Low glycemic index rice—a desired trait in starchy staples

Effects of boiling time on physicochemical properties of refrigerated rice: Analysis of rice structure and broth gel composition in a boiled-then-steamed process

Refrigerated rice holds great potential in the cold-chain prepared food industry. However, refrigeration often deteriorates the quality of rice, and cooking methods influence the quality of rice. The boiled-then-steamed process, which involves draining the rice broth, significantly affects the storage properties of rice. Thus, in this study, the impact of boiling time on the quality and structural changes of rice during refrigeration was investigated. In addition, the impact of rice broth gel components on the storage quality and colloidal stability of rice were examined. The results showed that extending the boiling time significantly improved rice moisture retention and reduced hardness and crystallinity. After 7 d of storage, the hardness of rice boiled for 8 min and 16 min decreased by 53.61 % and 81.13 %, respectively. The crystallinity of rice boiled for 2 min and 16 min was 17.89 % and 8.04 %, respectively. The 8-min-boiled rice exhibited the best texture and microstructural stability during refrigeration. The reduction in molecular short-range order and retrogradation enthalpy further confirmed that this method effectively slowed the retrogradation process of rice. Additionally, the composition characteristics of rice broth gel significantly influenced the refrigerated quality, affecting the distribution of moisture and starch structure within the rice. Amylose leaching reached its threshold after 8 min of boiling. The cooking method proposed in this study provides an effective and natural solution for enhancing the quality stability of refrigerated rice, offering potential benefits for the cold-chain food industry.

Rice with a healthier glycaemic profile: Unveiling the molecular mechanisms and breeding strategies for the future

Rice is a staple food crop consumed by billions globally. However, rice consumption is associated with a high glycaemic response, which has negative health implications. Identifying rice varieties with intrinsically lower glycaemic responses would benefit public health. Recent research has uncovered genomic loci in rice associated with glycaemic response in rice. However, diagnostic assays are needed to efficiently characterize these loci in rice germplasm and breeding populations. This review summarizes current knowledge on low glycaemic rice genetics and proposes strategies for diagnostic assay development. Specific loci implicated in modulating starch digestion and glycaemic response are highlighted. Developing robust, high-throughput molecular marker platform for low glycaemic rice loci will accelerate varietal improvement and enhance the nutritional qualities and health benefits of this essential crop. The review also explores the role of other grain components, such as lipids and proteins, and their interactions with starch in influencing the glycaemic index (GI).

Rice with lower amylose content could have reduced starch digestibility due to crystallized resistant starch synthesized by linearized amylopectin

BACKGROUND

High resistant starch (RS) rice with a low glycemic index (GI) is digested more slowly, resulting in a slow increase in the postprandial blood glucose level. People with milled rice as a staple diet, and with sedentary lifestyles, are more prone to acquire type 2 diabetes in the long term. With an increasing population of diabetics worldwide, one possible solution is the development of rice-based, low-GI foods with high RS content rice. In addition to amylose content (AC), linear chains of amylopectin also affect the rate of starch digestibility.

RESULTS

The values of GI (52.49-63.0), RS (0.64% to 2.28%), and AC (3.82% to 24.52%) were found to vary widely in 110 rice genotypes. Genotypes IG 23 and IG 40, with contrasting AC (15.65% and 24.52%, respectively), revealed that amylose alone did not affect digestion rate. Starch morphology, bioaccessibility, and pasting properties differed noticeably among genotypes. A starch debranching enzyme pullulanase assay indicated the role of the linear amylopectin chain in crystallized RS formation within the grains of lower AC genotype IG 23.

CONCLUSION

Enhanced activity of the starch-debranching enzyme pullulanase produced linearized amylopectin resulted into reduced starch digestibility in low-amylose rice. This is probably the first report on the natural presence of high RS (crystallized) in rice with lower AC (IG 23). Development of rice-based food with low GI and high RS could be a promising strategy for lowering the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Enhancement of Nutrient, Trace Element, and Organic Selenium Contents of Ratooning Rice Grains and Straw Through Foliar Application of Selenite

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that has various beneficial effects for human healthy. However, the effects of different Se forms and concentrations on growth and development, photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidant capacity are still unclear with regard to the dual grain-and-feed dual-use of ratoon rice (RR). In this study, three concentrations of three different Se forms were applied to RR using the foliar spraying method, and the results showed that Se treatment can increase the Se content of rice grain and straw. All the Se treatments improved the photosynthetic indexes and activities of antioxidant enzymes. The Se and trace elements contents, and the percentages of organic Se and protein Se of brown rice were found to be similar in all three Se forms. A higher organic Se content was found in the grain by spraying sodium selenite and Se-Met, in which the resistant starch (RS) content was increased with the increase in amylose content in grains. The main Se species in the grain was SeMet and the SeMeCys was found only with SeMet treatments. The grain quality showed that all three Se forms increased the consistency of gelatinization. Our study indicated that exogenous Se could improve the nutritional quality of both grain and straw by improving photosynthetic traits and antioxidant enzyme activities, especially sodium selenite and Se-Met. These results underscore the potential of foliar biofortification to enhance the functional component contents of RR grains and provide an insight into the Se enrichment of ratoon rice.

