Central Tuber Crops Research Institute

About: Central Tuber Crops Research Institute is a facility organization based out in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Starch & Fermentation. The organization has 475 authors who have published 587 publications receiving 10285 citations.

Implications of organic management on yield, tuber quality and soil health in yams in the humid tropics

Abstract: Global consciousness of food safety, health and environmental issues has stimulated interest in alternative agricultural systems like organic farming. Since information on organic farming of tuber crops is meagre, a field experiment was conducted in split plot design over a five-year period at Central Tuber Crops Research Institute, India. The aims were to evaluate the impact of organic, conventional and traditional production systems on yield, proximate composition and mineral content of tubers and soil physico-chemical and biological properties in three species of Dioscorea (white yam: D. rotundata, greater yam: D. alata and lesser yam: D. esculenta). The production systems were assigned to main plots and species to subplots. Organic farming (20.34 t ha -1 ) produced significantly higher yield over conventional practice (18.64 t ha -1 ) by 9%. All the species responded well to organic management, which lowered the bulk density and particle density slightly and improved the water holding capacity (by 15%) of soil. Tuber quality was improved with significantly higher Ca (72.67 mg 100g -1 ), slightly higher dry matter, crude protein, K and Mg contents. Organic plots showed significantly higher available K, by 34% and pH, by 0.46 unit and higher soil organic matter by 14%. The dehydrogenase enzyme activity (1.174 µg TPF formed g -1 soil h -1 ), population of bacteria, fungi and P solubilizers were promoted by 14%, 23%, 17% and 22% respectively. Thus organic farming was found to be an eco-friendly management strategy in yams for sustainable yield of quality tubers besides maintaining soil health. Technology involving farmyard manure, green manuring, neem cake, biofertilizers and ash was standardized.

Batch ethanol production from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) flour using Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells immobilized in calcium alginate

Abstract: The objective of this research was to saccharify cassava flour by acid-acid and acid-enzyme hydrolysis and further conversion of the resulting sugar into ethanol by fermenting with the immobilized (in Ca-alginate) cells of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The saccharification resulted in higher total sugar recovery by acid-enzyme hydrolysis (72.88 %) than by enzyme-enzyme hydrolysis (58.1 %). Further study on ethanol production was carried out using the hydrolysate obtained from acid-enzyme hydrolysis. The growth of the yeast started in the log phage and maximum ethanol (189 ± 3.1 g ethanol/kg flour) production was achieved with 94.74 ± 2.187 % sugar conversion during the stationary phase.

Effect of NaCl on in vitro propagation of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)

Abstract: in vitro propagation protocols offer a better option for production of quality planting materials in a clonal crop such as sweet potato, which is a food crop of versatile uses. Propagation through axillary shoot proliferation and organogenic and embryogenic regeneration were studied in different genotypes of sweet potato. The addition of NaCl enhanced the rate of multiplication as well as yielded hardy somatic embryos. Optimal doses of NaCl in each mode of propagation were different. The hardy somatic embryos produced in NaCl medium could be stored at 8°C with or without a protective alginate covering. High-frequency germination of stored hardy somatic embryos could facilitate the production of artificial seeds. Plantlets produced with the addition of NaCl in regeneration medium were established in vivo at a high frequency (95–100%). Yield and quality of storage roots developed from artificial seed-propagated plants were comparable with those of source plants.

Wet Storage of Cassava Starch: Use of Sodium Metabisulphite and Acetic Acid and the Effect on Starch Properties

Abstract: Freshly extracted cassava starch was subjected to wet storage without any chemical treatment and also in presence of different concentrations of acetic acid and sodium metabisulphite, ranging from 0.5 to 2.0% based on the volume of starch milk. The viscosity characteristics, physicochemical properties, blue value and reducing value of the stored starch samples were studied at weekly intervals up to eight weeks of storage. Sodium metabisulphite (1 %) was effective in prolonging the storage time of starch without any microbial spoilage. No significant change was observed in the swelling volume, reducing value, viscosity and pasting properties of the starch samples up to the sixth week of storage. Storage in acetic acid (1 %) resulted in decrease in peak viscosity and increase in solubility and reducing value. However, the starch was free of microbial contamination.

Endosymbiotic Bacteria Associated with the Mealy Bug, Rhizoecus amorphophalli (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae)

Abstract: The mealy bug, Rhizoecus amorphophalli, is a menace to the aroid farmers due to the intensive infestation on stored tubers. Spraying of pesticides was able to control this pest but it always left a chance for fungal growth. Bacterial endosymbionts associated with the insects provide several benefits to their host. Since such endosymbionts play a vital role even in the physiology of their host, revealing the types of bacteria associated with mealy bug will give basic information, which may throw light on the management of this noxious pest. The present study is the first to identify bacterial endosymbionts associated with R. amorphophalli employing phenotypic characterization and 16S rDNA sequencing. Three culturable bacteria, namely, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus gallinarum, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus, were isolated from R. amorphophalli. Moreover, the antibiotic susceptibility tests against the isolated bacteria showed that all the isolates were susceptible to the three antibiotics tested, except cephalexin. Recently, endosymbionts are used as effective biocontrol agents (BCAs) and the present study will stand as a connecting link in identification and effective utilization of these endosymbionts as BCAs for management of R. amorphophalli.