Starch Content Research Articles

The Effect of Nitrogen and Potassium Interaction on the Leaf Physiological Characteristics, Yield, and Quality of Sweet Potato

This study selected two sweet potato varieties as research subjects and conducted a field experiment using a two-factor design with two potassium (K) levels (K0 and K1) and five nitrogen (N) levels (N0–N4). The physiological changes in sweet potato leaves under different N and K treatments were measured, and nutrients such as the soluble sugar, protein, and starch content of sweet potato roots were analyzed. The results indicate that the activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) and the soluble protein content in sweet potato leaves increase first and then decrease with increasing N application, while K application can significantly increase the activity of GS and the soluble protein content. The N metabolic capacity of leaves is strongest when the fertilizer ratio is K1N2. The SPAD value of sweet potato leaves increases with increasing N application. The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO2 concentration first increase and then decrease with increasing N application. K fertilizer has a significant effect on these parameters. As the N application rate increases, the starch and protein content in the tubers increase, while the soluble sugar content decreases. However, the number of tubers per plant, fresh weight of the tubers, and dry weight of the tubers increase initially and then decrease, while the vine length continuously increases. The application of K fertilizer can significantly increase the number of tubers per plant and stem thickness of sweet potato. In conclusion, the appropriate N–K combined application can promote N metabolism, enhance the photosynthetic capacity of sweet potato, increase yield, and improve quality.

Growth potential, biochemical properties and nutrient removal efficiency of some freshwater microalgae and their consortia from wastewater

Impact of varying nitrate (NO3-N) and phosphate (PO4-P) concentrations and sewage water (SW) on the growth, nutrient removal, lipid accumulation, enzymatic antioxidant activity and phytochemical contents of the microalgae Scenedesmus dimorphus, Coelastrella tenuitheca, Chroococcus turgidus and Parachlorella kessleri under monoculture and their consortia have been investigated. High growth rates were observed for all the four algae in both mono and mixed culture conditions at enhanced concentrations of N (1500 mg/L NO3-N) and P (40 mg/L PO4-P). The species Scenedesmus dimorphus outperformed other microalgae growing in SW in efficiently removing nitrogen. The algal consortia of mixed species was found to be more effective in phosphorus removal. The carbohydrate and protein contents were highest in Parachlorella kessleri, about 37% and 44%, respectively, in SW cultivation. The algal consortia demonstrated highest starch content (4%) in nitrogen deprived growth medium. Highest lipid production (43%) was observed in the SW culture. The species Coelastrella tenuitheca, Chroococcus turgidus and Scenedesmus dimorphus irrespective of the growth media indicated significant accumulation of phenol, flavonoid and tannin. The DPPH, catalase and ascorbic peroxidase assay showed pronounced antioxidant activity. Nutrient (N and P) enrichment exhibited enhanced antioxidant enzymatic activity and accumulation of cell storage products.

Effect of Sowing Dates and Flower Pruning on Chemical Properties and Shelf Life of Yam Bean (Pachyrrhizus erosus L.) Tubers

Underutilized crops provide essential micro-nutrient and thus able to complement staple foods. The inhibitory effect of floral and fruit development may affect the tuber development. It is logical to assume that large amounts of nitrogen and other essential components are assimilated by the reproductive parts of plant, hence it is important to remove these reproductive parts as well as time of sowing also affect the shelf life and chemical properties of yam bean tubers which form the basis of an experiment on effect of sowing dates and flower pruning on chemical properties and shelf life of Yam bean tubers. An experiment was conducted at Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli during the year 2023-24. Twelve treatments and 3 replications in Factorial Randomized Block Design Planting dates (D) i.e., D₁-1st week of June, D₂-3rd week of June, D3 -1st week of July, D4 -3rd week of July and Interval of reproductive pruning (P) i.e., P1 – Weekly, P2 – Fortnightly, P3 – No pruning. Chemical analysis of the tubers was done to analyse the starch, fiber, dry matter, TSS and shelf life of the tubers from various treatments. Investigation revealed that among the various chemical parameters and shelf life the effect of interaction on starch, fiber, dry matter and shelf life was significant whereas it was non-significant on TSS. The highest starch content was recorded in D3P1 (6.81%). The fiber content was analysed highest in D4P3 (0.69 %). The highest dry matter content was analysed in D1P3 (24.59 %). The highest TSS was recorded in D1P1 (6.40 °B) and highest shelf life was recorded in D1P1 (36.56 days). Considering its nutritional quality and sustainability in the region it can be an alternative crop with food security, nutritional security as well as economic sustainability [1].