Development of Whole-Grain Rice Lines Exhibiting Low and Intermediate Glycemic Index with Decreased Amylose Content

The demand for rice varieties with lower amylose content (AC) is increasing in Southeast Asia, primarily due to their desirable texture and cooking qualities. This study presents the development of whole-grain rice lines with low to intermediate glycemic index (GI) and reduced AC. We selected six rice lines for in vivo GI assessment based on their starch properties. We successfully identified two lines with low AC that exhibited low and intermediate GI values, respectively. Our findings indicate that dietary fiber (DF) content may significantly influence rice GI. The selected whole-grain low-GI line showed a higher ratio of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) to insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) compared to control varieties, highlighting SDF's potential positive role in lowering whole-grain rice's GI. This study underscores the feasibility of developing rice varieties with desirable agronomic traits, nutritional traits, and culinary attributes, particularly for individuals managing their blood sugar levels. Additionally, we proposed the positive role of starch composition, especially DF content, in modulating the GI of rice. This study reinforces the importance of incorporating starch properties and DF content into rice breeding programs to produce more health-oriented and marketable rice varieties.

Short-range molecular order is the driving factor for starch digestibility and texture of alginate-encapsulated rice beads

BACKGROUND

Rice grain analogues with slow starch digestibility are commonly associated with an unsatisfactory texture, often leading to consumer dissatisfaction. Alginate encapsulation has been applied to reduce the digestibility of corn and potato starch. The fine molecular structures of rice starch can greatly determine its digestibility and texture. However, it remains unclear whether a combination of alginate encapsulation and varied starch molecular structures can be employed to create rice grain analogues that offer both slow starch digestibility and an appealing texture.

RESULTS

For the first time, the present study constructed alginate-encapsulated rice beads (as a rice grain analogue). A wide range of starch digestion rates were found among alginate-encapsulated rice beads prepared with different rice varieties, and only certain rice varieties (e.g. Subei and Nanjing) were able to result in rice beads with slower starch digestibility than their parental rice kernels. More importantly, all rice beads showed a relatively softer texture compared to their parental rice kernels. Correlation analysis showed that starch digestion rate, hardness and stickiness were all positively correlated with the ratio of short-range amorphous regions in rice bead samples, as obtained from Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, but not with the relative crystallinity.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, these results suggest that rice beads with slower starch digestion rate and softer texture could be obtained by choosing rice varieties that develop more short-range ordered structure after cooking. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Macromolecular, thermal, and nonthermal technologies for reduction of glycemic index in food-A review

Consumers rely on product labels to make healthy choices, especially with regard to the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL), which identify foods that stabilize blood sugar. Employing both thermal and nonthermal processing techniques can potentially reduce the GI, contributing to improved blood sugar regulation and overall metabolic health. This study concentrates on the most current advances in GI-reduction food processing technologies. Food structure combines fiber, healthy fats, and proteins to slow digestion, reducing GI. The influence of thermal approaches on the physical and chemical modification of starch led to decreased GI. The duration of heating and the availability of moisture also determine the degree of hydrolysis of starch and the glycemic effects on food. At a lower temperature, the parboiling revealed less gelatinization and increased moisture. The internal temperature of the product is raised during thermal and nonthermal treatment, speeds up retrogradation, and reduces the rate of starch breakdown.

Pre-dry heat treatment alters the structure and ultimate in vitro digestibility of wheat starch-lipids complex in hot-extrusion 3D printing

Herein, we proposed dry heat treatment (DHT) as a pre-treatment method for modifying printed materials, with a particular focus on its application in the control of starch-lipid interactions during hot-extrusion 3D printing (HE-3DP). The results showed that pre-DHT could promote the complexation of wheat starch (WS) and oleic acid (OA)/corn oil (CO) during HE-3DP and thus increase the resistant starch (RS) content. From the structural perspectives, pre-DHT could break starch molecular chains into lower relative molecular weight which enhanced the starch-lipids hydrophobic interactions to form the V-type crystalline structure during HE-3DP. Notably, pre-DHT could also induce the formation of complexed structure which was maintained during HE-3DP. Compared with CO, OA with linear hydrophobic chains was easier to enter the spiral cavity of starch to form more ordered structures, resulting in higher RS content of 27.48 %. Overall, the results could provide basic data for designing nutritional starchy food systems by HE-3DP.

