Stem Starch Research Articles

A bimodal size in stem starch grains of cycads

A survey of a sample eight new and ten old world cycad species was conducted on stem tissue starch grains. The objective of the study was to determine if starch grain morphology traits such as size and shape are useful for species identification. Stem tissue was extracted during the spring of 2018. Extraction was done by means of a cork borer of 7 mm diam and length of cortical tissue extracted ca 1.5 cm. The tissue was then macerated to release the starch grains. Length measurements were taken from 25 randomly selected grains and a box and wire diagram created. Photomicrographs were taken under polarizing microscopy. Clear differences in starch grain length measurements were found between southern hemisphere old world and northern hemisphere new world cycad species showing a bimodal trend where measurements being considerably greater in the new world plants with Ceratozamia euryphyllidia showing the longest with a mean of 40.4 µm., and the old world Stangeria eriopus showing the smallest length measurement with a mean of 5.5 µm. Starch grain shape was found to be variable in C. euryphyllidia and C. mexicana, but isodiametric to mostly isodiametric in the remaining species. No clear distinction was observed between species due to overlap in grain size, therefore alone, starch grain size is not suitable for taxonomic delimitation.

Respuesta de Commelina erecta L. a dos formulados de glifosato, y rol del almidón y de las ceras epicuticulares en la sensibilidad al glifosato

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two formulations of glyphosate on adult plants and seedlings of Commelina erecta L., and to determine whether stem starch storage and epicuticular waxes of leaves are involved in plant sensitivity to this herbicide. The formulations used were isopropylamine salt (IPA) and diammonium salt (DA). All measured growth parameters and chlorophyll were negatively affected by both formulations. The IPA formulation showed a higher decrease in the branching rate and phyllochron, whereas the DA formulation showed a higher decrease in the elongation rate, chlorophyll content at 48 hours after application in adult plants, and the starch proportion in the stem basal section, and caused more leaf injuries. All plants of C. erecta presented starch storage in the both stem section. After glyphosate application, stem starch proportion of the basal section evolved differently in both growth stages, whereas stem starch proportion of the apical section showed an irregular variation. The amount of epicuticular waxes was higher in adult plants. These results show that both glyphosate formulations are ineffective for the management of C. erecta. The low sensitivity to glyphosate in C. erecta, especially in plants higher than five leaves, could be related to starch storage in stem and epicuticular waxes on leaves.

Impact of gamma irradiation on structural, thermal, and rheological properties of talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera L.) starch: a stem starch

Talipot palm (Corypha umbraculifera L.) is a non-conventional source of stem starch. The starch obtained from the trunk of the talipot palm was subjected to various doses of irradiation (20 kGy, 50 kGy, 80 kGy, and 100 kGy). The effect of this high dose irradiation on functional, pasting, thermal and rheological properties was studied. The irradiation considerably decreased the amylose content, pH, swelling index, and relative crystallinity, and it increased the carboxyl content and solubility. The L* value, water absorption capacity, and oil absorption capacity were also increased by irradiation. The pasting parameters like pasting temperature, peak viscosity, and final viscosity were considerably decreased by irradiation. The paste clarity and light transmittance of irradiated starches were high at any point of storage. The gel hardness was decreased by γ-irradiation up to a radiation dose of 50 kGy. The FTIR analysis did not show any evidence for the formation of new functional groups. The gelatinization properties, storage modulus, and loss modulus were decreased by irradiation. The principal component analysis showed a good relationship among the different parameters studied.

The Leaf Trichome, Venation, and Mesophyll Structural Traits Play Important Roles in the Physiological Responses of Oak Seedlings to Water-Deficit Stress.

