhibited DDPH scavenging capacity, in a concentration-dependent manner, the leaves being the most active one. This effect seems to be related to the flavonoid content.     

Dessert and crab apple seeds as a promising and rich source of all four homologues of tocopherol (α, β, γ and δ)

Tocochromanols composition in apple seeds, obtained as a by-product during the fruit salad and juice production, of twelve varieties - seven crab apple (‘Kerr’, ‘Kuku’, ‘Quaker Beauty’, ‘Riku’, ‘Ritika’, ‘Ruti’ and K-8/9-24) and five dessert apples (‘Antej’, ‘Beforest’, ‘Kent’, ‘Sinap Orlovskij’ and ‘Zarja Alatau’) were studied. Tocopherols and tocotrienols were isolated using the micro-saponification method of high precision and accuracy and they were analysedanalysed by rapid RP-HPLC/FLD and RP-UPLC-ESI/MSⁿ. Four tocopherols, with predominance of homologues α and β, were detected in each tested sample. The seeds from two apple cultivars ‘Antej’ and ‘Beforest’ were characterized by unique and similar ratios of all four tocopherol homologues α:β:γ:δ (1.7:1.5:1.3:1.0 and 2.1:2.0:1.3:1.0, respectively). The concentration range of individual tocopherol homologues (α, β, γ and δ) in apple seeds were as follows: 17.22–25.79, 7.53–29.05, 0.61–13.82 and 0.16–10.79 mg/100 g dry weight basis (dwb), respectively. Moreover, three tocotrienols (α, β and γ) were identified in lesser amounts (0.02–0.74 mg/100 g dwb). Use of apple seeds to isolate tocopherol homologues can ensure better environmental sustainability and effective use of natural plant material.     

Analysis of grape polyamines from Grapevine leafroll associated viruses (GLRaV-2 and -3) infected vines

This is the first report comparing the free polyamine content of ‘Pinot noir’ grapes from vines infected with Grapevine leafroll associated viruses (GLRaV)-2 or -3, with samples taken from healthy vines. Berries were collected from three different rootstock/scion combinations, and all samples were from commercial vineyards in Oregon. Three free polyamines (putrescine, cadaverine, and spermidine) were found in all ‘Pinot noir’ grapes analysed in this study. Berries from healthy Vitis riparia rootstock/‘Pinot noir’ clone 114 were significantly higher in putrescine (28.6 μmol/l) and total polyamines (41.9 μmol/l), compared to their GLRaV-3 infected samples (20.7 and 33.0 μmol/l, respectively). Vine virus status did not alter total or individual polyamines in berries from the other two rootstock/scion combinations (unknown rootstock/‘Chardonnay’ interstock/‘Pinot noir’ scion [clone unknown] and self-rooted/‘Pinot noir’ clone Pommard). Levels of putrescine, spermidine, and total polyamines varied between berries taken from the healthy vines of the three different rootstock/scion combinations.     

Comparative study of primary and secondary metabolites in 11 cultivars of persimmon fruit (Diospyros kaki L.)

Primary metabolites (sugars, organic acids) and secondary metabolites (phenolics and carotenoids) were quantified by HPLC in fully ripe fruit of 11 kaki cultivars: ‘Amankaki’, ‘Cal Fuyu’, ‘Fuji’, ‘Hana Fuyu’, ‘Jiro’, ‘O’Gosho’, ‘Tenjin O’Gosho’, ‘Thiene’, ‘Tipo’, ‘Tone Wase’ and ‘Triumph’. Amongst the analysed cultivars, ‘Tone Wase’ stands out as the richest in sugars, particularly glucose, and cultivars ‘Tipo’ and ‘Triumph’ contained the highest amounts of organic acids. Cultivars ‘O’Gosho’, ‘Cal Fuyu’ and ‘Hana Fuyu’ contained the least sugars and cultivar ‘Jiro’ the least organic acids. Amongst the individual phenolic compounds catechin and gallic acid were present in highest concentrations. The predominant carotenoid in both skin and pulp of ripe persimmon fruit was β-carotene, the highest content was measured in skin of cultivar ‘Hana Fuyu’, which also contained the highest level of total carotenoids. In persimmon pulp, much lower values for carotenoids were obtained, particularly in fruit of cultivar ‘Cal Fuyu’.     