Advancements in understanding low starch hydrolysis in pigmented rice: A comprehensive overview of mechanisms

This review explores the health-promoting properties of pigmented rice, focusing on its unique ability to promote slow starch digestion and improve blood sugar regulation. While the impact of slow starch digestibility is widely acknowledged, our current understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains insufficient. Therefore, this review aims to bridge the gap by examining the intricate factors and mechanisms that contribute to the low starch hydrolysis of pigmented rice to better understand how it promotes slower starch digestion and improves blood sugar regulation. This paves the way for future advancements in utilizing pigmented rice by enhancing our understanding of the mechanisms behind low starch hydrolysis. These may include the development of food products aimed at mitigating hyperglycemic symptoms and reducing the risk of diabetes. This research broadens our understanding of pigmented rice and facilitates the development of strategies to promote health outcomes by incorporating pigmented rice into our diets.

Correlation between in vitro starch digestibility and starch structure/physicochemical properties in rice

Natural resistant starch (RS) in rice provides human health benefits, and its concentration in rice is influenced by the structure and physicochemical properties of starch. The native starch structures and physicochemical properties of three rice varieties, QR, BR58, and BR50, and their relationships to in vitro digestibility were studied. The starch granules in all three varieties were irregular or polyhedral in shape. There were a few oval granules and a few pinhole structures in QR, no oval granules but a higher number of pinholes in BR58, and no oval granules and pinholes in BR50. QR is a low-amylose (13.8 %), low-RS (0.2 %) variety. BR58 is a low-amylose (15.3 %), high-RS (6.5 %) variety. BR50 is a high-amylose (26.7 %), high-RS (8.3 %) variety. All three starches exhibited typical A-type diffraction patterns. Starch molecular weight, chain length distribution, starch branching degree, pasting capabilities, and thermal properties differed considerably between the rice starches. The RS contents of the rice starch varieties were positively correlated with AAC, Mw/Mn, Mz/Mn, peak 3, B, PTime, and Tp and negatively correlated with Mn, peak 2, DB, PV, and BD, according to Pearson's correlation analysis. These findings may be helpful for the breeding and development of high-RS rice varieties.

Exploring Rice Consumption Habits and Determinants of Choice, Aiming for the Development and Promotion of Rice Products with a Low Glycaemic Index

Current consumption drivers, particularly those related to health and wellbeing, have been influencing trends for the lower consumption of cereals, particularly rice, due to their typical high glycaemic index (GIs) and consequent impacts on obesity. To satisfy this consumer concern, more food innovations that promote healthy eating habits are required. Such innovations must be consumer-oriented to succeed, understanding the dynamics of consumer habits and responding to consumer expectations. This study explored these habits, from acquisition to consumption practices, and the expectations of the European market from the perspective of the major European consumer, Portugal, to obtain insights that support the development of low glycaemic index (GI) rice products. A mixed-methods approach was applied. For the first quantitative questionnaire, 256 Portuguese rice consumers aged 18-73 years were recruited. Twenty-four individuals were selected according to their gender and rice consumption profiles for in-depth interviews. The results confirmed that rice was the main side dish for the participants and was mainly consumed at home, cooked from raw milled rice. The drivers of consumption differ according to the provisioning process stage. In the acquisition stage, participants reported benefits from the rice's dynamic market by comparing products on price, brand, and rice types. In the preparation stage, participants reported the adequacy of the recipe and occasion, while in the consumption stage, participants enhanced their sensory preferences, depending on the rice dish. Although the GI concept was unknown to half of the participants, it was perceived as interesting and positive for healthy eating. Consumers showed concern about the taste and naturalness of the product, preferring it to be as close to a homemade dish as possible. The negative perceptions we verified were interpreted to be due to a lack of knowledge about the GI concept. Therefore, awareness actions and informative campaigns are recommended to promote low-GI rice products.

