Chemical and physical changes in the pulp during ripening and post-harvest storage of cocoa pods

Changes in the pulp during ripening and post-harvest storage of cocoa pods were determined during numerous harvests in Malaysia (1984 to 1987) and Ghana (1985 to 1986), in order to gain a basis for understanding the influence of ripening and storage on acid formation during subsequent fermentation. Changes in the pulp during ripening of fully grown pods were the same but less pronounced than those during dry storage of harvested pods: the percentage of water in the pulp was not changed significantly, but the amount of water and of dry matter per seed was strongly reduced (by 40–50%) due to water evaporation and respiration of sugars. Sucrose was inverted completely. The result of these changes was an equally strong reduction of the pulp volume per seed and increase of the pulp surface to pulp volume ratio. The reduction of acid formation during fermentation with beans from stored pods is ascribed predominantly to these changes rather than to the reduction in the amount of sugars, and is explained not only by the facilitated mass aeration but, above all, by the significant increase in respiration at the pulp surface over ethanol fermentation in the pulp when the pulp volume is reduced prior to fermentation. Ghanaian pods at similar stages of ripeness revealed more advanced stages of the pulp compared with Malaysian pods and consequently less significant change during storage. Water evaporation and respiration during pod storage were significantly higher in the pulp than in the husk.     

The effect of pod and seed positions on the physical and cooking properties of faba beans (Vicia faba)

The effect of pod location on plant (lower, middle and upper regions) and seed position inside the pods (nodular, middle and terminal) on certain characteristics of dry and stewed faba beans were studied. The weight, volume, relative density, seed coat (%), hydration and swelling coefficients were determined for dry seeds. Hydration and swelling coefficients, fractured beans (%), penetrometer readings and scores of colour, granulation and softness (by taste panel) were evaluated for stewed beans. The weight, volume, relative density, pH, and total and soluble solids content of the stewed liquor were also measured. Analysis of variance showed that the weight and volume of 1000 dry seeds were significantly (P<0.001) affected by pod location and seed position. Higher values were obtained for lower pods and terminal and middle seeds. Seeds from upper pods had the highest percentage of seed coat. Pod location showed a significant effect on the weight, volume, pH, soluble and insoluble solids of stewed liquor. No significant effect was found for pod location or seed positions on the characteristics of stewed beans, except the hydration coefficient which was significantly affected by pod location.     

Field infestation of pigeonpea (Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.) by Callosobruchus chinensis (L.) in Uganda

Studies were conducted in Uganda to determine the importance of field infestation of pigeonpea by bruchids, and whether or not the susceptibility of the pigeonpea pod to infestation changes during pod and seed development. A survey of farmers’ fields in the major pigeonpea growing areas in northern Uganda showed that bruchids did infest pigeonpea in the field. In all three districts surveyed (Apac, Gulu and Lira), infestation levels were similar and by one species only, Callosobruchus chinensis. Once harvested, infestation of stored seeds was four times greater than stored pods. In a separate study, caged pigeonpea pods were infested at seven different developmental stages by C. chinensis. The number of eggs laid increased with development, from pod formation to the mature yellow stage, but declined thereafter. When pods were incubated, there was no adult emergence from pods infested after they had matured and started to dry. The frequency of C. chinensis adult emergence varied significantly over time; a bimodal frequency pattern of emergence was observed from pods infested at mature green stage and, to a lesser extent at the preceding late pod filling state, suggesting the occurrence of polymorphism.     

Physiology of bengal gram seed. II.— Changes in phosphorus compounds during ripening of the seed

The distribution of different phosphorus fractions in the seed and pod cover of Bengal gram has been studied at different stages of growth and development. The content of dry matter and also the dry weight of the seed increased markedly over the entire period of sampling, while there was no appreciable change in the dry weight of the pod cover. Total, acid-soluble and inorganic phosphorus contents of the seed, on percent basis, at different stages of maturity, showed a decline, whereas the phytin phosphorus increased nearly three-fold. The phosphatide phosphorus fraction remained more or less constant: the amounts of all phosphorus fractions per 100 seeds increased at all stages of seed development. The levels of almost all the phosphorus fractions in the pod cover were much lower than in the seed at all stages of growth and most showed a fall with maturity of the seed. It appears that a major part of the nutrients, including phosphorus compounds, from the plant parts are translocated directly into the developing seed without being distributed or stored in the pod cover.     