In this study, we investigated the effects of water-deficit stress on the leaf anatomical traits, physiological traits, and stem starch content in Quercus acutissima Carruth and Quercus serrata Murray by subjecting their seedlings to well-watered (WW) and water-deficit stress (WS) treatments. The water stress-induced changes in trichome density, trichome-to-stomata ratio, mesophyll thickness, vein density, vein distance, vein loopiness, vessel diameter, transpiration (E), stomatal conductance (gs), water use efficiency (WUE), and starch content were analyzed between two time points. While trichome density did not vary between treatments in Q. acutissima, it dramatically increased in Q. serrata (62.63–98.96 trichomes mm−2) at the final week. The WS-treated seedlings had a thicker palisade mesophyll (162.85–169.56 µm) than the WW-treated samples (118.56–132.25 µm) in both species. The vein density and loopiness increased significantly in the WS-treated Q. serrata seedlings. Small-sized vessels (10–50 µm) were more frequent in the WS than the WW in Q. serrata. The E, gs, WUE, and starch content declined significantly in the WS-treated seedlings compared with WW-treated samples in both species. Further, principal component analysis revealed significant relationships between anatomical and physiological traits, particularly in the WS-treated seedlings of Q. serrata. The coordinated changes in leaf anatomical traits, physiological traits, and stem starch content indicate an important role in the survival of Q. acutissima and Q. serrata seedlings in water-deficit stress environments, although Q. serrata may show higher survivability under prolonged water stress than Q. acutissima.

Evaluation of pineapple stem starch as a substitute for corn grain or ground cassava in a cattle feedlot for 206 or 344days: feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and economic evaluation.

The pineapple stem starch substituted for ground cassava or corn as a carbohydrate source in the concentrate diet. The experiment used 36 Holstein crossbred steers (aged 22months) with an average initial body weight of 453.0 ± 35.3kg. The experimental units were randomly assigned to three different starch sources of concentrate diets: ground corn (GC), ground cassava (CA), or pineapple stem starch (PS) with two different feeding periods: (1) period 1 for 206days or (2) period 2 for 344days with six replicates per treatment (two steers per replication), arranged in a completely randomized design. The animals were slaughtered at the end of the experimental periods. After that, the feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and economic return were evaluated. The results showed that the steers fed PS had a greater weight gain, average daily gain, and lower feed: gain ratio when fed for 206days than when fed for 344days, but dry matter intake, carcass characteristics, meat quality, and fatty acids profile did not differ between treatments in both periods of feeding except C14:1 and C18:0. The steers fed PS showed the greatest economic return. As a substitute for cassava or corn, pineapple stem starch had no negative impact on the feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. These results indicate that pineapple stem starch could be a useful feedstuff for the feedlot steers diets as an alternative starch source.

Recovery of gelatin from poultry waste: Characteristics of the gelatin and lotus starch-based coating material and its application in shelf-life enhancement of fresh cherry tomato

In recent years, food packaging has advanced from contaminating and polluting waste that remains after the use of the food product towards a functional ingredient that can be consumed along with the food product. Edible coatings are a healthy substitute for traditional food packaging. Therefore, the present study was aimed to develop edible coating material based on poultry waste gelatin and lotus stem starch for shelf-life extension of cherry tomatoes. The recovery of gelatin from chicken Feet (CF) and starch from lotus stem waste (LSW) was 14.5% and 9.20%, respectively and were used in different proportions for the development of the coating material. The flow behavior of coating material was pseudoplastic as the flow index (n) ranged from 0.332 to 0.428. The consistency coefficient (k) ranged from 1.62 to 4.92 Pa.sn, and it increased with the starch concentration. Storage modulus decreased with changing temperature from 10°C to 25°C and 10–35 °C in starch-free and starch-containing solutions, respectively. FTIR transmission band shifted from 3313 to 3343 cm−1 with changing the starch concentration from 0% to 10%, indicating the strong interactions of OH and amino groups. The transmission of UV light was low and remained unaffected, however, the transmittance showed a decrease with the starch concentration in the entire visible light range. The firmness and pH were retained to a greater extent and the weight loss in tomatoes was minimized during the 15 days of storage. The study revealed that this coating material may have great potential in the shelf-life extension of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Effect of pineapple stem starch in concentrate diet on rumen fermentation in beef cattle and in situ dry matter degradability

Effect of pineapple stem starch in concentrate diet on rumen fermentation in beef cattle and in situ dry matter degradability

Variation of non‐structural carbohydrates across the fast–slow continuum in Amazon Forest canopy trees