Exploring the phytochemical content and the antioxidant potential of Citrus fruits grown in Cyprus

The physicochemical and phytochemical profile as well as the antioxidant properties of the most important Citrus fruits grown in Cyprus [orange (Citrus sinensis, cv. ‘Valencia’), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi, cvs. ‘White Marsh’, ‘Star Ruby’, ‘Rio Red’) and an interspecific hybrid (Citrus reticulata x Citrus sinensis, cv. ‘Mandora’)] were determined. ‘Valencia’ fruit exhibited the highest phenolic, flavonoid and ascorbic acid content, as well as a higher antioxidant potency, followed by ‘Mandora’ fruit and the three grapefruit cultivars. HPLC indicated significant diversity on flavanones among the examined fruits, while LC-MS analysis revealed the presence of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, polymethoxyflavones and a furocoumarin. Overall, this study provides supporting evidence for the superiority of ‘Valencia’ orange fruit as an excellent source of bioactive compounds. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study thoroughly describing the phytochemical profile of ‘Mandora’ fruit, an interspecific hybrid cultivated in Cyprus.     

Discrimination of European wheat varieties using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometrics was used to discriminate wheat varieties. A total of 249 samples of different wheat varieties from the 2003–2004 harvest were used to develop the best discriminant equation, by applying various scatters and mathematical treatments in the range of 400–2500 nm. Wheat varieties from Spain were ‘Sarina’, ‘Bolero’, ‘Berdún’, ‘Soisson’, ‘Chamorro’, ‘Artur Nick’, ‘Berdun’, ‘Marius’, ‘Anza’, ‘Kalifa’, and wheat varieties from France were ‘Galibier’ and ‘Quality’. The equation developed with the highest accuracy had an applied scatter of weighted multiplicative scatter correction, a math treatment of 2, 15, 8 (order of derivative, gap data points over which the derivative was taken, number of data points used in performing average smoothing). The percentage of correctly identified varieties was 99.5% for the calibration sample set and 94% for the validation sample set. The results demonstrated the usefulness of NIRS combined with chemometrics as a rapid method for discrimination of European wheat varieties. Although the application of the discriminant equation developed for the 2003–2004 harvest yielded a high rate, further test measurements are necessary to evaluate the robustness of the equation.     

Satiety in rats following blueberry extract consumption induced by appetite-suppressing mechanisms unrelated to in vitro or in vivo antioxidant capacity

Water extracts of two blueberry cultivars (‘Centurion’ and ‘Maru’) were tested for their ability to modify appetite in a rat model. The fruits of ‘Centurion’ had higher in vitro antioxidant capacity (as measured using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay) and higher total phenolic content (TPC, as measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu method) than fruits of ‘Maru’. When rats were gavaged with water-soluble blueberry extract (BBE; 1 ml/day) of both cultivars for 6 days, serum FRAP increased significantly when compared to water-gavaged controls, indicating that BBE may have the ability to elevate circulating antioxidant potentials in vivo. Both cultivars had a satiating influence on experimental rats, as evidenced by their ability to decrease food intake by 8.6% (‘Maru’) and 6.2% (‘Centurion’), although a statistically significant decrease over the control rats was achieved only for the ‘Maru’ treatments. In addition, body weight gain of rats gavaged with extracts from ‘Maru’ and ‘Centurion’ cultivars decreased by 9.2% and 5.3% relative to the rats in the control group, respectively. The reduction in food intake over a 4 h period compared to a control treatment preloaded with the same volume of water suggests that the decrease in food intake was mainly a consequence of a satiating effect, rather than a stomach distension effect. The observed results suggest that the reduction in food intake and decrease in body weight in experimental animals is not merely a consequence of antioxidant mechanisms. BBE may provide a good satiety inducer and weight management modulator.     

