The removal of soluble organic carbon from synthetic winery wastewater by repeated application to soil

The removal of soluble organic carbon from synthetic winery wastewater containing uniformly ¹⁴Clabelled lactic acid and glycerol applied repeatedly to soils sampled at various depths from a brown earth and solod was determined from decreases in the solution concentration of ¹⁴C of soil extracts. A previously developed logistic model was used to quantify the adsorption and microbial metabolism of the ¹⁴C-compounds in the various soil layers. Adsorption of ¹⁴C-compounds to soil particles resulted in the removal of 10 to 50% of the added ¹⁴C within the first hour after wastewater application. It was greater in soils containing a higher percentage of clay and/or organic carbon. Repeating wastewater applications up to 17 times reduced initial adsorption by most of the soil layers of the brown earth, whereas little change occurred in the solod. Microbial uptake and metabolism were responsible for the removal of ¹⁴C-compounds remaining in solution to less than 5% of ¹⁴C input. In contrast with their effect on adsorption, repeated applications of wastewater decreased or eliminated the lag period before the onset of rapid metabolism and also increased the rates of metabolism of ¹⁴C-compounds in all soils. This led to significant reductions in the removal times of the soluble-¹⁴C. Acclimatisation of microbial populations in soils newly exposed to the wastewater was most rapid within the uppermost layers. Acclimatised soils were able to reduce the solution concentration of ¹⁴C to less than 5% of input levels within 1 d after application when the lag period lasted less than 2 h, and when the daily removal of solution-¹⁴C, due to microbial metabolism, exceeded the ¹⁴C input. Regular applications of wastewater were required to maintain rapid removal of the soluble-¹⁴C in acclimatised soils. Implications for managing the disposal of wastewaters rich in organic material on new and existing sites are discussed.     

Modified Atmosphere Packaging of Fresh Beansprouts

Freshly harvested beansprouts displayed a respiration rate of about 1 mmol O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ at 10°C which was strongly dependent on temperature, a 10-fold increase being observed every 16·5°C (z=16·5°C, ie Q₁₀=4·4). This commodity is also characterised by a high initial microbial load (about 10⁷ cells g⁻¹). During storage at various temperatures from 1 to 20°C, oxygen uptake rates dramatically increased with time and this phenomenon was well correlated with the development of aerobic microorganisms which reached 10⁹ cells g⁻¹ after 2 days at 20°C or 9 days at 1°C. Beansprouts were packaged in films, with permeabilities ranging from 950 to 200000 ml O₂ m⁻² day⁻¹ atm⁻¹, and stored at 8°C. Due to plant and microbial metabolism, oxygen concentrations decreased steadily within all packs until the onset of plant tissue decay. The latter occurred after 5–6 days with the least permeable films but did not occur within when the film permeability was over 100000 ml O₂ m⁻² day⁻¹ atm⁻¹. However, such films favoured brown discolouration, exudation texture and breakdown. The orientated polypropylene film (OPP) induced anoxic condition within 2 days and favoured anaerobic metabolism and necrosis of the sprouts. In all packages there was a rapid development of aerobic microorganisms and lactic acid bacteria that resulted in the accumulation of acetate and lactate and a decrease in pH. Thus, it clearly appeared that tissue decay was enhanced by microbial activity. At 8°C, 0·24 m² of film per kg of sprouts provided the optimal atmosphere composition (ie 5% oxygen and 15% carbon dioxide) when a film permeability of 50000 ml O₂ m⁻² day⁻¹ atm⁻¹ was used. These conditions allowed a shelf-life of 4–5 days.     