Abstract Tropical tree species span a range of life‐history strategies within a fast–slow continuum. The position of a species within this continuum is thought to reflect a negative relationship between growth and storage, with fast‐growing species allocating more carbon to growth and slow‐growing species investing more in storage. For tropical species, the relationship between storage and life‐history strategies has been largely studied on seedlings and less so in adult trees. We evaluated how stored non‐structural carbohydrates (NSC) vary across adult trees spanning the fast–slow continuum in the Peruvian Amazon by: (a) analysing whole‐tree NSC in two species of contrasting growth and (b) investigating the relationships with key life‐history traits across a broader set of species. Our results are consistent with a growth–storage trade‐off. The analysis of whole‐tree NSC revealed that the slow‐growing Eschweilera coriacea stored about 2.7 times as much NSC as the fast‐growing Bixa arborea due to markedly higher storage in woody stems and roots. B. arborea also had higher seasonality in NSC, reflecting its strong seasonality in stem growth. Across a range of species, stem starch was negatively related to species growth rate and positively related to wood density. Given the role of NSC in mediating plants' response to stress, our results suggest that slow‐growing species with greater storage reserves may be more resilient to drought than fast‐growing species.

Effect of low dose γ-irradiation on the structural and functional properties, and in vitro digestibility of ultrasonicated stem starch from Corypha umbraculifera L.

In the present study, non-conventional talipot starch was subjected to single and dual modifications using two non-thermal techniques; ultrasonication and γ-irradiation (1 kGy and 10 kGy). Free radical-mediated low dose γ-irradiation made remarkable changes in the morphological, physicochemical, and functional properties of ultrasonicated talipot starches compared to single modifications. Dual (ultrasonication+γ-irradiation) modification created deep grooves, reduced relative crystallinity and peak intensity of OH and CH2 groups by cavitation and radiolysis. Compared to ultrasonicated and γ-irradiated starches, dual-modified starches showed significantly reduced (p ≤ 0.05) pH, amylose content, and swelling power, and improved storage stability by lowering the retrogradation tendency. The in vitro digestibility of dual-modified talipot starches was increased by the enhanced action of digestive enzymes with starch. The gelatinization, pasting, and rheological properties significantly decreased (p ≤ 0.05) with the increasing dose of γ-irradiation in dual-modified talipot starches and represented soft gel possessing shear-thinning stability.

The Effects of Using Pineapple Stem Starch as an Alternative Starch Source and Ageing Period on Meat Quality, Texture Profile, Ribonucleotide Content, and Fatty Acid Composition of Longissimus Thoracis of Fattening Dairy Steers.

The effects of different starch sources (ground corn (CO), ground cassava (CA) and pineapple stem starch (PI)) and ageing period (14 and 21 days) on meat characteristics of Holstein steers were investigated. Starch sources had no effect on meat characteristics, while meat aged for 14 days had less thawing loss than that aged for 21 days. Meat from steers fed PI had higher levels of inosine monophosphate (IMP) than the others (p < 0.05). With increasing duration of ageing, the content of IMP and guanosine monophosphate in the meat decreased, while the content of hypoxanthine increased (p < 0.05). Meat from steers fed CO had the highest oleic acid but the lowest erucic acid (p < 0.05) in contrast to meat from steers fed PI, which had the lowest oleic acid but the highest erucic acid. Steers fed CO appeared to produce healthier meat as this was positively associated with monounsaturated fatty acid content. Meat from steers fed PI had higher levels of IMP, which may be associated with good taste.

Physicochemical Properties and the Digestibility of Cassava Root and Stem Starches Associated with Genotypes

AbstractCassava stems contain up to 40% starch (by dry mass) and are currently discarded as agricultural waste. The current study aims to understand the physicochemical traits of cassava stem and root starches for investigating trends in industrial cassava applications. In total, 11 traits of both cassava stem and root starches of 15 genotypes are investigated. All the examined traits of cassava root and stem starches vary by genotype. The amylose contents of root and stem starches are in the range of 19.0–33.0% and 18.44–34.51%, respectively. The resistant starch of root and stem starches are in the range of 1.72–17.72% and 4.42–13.37%, respectively. Only the starch content, solubility, and swelling power of root starches are significantly higher than those of stem starches. The root starch gel is more stable than the stem starch gel after the fourth and fifth freeze‐thaw cycles. Furthermore, principal component analysis calculated based on starch and amylose contents, degree of swelling, digestibility, and freeze‐thaw stability demonstrates that genotypes GW46, GW88, S1, E26, and GC49 gain higher scores than control varieties South China 12 and South China 205, which are the most favorable ones by farmers in China because of good root yields.