Impact of starch profile on glycemic index of coloured and non-pigmented genotypes of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract Rice serves as a crucial staple food, supplying energy and nutrients to roughly half the global population. Consumers prefer to take mostly the white rice, but pigmented rice is enriched with anthocyanin and has potential health benefits. The study of 27 rice genotypes consisting of eight non-pigmented and 19 pigmented genotypes were estimated for protein content, antioxidant activity and starch profile including total starch(TS), Resistant Starch(RS), Slowly Digestible Starch(SDS), Rapidly Digestible Starch(RDS), Amylose content(AC), and Glycemic Index (GI). This study shows that RS and SDS levels have a negative correlation with GI, whereas RDS has a positive association with the glycemic index. The starch content and amylose content were not showing any direct relation with the GI. There was minimal variation in the glycemic index between pigmented and non-pigmented rice varieties. Keywords: Antioxidant activity, glycemic index, pigmented rice, resistant starch, slowly digestible starch, starch profile

Physiological and gene expression response mechanisms of dehydration process in Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl seeds.

A critical factor in the storability of recalcitrant seeds is their moisture content (MC), but its effect on the viability of Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl (C. cassia) seeds is not fully understood. Measured the germination rate, starch and soluble sugar content, and transcriptome of 8 seed samples with different MC obtained by low-temperature drying method. It was found that the germination rate was significantly negatively correlated with MC. The lethal MC was around 15.6%. During the dehydration process, there was a significant increase in the content of soluble sugars and starch. Transcriptome analysis was performed on CK, W3, W6 showed a total of 62.78 Gb of clean data. Among the 30,228 Unigenes, 28,195 were successfully annotated. In the three comparative groups (CK and W3, CK and W6, W3 and W6), 6,842, 7,640, and 11,628 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained, respectively. These DEGs were found to be involved in a variety of metabolic pathways, including carbon metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and nucleotide and amino sugar metabolism. A total of 1,416 common genes were identified among all three comparison groups. Furthermore, among all the DEGs, a total of 71 transcription factor families were identified, with the C2H2 transcription factor family having the highest number of genes. This ground-breaking study sheds light on the physiological response and gene expression profiles of C. cassia seeds after undergoing dehydration treatment, which will provide valuable insights for further research and understanding of this process.