Effect of nitrogen fertilisation on below‐ground carbon allocation in lettuce

The aims of this study were to investigate the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilisation on the below‐ground carbon (C) translocation by lettuce and the CO₂ efflux from its rhizosphere. Two N fertilisation levels (80 and 160 kg N ha^?1) and two growth stages (43 and 60 days) were tested. ¹⁴C pulse labelling of shoots followed by ¹⁴C monitoring in the soil, roots, microbial biomass and CO₂ efflux from the soil was used to distinguish between root‐derived and soil organic matter‐derived C. The ¹⁴C allocation in the below‐ground plant parts was 1.5–4.6 times lower than in the leaves. The total quantity of C translocated into the soil was much lower than in the case of cereals and grasses, amounting to 120 and 160 kg C ha^?1 for low and high N respectively. N fertilisation diminished the proportion of assimilated C translocated below ground. About 5–8% of the assimilated C was respired into the rhizosphere. Root‐derived CO₂ (the sum of root respiration and rhizomicrobial respiration) represented about 15–60% of the total CO₂ efflux from the planted soil. Two peaks were measured in the ¹⁴CO₂ efflux: the first peak (4–5 h after labelling) was attributed to root respiration, whilst the second peak (12 h after labelling) was attributed to microbial respiration of exudates. Twelve days after labelling, 0.15–0.25% of the assimilated C was found in the microbial biomass. The higher microbial activity in the lettuce rhizosphere doubled the soil organic matter decomposition rate compared with unplanted soil. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Simplified method for determining cadmium concentrations in rice foliage and soil by using a biosensor kit with immunochromatography

BACKGROUND: The behavior of cadmium in ecosystems needs to be monitored because of the human toxicity of this heavy metal. The need recently arose for a simple and quick on‐site test for trace levels of Cd in food and environmental samples. In response, an immunochromatographic assay kit for detecting Cd was manufactured by Kansai Electric Power Co. of Japan. This kit uses the antigen–antibody complex reaction between the Cd–EDTA complex and an anti‐Cd–EDTA antibody and shows the results in terms of the degree of color developed on a test paper. We previously reported the successful use of this kit to determine Cd concentrations in brown rice. Here, we applied the kit to the determination of Cd concentrations in rice foliage and soil. RESULTS: Cadmium in rice foliage was not extracted successfully by the method used for brown rice. However, it was successfully extracted by 0.1 mol L^?1 HCl solution at a rice foliage:HCl ratio of 1:20, and coexisting metals were removed sufficiently by the column treatment. The Cd concentrations determined by immunochromatographic assay were well correlated with the values obtained by acid decomposition and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The 0.1 mol L^?1 HCl‐extractable Cd concentration in soil was also determined successfully with the kit. CONCLUSION: Approximate Cd concentrations in rice plants and 0.1 mol L^?1 HCl‐extractable Cd concentrations in soil can be monitored easily and quickly by this method at locations where facilities for acid digestion and precision analysis are not available. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of sulphur dioxide on microbial growth in refrigerated pre-peeled potatoes packaged in plastic films

Microbial growth in pre-peeled potatoes was analysed to determine the simultaneous effect of sodium bisulphite concentration (105–219 mg kg^?1), storage temperature (4, 7 and 10°C) and gaseous permeability of the packaging plastic film (polyethylene and EVA—SARAN—EVA used in vacuum) on product storage life. Composition of the microbial flora was determined at the beginning and the end of the storage period, and the principal microorganisms causing spoilage of the product were observed to be Pseudomonas spp and Enterobacteriaceae. Lag phase duration and specific rate constants were determined for these microorganisms in samples stored at each condition. In polyethylene-packaged samples microbial growth was observed at various temperatures and SO₂ concentrations were tested. With vacuum packaging in low oxygen permeability films and residues of 100 mg SO₂ kg^?1, microbial counts were maintained in the lag phase; larger residues produced microbial inhibition at 4, 7 and 10°C.     

Fungal and termite resistance of wood treated with 4-methoxytrityl tetrafluoroborate

This study evaluates the decay and termite resistance of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) treated with 4-methoxytrityl tetrafluoroborate (MTFB). Decay resistance tests of unleached samples showed that 2%, 1.5% and 1% concentrations of MTFB (15.4 kg/m³, 11.1 kg/m³, and 7.4 kg/m³, retention levels, respectively) gave less than 2% decay of Postia placenta and concentrations of 2% and 1.5% less than 2% decay of Coniophora puteana. Wood specimens treated with 4-methoxytrityl tetrafluoroborate solutions were not protected against the brown rot fungi after a 14-day severe leaching process, suggesting excessive leaching of the chemical from wood. Treatment with 2% concentration protected against subterranean termites, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki based on mass losses in both leached and unleached wood specimens in comparison with lower concentration levels. These results suggest that 4-methoxytrityl tetrafluoroborate might be promising to protect wood being used outdoors against termite attack. However, 4-methoxytrityl tetrafluoroborate did not protect wood against fungal decay. Field tests are needed to observe the performance of 4-methoxytrityl tetrafluoroborate treated wood in ground contact.     