In Vitro Digestion of Raw,Roasted, and Pressure-Flaked Corn, ,

We compared raw, roasted, and pressure-flaked com in dry matter and starch digestion studies in vitro. For dry matter digestion, incubations were 1, 4, 8, 16, 24 and 48 h. Dry matter digestion was increased in hours 1 through 24 by processing. Digestion in the 48-h period was decreased by processing which suggests that processing may increase the ease of utilization but not total utilization. Roasting decreased 48-h dry matter digestion more than pressure flaking. Starch digestion with incubations 1, 4, 24, and 48 h favored processed corn at all hours except 4. The 48-h observations from both studies indicate that while processing enhances starch utilization, it impairs utilization of other components in the grain. Prediction equations for dry matter and starch digestion for each corn treatment from length of incubation period and squared length of incubation period had multiple correlations of .96 or greater.     

Effects of intake of a mixed dairy steers on digestion events

Ruminally cannulated steers were in a 4 X 4 Latin square to determine the effect of amount of feed ingested on fiber digestion and other digestion events. Alfalfa haylage, corn silage, and a corn-soybean meal mix were incorporated in a ratio 45:20:35 (dry matter) and fed at either 100, 85, 70, or 55% of ad libitum intake. Acid-insoluble ash, lanthanum, and chromium-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid were digestion, particulate, and liquid markers. Apparent digestibility of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and cell solubles decreased linearly as feed intake increased. The fiber fraction digested was a larger percentage of the dry matter digested at low than at high intakes of feed. A more rapid rate of cellulose disappearance and a slow rate of passage of particulate matter through the rumen and total digestive tract with decreasing feed intake were key factors responsible for bringing about changes of digestion coefficients. A consistently lower rumen pH of steers at high intakes of feed was thought to account for the slower rate of ruminal fiber disappearance. The lower tract accounted for 11 to 17% of dry matter disappearance, and tended to play a greater role during periods of high feed intake. Rumen and fecal sampling techniques provided similar ruminal rates of solids passage.     

Isolates of cell types from sorghum stems: Digestion,cell wall and anatomical characteristics

Cell types were separated from internode 5 of sorghum stems to study the interrelationship between digestion characteristics and cell wall composition. Isolates of epidermis (EPI), sclerenchyma (SCL), vascular bundle zone (VBZ), inner vascular bundles (IVB) and pith parenchyma cells (PITH) were freeze-dried and ground for analysis. The cell fractions were digested in rumen fluid for times between 0 and 96 h, and wall composition measured using detergent extraction procedures. In-vitro dry matter digestibility (g kg^?1 after 48 h) of cell fractions was in the order of PITH (849-906) > IVB (794-816) > SCL (692-701) > VBZ (641-679) > EPI (608-628). Total cell wall content (CWC), indigestible CWC, and lignin content followed the inverse order. Lignin concentration on a dry matter or cell wall basis was highly correlated with indigestible wall residue after 96 h. The proportion of cell wall digested after 96 h was higher for SCL and VBZ cells (61·8-68·2%) than for PITH cells (48·4-56·1 %), despite the former having lignin content three to five times higher than that of PITH cells. Clearly, there were differences between the cell types in wall composition or chemical linkages between wall components that lead to the observed differences in wall digestion.     

Correlation between Pod Shape Traits and Its Fiber Quality of Wild Calotropis Gigantea

Seed fiber in the Calotropis gigantea (C. gigantea) pods is the most valuable component and can be developed into textile material. Cultivating high-yield and high-quality seed fibers for C. gigantea is one of the critical preconditions for its textile industrialization. In this paper, pods picked from wild C. gigantea plants were used as the experimental materials. The fiber length distribution of the pods was studied. The pod characters (pod shape, single pod weight, fiber weight per pod and seed number per pod, etc.) and the crucial quality characteristics of seed fibers (length, diameter and strength) were tested. The correlations between them were analyzed. The results show that the fiber lengths at the tip, the petiole and the middle part of the pods are significantly different: the fibers from the two sides of the middle part are the longest and more uniform. The pod shape is closely correlated with the fiber length, fineness and strength: longer pods have longer fiber length, smaller length variation and larger fiber diameter, and the percentage of low strength fiber (single fiber strength <1.2 cN) is significantly lower compared to smaller pods. Cultivating C. gigantea with large size and heavy pods will improve the seed fiber yield and the fiber quality.     