PENGARUH SUBSTITUSI TEPUNG BATANG NANAS (ANANAS COMOSUS) DAN RED KIDNEY BEAN (PHASEOLUS VULGARIS) TERHADAP DAYA TERIMA, KADAR PATI RESISTEN &amp; PROTEIN PADA MI INSTAN

Instant noodle is one of the most popular food in Indonesia because of the fast preparation and easily accepted by people.. However, the nutritional content and overeating instant noodle, become one of the causes metabolic syndrome which is currently increasing globally. This study was aimed to determine the eff ect of pineapple stem starch fl our and red kidney bean (jogo bean) fl our substitution on wheat fl our towards acceptability, levels of resistant starch and protein in instant noodle. The research was done by using a true experimental with a randomized design consisted of the control formula (F0), F1 substitution formula (5% pineapple stem fl our and 20% jogo bean fl our) and F2 (7% pineapple stem fl our and 28% jogo bean fl our). A total of 27 person were involved as semi-trained panelists, acceptance level was tested by Kruskall-Wallis and continued by the Mann-Whitney if the diff erence appeared signifi cant (α≤ 0.05). Resistant starch and protein content will be compared between theoretical calculations from Indonesia Food database and some research with laboratory tests. Acceptance test results state that the most favored substitution formula by panelists is F2 (28% jogo bean fl our and 7% pineapple stem fl our). The highest protein content and resistant starch was found in F2 (14.4 g and 11.3 g). Signifi cant diff erences were seen between F0 with F1 and F2 in the characteristics of color acceptability (p = 0.001) and texture (p = 0.008). Consumption of instant noodles substitution formula F2 with adding a half egg can meet the recommended consumption of one meal of resistant starch and protein which has benefi ts in preventing the metabolic syndrome.

Plant Size Plays an Important Role in Plant Responses to Low Water Availability and Defoliation in Two Woody Leguminosae Species.

Plant size influences plant responses to combined environmental factors under climate change. However, their roles in plant ecophysiological responses are not fully understood. Two rapidly growing Leguminosae species (Robinia pseudoacacia and Amorpha fruticosa) were used to examine plant responses to combined drought and defoliation treatments (two levels of both treatments). Both 1.5 month-old seedlings and 3 month-old seedlings were grown in a greenhouse, and seedling growth, leaf gas exchanges, stem hydraulics, and concentrations of non-structural carbohydrates were determined after 60 days of treatment. Our results indicated defoliation had no significant effect on plant height, basal diameter, and total biomass whatever plant sizes and species. Under the low water availability treatment, the defoliated seedlings significantly increased by 24% in stem water potential compared with non-defoliated seedlings in large R. pseudoacacia. Compared with the high water availability in large non-defoliated R. pseudoacacia seedlings, the low water availability significantly reduced by 26% in stem starch concentration to maintain the stem soluble sugar concentration stable, but not in small R. pseudoacacia seedlings. We also found a negative correlation between leaf and root soluble sugar concentration under low water availability in A. fruticosa. The results demonstrate defoliation could relieve the effect of low water availability in large seedlings. Large seedlings had more compensatory mechanisms in response to defoliation and drought treatments than small seedlings, thus species with large carbon reserves are more recommended for vegetation restoration under combined drought and defoliation conditions. Future studies with more species are crucial for obtaining more rigorous conclusions.

Characteristics of Starch Extracted from the Stem of Pineapple Plant (Ananas comosus) - an Agro Waste from Pineapple Farms

HIGHLIGHTS Extracts and characterizes the starch from the stem of the pineapple plant. Pineapple stem starch shows small granule size and high gelatinization temperature. It possesses A-type crystals and is more viscous compared to corn starch. Results indicate the usefulness of this agro-waste starch in food industries.