The effects of time to first shoot removal on leaf vegetable quality in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

A field trial was established on a sandy soil at IITA. Ibadan. Nigeria to investigate the effects of time to first shoot removal on cyanide content and chemical composition of leaves of two cassava clones: TMS 91934 and TMS 30572. Four different times to first shoot removal were imposed on each clone: 8. 14, 20 and 52 weeks after planting (WAP). Shoot removal was repeated at 8-week intervals until harvesting at 52 WAP. Shoot removal (SR) involved removing the shoot tips just below the most fully expanded leaf. Early shoot removal during the crop growth period (SR at 8 weeks and SR at 14 weeks 14) produced significantly (P < 0.01) more fresh shoot yield than late shoot removal (SR20 and SR52 weeks). Concentrations of crude protein, iron, phosphorus and zinc were higher in the early harvested leaves but declined in concentration with increasing age of the crop (430–280 g kg^?1, 680–85 mg kg^?1, 88–42 g kg^?1, 128–30 mg kg^?1, respectively). Leaf HCN concentration was about three times that in tuberous roots (137 mg kg^?1 fresh weight compared with 43 mg kg^?1 fresh weight). The variation in leaf HCN concentration was not significant for all the treatments over the period.     

Development of twoListeria monocytogenesgrowth models in a meat broth and their application to beef meat

Growth variation ofListeriastrains was taken into account by building two growth models with strains previously characterized, respectively, by their slow (L. monocytogenes CLIP 19532) and fast (L. monocytogenes 14) growth in different conditions of pH, a_wand temperature. Strains of intermediate growth were studied in a meat broth and strains used for the models were grown on the surface of beef meat. Ten growth repetitions at 14°C– a_w0.98–pH 6.2 showed that generation times were similar [ratio value (R=standard deviation/average): 3.2%] but that range of lag times was wide (R=27.4%). In broth, calculated lag and generation times were not significantly different between strains from 30 to 14°C, but variations became larger as temperatures came close to 4°C. Model values corresponded well to experimental generation times and to a lesser extent to lag times. On meat at 4°C and 14°C both strains had experimental lag times three-fold longer than predicted lag times. Experimental generation times were shorter than predicted values at 14°C and longer at 4°C: differences between growth in broth and on meat could be due to the characteristics of the meat, the experimental conditions of growth, the mode of inoculation and the way of adjustment of a_w. Growth variations were found between available predictive models.     

The Extractable and Bound Condensed Tannin Content of Leaves from Tropical Tree,Shrub and Forage Legumes

The extractable, protein-bound and fibre-bound condensed tannin (CT) concentrations in the leaves of tropical legumes grown in both Colombia and Northern Australia were determined by the butanol–HCl method, whilst extractable CT was also determined by the vanillin–HCl method. With the exception of Senna siamea all species contained CT. The very high CT concentration found in many plants growing in Colombia may have been partly due to soil fertility being much lower at the Colombian than the Northern Australian site. Acacia boliviana , Arachis pintoi , Centrosema latidens , Senna velutina and Gliricidia sepium contained <55 g total CT kg⁻¹ DM, which suggests that they could comprise a reasonable proportion of ruminant diets. All other species grown in South America contained 100–240 g CT kg⁻¹ DM, which suggests that they should only be fed in small amounts as supplements to dilute the CT concentration. Leucaena species and Calliandra calothyrsus grown in Northern Australia contained intermediate concentrations of total CT (60–90 g kg⁻¹ DM). Most species contained 70–95% of total CT as extractable CT, with the exception of Flemingia macrophylla , where 60% was extractable and 40% bound, and Gliricidia sepium , where almost all the CT was bound to protein. Values for Flemingia macrophylla differed between accessions. Extractable CT determined with vanillin–HCl was generally higher than extractable CT determined with butanol–HCl. Three accessions showed negligible (<1 g kg⁻¹ DM) extractable CT with butanol–HCl but 10–12 g extractable CT kg⁻¹ DM with vanillin–HCl. Two accessions showed undetectable levels of extractable CT but substantial levels of protein-bound CT, illustrating the importance of using a bound CT method for identifying forages containing CT. Relative to freeze drying, oven drying of Leucaena species reduced the concentration of extractable CT and increased concentrations of bound CT. The significance of the results for the nutrition of ruminant livestock are discussed, including the possible roles of protein-bound and fibre-bound CT.     

