Staple Food Research Articles

Effect of variety, growing location and year on composition, certain antinutritional factors, and functionality of faba beans (Vicia faba) grown in Canada

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesFaba bean is a rich source of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. It serves as a staple food in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean region. Faba bean production in Canada has recently increased due to the interest in sustainable plant‐based proteins. Identifying faba bean varieties that can grow across different environments and provide good quality, nutrition, and functionality is important. This study aimed to determine the effect of variety, growing location, and year on the composition, certain anti‐nutrients, and functionality of the faba bean varieties grown in Canada.FindingsVariety, growing location, and year had significant effects on the protein content, crude fat, ash, phytic acid, stachyose, verbascose, trypsin inhibitor activity, and functional properties of faba beans, including oil emulsion and water holding capacity. Starch content, total dietary fiber, and least gelling concentration were significantly affected by variety and growing location, whereas raffinose, oil absorption capacity, foaming capacity, and stability were significantly affected by variety and growing year. Significant interactions of variety, growing location, and year were observed for most characteristics. Environment played a greater role in affecting faba bean characteristics than variety except for starch content, total dietary fiber, oligosaccharides, and foaming stability.ConclusionsIt was found that varietal and environmental factors affected each trait differently. Selecting suitable varieties and growing conditions would improve the quality of faba bean.Significance and NoveltyInformation from this study will be useful to breeders, growers, and food manufacturers to improve the production and utilization of faba beans.

Effectiveness of nanomaterials and their counterparts in improving rice growth and yield under arsenic contamination.

Arsenic (As) pollution in rice (Oryza sativa L.), a staple food for over 3.5 billion people, is a global problem. Mixed effects of Zn, Cu, and Si amendments on plant growth and yield, including in the presence of As pollution have been reported in previous studies. To better investigate the effectiveness of these amendments on rice growth, yield, and As accumulation, we conducted a rice greenhouse experiment with 11 treatments, including control pots with and without As contamination and pots with amendments of ZnO, CuO, and SiO2 nanoparticles (ZnO NPs, CuO NPs, and SiO2 NPs), their ionic counterparts (ZnSO4, CuSO4, and Na2SiO3), and bulk particles (ZnO BPs, CuO BPs, and SiO2 BPs). Compared with the background soil, the treatment of adding As decreased rice plant height, panicle number, and grain yield by 16.5%, 50%, and 85.7%, respectively, but significantly increased the As accumulation in milled rice grains by 3.2 times. Under As contamination, the application of Zn amendments increased rice grain yield by 4.6-7.3 times; among the three Zn amendments, ZnSO4 performed best by fully recovering grain yield to the background level and significantly reducing grain AsIII/total As ratio by 46.9%. Under As contamination, the application of Cu amendments increased grain yield by 3.8-5.6 times; all three Cu amendments significantly reduced grain AsIII/total As ratio by 20.2-65.6%. The results reveal that Zn and Cu amendments could promote rice yield and prevent As accumulation in rice grains under As contamination. Despite the observed reduction in As toxicity by the tested NPs, they do not offer more advantages over their ionic counterparts and bulk particles in promoting rice growth under As contamination. Future field research using a broader range of rice varieties, investigating various As concentrations, and encompassing diverse climate conditions will be necessary to validate our findings in achieving more extensive understanding of effective management of arsenic contaminated rice field.

The efficiency of chlorophyll fluorescence as a selection criterion for salinity and climate aridity tolerance in barley genotypes.

