Effects of methionine treatment on storage quality and antioxidant activity of postharvest jujube fruit

Jujube fruits usually suffer from physiological disorders or infectious diseases during storage,leading to quality deterioration,softening,or rotting.Therefore,this study aims to investigate the effect of methionine soaking treatment on the postharvest jujube fruit decay rate and storage quality.Methionine treatment significantly reduced the decay rate of postharvest jujube fruit and effectively maintained fruit color and titratable acid.Methionine treatment effectively delayed the decrease of firmness,soluble solids,ascorbic acid,and lignin contents in jujube fruit.Methionine treatment reduced the content of alanine and phenylalanine,and increased the content of glycine in jujube fruit,but displayed no significant effect on total amino acid content.In addition,jujube fruits in the methionine treatment group had a higher total phenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity,both in free and bound forms.Compared with the control,methionine treatment also significantly increased the content of individual phenolic acid fractions(gallic acid,vanillic acid,and syringic acid)and flavonoid fractions(catechin,epicatechin,rutin)in free form as well as individual phenolic acid fractions in bound form(gallic acid and ferulic acid)in jujube fruits.Overall,this study suggested that the methionine treatment could be used as a prospective preservative to reduce the postharvest decay of jujube fruit and alleviate its nutritional quality deterioration during cold storage at 4°C.

Implications of vitamin D for flesh quality of grass carp(Ctenopharyngodon idella):antioxidant ability,nutritional value,sensory quality,and myofiber characteristics

Background Muscle represents a unique and complex system with many components and comprises the major edible part of animals.Vitamin D is a critical nutrient for animals and is known to enhance calcium absorption and immune response.In recent years,dietary vitamin D supplementation in livestock has received increased attention due to biological responses including improving shear force in mammalian meat.However,the vitamin D acquisition and myofiber development processes in fish differ from those in mammals,and the effect of vitamin D on fish flesh quality is poorly understood.Here,the influence of dietary vitamin D on fillet quality,antioxidant ability,and myofiber development was examined in grass carp(Ctenopharyngodon idella).Methods A total of 540 healthy grass carp,with an initial average body weight of 257.24±0.63 g,were allotted in 6 experimental groups with 3 replicates each,and respectively fed corresponding diets with 15.2,364.3,782.5,1,167.9,1,573.8,and 1,980.1 IU/kg vitamin D for 70 d.Results Supplementation with 1,167.9 IU/kg vitamin D significantly improved nutritional value and sensory quality of fillets,enhancing crude protein,free amino acid,lipid,and collagen contents;maintaining an ideal pH;and reduc-ing lactate content,shear force,and cooking loss relative to respective values in the control(15.2 IU/kg)group.Average myofiber diameter and the frequency of myofibers>50μm in diameter increased under supplementation with 782.5–1,167.9 IU/kg vitamin D.Levels of oxidative damage biomarkers decreased,and the expression of antioxi-dant enzymes and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 signaling molecules was upregulated in the 1,167.9 IU/kg vitamin D treatment compared to respective values in the control group.Furthermore,vitamin D supplementation activated cell differentiation by enhancing the expression of myogenic regulatory factors and myocyte enhancer factors compared to that in the control group.In addition,supplementation with 1,167.9 IU/kg vitamin D improved protein deposition associated with protein synthesis molecule(target of rapamycin)signaling and vitamin D receptor paralogs,along with inhibition of protein degradation(forkhead box protein 1)signaling.Conclusions Overall,the results demonstrated that vitamin D strengthened antioxidant ability and myofiber devel-opment,thereby enhancing nutritional value and sensory quality of fish flesh.These findings suggest that dietary vitamin D supplementation is conducive to the production of nutrient-rich,high quality aquaculture products.

Assessment of quality of bread incorporated with defatted sweet orange seed flour

The effect of incorporation of defatted flour from seeds of sweet orange on wheat flour bread quality was investigated.Seeds were removed from the fruits of sweet orange,sun dried,milled and defatted with ethanol.The defatted orange seed flour was incorporated into wheat flour at 5,10,and 15%.The chemical composition and physicochemical properties of the composite flours were assessed.The composite flours were used to prepare breads and the nutrients composition,antioxidant,physical and sensory qualities of the breads were determined.The water absorption,oil absorption,emulsifying and swelling capacities increased while foaming capacity and bulk density decreased with the addition of the defatted seed flour in the blends.The addition of defatted seed flour increased significantly(P<0.05)the ash(1.98%–3.05%),crude fiber(1.26%–2.98%)and carbohydrate(47.78%–55.90%)contents but decreased the moisture(23.59%–20.37%),crude fat(12.43%–8.98%)and protein(12.96%–8.72%)contents of the breads.The calcium,sodium,iron and zinc contents improved but phosphorus and potassium levels decreased with the incorporation of the defatted seed flour.The phenols,flavonoids,alkaloids,saponins,and carotenoids contents varied from 85.03–18.59 mg/100g,3.11–7.83 mg/100g,7.30–12.06 mg/100g,1.87–2.06 mg/100g,and 5.46–15.84 mg/100g,respectively.The loaf volume,specific volume and oven spring of breads decreased while loaf weight increased with the incorporation of defatted flour.The antioxidant activities of breads containing 15%defatted seed flour increased over that the 100%wheat bread.The ratings for the sensory attributes decreased with the addition of defatted seed flour in the breads.However,the ratings for the sensory qualities of breads containing 5 and 10%defatted seed flours did not differ significantly(P<0.05)from those of the 100%wheat bread.It is concluded that defatted flour from seeds of sweet orange fruits could be used to substitute 10%wheat flour in bread without adversely affecting the qualities of the breads.