Identification of Root-Associated Bacteria That Influence Plant Physiology, Increase Seed Germination, or Promote Growth of the Christmas Tree Species Abies nordmanniana.

Abies nordmanniana is used for Christmas tree production but poor seed germination and slow growth represent challenges for the growers. We addressed the plant growth promoting potential of root-associated bacteria isolated from A. nordmanniana. Laboratory screenings of a bacterial strain collection yielded several Bacillus and Paenibacillus strains that improved seed germination and produced indole-3-acetic acid. The impact of three of these strains on seed germination, plant growth and growth-related physiological parameters was then determined in greenhouse and field trials after seed inoculation, and their persistence was assessed by 16S rRNA gene-targeted bacterial community analysis. Two strains showed distinct and significant effects. Bacillus sp. s50 enhanced seed germination in the greenhouse but did not promote shoot or root growth. In accordance, this strain did not increase the level of soluble hexoses needed for plant growth but increased the level of storage carbohydrates. Moreover, strain s50 increased glutathione reductase and glutathione-S-transferase activities in the plant, which may indicate induction of systemic resistance during the early phase of plant development, as the strain showed poor persistence in the root samples (rhizosphere soil plus root tissue). Paenibacillus sp. s37 increased plant root growth, especially by inducing secondary root formation, under in greenhouse conditions, where it showed high persistence in the root samples. Under these conditions, it further it increased the level of soluble carbohydrates in shoots, and the levels of starch and non-structural carbohydrates in roots, stem and shoots. Moreover, it increased the chlorophyll level in the field trial. These findings indicate that this strain improves plant growth and vigor through effects on photosynthesis and plant carbohydrate reservoirs. The current results show that the two strains s37 and s50 could be considered for growth promotion programs of A. nordmanniana in greenhouse nurseries, and even under field conditions.

Growth and reproductive responses of Polygonum hydropiper populations to elevational difference associated with flooding

Elevation can greatly affect both intensity and duration of flooding in riparian areas, and may thus affect the performance of plants distributed therein. However, few studies have examined the performance of riparian plants over elevation difference.This study compared growth and reproductive traits of populations of the riparian species Polygonum hydropiper distributed at low and high elevations of 10 different riparian locations in the hydro-fluctuation belt of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, China.Both the location and the interaction between location and elevation had significant effects on almost all growth and reproduction traits of P. hydropiper, suggesting that the effects of elevation varied greatly among different locations. Across all locations, high-elevation plants had significantly higher total biomass, stem biomass, root biomass, and plant height than low-elevation plants. Correspondingly, high-elevation plants also had significantly higher stem starch concentrations. In comparison, low-elevation plants had significantly lower biomass, shorter height, and thinner leaves; while they had significantly higher reproductive allocation, as well as faster germination and higher germination rate at a number of locations. Therefore, low energy consumption and high reproductive capacity could be a survival adaption of low-elevation plants to frequent and deep flooding.Local conditions and/or flooding might impose strong selection pressure on P. hydropiper, thus resulting in intra-specific differentiation. Across all locations, low- and high-elevation populations exhibit different growth and reproduction responses to different flooding regimes.

Non-structural carbohydrate dynamics associated with antecedent stem water potential and air temperature in a dominant desert shrub.

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) are necessary for plant growth and affected by plant water status, but the temporal dynamics of water stress impacts on NSC are not well understood. We evaluated how seasonal NSC concentrations varied with plant water status (predawn xylem water potential, Ψ) and air temperature (T) in the evergreen desert shrub Larrea tridentata. Aboveground sugar and starch concentrations were measured weekly or monthly for ~1.5 years on 6-12 shrubs simultaneously instrumented with automated stem psychrometers; leaf photosynthesis (Anet ) was measured monthly for 1 year. Leaf sugar increased during the dry, premonsoon period, associated with lower Ψ (greater water stress) and high T. Leaf sugar accumulation coincided with declines in leaf starch and stem sugar, suggesting the prioritization of leaf sugar during low photosynthetic uptake. Leaf starch was strongly correlated with Anet and peaked during the spring and monsoon seasons, while stem starch remained relatively constant except for depletion during the monsoon. Recent photosynthate appeared sufficient to support spring growth, while monsoon growth required the remobilization of stem starch reserves. The coordinated responses of different NSC fractions to water status, photosynthesis, and growth demands suggest that NSCs serve multiple functions under extreme environmental conditions, including severe drought.