The rumen digestion of dry matter,nitrogen and cell wall constituents of the pods of Leucaena leucocephala and some Acacia species

The disappearance of dry matter (DM), nitrogen and cell wall constituents of the pods of Leucaena leucocephaia and some Acacia species incubated in the rumen of Jersey cattle was studied. The chemical compositions of the pods (seeds + husks), seeds and husks were examined separately. Amino acid and lipid analyses were limited to the pods and seeds, while mineral and tannin analyses were done on the pods alone. The seeds had higher crude protein (CP) contents than the pods, with values ranging from 200 to 300 g CP kg^?1 DM. The Leucaena pods and seeds had higher (p > 0.001) CP contents than the Acacia pods and seeds. The neutral detergent fibre concentrations in the husks were higher than in the pods and seeds with the pods of A erioloba having the highest and those of A nilotica the lowest values. These values were highly influenced by the seed/husk ratio. A sieberiana and Leucaena had the highest and lowest concentrations of condensed tannins respectively. The pods of A tortilis and A karoo were particularly rich in macro‐ and micro‐minerals, while the others contained sufficient quantities that could contribute substantially to the dietary requirements of small ruminants. The amino acid concentrations differed significantly (p < 0.001) among the pods, with the Leucaena pods having the highest concentrations. The Leucaena pods and seeds also had higher (p < 0.001) lipid contents than the Acacia pods and seeds. Dry matter and nitrogen degradabilities were higher (p < 0.001) for the pods of A nilotica and A sieberiana, while A karoo had the lowest values. The cell wall constituents of the pods of A tortilis and A erioloba were the most and the least susceptible to microbial degradation respectively. The rates of degradation of the fibre fractions as well as the lag times were similar (p > 0.05) among the pods. The results show that these pods can serve as a valuable source of nitrogen and minerals for ruminants fed roughage‐based diets. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of S, N and P on amino acid composition of field beans (Vicia faba) and responses of the biological value of the seed protein to S-amino acid content

In pot experiments dry matter yield of seed of Vicia faba was increased by increasing application of S at all N- and P-levels and, by P at all S- and N-levels. Significant interactions were found for PxN (0.1%) and SxP (1%). N-concentrations generally increased with S-additions, but decreased with large applications of N and P. Significant interactions were found for PxN fl-1%) and SxP (5%) with regard to N concentration. Maximum increases in cystine and methionine contents from S-application were respectively 39.1 and 13.7% expressed as % of dry matter and 37.9 and 12.3% expressed as g/16 g N. Highly significant correlation coefficients were obtained between concentrations (g/16 gN) ofa number of protein am/no acids in seeds and total-N content. In a feeding trial with rats, the biological value of non-S treated seed was 40.8 and increased to about 60 in seed from S-treatments Addition of synthetic cystine and methionine to seed from the non-S treatment could not entirely substitute these acids present in the protein of seed from S-treatments with regard to effects on the biological value of seed protein.     

Ruminal degradation of dried brewers grains, wet brewers grains, and soybean meal

A series of trials was conducted to determine the ruminal degradation of nitrogenous compounds and dry matter of soybean meal, wet brewers grains, and dried brewers grains. In situ and in vitro estimates of degradation were positively correlated but yielded different absolute values for measures of ruminal degradation. Ruminal digestion of protein, predicted from in situ data, was 42, 73, and 83% for brewers dried grains, brewers wet grains, and soybean meal. Drying of wet grains at either 50 or 150 degrees C increased resistance to ruminal digestion equally. Measurements of flow of dry matter and nitrogen of feed origin to the duodenum were made in vivo for diets containing either brewers dried grains or soybean meal. Negative apparent digestibility of nitrogen in the rumen for a 13% crude protein, brewers dried grains ration indicates the potential for using a non-protein nitrogen supplement with this ration. Resistance to digestion of nitrogen from brewers dried grains occurred only in the rumen. Amino acid patterns delivered to the small intestine and digestion of duodenal contents were similar for diets containing brewers dried grains or soybean meal.     

Pea pod, broad bean pod and okara, potential sources of functional compounds

Disposal of by-products generated by plant food processing represent an important problem in the industry, but these by-products are also promising sources of compounds which may be used for their technological or nutritional properties, and today they are considered as a possible source of functional compounds. This work has contributed to the knowledge of three legume by-products, pea pod (Pisum sativum L.), broad bean pod (Vicia faba L.) and okara from soybean (Glycine max L.). These three by-products have in common that their major fraction is dietary fibre (pea pod: 58.6 g/100 g; okara: 54.3 g/100 g; broad bean pod: 40.1 g/100 g). Sucrose, glucose and fructose are the most important soluble sugars in both pods; however α-galactosides (stachyose and raffinose) are in greater concentration in okara. Protein is also a considerable component, although in higher amount in okara than in pods. Okara presents a large quantity of fat however both pods show similar low contents. Linoleic acid is the most important fatty acid; oleic acid is remarkable in okara and pea pod and linolenic acid in broad bean pod. Mineral amount is major in by-product pods than in okara, and the most important minerals are potassium, calcium and iron.     