Role of short germination and milling on physical properties, amino acid and metabolomic profiles of high amylose rice fractions

Short germination is a process that can improve bioactive compounds in rice. This work aimed investigate the physical properties, phenolic compounds (PC), antioxidant activity and amino acids composition of husk + bran, brown and milled rice with high amylose content after short germination (16 h). α-amylase activity (Falling Number, FN) and enthalpy (ΔH) were unchanged (p < 0.05). RVA curve profiles were similar, even though after short germination and milling. Globally, metabolomics analysis identified 117 PC, in which 111 (bound), 104 (free) and 21 revealed in both extracts. p-Coumaric, trans-ferulic and ferulic acids were the most abundant PC revealed in all fractions. The portion husk + bran showed the highest level of total antioxidant activity (709.90 µmol TE) in both free and bound fractions. In terms of total amino acids, there was no statistical difference (p < 0.05) among non-germinated and germinated samples, contrary to free amino acids content. Glutamic acid (Glu) presented the highest values combining short germination and milling (1725-1900 mg/100 g) consequently, leads to higher value of GABA (12.21 mg/100 g). The combination of short germination and milling demonstrated a good strategy to improve the nutritional quality of rice, unless the thermal and pasting properties have been altered, contribute to potential health benefits on human nutrition.

Raman Multi-Omic Snapshots of Koshihikari Rice Kernels Reveal Important Molecular Diversities with Potential Benefits in Healthcare

This study exploits quantitative algorithms of Raman spectroscopy to assess, at the molecular scale, the nutritional quality of individual kernels of the Japanese short-grain rice cultivar Koshihikari in terms of amylose-to-amylopectin ratio, fractions of phenylalanine and tryptophan aromatic amino acid residues, protein-to-carbohydrate ratio, and fractions of protein secondary structures. Statistical assessments on a large number of rice kernels reveal wide distributions of the above nutritional parameters over nominally homogeneous kernel batches. This demonstrates that genetic classifications cannot catch omic fluctuations, which are strongly influenced by a number of extrinsic factors, including the location of individual grass plants within the same rice field and the level of kernel maturation. The possibility of collecting nearly real-time Raman "multi-omic snapshots" of individual rice kernels allows for the automatic (low-cost) differentiation of groups of kernels with restricted nutritional characteristics that could be used in the formulation of functional foods for specific diseases and in positively modulating the intestinal microbiota for protection against bacterial infection and cancer prevention.

Nutritional assessment of nixtamalized maize tortillas produced from dry masa flour, landraces, and high yield hybrids and varieties

In the scientific literature there are different analyses of the nutritional profiles of maize tortillas, whether they are landraces or hybrid maize versus those made with dry masa flour (DMF). In general terms, there is agreement in the reported content of moisture. However, for the other nutrients, a great disparity is reported for each type of tortilla which may be due to various factors such as the type of maize or processing methods. In this study, the nutritional aspects of maize tortillas made with different genotypes (five hybrids, two varieties, five landraces, six hybrid mixtures and six dry masa flours) under controlled conditions, were compared. More than 30 characteristics were analyzed. High performance hybrids and varieties (HPHV) and landraces had the highest (p < 0.05) antioxidant capacity (58.8% free, 150.2% bound). In terms of vitamins contents, the tortillas produced from DMF contained 11.2 and 3.5 times more B1, 18.6 and 7.8 times more B2, and 2.7 and 5.3 times more B3 than HPHV and landraces respectively; and only in these samples was detected folic acid. DMF tortilla samples contained 1.75 times more sodium and 2.75 times more iron than the other groups, and 0.75 times less calcium than HPHV. Zinc was present in higher concentration (p < 0.05) in DMF tortilla samples. The landraces had the highest protein content (average 10.28%), but the tortillas produced from DMF presented the highest protein quality evaluated by protein digestibility-corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS) (p < 0.05) that represents 27, 25 and 19% more than hybrids mixture, HPHV and landraces, respectively. This work gives valuable information on how different types of grains differ in the nutritional quality affecting the final product to provide more elements in the decision-making of processors. There is no a perfect maize, but there are genotypes that can be combined as mixtures and the processing method to design superior nutritional tortillas and related products for populations that highly consume them and improve their human health.

Influence of instant rice characteristics and processing conditions on starch digestibility-A review

Instant rice is increasingly popular around the world due to its convenience, but it commonly has a high glycemic index, and a frequent consumption might contribute to the occurrence of many chronic diseases. In this review, the main factors determining starch digestibility of instant rice were comprehensively evaluated, aiming to help the rice industry develop instant rice with slow starch digestibility. Starch digestibility in instant rice can be reduced by manipulating its intrinsic and extrinsic nutrients. Processing conditions, including pre-gelatinization, storage, and reheating are also important for the starch digestibility of instant rice. Individual differences in terms of glycemic response to the same carbohydrate-based diet should be considered when knowledge is transformed from in vitro method to human conditions. This review contains important information that has the potential to reduce the starch digestibility of instant rice and improve public health.