In the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region, crop production is being affected by various abiotic factors, including freshwater scarcity, climate, and soil salinity. As a result, farmers in this region are in search of salt-tolerant crops that can thrive in these harsh environments, using poor-quality groundwater. The main staple food crop for most of the countries in this region, Tunisia included, is barley. The present study was designed to investigate the sensitivity and tolerance of six distinct barley genotypes to aridity and salinity stresses in five different natural field environments by measuring their photosynthetic activity. The results revealed that tolerant genotypes were significantly less affected by these stress factors than sensitive genotypes. The genotypes that were more susceptible to salinity and aridity stress exhibited a significant decline in their photosynthetic activity. Additionally, the fluorescence yields in growth phases J, I, and P declined significantly in the order of humid environment (BEJ), semi-arid site (KAI), and arid environment (MED) and became more significant when salt stress was added through the use of saline water for irrigation. The stress adversely affected the quantum yield of primary photochemistry (φP0), the quantum yield of electron transport (φE0), and the efficiency by trapped excitation (ψ0) in the vulnerable barley genotypes. Moreover, the performance index (PI) of the photosystem II (PSII) was found to be the most distinguishing parameter among the genotypes tested. The PI of sensitive genotypes was adversely affected by aridity and salinity. The PI of ICARDA20 and Konouz decreased by approximately 18% and 33%, respectively, when irrigated with non-saline water. The reduction was even greater, reaching 39%, for both genotypes when irrigated with saline water. However, tolerant genotypes Souihli and Batini 100/1B were less impacted by these stress factors.The fluorescence study provided insights into the photosynthetic apparatus of barley genotypes under stress. It enabled reliable salinity tolerance screening. Furthermore, the study confirmed that the chlorophyll a fluorescence induction curve had an inflection point (step K) even before the onset of visible signs of stress, indicating physiological disturbances, making chlorophyll fluorescence an effective tool for identifying salinity tolerance in barley.

Philippine Traditional Maize with Resistance to Asian Corn Borer [Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae)] Leaf and Stalk Feeding Damage

Maize has been identified as an excellent alternative to rice as a staple food in the Philippines. The Asian corn borer (ACB; Ostrinia furnacalis Guenée), one of the most destructive insect pests of maize, damages plants throughout their vegetative and reproductive stages. Most open-pollinated varieties are threatened by pests and diseases. The CGUARD program investigated the potential of traditional Philippine maize as a source of resistance to major insect pests, including ACB. This paper evaluated the response of the selected 149 Philippine traditional maize accessions to ACB at vegetative and reproductive stages through laboratory bioefficacy procedures for potential resistance without the presence of Bt leaf and stalk-feeding resistance were determined through mean larval survival and mean tunnel length, respectively, after 5 d using laboratory- reared second-instar larvae. Improvements in screening procedures for laboratory assays are detailed in this report. Fourteen (14) accessions were identified to have promising leaf-feeding resistance, whereas 30 accessions were identified for stalk-feeding resistance. The resistance of APN 0088, a white glutinous type of maize from Palawan, to both leaf and stalk feeding of ACB was also validated. The results demonstrate the presence of natural resistance to ACB in traditional maize that has been exposed to the threat of the pest for decades. These promising accessions may be utilized to generate ACB-resistant or-tolerant maize, in addition to other breeding programs. Several pigmented varieties with ACB resistance were also identified, which may be further examined for their nutritional properties and potential as functional foods. By utilizing our traditional varieties, we are boosting local maize production that will benefit small-scale farmers and ultimately providing them with a high-performing variety that is crucial in this time of changing climate.

Phytochemical components and antioxidant properties of traditional Sudanese pearl millet non-alcoholic drink

Pearl millet is widely recognized for its exceptional nutritional benefits and adaptability to harsh environmental conditions. Due to these valuable traits, it has become a staple food crop in various regions across the globe. This study investigates the impact of traditional processing methods on the phytochemical composition and antioxidant properties of Hulu-mur, a popular non-alcoholic beverage derived from Sudanese pearl millet. Hulu-mur processing, comprising malting, fermentation, and baking, significantly alters the biochemical makeup of the final product. Moreover, the study highlights that different processing stages using three distinct pearl millet landraces (Dembi Red, Dembi White, and Dembi Yellow) result in varied effects on the phytochemical profile and antioxidant activities. Notably, significant variations were observed in total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC), carotenoids, tannins, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) among the landraces and throughout the processing stages. Accordingly, Hulu-mur flakes from Dembi Yellow exhibited the highest GABA content, whereas Dembi Red showed superior results in terms of TPC, carotenoids, and tannins. These findings suggest that traditional processing techniques preserve and potentially enhance the health-promoting properties of pearl millet, positioning Hulu-mur as a valuable dietary addition with significant nutritional benefits.