Comparative Analysis on Chemical Components and Sensory Quality of Aging Flue-Cured Tobacco from Four Main Tobacco Areas of China

Complicated changes are happening during the aging process of flue-cured tobacco （FCT） and understanding of the changing components is of great significance in improving the quality,shortening aging time,and enhancing production and economic efficiency in tobacco industry.The aging samples of FCT from four main producing areas of China,i.e.,Yunnan,Sichuan,Hubei,and Dongbei,were used to study the changing rule of the components such as alkali,acid,and carbohydrate as well as the aroma and their relationship with sensory quality;and based on the correlation among the components and the sensory quality index,multivariable models were established to predict the aging quality.The results showed that the sensory quality of FCT increased steadily during the aging time,and at the same time,the acidic components （total organic acids,volatile acids） increased gradually,while the alkaline substances （nicotine,volatile alkali）,carbohydrate （total sugars,reducing sugar） and pH values showed a downward trend.Correlation analysis found that the sensory quality and pH values were negatively correlated （P0.05）,while the sensory quality with total organic acids and aroma were positively correlated.The optimal model for predicting the quality of FCT was y=56.75-0.63x12＋50.09x2-13.27x22,（y：sensory quality;x1：pH;x2：total organic acids）.The average predicating error was 1.04% with maximum predicating error of 2.89% and the accuracy rate of above 97%.

Sensory quality of meat from eight different types of cattle in relation with their biochemical characteristics

The present study compared eight breeds of cattle differing in gender （heifers, buls and steers） to determine associations between muscle characteristics and meat sensory qualities of theLongissimus thoracis muscle. Animal types differed in al the muscle characteristics and sensory qualities. Many correlations among muscle characteristics and among sensory qualities were consistent for most animal types. Isocitrate dehydrogenase （ICDH） activities alowed discrimination of muscles with respect to myosin heavy chain （MyHC）-I proportions for al animal types. Lactate dehydrogenase （LDH） and phos-phofructokinase （PFK） activities were positively correlated for most animal types. Overal liking was correlated with beef lfavour and abnormal lfavour in al animal types and with global tenderness for al animal types except for Charolais cross breed steers. For al animal types except for Angus×Friesian heifers, beef lfavour and abnormal lfavour were negatively correlated. Overal liking was not correlated with juiciness. PFK, ICDH and citrate synthase （CS） activities were strongly associated with tenderness, beef lfavour and overal liking when average values for al animal types were used. However, associations between muscle characteristics and sensory qualities within animal types were weak and inconsistent.

Natural and modified food hydrocolloids as gluten replacement in baked foods:Functional benefits

Gluten,the protein responsible for the superior viscoelastic properties of refined wheat flour dough over glutenfree cereals,causes celiac disease in people susceptible to gluten-allergy.Moreover,the sustainability of using wheat flour in baked foods is threatened by its high cost,especially in countries that depend on imported wheat for their bakery industry.Research has shown that hydrocolloids serve as gluten replacements in baked foods,in response to these challenges.Food hydrocolloids are a class of high-molecular weight polysaccharides and proteins,which serve as functional ingredients in the food industry that modify the foods’rheological and textural properties.They function as stabilizers,viscosity modifiers,gelling agents,water binders,fibres,and inhibitors of ice crystal in foods.Further,food hydrocolloids have also been reported to possess health-promoting properties,such as lowering of postprandial blood glucose and plasma cholesterol concentrations,colon cancer prevention,and modulation of intestinal transit and satiety.They are obtained from plants,animals or microorganisms,and can be used in their natural or modified forms.The aim of this paper is to review the functional benefits of natural and modified hydrocolloids as gluten replacements in baked foods,emphasizing their physicochemical,nutraceutical,and sensorial importance.The application effects of food hydrocolloids as gluten substitutes in gluten-free baked products’quality were discussed.Also,some practical approaches to improve the quality of gluten-free baked products,in response to an increasing consumers’demand and the rising cost of refined wheat flour were highlighted.

Application of Factor Analysis in Sensory Evaluation of Tobacco Raw Materials

[ Objective] This study aimed to analyze the main sensory quality indexes of reconstituted tobacco materials. [ Method ] The factor analysis was per- formed to analyze sensory quality of reconstituted tobacco raw materials. [ Result] The results showed that the contribution rate was 87. 791% and four factors were obtained via factor analysis. The factor loading of factor 1 （ aroma quality, aroma amount, offensive odor, after-taste） was relatively large. Factor 2 was the exterior factor. Factor 3 was momentum factor. Factor 4 was the concentration factor. The comprehensive scores of samples from different regions demonstrated a descending order of Hubei, Yuxi, Chuxiong, Honghe, Dali, Kunming, Hunan, Henan, Fujian, Qujing, Baoshan, Guizhou, Zhaotong, Chongqing, Puer, Wenshan, Guang- dong, and Jiangxi. [ Conclusion] The factor analysis results provided a theoretical basis for subsequent sensory evaluation of reconstituted tobacco.