Evaluation of tuber quality, yield and yield related traits of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) genotypes at Holetta, Central Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, potato is a food security and income generating crop for millions of smallholder farmers. Previous research efforts related to variety development was focusing on tube yield and late blight resistance with wide adaptability. So far, the potato research program in the country however, devoted less on tuber quality traits and processing parameters except few recently released varieties that considered tuber quality traits for processing. These few potato varieties with processing qualities not yet satisfied the ever-emerging processing industries for chips and French fries in the country. Hence, this study aimed to seek evaluating more potato genotypes that have merits for tuber quality traits used for processing and yield attributes. The experiment was laid out in a randomized completed block design with three replications using 24 potato genotypes to evaluate the processing quality traits of advanced potato genotypes at Holetta Agricultural Research Centre in 2017 main cropping season. The results of the analysis of variance revealed that all the traits showed significant differences among the genotypes indicating there is wide genetic variation. The highest and significantly different tuber physical quality traits of geometric mean diameter and surface area was recorded from CIP395017.229, sphericity of the tuber from CIP396027.205, and length to width ratio from CIP399075.7. The specific gravity of tubers, dry matter content and total starch content also ranged from 1.070 to 1.103 gcm−3, 18.67 to 25.75%, and 12.64% to 18.95%, respectively. The five advanced genotypes CIP398098.65, CIP392617.54, CIP398190.404, CIP394611.112, and C398190.89 were selected for their high total tuber yields over 36.80 t/ha, with more than 31.47 t/ha marketable tuber yield, greeter than 69.92 g/tuber average tuber weight, higher than 58.41 mm3 geometric mean diameter, more than 21.25% dry matter content, excellent tuber characteristics and processing quality traits for chips and French fries making. From this study, selection of potato genotypes that consider both external and internal tuber quality traits would expedite the process of advancing ample potato varieties with processing qualities in the country considering comprehensive study by including more potato genotypes across wider growing environments.

Study on Rice Origin and Quality Identification Based on Fluorescence Spectral Features

The origin of agricultural products significantly influences their quality and safety. Fluorescence spectroscopy was used to analyse Japonica rice 830, grown in different areas of Jilin Province, by examining rice seed, brown rice, and rice flour from 12 origins. Fluorescence spectra were pre-processed through normalisation and smoothing to remove noise. These processed spectra were input into decision trees, support vector machines (SVMs), K-nearest neighbour (KNN), and neural network models for classification. The analysis revealed that the combined four models achieved an average classification accuracy of 98.05% with a computation time of 180 s, while the reduced-scale models improved accuracy to 98.36% and reduced computation time to 11.25 s. Additionally, prediction models using standard rice starch content values across different states achieved R² values over 0.8. This method provides a rapid, precise approach for assessing rice quality and origin, demonstrating significant potential for application in rice analysis.

Screening of Rice Genotypes for Submergence Stress Tolerance

The experiment was conducted at Department of Rice, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore to study the effect of submergence on growth of various genotypes of paddy. The genotypes viz., AC1303, AC42088, AC38575, SABITA, NAVEEN, SWARNA Sub1, BLACK GORA, BAJKANI, SWARNA, PARUAT, PAU9, BRAHMANNAKHI, MAHULATA, BVD109, IET-18720, IET-18727 and IC-516009 lines were used for submergence screening. The seeds should be pre-heated at 50°C for 2-3 days for breaking the seed dormancy before sowing. The seeds were directly sown inside the tanks using wet-bed direct sowing method. Each genotype was sown in 2 rows (min.) with 3 replications with a row to row spacing of 20 cm and plant to plant spacing of 15 cm. Germinated seedlings were allowed to grown normally till 20–25 days without submergence stress. The observations like plant height (before and after submergence), Number of plants survived (before and after submergence), survival percentage and total starch content were recorded. The genotypes IET-18727, PAU9 and AC38575 had better survival percentage (80.0 to 86.7%) with higher starch content (6.3 to 6.9 mg g-1) under submerged stress conditions. The genotypes of BVD109 and SWARNA registered lesser survival percentage (26.7% and 26.3%) with starch content of 2.1 mg g-1 among the rice genotypes.

Effects of Steaming on Chemical Composition of Different Varieties of Purple-Fleshed Sweetpotato.

Purple-fleshed sweetpotatoes (PFSPs) are rich in anthocyanins and are one of the health foods of interest. In this study, the effects of steaming on the anthocyanin, starch, soluble sugar, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and pasting properties of nine PFSPs from China were investigated. The anthocyanin content of raw PFSP ranged from 9 to 185 mg/100 g. The total starch content decreased and soluble sugar content increased in all purple potatoes after steaming. Among the nine PFSPs varieties, Guangshu20 showed the greatest decrease in starch content (30.61%) and the greatest increase in soluble sugar content (31.12%). The pasting properties affected the taste of the PFSPs, with Shuangpihuang having the lowest peak viscosity (720.33 cP) and Guangzishu12 having the highest peak viscosity (2501.67 cP). Correlation studies showed that the anthocyanin content and pasting properties were negatively correlated with most of the sensory indicators, whereas the soluble sugar content of steamed PFSPs was significantly positively correlated with sweetness. A total of 54 VOCs were identified in this study, and aldehydes and terpenoids were the major VOCs in PFSPs. This study provides a theoretical basis for the processing of different PFSP varieties.