The Association between Diet-Exercise Patterns and Cirrhosis: A Cross-Sectional Study from NHANES 2017-March 2020.

Liver cirrhosis (LC) is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic liver disease worldwide. Nutrition may be an important component of primary prevention of chronic liver disease. Diet-exercise patterns frame the eating behaviors and exercise habits of people through statistical methods related to nutritional epidemiology, which can explore the relationship between living habits and diseases among diverse populations. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between diet-exercise patterns and cirrhosis, and provide guidance on preventive diets for liver patients. This study identified diet-exercise patterns via clustering analysis of principal components and assessed their association with cirrhosis through the population samples of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2017 to March 2020. We identified two diet-exercise patterns that were named the "prudent pattern" (consumption of various staple foods, eggs, meat, fruits and vegetables; less sedentary) and the "dangerous pattern" (higher consumption of desserts, nuts, milk, meat, alcoholic beverages; recreational activities). The t-test demonstrated a significant relationship between patterns and multiple foods. The simple logistic regression test showed a lower risk of cirrhosis in those in the "prudent pattern" (OR = 0.73, 95%CI = 0.59-0.93). Two diet-exercise patterns associated with cirrhosis were identified: "prudent pattern" and "dangerous pattern". The results of this study may be useful for suggesting preventive diets for people at risk of cirrhosis.

Participatory Evaluation of Thirty (30) New Rice (Oryza Sativa L.) Lines Developed from Anther Culture under Senegal River Valley Growing Conditions

Rice is one of the most widely used staple foods in the world. However, its production is still very limited compared to the exponentially growing demand. Senegal, with an average consumption of 90 kg/habitant, is the third largest importer of rice in Africa. Aware of the impact of imports on the population, Senegal has set itself the objective of achieving food self-sufficiency by 2022 with an average yield of 5 tonnes/ha. ISRA, through its research, contributes to the achievement of this objective by developing adapted technologies. It is within this framework that a participatory evaluation of 30 new anther culture lines was conducted at the ISRA research station in Fanaye during the hot dry season of 2020. Surveys were conducted among producers through guided tours, while observations and measurements were made to collect agro-morphological parameters and characteristics preferred by producers. The agronomic results analysed and combined with the surveys made it possible to select the 10 best performing varieties. Among these 10 best performing lines, 6 were chosen by the producers. They are KF18134, KF18040, KF18068, KF18103, KF18124, KF18048, KF18005, KF18017, KF18001, KF18024. Crop yield is the first characteristic chosen by the growers. It was followed by short cycle characteristics, panicle load, low bird damage and medium height.

Emerging Parameters Justifying a Revised Quality Concept for Cow Milk.

Milk has become a staple food product globally. Traditionally, milk quality assessment has been primarily focused on hygiene and composition to ensure its safety for consumption and processing. However, in recent years, the concept of milk quality has expanded to encompass a broader range of factors. Consumers now also consider animal welfare, environmental impact, and the presence of additional beneficial components in milk when assessing its quality. This shifting consumer demand has led to increased attention on the overall production and sourcing practices of milk. Reflecting on this trend, this review critically explores such novel quality parameters, offering insights into how such practices meet the modern consumer's holistic expectations. The multifaceted aspects of milk quality are examined, revealing the intertwined relationship between milk safety, compositional integrity, and the additional health benefits provided by milk's bioactive properties. By embracing sustainable farming practices, dairy farmers and processors are encouraged not only to fulfill but to anticipate consumer standards for premium milk quality. This comprehensive approach to milk quality underscores the necessity of adapting dairy production to address the evolving nutritional landscape and consumption patterns.