More than the main structural genes: Regulation of resistant starch formation in rice endosperm and its potential application

In the past decade, research on resistant starch has evoked interest due to the prevention and inhibition of chronic human diseases, such as diabetes, cancer, and obesity. Increasing the amylose content (AC) and resistant starch (RS) has been pivotal in improving the nutritional benefit of rice. However, the exact mechanism of RS formation is complex due to interconnected genetic factors regulating amylose-amylopectin variation. In this review, we discussed the regulatory factors influencing the RS formation centered on the transcription, post-transcriptional, and post-translational processes. Furthermore, we described the developments in RS and AC levels in rice compared with other high RS cereals. Briefly, we enumerated potential applications of high RS mutants in health, medical, and other industries. We contest that the information captured herein can be deployed for marker-assisted breeding and precision breeding techniques through genome editing to improve rice varieties with enhanced RS content.

Structural changes of starch under different milling degrees affect the cooking and textural properties of rice

A long-term consumption of white rice increases the risk of T2D. Finding an appropriate milling degree (MD) of rice balancing nutrition and palatability benefits public health. This study investigated effects of MD-0 s, 5 s, 60 s on morphological, cooking and textural properties of rice. Texture profile analysis showed that milling decreased hardness, while increased adhesiveness of rice. SEM images showed that milling induced notches and structural damage, which facilitated gelatinization of rice determined by DSC. Leached starch was further analyzed by size exclusion chromatography and chain-length distribution. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that milling induced more leached shot-chain amylose and long-chain amylopectin, which decreased hardness and increased adhesiveness of cooked rice. Collectively, milling-induced changes of starch gelatinization and fine structure of leached starch were decisive factors of rice texture. Moderate processing improved the texture of brown rice and maintained nutrients. This would provide guidance for the health industry of whole grains.

The addition of crosslinked corn bran arabinoxylans with different gelling characteristics was associated with the pasting, rheological, structural, and digestion properties of corn starch

Crosslinked corn bran arabinoxylan (CLAX) is a food hydrocolloid that can be applied to improve the physicochemical and digestion properties of starch. However, the impact of CLAX with different gelling characteristics on starch properties remains elusive. Here, high cross-linked arabinoxylan (H-CLAX), moderate crosslinked arabinoxylan (M-CLAX), and low crosslinked arabinoxylan (L-CLAX) were fabricated to investigate their effects on the pasting, rheological, structural, and in vitro digestion property of corn starch (CS). The results showed that H-CLAX, M-CLAX, and L-CLAX differently increased the pasting viscosity and gel elasticity of CS, with H-CLAX exhibiting the greatest effect. The structural characterization of CS-CLAX mixtures showed that H-CLAX, M-CLAX, and L-CLAX differently enhanced the swelling power of CS and increased the hydrogen bonds between CS and CLAX. Furthermore, the addition of CLAX (especially H-CLAX) significantly reduced both the digestion rate and extent of CS, probably due to the increased viscosity and the formation of the amylose-polyphenol complex. This study provided new insights into the interaction between CS and CLAX, and could help to develop healthier foods with slow starch digestibility.

Starch fine molecular structures: The basis for designer rice with slower digestibility and desirable texture properties

Development of whole rice with low glycaemic index has been achieved, however, these rices are frequently associated with a poor texture property. Recent advances in terms of understanding the importance of starch fine molecular structures on the starch digestibility/texture of cooked whole rice have shed new insights on mechanisms of starch digestibility and texture from molecular levels. With an extensive discussion on the correlative and causal relationships among starch molecular structure, texture and starch digestibility of cooked whole rice, this review identified desirable starch fine molecular structures contributing to both slow starch digestibility and preferable textures. For instance, the selection of rice variety having more amylopectin intermediate chains while less amylopectin long chains might help develop cooked whole rice with both slower starch digestibility and softer texture. The information could help rice industry transform cooked whole rice into a healthier food product with slow starch digestibility and desirable texture.

Relations between in vitro starch digestibility of commercial baked products and their macronutrients

BACKGROUND

Baked products such as biscuits and breads are the staple foods for a large population, with the starch digestion rate having a crucial effect on human health. Currently, there is a lack of information on general starch digestibility in commercial baked products and its correlation with macronutrient content.

RESULTS

The present study investigated the starch digestibility of 35 commercial baked products, ranging from low to high moisture contents. Biscuits generally had a slower starch digestion rate than mini-breads, whereas breads including whole wheat bread had the fastest digestion rate. Additionally, starch digestibility was negatively correlated with the calorie (R²  = 0.71) and fat content (R²  = 0.56) in per serving size, possibly because of the formation of amylose-lipid complex.