Production and characterization of starch nanoparticles by mild alkali hydrolysis and ultra-sonication process

In this report, synthesis of the starch nanoparticles from underutilized and cheap sources viz: Horse chestnut (HS), Water chestnut (WS) and Lotus stem (LS) by using mild alkali hydrolysis and ultra-sonication process has been presented. The particles were characterized by Differential scanning colorimeter (DSC), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Rheology, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infra-spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The particle size measurements, functional properties and antioxidant potential of starch nanoparticles were also analyzed. The experimental results revealed that the average particle size diameter of Horse chestnut starch nanoparticles (HSP), Water chestnut starch nanoparticles (WSP) and Lotus stem starch nanoparticles (LSP) was found to be 420, 606 and 535 nm, respectively. We observed a notable increase in the water absorption capacity but decreased capacity for oil absorption in the starch nano-particles. SEM images revealed damaged starch granules after size reduction. Additionally, loss of crystallinity and molecular order was observed from XRD and ATR-FTIR spectra. It was concluded that the starch nanoparticles have better thermal stability, increased viscosity and antioxidant properties.

Influence of ball milling on the production of starch nanoparticles and its effect on structural, thermal and functional properties

The starch nanoparticles from water chestnut (WS), lotus stem (LS) and horse chestnut (HS) starch were synthesized using planetary ball milling. The starch nanoparticles were investigated by using various techniques like particle size analyser, differential scanning colorimeter (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), rheometer, and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The particle size of horse chestnut starch nanoparticles (HNS), water chestnut starch nanoparticles (WNS) and lotus stem starch nanoparticles (LNS) was found to be 343,271 & 855 nm with zeta potential of −18.75, −20.45 & −12.2 mV, respectively. SEM revealed small and damaged starch granules. The relative crystallinity was decreased from 13.13 to 6.22, 22.27 to 7.96 and 26.16 to 7.98% in HS, LS and WS starch after ball milling and average crystallite size of starch nanoparticles was found to be 9–12 nm. The starch nanoparticles also showed increase in transition temperature and viscosity as analysed by DSC and rheometer, respectively. These properties could be useful in particular food and drug formulations.

Physical and chemical characteristic of stem starch and sheath flour from oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis)

Abstract. Yusra S, Hidayat C, Pranoto Y, Anwar C. 2020. Physical and chemical characteristics of stem starch and sheath flour from oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis). Biodiversitas 21: 896-902. Replanting old oil palm plantation with a new plant produces a large volume of cleared trees. Yet, the utilization of these by-products is still limited. The objective of this research was to explore and characterize the physicochemical properties of the oil palm stem starch (SS) and sheath flour (SF). SF and SS were extracted by a wet extraction method. Results showed that starch contents of SS and SF (after three times of washing) were 95.56±0.01% and 37.03 ± 0.72%, respectively. Amylose and amylopectin contents of SS were higher than that of sheath starch. Besides, SF contained high protein (19.28% db) and lipid (9.27% db). Protein was also confirmed by FTIR analysis. SF also contained polyphenol. The starch granular was smooth with a clean surface. The granules of SF are classified as very small granules (2-5 µm) while those of SS as small to medium granules (5-25 µm). Polymorph analysis showed that SF and SS had a type-C and B-type, respectively. SF did not have pasting temperature due to the presence of lipid, protein, and polyphenol. Washing of the flour with water decreased protein, lipid and ash contents. It resulted in a decrease in yield about 1.8 times. SS has a pasting temperature of about 71.55°C. Paste viscosity reached a maximum of about 5707 cps. In conclusion, SS that had high viscosity may be used as a thickener and SF may be used for a source of the modified starch to produce such as dextrin and glucose syrup.