Residue analysis of nitric oxide fumigation in nine stored grain and nut products

Nitric oxide (NO) is a recently discovered fumigant for postharvest pest control on fresh and stored products. Nitric oxide fumigation also does not leave residues on fresh fruit and vegetables when conducted properly. In this study, we analyzed nitrate (NO₃⁻) and nitrite (NO₂⁻) levels in liquid extracts and nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) desorption rates as residues of NO fumigation at various times after fumigation on nine stored grain and nut products. Each product was fumigated separately with 3.0% NO for 24 h in two treatments: one treatment (NO–N₂) was terminated with nitrogen gas (N₂) flush and the other (NO-Air) was terminated with normal air flush. For NO–N₂, NO₃⁻ concentrations of all fumigated products were not significantly higher than those of untreated controls at 1, 7, and 14 d after fumigation. NO₂⁻ concentrations of all fumigated products from N₂ gas flush were not significantly higher than those of control products at 14 d after fumigation. NO₂ desorption rates for most products from NO–N₂ treatment showed no significant difference from those for the controls 1 d after NO fumigation, except for beans and wheat, which showed no significant difference at ≥7 d after fumigation. All products from NO-Air treatment, however, had significant higher NO₃⁻ and NO₂⁻ ion concentrations in liquid extracts at 14 d after fumigation than those from NO–N₂ treatment and the control. NO₂ desorption rates in all products from NO-Air treatment were also significantly higher than those from NO–N₂ treatment and the control at 21 d after fumigation. Therefore, when terminated properly with N₂ flush, NO fumigation did not result in significant increases of NO₃⁻, NO₂⁻, or NO₂ as residue in nut and grain products.     

Performance and biomass kinetics of activated sludge system treating dairy wastewater

The performance and bio‐kinetic coefficients of the activated sludge process (ASP) treating synthesised dairy wastewater were evaluated in a lab‐scale setup. The step‐loading experiment showed that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, in general, increased with increasing influent wastewater COD concentration from 180 to 1200 mg/L (correlation coefficient was 0.80). The COD removal efficiency ranged from almost 80–88.4% depending on the COD concentration of the influent wastewater. Also, it could be stated that the ASP was probably underfed with organics at COD concentrations <725 mg/L. Monod, Moser, Contois and Chen & Hashimoto substrate utilisation models, relating the growth of micro‐organisms to substrate utilisation, were employed to describe the bio‐kinetics of the ASP at an organic loading rate of 1200 mg/L. Amongst them, the Contois and Monod models predicted the bio‐kinetic reactions of the ASP very well with coefficient of determination (R²) values of 0.95 and 0.93, respectively. The estimated bio‐kinetic coefficients of the Contois model (on COD basis) were as follows: half‐velocity constant (0.20 mg/L), maximum substrate utilisation rate (3.13 per day), biomass yield coefficient (0.68), endogenous decay coefficient (0.07 per day) and maximum specific growth rate (2.13 per day).     

Desulphiting dried apricots by exposure to hot air flow

Sulphited dried apricots were exposed to hot air flows at 40, 50 and 60 °C and the removal of SO₂ was investigated as their moisture content fell from an initial value of 193.2 g kg^?1 to a final value of 80–90 g kg^?1. A first‐order kinetic model was found for the removal of SO₂ between 40 and 60 °C. Temperature quotients (Q₁₀) for the removal of SO₂ were 2.84 between 40 and 50 °C and 4.93 between 50 and 60 °C; the activation energy (E_a) was 114.40 kJ mol^?1 between 40 and 60 °C. Analysis of the kinetic data also suggested a first‐order reaction for non‐enzymatic browning, with Q₁₀ values of 2.34 between 40 and 50 °C and 5.36 between 50 and 60 °C and an E_a value of 109.36 kJ mol^?1 between 40 and 60 °C. Exposure of dried apricots to a 60 °C air flow resulted in a rate constant for brown pigment formation that was 12 and 5 times higher than those at 40 and 50 °C respectively. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry     

Contact toxicity of filter cake and Triplex powders from Ethiopia against Sitophilus oryzae