Processing, Nutritional Evaluation, and Utilization of Whole Mesquite Flour (Prosopis laevigata)

ABSTRACT:  Basic crops such as wheat and maize are not cultivated easily in the central highlands of Mexico, but pods of mesquite ( Prosopis laevigata ), a N₂−fixing plant that dominates the vegetation, could be used as an additional food source. The physicochemical and functional properties and nutritional value of whole mesquite pod flour dried at 60 °C and 70 °C and muffins prepared with the mesquite flour were investigated. Drying temperature did not change the true protein concentration of the whole mesquite pod flour, that is, 97%. The digestibility for pod toasted at 70 °C was 78% compared to 77% at 60 °C, tannin content was 58% and 48% while trypsin inhibitor was 347 and 495 unit of inhibition (UI)/g sample, respectively. Functional characteristics of whole mesquite pod flour were similar to those of bean flour (Phaseolus vulgaris) , and superior to those of whole wheat flour (Triticum sp ) . Mesquite proteins were high in tryptophan and histidine. Sensorial analysis scores for products made with whole mesquite flour were high. The results of this work suggested that whole mesquite pod flour could be used as a supplement for human consumption.     

Composition and properties of seeds and pods of the tree legume Prosopis juliflora (DC)

Seeds and whole pods of Prosopis juliflora were analysed for proximate composition, fatty acids, minerals and soluble sugars. Crude protein constituted 35 % and 10 % of the seeds and whole pods, respectively. Nitrogen free extracts (NFE) comprised approximately 45 % of the seeds and whole pods. In the case of the pods, sucrose represented approximately 75 % of the soluble sugars. The lipid of both the seeds and whole pods contained a relatively large proportion of unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic acid as the predominant fatty acid. Levels of the macronutrients Ca, Mg, K and P were relatively low in comparison with cultivated legumes. Alkaline extraction of the seeds and whole pods showed that more than 70 % of the proteins were extractable. Maximum precipitation of the proteins was observed in the pH range 4.0-4.5. Amino acid analysis of the isolated proteins showed relatively high levels of lysine (312mg g^?l N for the seed and 438 mg g^?l N for the pod protein) and adequate levels of valine, leucine, tyrosine and phenylalanine. Methionine was the most limiting amino acid. The in vitro enzymic digestibility of the proteins of Prosopis seed was comparable to that of proteins of other legume seeds.     

Physico-Chemical Properties of Immature Pods of Japanese Soybean Cultivars

Twelve Japanese cultivars and JS335, the most popular soybean cultivar in India, were grown in the field. Days to arrival of R6 stage (when pods are still green, immature, and tight with fully developed immature green seeds) of these cultivars were recorded. Pods picked at this stage were evaluated for pod yield per plant, pod characteristics (width, presence of hairs) fresh green seed weight and percent moisture content. Fresh green seeds were analyzed for compositional traits viz. protein content, trypsin inhibitor lipoxygenase isozymes, oil content, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (essential fatty acids). Japanese cultivars showed higher fresh green seed weight and pod yield than JS335. On a fresh weight basis, Japanese cultivars exhibited lower protein content but higher oil content than JS335. Most of the Japanese cultivars showed lower trypsin inhibitor content and a varying level of lipoxygenase-I, as well as lipoxygenase-II + III when compared to JS335. Total polyunsaturated fatty acids content in JS335 was higher than some of the Japanese cultivars. The number of pods per plant showed a positive correlation (r = 0.863, p < 0.001) with pod yield per plant. Some of the Japanese cultivars offer great potential for consumption at the green pod stage or as a source for desirable traits.     

Reactions of chickpea to water stress: yield and seed composition

Drought after podding is a common feature of chickpea production in south‐western Australia. We studied the effect of water stress, imposed after podding, on yield and on the accumulation of amino acids and soluble sugars in seeds. Although terminal water stress decreased the total plant dry mass and seed yield by 23% and 30% respectively, it had no effect on the mass of individual pods and seeds which remained on the plant after the imposition of stress treatment. The deleterious effect of water stress on yield was due to increased pod abortion and a decrease in pod formation. Water stress improved the seed's nutritive value in terms of higher accumulation of soluble sugars, amino acids and proteins. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