Volatile compounds evolution of three table grapes with different flavour during and after maturation

Volatile compounds of three different flavour table-grapes, ‘Jingxiu’, ‘Bimeijia’ and ‘Jingya’, were investigated during and after maturation using SPME/GC–MS. All the alcohols and carbonyls, along with most of the C₆ compounds and terpenoids, were evident before veraison, while most of the esters were detected at or after veraison. C₆ compounds increased in the early period of maturation, and then decreased. Most alcohols and carbonyls tended to continuously decrease during ripening. Except for geraniol, terpenoids increased until maturation, then decreased. Some esters continued to increase after maturation. Principal component analysis showed that terpenoids and esters were the characteristic volatiles of ripe ‘Bimeijia’ and ‘Jingya’ grapes, respectively. ‘Bimeijia’ had the highest terpenoid content at maturity, while ‘Jingya’ continued to accumulate some esters after maturation. To achieve berries of full-bodied aroma, ‘Bimeijia’ should be harvested at maturity and ‘Jingya’ should have a delayed harvest. For the neutral grape ‘Jingxiu’, delayed harvest is recommended to reduce the ‘green’ odour.     

Parental family food choice motives and children’s food intake

Children’s food intakes are important for their health and it is their parents that mainly decide what foods are available at home. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between parental family food choice motives (FFCMs) and children’s intakes of ‘nutrient-dense’ and ‘energy-rich foods’. In 2008, Finnish children, aged 10-12 years, completed a 16-item food frequency questionnaire and their parents completed a 27-item questionnaire to assess the FFCMs. Matching data existed for 564 child-parent pairs. Principal component analysis was conducted. The following eight dimensions of FFCM were found: ‘health and natural content’, ‘ethical concerns’, ‘mood’, ‘convenience’, ‘price’, ‘sensory appeal’, ‘weight control’ and ‘familiarity’. The association between FFCM and children’s food intakes was analyzed by Spearman correlations and logistic regression corrected for gender, school class, gender of respondent parent, living with one parent and parental education. The results based on logistic regressions showed that the FFCMs ‘health and natural content’ and ‘sensory appeal’ were positively associated, ‘convenience’ was negatively associated with ‘nutrient-dense foods’ and ’ethical concern’ was negatively associated with ‘energy-rich foods’. Parents’ FFCMs should be considered when promoting healthy eating among children.     

‘Liking’, ‘Buying’, ‘Choosing’ and ‘Take Away’ preference tests for varying degrees of hedonic disparity

Paired preference tests of liking require consumers to specify which of two foods are preferred or whether there is no preference. For ‘Buying’ preference tests, consumers specify which of two foods they are more likely to buy or whether they might buy either or neither. For ‘Choosing’ preference tests, consumers specify which of two foods they are more likely to choose when offered both, or whether they might choose both or neither. The first test is designed to predict greater degrees of liking, the second to predict buying behavior and the third to predict choice behavior. Yet, test results may not necessarily predict ‘real life’ behavior once consumers have left the testing situation; the ‘test’ preferences may not be ‘operational’. To validate the predictive ability of such tests, consumer behavior should be monitored for several months. Another approach is to allow consumers to take away some of the foods used in the test and observe what they take away. Consumers of potato chips were required to taste chips whose flavor and appearance were obviously different. A first group (N = 107) were given ‘Liking’, ‘Buying’ and ‘Choosing’ preference tests for two palatable types of chip. After the test, out of sight of the experimenter, consumers were presented with two rows of plain plastic ‘snack’ bags, filled with the chips used in the test. They could take away either two bags of the same type of chip (a ‘Take Away’ preference) or one of each type (no ‘Take Away’ preference) or take neither (rejection). They were also subtly questioned regarding whether they were going to consume the chips themselves or were going to share them with friends. A second group (N = 103) repeated the experiment. However, for these consumers, one type of chip was unpalatable. In general, ‘Buying’ preferences corresponded more to ‘Take Away’ preferences while ‘Liking’ and ‘Choosing’ preferences showed little correspondence. For the palatable chips, the preferences were spread more evenly than for the case where one type of chip was undesirable. In this latter case, approximately 50% of consumers were consistent over all tests in choosing the palatable chip. This might suggest operational preferences. ‘Take Away’ preferences suggested low predictability for paired preference tests of liking, choosing and buying. ‘Take Away’ preferences are not a substitute for monitoring consumer behavior for several months but they are a step in the right direction.