Effects of dynamic high-pressure microfluidization treatment on the structural, physicochemical, and digestive properties of wheat starch-Lonicera caerulea berry polyphenol complex

Polyphenol complexes can improve the physicochemical and functional properties of starch. In this study, a wheat starch-Lonicera caerulea berry polyphenol complex (WS-LCBP) was prepared using dynamic high-pressure microfluidization (DHPM). The effects of different DHPM pressures (150 and 250 MPa), number of cycles (1 and 3), and LCBP content (0 %, 6 %, 8 %, and 10 %) on the multiscale structure, physicochemical properties, and in vitro digestibility of WS-LCBP were examined. After a single 250 MPa DHPM cycle, Average particle size and water separation rate of WS were reduced by 42.40 % and 16.67 %, the freeze-thaw stability was significantly improved (P < 0.05), and the resistant starch (RS) content 68.67 % was significantly increased (P < 0.05). WS-LCBP has a V-shaped starch structure, which hinders gelatinization and increases enthalpy. The RS content of the WS-LCBP ranged from 72.46 % to 89.09 %, which was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of wheat starch subjected to a single 150 MPa DHPM cycle (36.31 %). Three 250 MPa DHPM cycles were beneficial for the formation of WS-LCBP. However, excessive DHPM treatment pressure and frequency reduced the recombination rate of LCBP and wheat starch. This study provides reference data for the industrial production of nutritionally functional wheat-resistant starch using green technologies.

Effects of galactomannans of varied structural features on the functional characteristics and in vitro digestibility of wheat starch

This study explores the effects of four natural galactomannans (GMs) with varying degrees of branching (fenugreek gum, guar gum, tara gum and locust bean gum) on the functional properties and in vitro digestibility of wheat starch (WS). Results from rapid viscosity analysis (RVA) and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) analysis revealed that GMs with lower branching degrees were correlated with higher paste viscosity, peak viscosity, and greater water-holding capacity in the WS-GM mixtures. Additionally, these lower branching GMs more effectively inhibited amylose leaching during starch gelatinization, leading to a softer gel texture and increased transparency of the mixtures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis demonstrated that starch mixtures containing lower branching GMs exhibited reduced relative crystallinity and enthalpy values during aging. Furthermore, the incorporation of lower branching GMs resulted in decreased starch digestibility in vitro, thereby enhanced resistant starch content. These findings highlight the potential of selectively branched GMs to modulate the functional properties and nutritional profile of WS, providing a promising approach for the development of starch-based products with improved health benefits.

Demystifying the nutritional and anti-nutritional genetic divergence of Pakistani chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genetic resource via multivariate approaches.

