Enhanced adoption of new cassava varieties is dependent on the ability to breed for acceptability attributes that define boiled roots and flour-based meals. This study assessed the role of pasting properties in defining farmers’ acceptability. Cassava accessions in a Triadic Comparison of Technologies (TRICOT) approach were assessed for acceptability in addition to moisture content root softness (boiled roots)and pasting properties (flour). Results showed location based differences in moisture content (13-17%) and boiled root softness (0.5-6.0 N/cm). Pasting properties such as peak viscosity (4300-5500 cP), breakdown (2204-3234 cP) and final viscosity (2953-3493) also varied significantly among accessions. Linear relationships were observed between consumer acceptance parameters and pasting properties {(final viscosity and root mealiness (r=0.7), ease of mingling (r=0.6), product stickiness (r=0.5) and overall performance of the flour based meal (r=0.6)}.Therefore pasting property analysis can differentiate cassava accessions and is an important tool in selection of consumer acceptable varieties.

ABSTRACT: Waterlogging is a common abiotic stress in global maize production. Maize flowering stage (from tasseling to silking) is more fragile to environmental stresses among different growth stages. The effects of waterlogging at flowering stage on the grain yield and starch quality of waxy maize were studied using Suyunuo5 (SYN5) and Yunuo7 (YN7). The grain yield and starch concentration of both hybrids were reduced by waterlogging. The size of starch granules and proportion of small-molecule amylopectin increased in SYN5 and decreased in YN7 when plants suffered waterlogging at flowering, in contrast to the change trend of relative crystallinity. The pasting viscosities and gelatinization temperatures were reduced, whereas the gelatinization enthalpy was unaffected by waterlogging in both hybrids. Our study indicated that waterlogging at flowering reduced the grain yield, restricted starch deposition, and deteriorated the pasting property of waxy maize. Between the two hybrids, YN7 and high pasting viscosities and low retrogradation percentage than SYN5, indicated its advantages on produce starch for viscous and less retrograde food. Results provide information for utilization of waxy maize grain in food production.

Rice-Tartary buckwheat is a special type of Tartary buckwheat with easy hulling thin shell. The local rice-Tartary buckwheat ‘cv. Xiaomiqiao’ (XMQ) was used to explore the characteristics of photosynthesis, starch synthesis, yield and quality, as compared to Tartary buckwheat ‘cv. Jinqiao 2’(JQ2). XMQ showed significantly lower values of net photosynthetic rate, ADPGase activity and starch synthase activity at one or more periods during grain filling, as compared to that of JQ2. The effective branch number and grain number per plant of XMQ were similar to that of JQ2 regardless of different years, but the 1000-grain weight was significantly lighter that resulted in the significantly lower yield. XMQ accumulated similar contents of starch (amylose, amylopectin) and protein (glutelin, albumin, prolamin, globulin) to that of JQ2, but exhibited significantly lower flavonoid content. The values of peak viscosity and hot paste viscosity in XMQ were similar to that of JQ2, but the values of cool paste viscosity, breakdown and setback were significantly lower. In conclusion, XMQ showed low yield due to the insufficient of photosynthesis and starch synthesis. XMQ exhibited high nutritional quality as well as normal Tartary buckwheat and stored 18.88mg g-1 of flavonoid, that can be consumed as daily diet. The present results will provide a basis for food processing and breeding of rice-Tartary buckwheat.

This study assessed the impact of mineral fertilization on tuber yield and food quality of yam genotypes, specifically Dioscorea alata and Dioscorea rotundata. Four genotypes, each from D. alata and D. rotundata, were used in field experiments conducted in Ibadan, Nigeria, in the 2017 and 2018 cropping seasons. Experiments were conducted under low soil NPK fertility conditions with and without fertiliser treatments. A recommended NPK rate for the area (90, 50, and 75 Kg N, P, K ha-1) was applied to plots with fertiliser treatment. Tuber yield, functional and pasting properties of yam flour, and sensory attributes of pounded yams were collected. The results showed differential responses of the genotypes to tuber yield and food quality with fertiliser application. Fertiliser application has generally increased fresh tuber yield, but it has affected some genotypes' flour quality and textural attributes of the pounded yams. As regards genotypes Danacha and TDa0200012, fertiliser application has increased tuber yield without causing a decrease in tuber quality hence, suggesting Danacha and TDa0200012 as suitable genotypes for maximizing fertiliser productivity. However, in another genotype Ojuiyawo, fertiliser application effectively increased tuber yield but deteriorated tuber quality. Our results suggested that it is crucial to determine the impact of fertilisation on tuber yield and quality for each genotype and select the appropriate genotype to improve productivity through mineral fertilisation. The results of this study can be widely applied to enhance yam productivity in sub-Saharan Africa and useful for sustainable agriculture in yam-growing areas.