Genetic dissection of the sensory and textural properties of Chinese white noodles using a specific RIL population

To dissect the genetic control of the sensory and textural quality traits of Chinese white noodles, a population of recom- binant inbred lines （RILs）, derived from the cross of waxy wheat Nuomai 1 （NM1） and Gaocheng 8901 （Gc8901）, was used. The RILs were tested in three different environments to determine the role of environmental effects on quantitative trait loci （QTL） analysis. A total of 45 QTLs with additive effects for 17 noodle sensory and textural properties under three environments were mapped on 15 chromosomes. These QTLs showed 4.23-42.68% of the phenotypic variance explained （PVE）. Nineteen major QTLs were distributed on chromosomes 1 B, 1 D, 2A, 3B, 3D, 4A, and 6A, explaining more than 10% of the phenotypic variance （PV）. Clusters were detected on chromosomes 2B （3 QTLs）, 3B （11 QTLs） and 4A （5 QTLs）. The cluster detected on chromosome 4A was close to the Wx-B1 marker. Five co-located QTLs with additive effects were identified on chromosomes 2B, 3D, 4A, 6A, and 7B. The two major QTLs, Qadh.sdau-3B. 1 and Qspr.sdau-3B. 1, in cluster wPt666008-wPt5870 on chromosome 3B were detected in three different environments, which perhaps can be directly applied to improve the textural properties of noodles. These findings could offer evidence for the selection or development of new wheat varieties with noodle quality using molecular marker-assisted selection （MAS）.

Study of Varietal Influence Post Conservation on Biochemical and Sensory Qualities of Attiékéand Boiled Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)

Cassava root is shortly preserved after harvesting due to its tanning and rapid physiological decomposition. Consequently, the commercial value is reduced and the craving of its finishes products. With an aim of improving physiological quality, post harvest food value “the effects of bleaching and conservation in silo-pits were evaluated. Four (04) varieties of cassava: Bocou1, Bocou2, Bocou3 and Yavo were collected fresh and healthy in 13 months of maturity. They were subjected to a bleaching (65°C /15 - 30 s) followed by a kinetic conservation (7 days of intervals) in silo-pit (1 × 0.6 × 0.5 m). Results show that Bocou2 variety has the high proteins content (2.64% ± 0.01%), followed by hydrocyanic acid (8.21 ± 0.01 mg/100 g) and total carotenoids (26.7 μg/100 g). The conservation influences positively the protein content, reducing sugars content, the dries matter content and the total phenolic compounds for all the varieties excluded Bocou2 variety whose protein content drops. As regard of the fat contents, a weak increase is observed. The sensory analysis reveals that the boiled cassava of the Yavo variety is more appreciated followed by Bocou1 variety. Concerning the Attiéké, Bocou3 variety gives the more appreciated dish followed by the Yavo variety. In conclusion, the silo-pit conservation after bleaching improves the physiological quality of the cassava and the sensory taste even during 14 days. This study has a huge impact of reducing the post harvests losses and increases the commercial value of cassava in the world.

Evaluating the flavor and divergent bacterial communities in corn-based zha-chili

Zha-chili is a naturally fermented traditional food from central southern China.Corn-based zha-chili is one of the most popular varieties with a special flavor.To investigate its distinct microbiome,corn-based zha-chili samples were collected and investigated using both high-throughput sequencing and culture-dependent method.Subsequently,E-nose and E-tongue sensors were used to evaluate the overall sensory profile.We found that the bacterial communities present in zha-chili samples from the two regions were significantly different(P<0.05).Companilactobacillus,Lactiplantibacillus,and Corynebacterium were found to be the dominant genera common to samples from both regions.Among these,lactic acid bacteria were the most dominant.Biomarker genera were Ligilactobacillus,Lactobacillus,and Levilactobacillus(Huaihua)and Pantoea,Lactiplantibacillus,and Weissella(Songtao).Using culture-dependent methods,the most dominant genus Companilactobacillus was found to comprise Companilactobacillus alimentarius and Companilactobacillus futsaii.The sensory profile was also characterized.This indicated that zha-chili from the two regions could be discriminated by sourness and aftertaste-B(E-taste),and W1C,W3C,W5C,W1S,W2S,W5S,and W2W(E-nose).Correlation analysis suggested that the dominant genera might not affect the aroma quality of corn-based zha-chili,whereas they were related to taste quality.Levilactobacillus and Ligilactobacillus were positively correlated with the characteristic taste indices and negatively correlated with the off-flavor indices.Another dominant genus,Kocuria was positively correlated with umami and richness(P<0.05).Our results could provide a basis for supporting zha-chili production and help the isolation of appropriate lactic acid bacteria from corn-based zha-chili.