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.

Application of QUEFTS Model for Site-Specific Nutrient Management of NPK in Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L. Lam)

Abstract: Sweet potato productivity in India is either stagnated or lowering down over the past many years. The main reasons for low yield are conventional blanket recommendation of fertilizers, lower nutrient-use efficiency and imbalance in the use of fertilizers. Recommendation of major nutrients, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK), based on quantitative approaches will augment sweet potato production per unit area by increasing the nutrient-use efficiency. The present study calibrated the Quantitative Evaluation of Fertility of Tropical Soils (QUEFTS) model for the estimation of NPK requirements and fertilizers recommendations for different target yields of sweet potato. The QUEFTS basically works on the principle of NPK nutrient interactions and climate-adjusted yield potential of a region. Published data sets from several field experiments related to NPK carried out till date were collected to reflect the environment variability. The results of the present study showed that to produce one ton tu...

First report of genome size and ploidy of the underutilized leguminous tuber crop Yam Bean (Pachyrhizus erosus and P. tuberosus) by flow cytometry

Abstract: Cytological understanding is an important parameter to understand the genetic architecture of yam bean. The ploidy level and genome size of two cultivated species of yam bean (Pachyrhizus erosus and P. tuberosus) were estimated using flow cytometric analysis of young leaf tissue, with propidium iodide as a fluorescent dye. Six genotypes of P. erosus and three genotypes of P. tuberosus were analysed. Rice (Oryza sativa cv. Nipponbare) and Mung bean (Vigna radiata cv Berken) were used as internal reference standards. Variation of 2C nuclear DNA content among the six P. erousus lines was 4.18%, ranging from 1.17 to 1.22 pg, whereas only 1.8% variation was observed among the three P. tuberosus lines, which ranged from 1.07 to 1.09 pg. Moreover, it was found that the nuclear DNA content of P. tuberosus was lower than that of P. erosus. The result of the flow cytometric analysis showed that all the species were diploid (2n = 2x) and coefficient of variation (CV%) of all the accessions of the two species was less than 3.5%. This is the first report of ploidy analysis and genome size estimation of the leguminous underutilized tuber crop yam bean using flow cytometry. This result will be helpful for yam bean genome sequencing and crop improvement programmes.

Statistical optimization of α -amylase production by Bacillus brevis MTCC 7521 in solid-state fermentation using cassava bagasse

Abstract: Production of α-amylase under solid-state fermentation by Bacillus brevis MTCC 7521 has been investigated using cassava bagasse as the substrate, one of the major solid wastes released during extraction of starch from cassava (Manihot esculenta). Response surface methodology was used to evaluate the effect of the main variables, i.e. incubation period (36 h), moisture holding capacity (60%), pH (7.0) and temperature (60°C) on enzyme production by applying a full factorial central composite design. The maximum hydrolysis of soluble starch (85%) and cassava starch (75%) was obtained with the application of 4 mL (≈ 14,752 units) of B. brevis crude enzyme after 5 h of incubation.

Cassava starch–konjac glucomannan biodegradable blend films: In vitro study as a matrix for controlled drug delivery

Abstract: Cassava starch (ST)–konjac glucomannan (KGM) blend films were prepared, characterized, and their suitability as matrices for the sustained release of a model drug, theophylline (Thp) was investigated. Structural studies showed that there was a good compatibility between ST and KGM and also revealed the existence of strong interaction between Thp and the polymer blend. The thermal stability of the films did not alter on blending of the two polymers. The water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and swelling capacity of the blend films were higher than that of the neat ST, while lower than that of the neat KGM films. The drug release was related to the pH of the medium and the relative humidity (RH) under which the films were stored. The drug release data fitted well to Higuchi kinetic model and the mechanism corresponds to anomalous transport with non-Fickian kinetics corresponding to coupled diffusion/polymer relaxation. The rate of drug release was significantly (p<0.05) and positively correlated with the degree of erosion of the blend films. The study showed that the blend film with a composition, ST: 1.5 × 10−3 kg and KGM: 1.5 × 10−3 kg with 20% glycerol as plasticizer stored at a relative humidity in the range 11–53% was appropriate for the sustained release of the less water soluble drug, theophylline.

Forest Bioresources for Bioethanol and Biodiesel Production With Emphasis on Mohua (Madhuca latifolia L.) Flowers and Seeds

Abstract: Forest biomass is comprised of lignocellulosic stocks, which principally include woody materials, such as hardwoods and softwoods, and forest wastes (i.e., sawdust and pruning, and bark thinning residues, wood chips, and branches from dead trees). At present, the market of woody biomass for the production of bioethanol is very limited because of limited capital, state-of-the-art technology, and strict forest laws and rules prevalent in many countries. However, forest biomass, such as Mohua (Madhuca latifolia L.), sal (Shorea robusta L.) and bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) trees commonly found in the tropical deciduous forests of Asian and Australian continent, have been investigated for biofuel production. The flowers and seeds of Mohua are a rich source of fermentable sugars (glucose and fructose) and have been used for bioethanol and biodiesel production, respectively. Sal seeds are also used for biodiesel production.