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.

Hydrothermal Modifications of Tropical Tuber Starches. 1. Effect of Heat-Moisture Treatment on the Physicochemical, Rheological and Gelatinization Characteristics

Abstract: Cassava, sweet potato and arrowroot starches have been subjected to heat-moisture treatment (HMT) under different conditions using a response surface design of the variables. A comparative study was performed on the pasting properties, swelling behaviour and the gelatinization properties of the modified starches and also on the rheological and textural properties of their pastes. X-ray diffraction studies have shown that cassava starch exhibited a slight decrease in crystallinity, whereas sweet potato and arrowroot starches showed an increase in crystallinity after HMT at 120oC for 14 h with 20% moisture. The swelling volume was reduced and the solubility was enhanced for all three starches after HMT, but both effects were more pronounced in the case of arrowroot starch. The decrease in paste clarity of the starch after HMT was higher in the case of cassava and sweet potato starches. Viscosity studies showed that the peak viscosity of all three starches decreased after HMT, but the paste stability increased as seen from the reduced breakdown ratio and setback viscosity. Studies on rheological properties have shown that storage and loss moduli were higher for the starches heat-moisture treated at higher moisture and lower temperature levels than the corresponding native starches. Storage of the gel at -20oC resulted in a significant increase in storage modulus for all the three starches. All the textural parameters of the gels were altered after the treatment which depended on the nature of the starch and also the treatment condition.

Synthesis, characterization and swelling behaviour of superabsorbent polymers from cassava starch‐graft‐poly(acrylamide)

Abstract: Superabsorbent polymers (SAPs) were prepared from cassava starch by graft copolymerization of acrylamide on to starch using ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as free radical initiator, followed by alkali saponification. The reaction parameters such as concentration of acrylamide, concentration of CAN, temperature, and duration of polymerization reaction were optimized for maximum water absorbency using a 4-factor 3-level Box-Behnken design. The highest values of percentage grafting and absorbency obtained were 174.8% and 425.2 g/g, respectively. The polymers were characterized by determination of grafting efficiency, N-content, acrylamide content, FTIR analysis, SEM and XRD analyses. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) showed that the SAP has higher thermal stability. The rate of water absorbency and the swelling behaviour of the SAP under different conditions of pH, and different salts were determined. The de-swelling pattern of the hydrogels over different time durations was also determined.

Uses and Nutritional Data of Sweetpotato

Abstract: Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas Lam.) is cultivated throughout the tropics and warm temperate regions of the world for its starch roots, which can provide nutrition, besides energy. The edible tuberous root is either long and tapered, ovoid or round with a skin colour ranging from white, brown, purple or red and the flesh colour ranging from white, pale cream, orange or purple. Besides, the plant is also much valued for its green tops, which are a concentrated source of many essential vitamins and minerals. Although China is the largest producer of sweetpotatoes, accounting for more than 80% of the world supply, only 40% of the production is used for human consumption and industrial uses, while, the rest goes as animal feed. Per capita production is the greatest in Solomon Islands (160 Kg/person/year), followed by Burundi (130 Kg/person/year), where sweetpotatoes are a staple food. The roots are also used to a great extent in countries like Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and parts of America.

Yersinia enterocolitica: mode of transmission, molecular insights of virulence, and pathogenesis of infection

Abstract: Although Yersinia enterocolitica is usually transmitted through contaminated food and untreated water, occasional transmission such as human-to-human, animal-to-human and blood transfusion associated transmission have also identified in human disease. Of the six Y. enterocolitica biotypes, the virulence of the pathogenic biotypes, namely, 1B and 2–5 is attributed to the presence of a highly conserved 70-kb virulence plasmid, termed pYV/pCD and certain chromosomal genes. Some biotype 1A strains, despite lacking virulence plasmid (pYV) and traditional chromosomal virulence genes, are isolated frequently from humans with gastrointestinal diseases similar to that produced by isolates belonging known pathogenic biotypes. Y. enterocolitica pathogenic biotypes have evolved two major properties: the ability to penetrate the intestinal wall, which is thought to be controlled by plasmid genes, and the production of heat-stable enterotoxin, which is controlled by chromosomal genes.