CONCLUSION

The present study provides a database for the in vitro starch digestibility of a large number of food items, which gives general indications on the performance of starch components of commercial products in the human gastrointestinal tract. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparative RNA-Seq analysis unravels molecular mechanisms regulating therapeutic properties in the grains of traditional rice Kavuni

Developing rice varieties with enhanced levels of functional bioactives is an important intervention for achieving food and nutritional security in Asia where rice is the staple food and Type II diabetes incidences are higher. The present study was aimed at dissecting out the molecular events underlying the accumulation of bio active compounds in pigmented traditional rice Kavuni. Comparative transcriptome profiling in the developing grains of Kavuni and a white rice variety ASD 16 generated 37.7 and 29.8 million reads respectively. Statistical analysis identified a total of 9177 exhibiting significant differential expression (DEGs) between the grains of Kavuni and ASD 16. Pathway mapping of DEGs revealed the preferential up-regulation of genes involved in the biosynthesis of amylose and dietary fibres in Kavuni accounting for its low glycemic index (GI). Transcripts involved in the biosynthesis of carotenoids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids and phenylpropanoids were also found to be up-regulated in the grains of Kavuni. This study identified up-regulation of key transcripts involved in the accumulation of phenolic acids having potential for inhibiting major hydrolytic enzymes α-amylase and α-glucosidase and thus accounting for the slow digestibility leading to low GI. Overall, this study has identified molecular targets for the genetic manipulation of anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant traits in rice.

Analysis of Agro Alternatives to Boost Cameroon’s Socio-Environmental Resilience, Sustainable Development, and Conservation of Native Forests

Located in Central Africa, Cameroon is a country with strong social inequalities and fragile governance and institutions. This has a direct impact on the sustainable development of its territory, communities, and native forest, which are subject to constant socio-environmental and economic pressures due to overexploitation. This research has three purposes: (1) to conduct a comparative theoretical/empirical diagnosis on the quality of Cameroon’s institutional framework, governance, and public policies related to territorial sustainability; (2) to assess the impact of the three clusters identified among the 44 stakeholders interviewed (forestry companies/certifiers; NGOs/communities; and banks/public institutions) on each other; and (3) to analyze the contribution of the use of cassava (Manihot esculenta) as an agro alternative to Cameroon’s socio-ecological resilience, sustainable development, and conservation of native forests. The research found: (1) the need for mixed governance with joint accountability to find equitable and lasting sustainable solutions for the parties involved, making communities/ethnic groups visible in the decision-making process; and (2) the agro use of cassava has a positive impact on socio-ecological resilience by contributing to employment, the protection of devastated soils, and the provision of quality food, and by reducing pollution from the cement industry through using cassava waste as an input.

Development of low glycemic index instant Phirni (pudding) mix-its visco-thermal, morphological and rheological characterization

High amylose rice (HAR) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) are the preferred choices for enhancement of resistant starch content and lowering of glycemic index in dairy desserts. The effects of different levels of skimmed milk powder (SMP): HAR flour (45:55 to 75:25) and CMC (0.1 to 1%) were investigated on physical characteristics of dry-mix and on texture profile parameters, resistant starch (RS), predicted glycemic index (pGI), glycemic load (GL) and overall acceptability of phirni (a traditional milk pudding). Design expert predicted SMP (70): HAR (30) and CMC (0.8%) as optimum levels for reducing the pGI and maximizing the RS content and other quality characteristics in phirni. RS content of phirni (4.38%) prepared from optimized dry-mix (ODM) was higher while pGI (48.12) and GL (7.50) were lower as compared to phirni prepared from market dry-mix (MDM). The visco-thermal properties of ODM and MDM also showed significant variations. Storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G'') indicated that ODM phirni was less solid than MDM phirni. Scanning electron micrographs showed fused structures in ODM, while coarse sheet like structures were observed across the surface of MDM. Thus, ODM can be a promising substitute for the available milk desserts for diabetic patients.

Combined effects of starch fine molecular structures and water content on starch digestibility of cooked white rice

Although the starch digestibility of cooked white rice has been investigated with regard to its relation to starch structure, it is not yet clear how starch molecular structure and water content affect its digestion rate. To investigate this, the in vitro starch digestibility and molecular structure of 10 rice varieties with a range of rice-to-water cooking ratios were investigated. As expected, starch digestibility varied with different conditions. Typically, a higher amylose content resulted in a lower maximum digestion extent for a given water content. Having relatively more and longer amylopectin intermediate chains caused a slower starch digestion rate, but only with rice-to-water ratios between 1:1 and 1:1.2. These results could prove useful to find combinations of starch fine molecular structures and water contents to produce cooked rice with low glycemic index.

