Effects of extraction methods on yam (Dioscorea alata) starch characteristics

Starch extraction from roots and tubers uses grating with water and sieves to separate the starch slurry from residual mass. The starch is recovered by decantation or centrifugation. The yam starch extraction is difficult due to high viscosity of the slurry caused by non-starch polysaccharides (NSP). The establishment of an efficient extraction process may turn yam into a competitive raw material. In this paper Dioscorea alata starch extracted by four methods was characterized in order to establish the impact of treatments. When the tubers were digested with an aqueous oxalic acid/ammonium oxalate (OA/AO) 1/1 solution, it was easier to separate the starch slurry from residual mass, because viscosity was reduced. For all the others methods tested, the viscosity remained almost the same. The nitrogen present in yam tubers was removed during the different extractions to a different extent. The largest nitrogen reduction was observed with ONAO followed by the control (water). The spectrum of starch granules sizes obtained also varied according to the treatment. Results proved that NSP carries small starch granules over to the waste water. The smaller starch granules diameter varied from 1.9 mu m (OA/AO extraction) to 13.5 mu m (water and pectinase extractions). The larger diameter varied from 41.0 mu m (NaOH treatment) to 67.7 mu m (ONAO). All starches extracted showed a RVA behavior in agreement with literature for yam starch, but with small differences due to the influence of methods. ONAO extraction showed the best recovery (18 g of starch/100 g tuber yam) and granular variation but it interfered with the rheological behavior of starch.

Morfo-anatomia do eixo vegetativo aéreo de Achyrocline alata (Kunth) DC. (Asteraceae)

Achyrocline alata occurs in a dense and low vegetation in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil and it has been studied under physical-chemical and yield aspects, being scarce anatomical data. The present work has as objective the study of the aerial vegetative axis. Stem is cylindrical and hairy, having five wings, which are arisen from their leaves. The blade shows the presence of uniseriate epidermis, which is covered by the cuticle of variable thickness; and non-glandular and glandular trichomes. The non-glandular trichomes are uniseriate and multicellular and have their apex cell in whip form, while the glandular trichomes are multicellular, uniseriate or biseriate. The mesophyll is dorsiventral with uni-stratified palisade parenchyma in most of the cases and lacunal parenchyma formed by three to four layers of irregular cells. Only one collateral vascular bundle occurs in the midvein. Stem in transversal section is covered by epidermis with trichomes similar to leaves; the cortex is constituted by a discontinuous area of angular collenchyma, which is followed by chlorophyll parenchyma. Vascular cylinder that is delimited by pericycle shows vascular bundles of collateral type. In the secondary structure, the periderm is originated from epidermal and subepidermal tissues. In vascular region, the fascicular cambium differs into secondary xylem and phloem, while interfascicular cambium produces sclerenchymatous tissue.

Aspectos nutricionais do baru (Dipteryx alata Vog.) em casa de vegetação e em campo

With the objective of evaluating the response of baru (Dipteryx alata Vog.) to nutrient limitation and to the different levels of fertilization, seven experiments were conducted. Experiment 1: Nutritional limitation in greenhouse. We employed 12 treatments in a completely randomized design with eight replicates. Experiment 2: Levels of liming and P in greenhouse. The experimental design was completely randomized in a factorial scheme with four levels of liming (V23.2% (natural soil), V45%, V65% and V85%) and four doses of P (0, 100, 300 and 500 mg kg -1 of P). Experiment 3: Doses of N in greenhouse. We used seven treatments (0, 75, 150, 225, 300, 375 and 450 mg kg -1 of N) in a completely randomized design. Experiment 4: Doses of K in greenhouse. We used seven treatments (0, 75, 150, 225, 300, 375 and 450 mg kg -1 ) in a completely randomized design. Experiment 5: Levels of liming under field conditions. We used four treatments (V6.7% (natural soil), V35%, V55% and V75%) in a randomized blocks design. Experiment 6: doses of P under field conditions. We used five treatments (0, 23.67, 53.34, 106.67 and 213.36 kg ha -1 of P 2O5) in a randomized blocks design. Experiment 7: Doses of N under field conditions. We used five treatments (0, 30, 60, 120 and 240 kg ha -1 of N) in Latin square. In greenhouse, the evaluations were conducted at eight months (for experiments 1 and 2) and 12 months (for experiments 3 and 4) after seeding, when the measurements of height and root collar diameter of the seedlings. Subsequently, the plants were harvested and separated into shoot and root system, for weighing and evaluating dry biomass gain. In the field, the evaluations were conducted at six, 12, 18, 24 and 30 months (for experiments 5 and 6) and at six, 12 and 18 months (for experiment 7). In these experiments, we evaluated the survival of the seedlings, height of the plants and diameter of the stem at soil height. The data obtained were submitted to analysis of variance, mean tests and regression analysis. In conclusion, during the phase of seedling formation, the species is little demanding in S and B, negatively responds to liming, positively responds to phosphate fertilization and does not respond to nitrogen and potassium fertilization. In the field, in general, the species does not respond to the application of P or to liming, and is negatively influenced by the application of elevated doses of nitrogen.