Rice's trajectory from wild to domesticated in East Asia.

Rice (Oryza sativa) serves as a staple food for more than one-third of the global population. However, its journey from a wild gathered food to domestication remains enigmatic, sparking ongoing debates in the biological and anthropological fields. Here, we present evidence of rice phytoliths sampled from two archaeological sites in China, Shangshan and Hehuashan, near the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. We demonstrate the growth of wild rice at least 100,000 years before present, its initial exploitation as a gathered resource at about 24,000 years before present, its predomestication cultivation at about 13,000 years before present, and eventually its domestication at about 11,000 years before present. These developmental stages illuminate a protracted process of rice domestication in East Asia and extend the continuous records of cereal evolution beyond the Fertile Crescent.

Changes in physicochemical characteristics of wheat flour and quality of fresh wet noodles induced by microwave treatment

Fresh wet noodles (FWN) are popular staple foods due to its unique chewy texture and favorable taste. However, the development of FWN is limited by its short shelf life and high browning rate. It has been found that the quantity of original microorganisms in wheat flour produced by traditional method is relatively high, which is detrimental to the processing quality and storage stability of FWN. Consequently, it becomes imperative to decrease microorganisms in wheat flour. Microwave treatment has been regarded as a promising method in the food industry due to its potential in inhibiting microbial growth and inactivating enzymes without causing adverse effect on the food quality. This study aims to investigate the effects of microwave treatment of wheat kernels under different powers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5 kW) on the physicochemical properties of wheat flour and the quality of FWN. The results revealed that microwave treatment had a significant effect on microbial inhibition and enzyme inactivation, wherein the total plate count (TPC) and yeast and mold counts (YMC) decreased by 0.87 lg(CFU/g) and 1.13 lg(CFU/g) respectively, and PPO activity decreased from 11.40 U to 6.31 U. The dough quality properties, such as stability, extensibility, and starch viscosity, improved significantly under different microwave conditions. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images indicated that starch and proteins aggregated gradually in treated flour, altering rheological properties of dough. From the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microwave treatment led to the appearance of disrupted structure in the gluten proteins, but the secondary structure of proteins altered slightly. Rheological properties of dough confirmed that the microwave treatment greatly affected processing characteristics of wheat flour products, with significant advantageous consequences on product quality, especially for textural properties of FWN. Furthermore, FWN darkening could be inhibited noticeably after microwave treatment, thereby prolonging its shelf life. Therefore, microwave treatment could thus be an effective, practical technology to produce low-bacterial flour and thereby enhance its product quality.

A long-term study of the impact of the invasive species Eurasian minnow Phoxinus phoxinus on brown trout Salmo trutta production in a high mountain lake, Southern Norway

The shallow Lake Skjerja was originally one of the most outstanding brown trout lakes on the Hardangervidda mountain plateau. During the period 1973–1985, the annual yield was on average 3.35 kg ha-1. In the mid-1980s, Eurasian minnow established a dense population in the lake. Since 1994, 5304 kg of Eurasian minnow have been removed with baited traps, which correspond to an annual mean catch of 177 kg year-1 or 1.12 kg ha-1. The competition for food, in addition to longer food chains, has had a strong negative impact on the brown trout production, with an annual yield reduced to 1.07 kg ha-1, or 32% of the historical catches (1973-1985). The total removed biomass of the two fish species correspond to 65% of the brown trout yield before the invasion of the Eurasian minnow. In Lake Skjerja, the two crustacean species Gammarus lacustris and Lepidurus arcticus, have historically been staple food items for brown trout. Fishing with baited traps on the minnows, and the presence of a large fraction of predatory brown trout, may have reduced the predation pressure on the two crustacean species, and they are still a part ofthe brown trout diet. The availability of fish as food has resulted in a significant increase in the presence of large individuals of brown trout with maximum weights above four kg. Despite reduced annual yield of brown trout, Lake Skjerja is still a popular fish destination with nearly 200 big-sized brown trout (mean annual weight 1065 grams) landed annually. On Hardangervidda, an increase in air temperature has been observed since the 1980s, with a corresponding change in water temperature which may benefit Eurasian minnow. In warm summers, water temperature approaches 14°C which has proved to be near to the upper thermal threshold for Lepidurus arcticus.