Contact toxicity of filter cake and Triplex powders from Ethiopia were evaluated against the rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (Linnaeus). The study was aimed at determining the lethal and effective concentrations and times for both powders against S. oryzae. The lethal concentrations for 50 and 99% mortality (LC₅₀ and LC₉₉) of filter cake and Triplex against S. oryzae were determined at 14 d after exposing 10 adults for 12 h to concrete arenas inside Petri dishes treated with filter cake concentrations of 0.5–8 g/m² and Triplex concentrations of 1–9 g/m². Lethal times for 50 and 99% mortality (LT₅₀ and LT₉₉) were determined at 14 d after exposing adults for 1–24 h to 3 g/m² of filter cake and 9 g/m² of Triplex. Effective concentrations (EC₅₀ and EC₉₉) and times (ET₅₀ and ET₉₉) for 50 and 99% reduction of adult progeny production were determined from reduction in adult progeny production relative to production in control treatments at 42 d after exposure to filter cake and Triplex. LC₅₀ and LC₉₉ values for S. oryzae adults were 0.70 and 8.49 g/m², respectively, when exposed to filter cake and 2.27 and 21.38 g/m², respectively, when exposed to Triplex. The corresponding LT₅₀ and LT₉₉ values were 3.13 and 27.21 h, respectively, for filter cake and 4.72 and 38.60 h, respectively, for Triplex. EC₅₀ and EC₉₉ values for progeny reduction were 0.57 and 7.95 g/m², respectively, for filter cake and 2.77 and 18.82 g/m², respectively, for Triplex. The corresponding ET₅₀ and ET₉₉ values were 2.57 and 17.73 h, respectively for filter cake and 3.39 and 24.74 h, respectively, for Triplex. S. oryzae exposed to filter cake produced significantly less number of insect damaged kernels and grain weight loss than those exposed to Triplex. Filter cake was more efficacious against S. oryzae than Triplex.     

Methyl jasmonate enhances biocontrol efficacy of Rhodotorula glutinis to postharvest blue mold decay of pears

The effect of Rhodotorula glutinis treatment alone or in combination with methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in controlling blue mold decay, the natural fungal decay of pears and the postharvest quality parameters including fruit firmness, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and ascorbic acid were investigated. The combination of methyl jasmonate (200 μM) and R. glutinis (1 × 10⁸ CFU/ml) was a more effective approach to reduce the disease incidence and lesion diameter of blue mold decay of pears than the application of MeJA or R. glutinis alone after incubation for 7 d at 20 °C. The natural fungal decay of pears treated with the application of R. glutinis combined with MeJA resulted in reduced average decay incidence of 10.42% or 4.16%, respectively, compared with 27.17% or 20.83% in the control fruits following storage at 20 °C for 15 d or 4 °C for 60 d followed by 20 °C for 15 d. The combined treatment did not impair quality parameters of fruits under both conditions.     

Requirement of Acinetobacter junii for magnesium,calcium and potassium ions

The goal of this study was to determine the concentrations of Mg, Ca and K ions required for the formation of metabolically active population of phosphate (P)-accumulating bacterium Acinetobacter junii. The availability of Mg, Ca and K originating from natural minerals in the conditions of severe shortage of these cations was tested. In the case of shortage of Mg, Ca and K ions in wastewater the P removal was absent due to the decay of A. junii. In the cases of Mg or K shortage in wastewater the P removal was negligible due to the decay of A. junii, while Ca was not essential for the examined bacterium. The minimal required concentrations of Mg and K in synthetic wastewater were 0.64 mg Mg/mg P and 0.50 mg K/mg P. The natural zeolitized tuffs and bentonite, either in Mg, Ca or K form, successfully replaced the lack of Mg, Ca, K and trace metals in wastewater. The requirement of A. junii for examined cations was in the order: Mg > K > Ca.     

Quality changes in chilled Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) tail meat and the effects of delayed icing

The quality deterioration of Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) tail meat was monitored during ice storage. The K‐value started at 0.7% and reached a value of 39.7% on day 14. Muscle pH followed a sigmoidal pattern that reached a plateau on day 6. Bacterial load and trimethylamine (TMA) increased only after a lag phase to reach considerable levels by day 14 (5.3 log cfu and 10.2 mg (100 g)^?1, respectively). These analytical data were compared with sensory data. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that laboratory measures were correlated positively with the smell strength of cooked product (increasingly strong) and negatively with the smell character of raw and cooked product (sour‐ammoniacal in raw and neutral in cooked products), flavour and aftertaste (both increasingly bland–bitter). The effects of icing delays on the quality of tail meat were also evaluated. Changes in K‐values, microbial load, muscle pH and TMA indicated that the delay to icing should be no more than 4 h (at 16 °C) to ensure that quality is not compromised during subsequent post‐harvest storage.     