Chickpeas are a highly versatile functional food legume that possesses the capacity to boost human health and has the potential to alleviate malnutrition-related deficiencies. To investigate whole seed-based nutritional and anti-nutritional composition, a set of 90 chickpea genotypes (66 desi and 24 kabuli) was collected from different research organizations in Pakistan. Significant variation (Tukey HSD test, p < 0.05) was perceived among genotypes for traits under investigation. The genotypes, with maximum total soluble proteins (TSPs) (34.92%), crude proteins (CPs) (30.13%), and reducing sugars (17.33 mg/g s. wt.), i.e., Punjab-2000 (desi); total free amino acids (TFAs) (3.34 g/100 g DW), i.e., Wild Hybrid-15 (desi), albumins (227.67 mg/g s. wt.), i.e., Sheenghar-2000 (desi); globulins (720 g s. wt.), i.e., ICCV-96030 (desi); salt-soluble proteins (200 mg/g s. wt.), i.e., ILWC-247 (desi); total soluble sugars (TSSs) (102.63 mg/g s. wt.), i.e., CM1051/11 (desi); non-reducing sugars (95.28 mg/g s. wt.), i.e., NIAB-CH2016 (desi); starch content (83.69%), i.e., CH55/09 (kabuli); and the genotypes with least value of anti-nutritional factors glutelin (3.33 mg/g s. wt.), i.e., Wild Hybrid-9 (desi); hordein (1.38 mg/g s. wt.), i.e., Noor-2013 (kabuli); tannins (5,425 uM/g s. wt.), i.e., Wild Hybrid-1 (desi); and phytic acid (PA) (0.18 mg/g s. wt.), i.e., Bhakhar-2011 (desi), could be the promising genotypes to formulate health-promoting plant-based food products. Data were also analyzed for principal component analysis (PCA), correlation, and agglomerative hierarchical clustering. PC-1 revealed the highest contribution (20.83%) toward cumulative variability, and maximum positive factor loading was delivered by TSSs (0.85) followed by starch content (0.729). Genotypes were grouped into three distinct clusters based on high average values of traits under investigation. Cluster I encompassed genotypes with a high mean value of CP content, albumins, hordein, and glutelin; Cluster II encompassed genotypes with a high mean value of TSPs, TSSs, non-reducing sugars, globulins, salt-soluble sugars, starch, and TFAs; Cluster III encompassed genotypes with high tannins, reducing sugars, and PA. Identified desi and kabuli genotypes exhibiting superior seed quality traits and minimal anti-nutritional factors can be used in chickpea breeding programs aimed at improving seed nutritional quality in future breeding lines.

Investigation of γ-polyglutamic acid production via asynchronous saccharification and fermentation of raw corn starch.

Starch, a crucial raw material, has been extensively investigated for biotechnological applications. However, its application in γ-polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) production remains unexplored. Based on γ-PGA output of Bacillus subtilis SCP010-1, a novel asynchronous saccharification and fermentation process for γ-PGA synthesis was implemented. The results revealed that a starch concentration of 20%, α-amylase dosage of 75 U/g, liquefaction temperature of 72℃, and γ-PGA yield of 36.31g/L was achieved. At a glucoamylase dosage of 100 U/g, saccharification 38h at 60℃, the yield of γ-PGA increased to 48.88g/L. The contents of total sugar, glucose, maltose and oligosaccharide in saccharified liquid were determined. Through batch fermentation of saccharified liquid in fermentor, the γ-PGA output was elevated to 116.08g/L. This study can offer a potential cost reduction of 40%, which can be a promising advancement in industrial γ-PGA production. Moreover, our approach can be applied in other starch-based fermentation industries.

Agronomic and Starch Content Studies of Local Adlay Accessions (Coix lacrima jobi - L.) from West Sumatra, Indonesia

Indonesia has a high potential for diverse local food resources, one of which is the plant of adlay. Exploration activities aimed at collecting genetic resources of adlay have been successfully carried out in the province of West Sumatra, Indonesia, resulting in the collection of six local genotypes. The purpose of this research is to obtain information about the agronomic potential and starch content of several local adlay accessions. The study was conducted from April to September 2023 in Limau Manis, Padang City, West Sumatra. The six adlay accessions used in the study are PTA-1, KKD-3, PH-4, BTA-2, GT-2, and TJR-2. The experimental design employed was a completely randomized design with three replications. Based on the research findings, significant differences were observed in both agronomic aspects and starch content among the tested accessions. Adlay with the accession code PH-4 exhibited advantages in terms of harvest maturity and production. The starch content of adlay ranged from 56.64% to 61.26%, with the PH-4 accession having the highest amylopectin content (96.60%), while the highest amylose content was found in the GT-2, TJR-2, and KKD-3 accession (19.90%, 20.03%, and 20.48%). Accession PH-4 can be proposed as a candidate for Adlay variety assembly. Keywords: agronomic, starch content, adlay accessions, Coix lacrima jobi