Calagem, adubação orgânica e mineral no crescimento de mudas de Passiflora alata Ait

Pós-graduação em Agronomia - FEIS

An Isoflavone from Dipteryx alata Vogel is Active against the in Vitro Neuromuscular Paralysis of Bothrops jararacussu Snake Venom and Bothropstoxin I, and Prevents Venom-Induced Myonecrosis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Distribution, management and diversity of yam local varieties in Brazil: a study on Dioscorea alata L.

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

ORGANIC RESIDUE AND PHOSPHORUS AS CONDITIONERS OF DEGRADED SOIL AND EFFECTS ON THE INITIAL GROWTH OF Dipteryx alata Vog.

In northwestern Sao Paulo State, it was established, in 1965, the hydroelectric station of Ilha Solteira (CESP) that produced extensive degraded areas, from where it was removed the soil superficial layers. For the re-establishment of the vegetation, in areas like these, it is necessary the addition of chemical inputs and organic material. Associating the presence in the area of macrophytes, to the need of recovery of degraded areas and the availability of seeds from native species of Cerrado, it was intended the development of this work, with the objective of evaluating the addition effects of organic residue and phosphorus on the material of degraded soil and on the initial growth of Dipteryx alata, arboreal species of 'cerrado'. The soil material was collected in area of degraded soil by the construction of Ilha Solteira hydroelectric station. The experiment was conducted in two environmental conditions, greenhouse and plenty of sun. The treatments consisted of four phosphorus doses (0, 100, 200 and 300 mg dm(-3) of P2O5), with or without macrophytes addition, with 16 treatments and 10 repetitions each one. The used macrophytes, collected at Jupia hydroelectric station, in Mato Grosso do Sul state, were dried, sliced, incorporated to the soil material and incubated during 60 days. The seeds of Dipteryx alata, collected around of the area, were sowed in washed sand and after 60 days introduced in the treatments. The plants were appraised monthly for height, stem diameter and leaves chlorophyll. After 210 days, the plants were collected and evaluated for fresh and dry weight of aerial part and radicular system and the soil material was evaluated for fertility and microbial activity by the carbon of liberated CO2. The organic residue, incorporated to the material of soil degraded, positively affects the soil fertility and the soil microbial activity. The applied phosphorus doses influenced the behavior of Ca, SB, H+Al and CTC, when applied in the absence of organic residue, it promoted significant and linear increments for values of potential acidity, and indicated the organic residue importance. The initial growth of the Dipteryx alata was favored by the protected cultivation, for the incorporation of organic residue and for the phosphorus addition to the soil. At the end although the material of degraded soil comes as good perspective for disposal of this residue, studies about the field conditions are necessary.

Estado nutricional de mudas de baru (Dipteryx alata) em área de recuperação e remanescentes de cerrado

The Dipteryx alata is a tree specie with possibility of use in human and animal nutrition, and in the pharmaceutical industry. For reclamation of degraded areas, the revegetation has been an alternative, however, requires fertilizer addition. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the nutritional status and growth of Dipteryx alata seedlings, introduced in degraded soil under recovery process, with residues (organic and agroindustrial), compared to collected seedlings in preserved Cerrado, and evaluate the residues impact on soil chemical properties. In this work the degraded soil received the incorporation of residues, organic - RO (macrophytes) and agroindustrial - RA (ash derived from burning bagasse from sugarcane), with the following doses: 0, 16 and 32 t ha- 1 and 0, 15, 30 and 45 t ha-1 respectively. Within three months of incorporation of residues into the degraded soil, the D. alata seedlings were introduced in the experimental area, and 12 months later were evaluated for height, stem diameter, chlorophyll content and leaf contents of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn. For purposes of comparison, the foliar concentration of those elements was determined in Dipteryx alata seedlings collected in preserved Cerrado area. Concomitant with the collect of leaves, at Cerrado and experimental area, soil was collected (0.0 - 0.20m deep) for evaluation of chemical parameters (P, OM, pH, K, Ca, Mg, H + Al, Al, Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn). Comparing the seedlings collected in the Cerrado with the seedlings from experimental area it is observed that the leaf concentration of N, P, K and Mg was higher in seedlings from preserved Cerrado in relation to those introduced in the experimental area. Fe, Mn and Zn, have lower foliar concentration in plants collected in the Cerrado, in the case of Mn the worst results occur in the absence of macrophytes indicating the importance of organic residue. The foliar concentration of Ca, S and Cu was similar in...