Improving the antinutritional profiles of common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) moderately impacts carotenoid bioaccessibility but not mineral solubility

Common beans are a common staple food with valuable nutritional qualities, but their high contents in antinutritional factors (ANFs) can decrease the bioavailability of (i) fat-soluble micronutrients including carotenoids and (ii) minerals. Our objective was to select ANF-poor bean lines that would not interfere with carotenoid and mineral bioavailability. To achieve this objective, seeds of commercial and experimental Phaseolus vulgaris L. bean lines were produced for 2 years and the bean’s content in ANFs (saponins, phytates, tannins, total polyphenols) was assessed. We then measured carotenoid bioaccessibility and mineral solubility (i.e. the fraction of carotenoid and mineral that transfer into the aqueous phase of the digesta and is therefore absorbable) from prepared beans using in vitro digestion. All beans contained at least 200 mg/100 g of saponins and 2.44 mg/100 g tannins. The low phytic acid (lpa) lines, lpa1 and lpa12 exhibited lower phytate levels (≈ − 80%, p = 0.007 and p = 0.02) than their control BAT-93. However, this decrease had no significant impact on mineral solubility. HP5/1 (lpa + phaseolin and lectin PHA-E free) bean line, induced an improvement in carotenoid bioaccessibility (i.e., + 38%, p = 0.02, and + 32%, p = 0.005, for phytofluene bioaccessibility in 2021 and 2022, respectively). We conclude that decrease in the phytate bean content should thus likely be associated to decreases in other ANFs such as tannins or polyphenols to lead to significant improvement of micronutrient bioaccessibility.

Does the Green Economy Influence Environmental Sustainability? Nexus Between Staple Food Crops Consumption and Total Factor Productivity

Does the Green Economy Influence Environmental Sustainability? Nexus Between Staple Food Crops Consumption and Total Factor Productivity

A k-mer-based pangenome approach for cataloging seed-storage-protein genes in wheat to facilitate genotype-to-phenotype prediction and improvement of end-use quality

Wheat is a staple food for more than 35% of the world’s population, with wheat flour used to make hundreds of baked goods. Superior end-use quality is a major breeding target; however, improving it is especially time-consuming and expensive. Furthermore, genes encoding seed-storage proteins (SSPs) form multi-gene families and are repetitive, with gaps commonplace in several genome assemblies. To overcome these barriers and efficiently identify superior wheat SSP alleles, we developed “PanSK” (Pan-SSP k-mer) for genotype-to-phenotype prediction based on an SSP-based pangenome resource. PanSK uses 29-mer sequences that represent each SSP gene at the pangenomic level to reveal untapped diversity across landraces and modern cultivars. Genome-wide association studies with k-mers identified 23 SSP genes associated with end-use quality that represent novel targets for improvement. We evaluated the effect of rye secalin genes on end-use quality and found that removal of ω-secalins from 1BL/1RS wheat translocation lines is associated with enhanced end-use quality. Finally, using machine-learning-based prediction inspired by PanSK, we predicted the quality phenotypes with high accuracy from genotypes alone. This study provides an effective approach for genome design based on SSP genes, enabling the breeding of wheat varieties with superior processing capabilities and improved end-use quality.

Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Rice Brown Spot Disease in Major Cauvery Delta Regions

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the second most important staple food among agricultural cereal crops, with over half of the world's population dependent on rice. 165.59 million hectares of land is used for rice production worldwide, yielding 518.1 million tonnes and a productivity of 4.68 t/ha (FAOSTAT 2022 - 2023). In India, the rice production is about 132 million tonnes which is produced in about 47 million hectares of land with a productivity of about 4.21 t/ha (Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers welfare, Government of India 2023). In Tamil Nadu, the rice production is about 6.8 million metric tonnes which is produced in about 2.21 million hectares of land with a productivity of about 3.76 t/ha (Department of Economics and Statistics, Government of Tamil Nadu 2022-23). One of the biotic stresses that accounts for about 15.6% of losses each year is rice disease. Of them, Bipolaris oryzae (Breda de haan) causing brown spots of rice is the most destructive disease which causes about 90% of yield loss. Ten isolates of brown spot pathogen were collected from the Cauvery delta regions and of them, the virulent isolate (Bo9) was characterized molecularly. All the isolates were studied based on their morphological characteristics. ITS primers were utilized to do the molecular characterization of the pathogen.

Paddy rice methane emissions, controlling factors, and mitigation potentials across Monsoon Asia

Rice is a staple food for more than half of humanity, and 90 % of rice is grown and consumed in Asia. However, paddy rice cultivation creates an ideal environment for the production and release of methane (CH4). How to estimate regional CH4 emissions accurately and how to mitigate them efficiently have been of key concern. Here, with a machine learning method, we investigate the spatiotemporal changes, the major controlling factors and mitigation potentials of paddy rice CH4 emissions across Monsoon Asia at a resolution of 0.1° (∼10 km). Spatially CH4 emissions are highly heterogeneous, with the Indo-Gangetic Plain, Deltas of the Mekong, and Yangtze River Basin as the hotspots. Nationwide, China, India, Bangladesh and Vietnam are the major emitters. Straw applied on season is a critical controlling factor for CH4 emission in rice fields. The single-season rice contributes to over 80 % of the total emissions. CH4 emissions from Monsoon Asia have notably declined since 2007. Three mitigation strategies, including water management techniques, off-season straw return, and straw to biochar, may reduce CH4 emissions by 27.66 %, 23.78 %, and 21.79 %, respectively, with the most effective strategy being rice cultivation type-specific and environment-specific. Our findings gain new insights into CH4 emissions and mitigations across Monsoon Asia, providing evidence to adopt precise mitigation strategies based on rice cultivation types and local environment.

Unveiling UVB resilience in Oryza sativa L.: Integrative analysis of physiological, molecular and microRNA responses

Rice is the staple food for more than half of the global population. It is cultivated in over 100 countries, and is predominant in Asia, which accounts for 90 % of the world's production. As the most crucial food crop globally, rice is sensitive to both UVB radiation and climate variations. UltraViolet-B radiation (UVB) is recognised as adverse factors for photosynthesis and plant growth. The current study investigates the resilience of Oryza sativa L. (IR20) seedlings to UVB irradiation, focusing on parameters such as photosynthetic pigment, total sugar, phenolic, total free amino acids, malondialdehyde content, hydrogen peroxide, and antioxidative enzymes. The mRNA expression levels of genes involved in UVB perception, signalling, and response (UVR8, HY5, RLCK, PHT2, and URP) were studied using quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR). Additionally, a computational approach was employed to identify UVB-responsive microRNAs (miRNAs) and their corresponding target mRNAs; which were subsequently validated using stem-loop RT-qPCR and RT-qPCR, respectively. Surprisingly, it was discovered that the H2O2 content in the IR20 cultivar increased in response to UVB irradiation, despite no significant changes observed in lipid peroxidation, chlorophyll, and phenolic content. Additionally, UVB irradiation increases the total sugar content and decreases the entire free amino acid content, while not affecting total protein. The RT-qPCR analysis of mRNA expression reveals that UVB exposure augment the expression of genes related to UVB signal detection (UVR8), signalling (HY5, RLCK, and WRKY), and response (PHT2, CA, and URP). Our findings also suggest that at the post-transcriptional stage, miRNAs expressed upon UVB irradiation are responsible for the significant tolerance of IR20 seedlings to UVB radiation. Overall, the results reveal that IR20 exhibits promise candidate for the development of rice varieties that are both highly productive and resilient to UVB induced stress.

