Antifungal compound produced by the cassava endophyte Bacillus pumilus MAIIIM4A.

2009

Molecular characterization of accessions of a rare genetic resource: sugary cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) from Brazilian Amazon

2016

Natural variation in expression of genes associated with carotenoid biosynthesis and accumlation in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) storage root.

2016

Natural variation in expression of genes associated with carotenoid biosynthesis and accumulation in cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) storage root.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) storage root provides a staple food source for millions of people worldwide. Increasing the carotenoid content in storage root of cassava could provide improved nutritional and health benefits. Because carotenoid accumulation has been associated with storage root color, this study characterized carotenoid profiles, and abundance of key transcripts associated with carotenoid biosynthesis, from 23 landraces of cassava storage root ranging in color from white-to-yellow-to-pink. This study provides important information to plant breeding programs aimed at improving cassava storage root nutritional quality. RESULTS: Among the 23 landraces, five carotenoid types were detected in storage root with white color, while carotenoid types ranged from 1 to 21 in storage root with pink and yellow color. The majority of storage root in these landraces ranged in color from pale-to-intense yellow. In this color group, total ß-carotene, containing all-E-, 9-Z-, and 13-Z-ß-carotene isomers, was the major carotenoid type detected, varying from 26.13 to 76.72 %. Although no ?-carotene was observed, variable amounts of a ?-ring derived xanthophyll, lutein, was detected; with greater accumulation of ?-ring xanthophylls than of ß-ring xanthophyll. Lycopene was detected in a landrace (Cas51) with pink color storage root, but it was not detected in storage root with yellow color. Based on microarray and qRT-PCR analyses, abundance of transcripts coding for enzymes involved in carotenoid biosynthesis were consistent with carotenoid composition determined by contrasting HPLC-Diode Array profiles from storage root of landraces IAC12, Cas64, and Cas51. Abundance of transcripts encoding for proteins regulating plastid division were also consistent with the observed differences in total ß-carotene accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: Among the 23 cassava landraces with varying storage root color and diverse carotenoid types and profiles, landrace Cas51 (pink color storage root) had low LYCb transcript abundance, whereas landrace Cas64 (intense yellow storage root) had decreased HYb transcript abundance. These results may explain the increased amounts of lycopene and total ß-carotene observed in landraces Cas51 and Cas64, respectively. Overall, total carotenoid content in cassava storage root of color class representatives were associated with spatial patterns of secondary growth, color, and abundance of transcripts linked to plastid division. Finally, a partial carotenoid biosynthesis pathway is proposed.

Toxicity of cassava manipueira (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and erva-de-rato (Palicourea marcgravii St. Hill) to adults of Toxoptera citricida Kirkaldy (Homoptera: Aphididae).

Toxicidade de manipueira de mandioca e erva-de-rato a adultos de Toxoptera citricida Kirkaldy.

THERMOGRAVIMETRIC ALTERATIONS OF CASSAVA STARCH GRANULES INDUCED BY HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, UV RAYS AND MICROWAVE

Starches are applied in several fields of industry. Amylose and amylopectin (natural polymers) constitute the starch in vegetable cells. In some processes native starches cannot support high stress conditions (high temperatures/acidity). Then, modification methods are developed aiming the improving of starch technological utilization. Oxidative modification with H2O2 has been the subject of many researches. UV rays as well microwave irradiation can be used. The aim was to confirm possible thermogravimetric alterations in native cassava starch (A) granules due to a double starch modification: 1st step) H2O2 standard solutions 0.1 mol L-1 (B), 0.2 mol L-1 (C) and 0.3 mol L-1 (D) and UV rays exposure for 1h; 2nd step) microwave irradiation for 5 min. The results of thermogravimetric curves (TG-DTA) show that the behaviors of the starch proprieties were modified. Highlighting, the modified samples C and D showed a decrease on the thermal stability step. This alteration turned them suitable to many field of industry like the paper one.