Phytic Acid Degradation in Complementary Foods Using Phytase Naturally Occurring in Whole Grain Cereals

Complementary foods based on cereals and legumes often contain high amounts of phytic acid, a potent inhibitor of mineral and trace element absorption. The possibility to degrade phytic acid during the production of complementary foods by using whole grain cereals as the phytase source was investigated. Whole grain rye, wheat, or buckwheat (10%) were added to cereal‐legume‐based complementary food mixtures, and phytic acid was shown to be completely degraded in a relatively short time (1.5 to 3 h) when incubated at optimal conditions for cereal phytase. The potential usefulness of the method for industrial production was demonstrated with a complementary food based on wheat and soybean.     

A comparison of the performance of N simulation models in the prediction of Nmin on farmers' fields in the spring

The performance of three different models, which simulate changes in the inorganic N content of the soil, was evaluated in respect of their ability to predict N_min content in the spring under cereal crops. The models of British, Dutch and German origin, were tested using data from farmers' fields supplied by 70 farmers over two growing seasons in FRG. The models were run between harvest of the previous crop and spring of the following year, and predictions of N_min in the spring compared to soil measurements. The performance of the models was assessed by counting the number of cases in which predictions agreed within 10 or 20 kg (N) ha^–1 of the measurements. Predictions were less than ± 10 kg (N) ha^–1 of measured values in only 30–44% and 28–55% of cases in 1988 and 1989, respectively. Predictions were less than ± 20 kg (N) ha^–1 of measured values in 62–70% and 68–82% of cases in 1988 and 1989, respectively. Predictions in 1989 were better because the initial N_min content in the autumn was included in the model input. None of the models tested had been designed to use input data of the type available to farmers. It is concluded that, at present, the results are too variable for any of the models to be used with confidence as tools to aid in N fertilizer recommendations.     

Nitrogen fixation associated with grasses and cereals: Recent progress and perspectives for the future

Over the last 20 years many new species of N₂-fixing bacteria have been discovered in association with grasses, cereals and other non-nodulating crops. Virtually all of these bacteria are microaerophylic, fixing N₂ only in the presence of low partial pressures of oxygen. Until a few years ago much attention was focussed on members the genusAzospirillum and it was assumed that N₂ fixation was restricted to the rhizosphere or rhizoplane of the host plants. Through the use of N balance and¹⁵N techniques it has been shown that in the case of lowland rice, several tropical pasture grasses and especially sugar cane, the contributions of biological N₂ fixation (BNF) are of agronomic significance.More detailed study of the N₂-fixing bacteria associated with sugar cane (Acetobacter diazotrophicus andHerbaspirillum spp.) has shown that they occur in high numbers not only in roots of this crop but also in the stems, leaves and trash but are rarely found in the soil. Some of these endophytic diazotrophs have now also been found in forage grasses, cereals, sweet potato and cassava, although evidence of significant BNF contributions is still lacking.The identification of these endophytic diazotrophs as the organisms probably responsible for the high contributions of N₂ fixation observed in sugar cane suggests that it may be possible to attain significant BNF contributions in some other gramineae and perhaps root crops.     

粮油质监机构的仪器设备管理

随着大型精密仪器在粮油质量监测机构的普及,加强仪器设备管理的任务也应运而生,根据粮油质监机构实验室的特点,对仪器设备管理工作中各个环节的工作要点做了简要概述,并提出建议。     

我国杂粮挂面标准探讨

近年来,随着我国经济社会的发展,挂面产业与消费的转型升级需求日益增强,有健康促进作用的各种杂粮挂面受到越来越多的关注。然而,我国挂面标准的发展却滞后于市场发展要求,尚无针对于杂粮挂面的行业标准,杂粮挂面的标准问题已经成为产业发展与创新的重要瓶颈。在分析我国挂面标准现状与问题的基础上,分析借鉴日本挂面标准的现状,对我国杂粮挂面标准制定的难点与发展方向进行了探讨。     

Screening new gene markers for gluten detection in foods

In the present work, three DNA sequences encoding wheat proteins (α2-gliadin, agglutinin isolectin and thioredoxin h) were compared to trace gluten-containing cereals in food products. Quantitative real-time PCR methods using hydrolysis probes were successfully developed to target the three sequences for the detection of wheat DNA. The comparison of the three systems highlights the best sensitivity when tracing the α2-gliadin marker sequence, showing an absolute limit of detection (LOD) of 2 pg of wheat DNA and a relative LOD of 0.005% (50 mg/kg) of wheat in soybean, which corresponds to 4.5 mg/kg of gluten. All the systems reveal high specificity for detecting other gluten-containing cereals, such as barley and rye. Therefore, the developed real-time PCR systems can be used as non-immunological tools to confirm the presence of gluten-containing cereals in foods, towards the safety of celiac patients and wheat allergic individuals.     