Changes in Chemical and Microbial Qualities of Dried Apricots Containing Sulphur Dioxide at Different Levels During Storage

Effects of different sulphur dioxide (SO₂) concentrations (188, 452, 791, 1,034, 1,236, 2,899 and 3,864 mg SO₂ kg^?1) and storage temperatures (5, 10, 20 and 30 °C) on the physical, chemical and microbial qualities of sulphited-dried apricots (SDAs) were evaluated. Analysis of kinetic data suggested first-order models for losses of moisture and SO₂ and formation of brown colour. Strong correlations were found between SO₂ concentrations and moisture loss constants (r?=??0.943), and brown colour values (r?=?0.949). β-carotene contents in SDA samples ranged from 26.6 to 36.2 mg 100 g^?1 dry weight, depending on SO₂ content of dried apricots. The SO₂ concentration over 791 mg per kg of dried apricots effectively protected carotenoids in dried apricots during drying. While storage times had significant effect on β-carotene contents, storage temperatures did not have such effects. The number of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria in all SDA samples ranged from 8.20?×?10¹ to 1.84?×?10² CFU g^?1. The number of total psychrophilic aerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria, yeast and mould, xerophilic mould, Staphylococcus spp. and total Enterobacteriaceae were below the detection limits (<4 CFU g^?1) in samples containing SO₂ even at the lowest level (188 mg SO₂ kg^–1) throughout the storage. Regardless of SO₂ concentration in dried apricots, low storage temperatures (below 20 °C) should be preferred to prevent the characteristic golden yellow colours of dried apricots.     

Optimisation of the peracetic acid washing disinfection of fresh‐cut strawberries based on microbial load reduction and bioactive compounds retention

Total microbial count reduction (TMR), total anthocyanins (TAR), and ascorbic acid retention (AAR) after the operation at different PAA concentrations (0–100 mg L^?1), contact times (10–120 s), and temperatures (4–40°C) were used for multiple optimisation using Derringer′s desirability function. Two optimization scenarios (OP 1 and OP 2) were studied. OP 1 was proposed with the goal to maximize TMR with 90% TAR and AAR; and OP 2 maximizing TAR and AAR with TMR of 2 log UFC g^?1. The optimized variable levels obtained were the following: 100 mg L^?1 PAA, 24 °C and 50 s for OP 1 and 20 mg L^?1 PAA, 18 °C and 52 s for OP 2. Additional validation experiments showed agreement between predicted and experimental results. OP 2 conditions are recommended to fresh‐cut strawberries washing disinfection because of an acceptable TMR, higher TAR and AAR, better sensory attributes, and the economic convenience of lesser PAA consumption.     

Comparison of Brown Pigments in Foods by Microbial Decolorization

Coriolus versicolor IFO 30340, Paecilomycesz canadensis NC-1, and Streptomyces werraensis TT 14 were cultured at 27°C and 37°C to investigate their decolorization of model pigments and browned foods. The decolorization rates by these microorganisms differed by model brown pigments and foods. P. canadensis NC-1 mainly decolorized phenol-type model brown pigments, coffee, and black tea. C. versicolor IFO 30340 mainly decolorized model melanoidins and amino-carbonyl reaction-type pigments such as cane molasses, soy sauce, and “miso”. S. werraensis TT 14 decolorized xylose-glycine and glucose-lysine model melanoidins, and some caramel-type pigments. The brown pigments in foods could be categorized by comparing the microbial decolorization pattern of the foods and model brown pigments.     

Studies on yield,extracted leaf protein and deproteinised extract of winged bean grown as a biennial crop

The possible use of the long vegetative growing period of the winged bean, when grown as a biennial crop, as a source of extractable leaf protein was investigated in this study. The dry top yield of the crop during this period increased curvilinearly with time and followed the logistic growth law. A linear decrease with age was noted for the total and protein nitrogen extractability of this crop whereas the nitrogen percentage in dry matter of leaves and the extractable leaf protein yield gave a quadratic response. Unfractionated and heat fractionated proteins extracted from the leaves contained 61.9–85.3% protein, 4.6–12.8% fat, 0.2–4.6% ash, 0.5–2.7% crude fibre and 34.2–43.7 mg 100 g^?1 β-carotene on moisture free basis. The deproteinised juice, left after protein extraction, was also found to be ideally suited as a microbial growth medium for protein rich biomass production.