Синтез биоразлагаемого пластика из банановой кожуры с глицерином в качестве пластификатора

Biodegradable plastic from banana peel is durable and transparent. It breaks down naturally in the environment and can substitute traditional petroleum plastic, which is a source of pollution due to its slow degradation. This research is intended to improve the physical properties of biodegradable film obtained by the casting solution method from an Aceh variety of wak banana peel starch with glycerol as a plasticizer. The authors relied on a factorial completely randomized design with two replications. The variables included the concentrations of wak banana peel starch (6, 8, and 10%) and glycerol (2, 5, and 8%). The data were subjected to the analysis of variance (ANOVA). The physical tests covered tensile strength, elongation, water absorption, and biodegradation. The functional groups of biodegradable films were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphological structure was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The biodegradation test lasted for two and four days. The sample with less banana peel starch (6–8%) degraded faster. Higher glycerol concentrations (5–15%) affected the weight of the samples. The plastic samples with 15% glycerol degraded faster than the samples with minimal glycerol amount. A greater concentration of wak banana peel starch significantly affected tensile strength and elongation while the effect on water content and water absorption capacity was insignificant. Glycerol concentration affected water content and tensile strength, but had no significant effect on water absorption capacity and elongation. The ratio between the concentrations of wak banana peel starch and glycerol had a significant effect on tensile strength and water absorption capacity. The best results belonged to the sample with 8% wak banana peel starch and 2% glycerol. The research provided new options for utilizing banana peels as biodegradable packaging and an alternative to traditional plastic. The commercialization and scalability of this ecologically friendly plastic require furth er research.

Response of blue light in different proportions on the growth & flowering in sunflower

Due to the light sensitivity of sunflowers, regulating spectral composition holds significant potential for optimizing sunflower growth and flowering to meet market demands. In this study, sunflower plants were exposed to white light (W200, control) and three levels of blue light (B40R80Fr80 with blue light intensity of 40 µmol m−2 s−1; B67R67Fr67 with blue light intensity of 67 µmol m−2 s−1; B100R50Fr50 with blue light intensity of 100 µmol m−2 s−1) under an overall irradiance level of 200 µmol m−2 s−1 for 60 days. The aim was to investigate the effects on sunflower morphology regulation, leaf growth, and flowering. Results demonstrated that the growth of sunflowers under B40R80Fr80 treatment with 20 % blue light inhibited plant height compared with B67R67Fr67 and B100R50Fr50 treatments. The highest total leaf dry weight was observed in sunflower leaves under the B100R50Fr50 treatment. Leaves under B67R67Fr67 treatment enhanced activities of Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, and soluble starch synthase, along with a 10.4 % increase in Rubisco activity compared with B100R50Fr50 treatment. The sucrose and starch content under B67R67Fr67 treatment increased by 41.0 % and 19.1 % than those of B100R50Fr50 treatment, respectively. Sunflower plants under B67R67Fr67 treatment significantly improved flower disk diameter and No. of petal per flower compared with W200 treatment. Phenotype-assisted transcriptome analysis revealed that B67R67Fr67 treatment on sunflower leaves had positive effects on circadian rhythm-related genes associated with flowering [CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1 (COP1) and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)], compared with B100R50Fr50 treatment. Additionally, four genes related to GA metabolism were identified for flower development regulation; LOC110884159 and LOC110890361 (GID1B) were up-regulated under B67R67Fr67 treatment. Sunflower leaves under B67R67Fr67 treatment increased GA content and induced the GA pathway related to circadian rhythm, compared with those of B100R50Fr50 treatment. Consequently, the implementation of B67R67Fr67 treatment led to improved circadian rhythm and GA pathway activation, resulting in induced flowering to fulfill market demands for sunflowers.

