[en] Gluten-free (GF) dry egg pappardelle was prepared with tigernut flour (50%), chickpea flour (50%) and pregelatinized TNF (0, 5, 10%), and compared to plain pasta (100% durum wheat semolina). The GF pasta may have a significant higher content of insoluble fibre, minerals and fat rich in oleic acid and a similar protein content. It was not found any clear relationship between the flour functional properties and its proximate composition. The use of PG did not imply an improvement on the firmness but did provide some continuity to the pasta structure. (Author)

[en] This study aimed to compare the agglomeration process of pea protein isolate (PPI) using water and aqueous gum Arabic solution as binder liquids. Drying air temperature and binder flow rate were set at 75 °C and 3.1 mL/min, respectively. Moisture content, mean particle size, wetting time and flowability were analyzed. Using water as binder liquid, the responses were (4.0 ± 0.4)%, 316.13 ± 16.73 μm, 10 s and free flow, respectively. Aqueous gum Arabic solution provided (2.9 ± 0.5)%, 462.67 ± 51.23 μm, 3 s and free flow as responses. Gum Arabic solution showed to be a more promising binder. (Author)

[en] DiNitrogen-fixing capacity of four species of leguminous trees of Sri Lanka (Abarema bigemina, Adenanthera bicolor, Humboldtia laurifolia and Pericopsis mooniana) by analyzing their xylem sap and by taking acetylene reducyion (AR) measurements of nodulated roots of all species, except A.bicolor which had no nodules. Based on the results of the study on P.mooniana, a method to determine the C₂H₂/N₂ conversion factor by analysing the total NH₂ compounds is being developed

[en] Mesquite pods contain a high nutritional content, then a protein rich flour can be obtained. Prosopis Laevigata pods were collected from Oaxaca and Durango. Three stages of maturity were identified. The internal structure of the pods was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The pods were dried at 40°C, 50°C and 60°C, 10% relative humidity and air velocity of 2.6 m/s. From experimental data, the characteristic curve was obtained. SEM Images showed a heterogeneous and tortuous structure. The internal structure of the material is a limiting factor for mass transfer. The effective coefficient diffusion for each drying experiment was determinated. (Author)

[en] In order to quantify the biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) and to evaluate the mycorrhiza effect in the BNF, an experiment was carried on by applying ¹5^N-ammonium sulphate and mycorrhiza fungi to the soil. The treatments included legumes: mucuna negra(Stizolobium atterrinum Piper et Tracv) and caupi (Vigna unguiculoata L. Walp). Two control plants: non nodulating soybean (Glycine max L.Merril) and rice (Oryza sativa), were used for measuring the fixed N in the legumes by isotope dilution method. Both legumes and control plants assimmilated the same ammounts of nitrogen from the soil and fertilizer. The greater N content in the legumnes was determined as coming from the fixed nitrogen. Rice and non nodulating soybean showed to be good controls for measuring biological nitrogen fixation using isotopic dilution method. The values of fixed nitrogen for legumes calculated using rice as control plant were slightly greater than those with non nodulating soybean, nevertheless there were no significant statistical differences between the values. The mucuna fixed more N than caupi in both mycorrhiza treatments (76.7, 66.6 and 56. 7 per cent of N fixed, respectively). The mycorrhiza increased dry matter yield (13.84 per cent), accumulation of N in the plant(14.85 per cent N) and the biological N fixation (16.06 per cent N-fixed) in caupi

No abstract available

[en] The faba bean seed beetle,Bruchus Dentipes Baudi, the lentil seed beetle, B.ervi Froel, and the European lentil seed beetle, B.lentis Froel are the most important insect pests of lentil and faba bean in Syria. Adults lay their eggs on the green pods in the field and immature stages develop inside the seeds. Infestation rate differs from year to year and from one location to another. In 1991, it ranged between 9.6 and 13.90 for lentil seeds and 31.00 to 57.39% for faba bean seeds depending on the region. This reduced the economic value by about 50% for faba bean seeds and 20 - 30% for lentil seeds. Current disinfestation methods are unsafe and not adequately effective. Ionizing radiation could be an alternative approach. An investigation was initiated to determine the possibility of applying the irradiation disinfestation technique against these pests. The dose of gamma radiation needed for disinfecting faba bean seeds infested with B.Dentipes was found to be 90 Gy for the last two larval instars. Immature stages of B.ervi and B.lentis develop very rapidly in the field and reach the pupal or adult stage by harvest. This makes the application of this technique for disinfecting lentil seeds of little or no value. However, the results indicate that the irradiation disinfestation method could be an advantageous approach for disinfecting faba bean seeds. (author). 38 refs., 4 tabs., 1 fig

[en] This report describes key findings on the characterization of the structure and function of Rhizobium polysaccharides and how they relate to the symbiosis between these bacteria and legume plants

[en] The genus Desmodium is represented in Santa Catarina State, Brazil, by 13 species, all with lomentaceous fruits. Shape, size and isthmus margin of loments vary, while the surface is glabrous, or covered by trichomes of different types. Morphological diversity of trichomes becomes particularly relevant to taxonomic description. The trichome types present on the surface of Desmodium fruits provide data for the identification and classification of species in the State. To assess this, three fruits of each species were collected and deposited at two herbaria, HBR and FLOR, in Santa Catarina, Brazil. Some rehydrated samples were examined using light microscopy (LM); and some sections were exposed to the following histochemical reagents: Sudan III for oils and Thionine for mucilage. The structural aspects of trichomes can be classified into uni- or multicellular and may still be simple, i.e., nonglandular or glandular. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), five types of trichomes were identified and analyzed among the Desmodium species studied: uncinate, uniseriate, globose multicellular, globose unicellular and subulate. Characteristics, such as loment margin and article form, glabrescent or pillous indument, trichome type, with or without papillous epidermal cells and epicuticular striations, showed relevant diagnostic value. An identification key was developed for Desmodium species from Santa Catarina State, Brazil, based on macro and micromorphological characters of the fruit. (author)

[en] Decomposition and nutrients release pattern of leaves, stems/vines and roots of leguminous plants (Pueraria phaseoloides and Centrosema brasilianum) and non-leguminous plants (Chromolaena odorata and Panicum maximum) were examined for a period of 98 days. The decomposition rate declined in the order R maximum> C. odorata > R phaseoloides > C. brasilianum. On the 98 day, between 63% and 71 % of stems/vines only had decomposed. The % mass of the remaining materials were in the order of C. odorata > R phaseoloides > C. brasilianum > R maximum and the decomposition rate was in the reverse order. The mass loss and decomposition rates of the parts of the plant species followed the initial N concentrations of the residues in the order of leaves > roots> stems/vines. The initial N contents in plant residues varied from 0.42 to 3.19 g/kg and P from 0.03 to 0.27 g/kg. The pattern of N remaining in the stems/vines of the species at 98 days after placements (DAP) was in the order R phaseoloides (49%) > C. odorata (42%) > C. brasilianum (41%) > R maximum (36%). The chemical composition of the residues shows that the leaves are richer in N and P than the roots and least in stems/vines in the order C. odorata > C. brasilianum > R phaseoloides > R maximum. A direct relationship was observed between the initial N contents of the residues and initial polyphenol contents (r = 0.72, P < 0.01), but no relationships with the P content of the residues. The data reported in this study shows that the decomposition patterns of above and below -ground residues of leguminous and non-leguminous plant species could have positive effect on nutrients requirement of crops. (author)