Control of starch-lipid interactions on starch digestibility during hot-extrusion 3D printing for starchy foods

The nutritional design of personalized starchy foods has become a research hotspot in the field of food science. Driven by the immense functional and nutritional implications of starch-lipid binary interactions, this study is aimed at designing starch digestibility by controlling the interaction between starch and glycerol monostearate (GMS)/stearic acid (SA) using a hot-extrusion 3D printing (HE-3DP) environment. The results indicated that the thermal shear force in the HE-3DP environment promoted hydrophobic interactions between starch and lipids, forming a V-type starch-lipid complex with a compact and ordered structure, thus enhancing enzymatic resistance. Compared with GMS, SA with linear hydrophobic chains was inclined to compound with starch to form a more ordered structure. Interestingly, the slowly digestible starch (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) content reached 25.06% when the added SA content was 10%. Besides, correlations between the structural parameters and digestibility were established, which provided crucial information for designing nutritional starchy food systems using HE-3DP.

Resistant starch formation in rice: Genetic regulation and beyond

Resistant starch (RS), a healthy dietary fiber, is a particular type of starch that has attracted much research attention in recent years. RS has important roles in reducing glycemic index, postprandial blood glucose levels, and serum cholesterol levels, thereby improving and preventing many diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. The formation of RS is influenced by intrinsic properties of starch (e.g., starch granule structure, starch crystal structure, and amylose-to-amylopectin ratio) and non-starch components (e.g., proteins, lipids, and sugars), as well as storage and processing conditions. Recent studies have revealed that several starch-synthesis-related genes (SSRGs) are crucial for the formation of RS during seed development. Several transcription factors and mRNA splicing factors have been shown to affect the expression or splicing of SSRGs that regulate RS content, suggesting their potential roles in RS formation. This review focuses mainly on recent research progress on the genetic regulation of RS content and discusses the emerging genetic and molecular mechanisms of RS formation in rice.

Post-genomics revolution in the design of premium quality rice in a high-yielding background to meet consumer demands in the 21st century

The eating and cooking quality (ECQ) of rice is critical for determining its economic value in the marketplace and promoting consumer acceptance. It has therefore been of paramount importance in rice breeding programs. Here, we highlight advances in genetic studies of ECQ and discuss prospects for further enhancement of ECQ in rice. Innovations in gene- and genome-editing techniques have enabled improvements in rice ECQ. Significant genes and quantitative trait loci (QTLs) have been shown to regulate starch composition, thereby affecting amylose content and thermal and pasting properties. A limited number of genes/QTLs have been identified for other ECQ properties such as protein content and aroma. Marker-assisted breeding has identified rare alleles in diverse genetic resources that are associated with superior ECQ properties. The post-genomics-driven information summarized in this review is relevant for augmenting current breeding strategies to meet consumer preferences and growing population demands.

Diversity: current and prospective secondary metabolites for nutrition and medicine

Plants have been used as sources of food, feed and medicine for millennia. The ever-increasing population has, however, dramatically increased the burden on our arable land to meet nutritional demand. Concomitantly, and in part due to poor nutrition, we are faced with massive increases in chronic diseases, meaning the need for medicine has also increased. Here, we look back on research in these areas, surveying the polyphenols as a case study for health-conferring metabolites. We conclude that the tools that will allow us to breed more nutritious crops are all at hand. We stress that collaboration between plant and medical research needs to be intensified in order to improve our understanding of the bioactivities. In doing so, we attempt to draw a roadmap for the use of plants for mid-21st Century human health.

Effects of degree of milling on the starch digestibility of cooked rice during (in vitro) small intestine digestion

Effects of degree of milling on starch digestibility of cooked rice during (in vitro) small intestine digestion were investigated. By fitting starch digestograms to the logarithm of slope plot and combination of parallel and sequential digestion kinetics model, two starch fractions with distinct digestion rate constants were identified. Results from scanning electronic microscope and confocal laser scanning microscope showed that the rapidly digestible starch fraction (RDF) was mainly composed of gelatinized starch, while the slowly digestible starch fraction (SDF) was consisted of relatively intact starch granules, protein matrix encapsulated starch and starch-protein binary complex. The cooked rice with milling treatment had more loosely packed and larger network cells compared to that for brown rice. Consequentially, the RDF content was decreased, while that for SDF was increased by the milling treatment. These results could help the rice processing industry to develop healthy rice products with desirable starch digestibility.