不同氮素效率类型油菜的农艺性状、干物质及氮素积累特征

为合理调整不同氮素吸收利用效率油菜品种的氮肥用量,提高氮素利用效率,大田试验条件下,根据长江流域冬油菜主产区广泛种植的34个甘蓝型油菜品种的氮素吸收和利用效率的差异,以氮素吸收和利用效率的平均值为界线将供试品种分为4类,即A-高效吸收高效利用型、B-低效吸收高效利用型、C-高效吸收低效利用型和D-低效吸收低效利用型,研究4类油菜的生长性状、干物质及氮素积累和分配的特点。结果显示,A类品种在主序长、主序角果数、一次分枝数和一次分枝角果数等农艺性状上表现很强的生长优势,B、C两类居中,D类品种最低。氮素吸收效率高的品种,其干物质量、氮素积累量相对较多,不同类型油菜的地上部生物量及氮素积累量顺序为C、A〉D、B;氮素利用效率高的品种,干物质量和氮素积累在籽粒中的分配相对较多,而在果壳中分配相对较少,籽粒产量以及籽粒氮素积累量顺序则为A〉B、C〉D。     

Free and Total Amino Acid Composition of Edible Parts of Beans,Kale, Spinach,Cauliflower and Potatoes as Influenced by Nitrogen Fertilisation and Phosphorus and Potassium Deficiency

Vegetables were grown in pots at widely differing nutrient levels, which greatly affected dry matter (DM) yields and total-N concentrations in all crops. Nitrate-N contents were low and little affected in cauliflower and potatoes, and highest, and strongly affected, in spinach and kale. The sum of free amino acid-N as percentage of total-N of bean pods, kale, spinach, cauliflower curds and potato tubers varied between 12 and 27%, 10 and 21%, 5 and 12%, 7 and 36% and 34 and 56%, respectively. In beans and potatoes asparagine was the dominant free amino compound (29–55% and 33–59% free amino-N as percentage of total free amino-N, respectively), whereas in kale, spinach and cauliflower free glutamine was dominant (17–52%, 31–48% and 14–54%, respectively). Free essential amino acids were generally found in very low concentrations, especially cysteine (which can partly replace essential methionine in nutrition), tryptophan and phenylalanine. With some exceptions in beans, the concentrations of all total amino acids in DM increased linearly with increasing total-N content, and with correlation coefficients very close to 1·00 in most cases. P- and K-deficiency affected free and total amino acid composition mainly through their effects on total-N content but had some specific effect on arginine concentrations. Generally, chemical scores of the crude protein decreased with increasing N content of DM, which was mainly due to low contents of S-amino acids.     

Occurrence of the phytoalexin phaseollin in pods of Phaseolus vulgaris

Phaseollin is a phytoalexin synthesised by Phaseolus vulgaris (snap or French bean) in response to infection or injury. The possibility of its accumulation in the edible pods damaged during post-harvest handling was investigated. Phaseollin levels increased in injured pod tissue during 48 h at 27°C. Some delocalised accumulation occurred in healthy tissue adjacent to injured sites but concentrations decreased sharply with distance from the broken ends. Canning and freezing processes did not destroy phaseollin which accumulated in 24 h in pods held in air; phaseollin synthesis was strongly inhibited, however, by holding broken pods in 30% CO₂. Since accumulation was localised at broken surfaces, levels for whole pods are low and probably not nutritionally significant.     

Extraction of nitrogenous constituents from Leguminosae spp. Comparison of solubility characteristics for different species and the effect of processing conditions on protein concentrate yield

Studies were made on the solubility of nitrogen from vetch (Vicia sativa), horse bean (Vicia faba minor), pea (Pisum sativum) and lupin (Lupinus albus) seeds. With a fixed meal:solvent ratio, N-solubility is greatly increased when the pH of dispersion increases, until a pH value between 6.1-7.9 is reached. Using a fixed quantity of alkali (g NaOH kg^?1 seed meal) the pH of the suspension was kept constant. This pH was lowest with lupins and highest with vetch. The same held for solubilisation of nitrogen. For all four species, there seems to be a critical quantity of alkali below which N-solubility is poor, while above it there is little improvement. With a fixed pH of dispersion, increasing meal: solvent ratio from 10 to 50% resulted in a small decrease in N-solubility. For protein concentrate production, alkali solubilised substances were separated from the residual meal by centrifugation. The oven-dried concentrates had protein contents of 63-75%. Total protein and dry matter yield of protein concentrates (both on dry seed meal basis) ranged from 10.9 to 30.9 and from 22.6 to 49.6%, respectively, depending on seed species and conditions of extraction. In all cases yield was higher in concentrates from lupin seeds. The mineral content of protein concentrates was approximately twice that of their raw material, except for sodium.