Effect of roasting conditions on color development and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) analysis of Malaysian-grown tropical almond nuts (Terminalia catappa L.)

BACKGROUND

Proper roasting is crucial to flavor, color, and texture development in the final product. In recent years, several research studies have been carried out to establish the best optimum roasting conditions for some common edible nuts such as; hazelnut, peanut, and pistachio nut. Although roasting is an important process for nuts and oilseeds, there is little or no information on the development of color, aroma, and textural changes in Terminalia catappa nuts during roasting.

RESULTS

Results showed that color formation and browning index were significantly (P < 0.05) influenced by the roasting temperature and time of roasting. However, the fracturability of nuts was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by both temperature of roasting and time as well as pH. The optimized results showed that the best response was reached when the roasting time was 29.9 min, roasting temperature 174.5°C, and pH 6.08, respectively. Moreover, the 3400-1560 cm(-1) carbonyl region for carboxylic acid, alkenes, esters, and amines was found to provide a flavor-print of the roasted tropical almond nut. While, increase in temperature did not produce new carbonyl compounds, it however led to higher concentration of compounds. Scanning electron microscopy of the almond nuts showed that the starch granules were embedded in tissues.

CONCLUSION

These results showed that roasting temperature and time of roasting were the main variables that significantly affected the physicochemical properties of roasted tropical almond nuts. Moreover the flavor-prints for the roasted nut were produced in the 3400-1560 cm(-1) carbonyl region. Graphical AbstractEffect of roasting conditions on fracturability and structural morphology of tropical almond nuts (T. catappa).

Microanalytical studies of metal localization in biological tissues by environmental SEM

The presence and distribution of Al and Mn in floral and seed tissues of eucalypts from Al-contaminated soils was analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDS) in an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). EDS by ESEM determined the distribution of elements between tissue types was suitable for intact samples or those with lower available moisture or intact specimens. The analytical technique was not appropriate for highly vascular samples. Other factors influencing the detection of elements by ESEM-EDS were electron scattering and the relative concentration and localization of elements within the tissues. EDS-detectable levels were significantly correlated with tissue concentrations determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for Mn but not for Al.

Identification of phosphate granules occurring in seedling tissue of two palm species (Phoenix dactylifera and Washingtonia filifera)

Haustoria of two palm species, Phoenix dactylifera L. (date) and Washingtonia filifera (Lindl.) Wendl were carefully dissected from seeds, and the ultrastructural characteristics of the large, electron-opaque granules present in the cells of this tissue were compared using standard aldehyde and OsO4 fixations. In Washingtonia, the granules were smaller than those in date and were more variable in size and presence of non-opaque inclusions. All granules appeared to be membrane bounded although they often filled the bounded space. No protein, lipid, carbohydrate or tannins were found in the granules by standard staining procedures. The granules stained positively with two different metallic-phosphate stains which contained either bismuth or lead. Energy dispersive X-ray microprobe analysis, done on aldehyde-fixed granules and those stained with both phosphate stains, confirmed the fact that phosphorus and calcium were present in the granules. The granules also bound the metallic stains as expected. All procedures consistently confirmed the presence of phosphate in the granules. The data are most consistent with the hypothesis that the granules are composed of polyphosphate.

Protein bodies from the cotyledons of Cytisus scoparius L. (Link). Ultrastructure, isolation, and subunit composition of albumin, legumin and vicilin

The structure of protein bodies differs in the upper and lower parts of the cotyledons of mature seeds of Cytisus scoparius L. The palisade-mesophyll cells contain essentially homogeneous protein bodies, without globoids, but the protein bodies of the spongy-mesophyll cells are heterogeneous, with numerous globoids. Albumins, legumins and vicilins were selectively extracted from isolated protein bodies and their subunits separated by SDS-PAGE, under non-reducing and reducing conditions.