EFFECTS OF MILITIA ACTIVITIES ON YAM PRODUCTION AMONG RURAL FARMERS IN UKUM LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE, NIGERIA

Overtime, the existence of militia groups and their activities has caused great concern in Nigeria and Benue State in particular. Their activities have constituted threat to human security as well as food production. This study examined the factors that birthed armed militia groups and how the activities of these groups have affected the production of yam, a major staple food in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State. The study hypothesized that there is no relationship between militia activities and yam production among rural farmers in Ukum Local Government Area. The General Strain Theory was adopted as the study’s theoretical perspective. The study utilized Cross-sectional design whereby the study population of 384 (using Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination formula) was drawn from 216,986 residents of Ukum Local Government Area. However, the study sampled 100 farmers through purposive and snowball sampling technique due to the volatile nature of the area. Findings of the study reveals that high rate of poverty, fear of domination/injustice, failure of law enforcement agencies to tame the activities of militia groups, and resurgence of political thugs that have been abandoned by their political godfathers, accounted for the formation and proliferation of militia groups in the study area. Results of correlation statistics show a positive correlation between the existence of militia activities and production of yam. Thus, ethnic militia activities negatively affect the production yam in the study locale. The study recommends, among other things, that concerted efforts should be made by the State government to fully develop the productive forces; provide avenues where youths will be engaged to alleviate poverty in Ukum and indeed Benue State, security personnel should be proactive in responding to identified threats, arrest and prosecute offenders to deter others, politicians should stop empowering youths with arms and the youths should be actively engaged in political matters as this will remove the tendencies of domination and marginalization between them and the political elites.

Evaluation of physicochemical properties of Rohu fish noodles

Functional noodles are considered nutritious and healthy staple food products. This study aimed to develop value-added rohu fish noodles (Labeo rohita) and evaluate their physicochemical properties. Six noodle samples were prepared following several formulations. After a 2-day drying process, the noodles were stored in air-resistant plastic bags. The formulated noodles were investigated based on their physical (water absorption capacity, cooking loss, and volume increase) and chemical (moisture, ash, protein, fat, and fiber) properties. Statistical analysis revealed that the inclusion of rohu fish mince significantly increased moisture and protein content (p<0.01), while carbohydrate, energy, water absorption capacity, cooking loss, and volume decreased significantly (p<0.01). Noodles with the highest fish mince content (30%) demonstrated a higher amount of moisture (13.07%), ash (6.7%), fat (1.87%), protein (30.08%), sodium (0.64 mg), and calcium (0.26 mg), accompanied by reduced carbohydrate (48.3%) and energy (330.31 kcal). This formulation also exhibited lower water absorption capacity, cooking loss, and volume. Notably, no significant differences (p>0.05) were found in ash, fiber, fat, and mineral content among the various fish noodle samples. This study concludes that the incorporation of rohu fish mince can enhance the nutritional properties of traditional noodles.

Physicochemical characterization of a composite flour: Blending purple sweet potato and rice flours

In this study, the physicochemical characterization of different ratios of purple sweet potato flour (PSPF) and rice flour was investigated to improve the nutritional value and enrich the variety of rice-based staple food. The results showed that adding PSPF increased total dietary fiber and anthocyanin content whereas decreased amylose content of the composite flours. Additionally, the composite flours exhibited lower thermodynamic parameters and displayed darker, redder, and bluer colors. There were no noticeable changes in the functional group structure of the composite flours. The addition of PSPF decreased the crystallinity and water-holding capacity of the composite flours, whereas increased the average particle size and iodine blue value. PSPF increased the pasting temperature of the flours whereas decreased the breakdown and setback values. Overall, the addition of PSPF significantly affects the nutrition, color and physicochemical properties of the composite flours.