AVALIAÇÃO COMPARATIVA DO ESTADO NUTRICIONAL DE MUDAS DE BARU ( Dipteryx alata )

Para o sucesso de um processo de revegetação, além de melhorar as condições edáficas da área, deve-se dispor de mudas de boa qualidade, o que pode ser avaliado pelo estado nutricional. Neste trabalho, avaliaramse os teores foliares de N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn de mudas de Dipteryx alata produzidas a pleno sol ou em cultivo protegido (30% de sombreamento), utilizando como substrato solo degradado, condicionado ou não com resíduo orgânico (32 t ha-1 macrófitas) e com diferentes doses de fósforo (0, 100, 200 e 300 mg dm-3 P2O5), comparativamente à mudas e parte aérea de plantas adultas, coletadas em campo. A cada coleta de folhas em campo, o solo foi coletado e analisado para P, MO, pH, K, Ca, Mg, H+Al, SB e CTC. A mesma análise foi realizada nas unidades experimentais, ao final do experimento. Os resultados mostram que o Dipteryx alata é pouco exigente em P, que os teores foliares, nas mudas de campo, são superiores às plantas adultas em N, P, K e S e inferiores para Ca e que o estádio de desenvolvimento da planta não influenciou os teores foliares de Mg, B, Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn. O resíduo orgânico não foi suficiente para fornecer o N necessário às mudas produzidas. O cultivo a pleno sol propiciou maiores teores foliares de N, P, Ca, Mg, B, Cu, Fe e Mn. Teores foliares de N, P, K, Ca, B, Fe e Zn foram superiores na presença de resíduo orgânico.

Electronic states of trans-polyacetylene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene) and sp-hybridised carbon species in amorphous hydrogenated carbon probed by resonant Raman scattering

Inclusions of sp-hybridised, trans-polyacetylene [trans-(CH)x] and poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) chains are revealed using resonant Raman scattering (RRS) investigation of amorphous hydrogenated carbon (a-C:H) films in the near IR – UV range. The RRS spectra of trans-(CH)x core Ag modes and the PPV CC-H phenylene mode are found to transform and disperse as the laser excitation energy ћωL is increased from near IR through visible to UV, whereas sp-bonded inclusions only become evident in UV. This is attributed to ћωL probing of trans-(CH)x chain inhomogeneity and the distribution of chains with varying conjugation length; for PPV to the resonant probing of phelynene ring disorder; and for sp segments, to ћωL probing of a local band gap of end-terminated polyynes. The IR spectra analysis confirmed the presence of sp, trans-(CH)x and PPV inclusions. The obtained RRS results for a-C:H denote differentiation between the core Ag trans-(CH)x modes and the PPV phenylene mode. Furthermore, it was found that at various laser excitation energies the changes in Raman spectra features for trans-(CH)x segments included in an amorphous carbon matrix are the same as in bulk trans-polyacetylene. The latter finding can be used to facilitate identification of trans-(CH)x in the spectra of complex carbonaceous materials.

Are combination forecasts of S&P 500 volatility statistically superior?

Forecasting volatility has received a great deal of research attention, with the relative performances of econometric model based and option implied volatility forecasts often being considered. While many studies find that implied volatility is the pre-ferred approach, a number of issues remain unresolved, including the relative merit of combining forecasts and whether the relative performances of various forecasts are statistically different. By utilising recent econometric advances, this paper considers whether combination forecasts of S&P 500 volatility are statistically superior to a wide range of model based forecasts and implied volatility. It is found that a combination of model based forecasts is the dominant approach, indicating that the implied volatility cannot simply be viewed as a combination of various model based forecasts. Therefore, while often viewed as a superior volatility forecast, the implied volatility is in fact an inferior forecast of S&P 500 volatility relative to model-based forecasts.