粮油食品防霉微生物筛选及其活性物质初步研究

为开发新型防霉剂,降低粮油食品储藏、运输、流通等过程中霉变对其品质和食用安全的影响,研究筛选获得具有强防霉活性的微生物。采用抑菌圈法,以禾谷镰刀菌（Fusarium graminearum）为指示菌筛选具有防霉活性的菌株。利用形态学观察、生化特征鉴定和16S rDNA基因序列比对进行菌株鉴定;通过不同温度、pH和蛋白酶K处理对防霉活性物质进行初步分析。结果显示：通过初筛获得33株对禾谷镰刀菌具有强抑制活性的菌株,复筛后选择的7株菌归属为芽孢杆菌属（Bacillus）;活性物质分析发现7株菌的活性物质均不耐高温和强酸碱,同时蛋白酶K处理对其防霉效果没有明显影响,初步推断为肽类;通过抑菌谱测定发现菌株ASAG 62对常见霉菌（产黄青霉Penicillium flavum、黑曲霉Aspergillus Niger、赭曲霉Aspergillus ochre、黄曲霉Aspergillus flavus、禾谷镰刀菌F. graminearum）均具有良好的抑制效果。     

STUDIES ON COMPARATIVE MALTING CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME TROPICAL CEREALS AND MILLETS

Malts prepared from some of the tropical cereals and millets were evaluated for their suitability in weaning food formulations. Pearl millet and finger millet malts exhibited high α-amylase activity within 2–3 days of germination, while maize, sorghum, wheat and triticale malts showed high enzyme activity after 4–5 days of germination. Malting drastically lowered the paste viscosity of cereal flours especially millet. Finger millet malt had desirable flavour and taste besides high amylase activity. Wheat and triticale malts also had acceptable flavour. Rice malt was bitter and pearl millet malt developed rancid odour and bitterness within a week after preparation.     

谷物食品研究现状及发展趋势

作为人类最基本的膳食组成,谷物食品无论在食品市场还是科研领域都占有重要的地位。近年来,市场上出现了越来越多的全谷物食品。以面包、面条、饼干以及谷物棒4种谷物产品为例,综述了近年来谷物食品的研究现状,并分析展望了全谷物食品的市场前景与发展趋势。     

A Review on Mycotoxins in Food and Feed: Malaysia Case Study

Fungi are distributed worldwide and can be found in various foods and feedstuffs from almost every part of the world. Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by some fungal species and may impose food safety risks to human health. Among all mycotoxins, aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), trichothecenes, deoxynivalenol (DON and T‐2 toxin), zearalenone (ZEN), and fumonisins (FMN) have received much attention due to high frequency and severe health effects in humans and animals. Malaysia has heavy rainfall throughout the year, high temperatures (28 to 31 °C), and high relative humidity (70% to 80% during wet seasons). Stored crops under such conditions can easily be contaminated by mycotoxin‐producing fungi. The most important mycotoxins in Malaysian foods are AFs, OTA, DON, ZEN, and FMN that can be found in peanuts, cereal grains, cocoa beans, and spices. AFs have been reported to occur in several cereal grains, feeds, nuts, and nut products consumed in Malaysia. Spices, oilseeds, milk, eggs, and herbal medicines have been reported to be contaminated with AFs (lower than the Malaysian acceptable level of 35 ng/g for total AFs). OTA, a possible human carcinogen, was reported in cereal grains, nuts, and spices in Malaysian market. ZEN was detected in Malaysian rice, oat, barley, maize meal, and wheat at different levels. DON contamination, although at low levels, was reported in rice, maize, barley, oat, wheat, and wheat‐based products in Malaysia. FMN was reported in feed and some cereal grains consumed in Malaysia. Since some food commodities are more susceptible than others to fungal growth and mycotoxin contamination, more stringent prevention and control methods are required.