Starch biosynthesis in cereal endosperms: An updated review over the last decade

Starch is a vital energy source for living organisms and is a key raw material and additive in the food and non-food industries. Starch has received continuous attention in multiple research fields. The endosperm of cereals (e.g., rice, corn, wheat, and barley) is the most important site for the synthesis of storage starch. Around 2010, several excellent reviews summarized key progress in various fields of starch research, serving as important references for subsequent research. In the past 10 years, many achievements have been made in the study of starch synthesis and regulation in cereals. The present review provides an update on research progress in starch synthesis of cereal endosperms over the past decade, focusing on new enzymes and non-enzymatic proteins involved in starch synthesis, regulatory networks of starch synthesis, and the use of elite alleles of starch synthesis-related genes in cereal breeding programs. We also provide perspectives on future research directions that will further our understanding of cereal starch biosynthesis and regulation to support the rational design of ideal quality grain.

Application of first-order kinetics modeling to reveal the nature of starch digestion characteristics

Mathematical modeling of in vitro starch digestograms is essential to understand starch structure-digestibility relationships as it covers all detailed information of the starch digestograms with only a few kinetics-based parameters. However, many assumptions exist for these mathematical models, which are frequently overlooked by researchers and lead to inappropriate or even wrong interpretations of the fitted parameters. This review presents a critical evaluation of four mostly applied empirical first-order kinetics models including single first-order kinetics (SK), logarithm of slope (LOS) transformed kinetics, parallel first-order kinetics (PK) and the combination of parallel and sequential (CPS) kinetics models. For homogeneous food systems, the SK model is perfectly suitable, whereas the LOS, PK and CPS models were suitably developed for food systems containing multiple digestible fractions. For the digestion of starch containing multiple digestible fractions, the LOS model assumed a sequential digestion pattern, whereas the PK model assumed a parallel pattern. In the current review, there is also emphasis on the recently developed CPS model, which is able to differentiate the sequential and parallel digestion patterns for different starch digestible fractions existing in food systems. Understanding these assumptions enables a better selection of an appropriate mathematical model for improving the understanding of in vitro starch digestion characteristics. This review meets the growing interest of the food industry in terms of developing a new generation of foods with slower starch digestibility.

OsTPR boosts the superior grains through increase in upper secondary rachis branches without incurring a grain quality penalty

To address the future food security in Asia, we need to improve the genetic gain of grain yield while ensuring the consumer acceptance. This study aimed to identify novel genes influencing the number of upper secondary rachis branches (USRB) to elevate superior grains without compromising grain quality by studying the genetic variance of 310 diverse O. sativa var. indica panel using single- and multi-locus genome-wide association studies (GWAS), gene set analyses and gene regulatory network analysis. GWAS of USRB identified 230 significant (q-value < 0.05) SNPs from chromosomes 1 and 2. GWAS targets narrowed down using gene set analyses identified large effect association on an important locus LOC_Os02g50790/LOC_Os02g50799 encoding a nuclear-pore anchor protein (OsTPR). The superior haplotype derived from non-synonymous SNPs identified in OsTPR was specifically associated with increase in USRB with superior grains being low chalk. Through haplotype mining, we further demonstrated the synergy of offering added yield advantage due to superior allele of OsTPR in elite materials with low glycaemic index (GI) property. We further validated the importance of OsTPR using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) population by introgressing a superior allele of OsTPR into elite materials resulted in raise in productivity in high amylose background. This confirmed a critical role for OsTPR in influencing yield while maintaining grain and nutritional quality.

Chemical components and chain-length distributions affecting quinoa starch digestibility and gel viscoelasticity after germination treatment

A germination treatment was explored in this study as a green strategy to reduce the in vitro starch digestibility of cooked quinoa. The alterations of chemical compositions, starch chain-length distributions (CLDs) and rheological characteristics of quinoa flours after the germination treatment were characterized. Results showed that a significant alteration of amylose CLDs and the starch digestibility was observed for cooked quinoa flours after different germination times. By fitting starch digestograms to the logarithm of slop (LOS) plot and the combination of parallel and sequential kinetics model (CPS), two starch digestible fractions with distinct rate constants were identified. Pearson correlation analysis further found that the observed starch digestive characteristics could be largely explained by the alterations of amylose CLDs caused by the germination treatment. More specifically, the rapidly digestible starch fraction mainly consisted of amorphous amylopectin molecules and amylose intermolecular crystallites. On the other hand, the slowly digestible starch fraction was largely formed by intramolecular interactions among amylose short chains (degree of polymerization (DP) < 500). These results suggest that germination may be a promising way to develop cereal products with slower starch digestibility.