The effect of herbicides the chance gc on clogging of potato crops

Abstract During the research at the URC BSAU, it was determined that all the studied drugs of the Chance GC had a significant effect on reducing the amount of weeds. The preparation Zenkoshans, KS has shown the greatest effectiveness in reducing the number of weeds. The largest increase in the yield of potato tubers was obtained in the variant using the preparation Zenkoshans, KS and Shansgard, KS, where the yield averaged 27.5 and 27.3 t/ha over two years, respectively. The variant with the herbicide Agroshans, VK showed a yield of 26.7 t/ha. The use of the studied herbicides had practically no effect on the content of dry matter, starch, vitamin C, and nitrates. The highest profitability was obtained in the variant with the use of Agroshans, VK amounting to 144%. Variants using Shansgard, KS and Zenkoshans, KS allowed to obtain 142% profitability. Without preparations, we got a profit margin of 129%.

Production of Defragmentable Bioplastic using Starch Extracted from Annona Muricata (Soursoup) Seed Reinforced with Bentonite Nanoclay

Abstract Seeds of Annona Muricata, often called soursop or guyabano were used as a source of starch for the production of defragmentable bioplastic. The researchers used mixture of water and starch content of 10 and 20 grams respectively from Annona Muricata (soursop) seeds with various concentration (20%, 25%, 30%) of glycerol (plasticizer) and reinforced with three different concentrations (0%, 3%, 6%) of bentonite nanoclay (filler). The characterization of the bioplastic was carried out by determining the effect of variation of the ratio between the quantity of starch from soursop seeds, bentonite nanoclay, and glycerol. The starch-based defragmentable bioplastic was evaluated with its water retention, degradation, and mechanical properties. The result showed that the tensile strength improved significantly with the addition of bentonite nanoclay and the elongation at break with the addition of glycerol. Same way in water retention test, where the presence of the bentonite nanoclay increased the strength of the bioplastic with its water solubility. In soil burial test, a higher level of glycerol concentration increased the rate of the bioplastic degradation. By adding the bentonite nanoclay as a filler, the rate of bioplastic degradation decreased compared to the bioplastic without filler. In shelf-life test, adding glycerol as plasticizer improved the shelf life of bioplastics. A high concentration of glycerol served as an anti-fungal for bioplastics.

Transcriptome analysis of differences in resistant starch content in different rice cultivars

Transcriptome analysis of differences in resistant starch content in different rice cultivars

Rating pome fruit quality traits using deep learning and image processing.

Quality assessment of pome fruits (i.e. apples and pears) is used not only for determining the optimal harvest time but also for the progression of fruit-quality attributes during storage. Therefore, it is typical to repeatedly evaluate fruits during the course of a postharvest experiment. This evaluation often includes careful visual assessments of fruit for apparent defects and physiological symptoms. A general best practice for quality assessment is to rate fruit using the same individual rater or group of individual raters to reduce bias. However, such consistency across labs, facilities, and experiments is often not feasible or attainable. Moreover, while these visual assessments are critical empirical data, they are often coarse-grained and lack consistent objective criteria. Granny, is a tool designed for rating fruit using machine-learning and image-processing to address rater bias and improve resolution. Additionally, Granny supports backward compatibility by providing ratings compatible with long-established standards and references, promoting research program continuity. Current Granny ratings include starch content assessment, rating levels of peel defects, and peel color analyses. Integrative analyses enhanced by Granny's improved resolution and reduced bias, such as linking fruit outcomes to global scale -omics data, environmental changes, and other quantitative fruit quality metrics like soluble solids content and flesh firmness, will further enrich our understanding of fruit quality dynamics. Lastly, Granny is open-source and freely available.