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The main objective of this paper was to determine the production and evaluation of TRIO (Jackfruit Seeds, Sweet Potato, and Taro Flours) Pancake Mix with 30%, 40%, and 50% proportions to the pancake consumers, pancake sellers and pancake makers who live in Pasig City. Experimental method of research was utilized with survey questionnaire as the data gathering instrument. This study also used the nine Hedonic rating scale for the evaluation and five Likert scale for the production of TRIO Pancake Mix. The result of the TRIO Pancake Mix physiochemical analysis showed that the developed product contains the following: (a) 4.86 mg of iron per 100 g ;(b) 80.8 g of carbohydrates of 100 g; (c) a pH of 6.99 at 20.3 °C; (d) 3.49 g moisture per 100g; and (e) a lead content of 0.25** μg/g. In addition, The evaluations of the production cost, supply availability, and consumer demand of the TRIO Pancake Mix of 30%, 40%, and 50% proportion are mostly Very High Potential (VHP) since the ingredients are affordable and competitive in price, available locally all year round, and can meet the demands of the consumers. To further improve the product, comments and suggestions were given by the respondents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Child malnutrition is a major health problem in Sub‐Saharan Africa. Complementary foods made from African indigenous and locally available raw materials are often low in protein and nutrients. It is, therefore, important to supply complementary foods that are nutritious and affordable, and with an acceptable consistency and taste. The objective of this study was to develop, on a pilot scale, food‐to‐food fortified, convenient, canned complementary porridges based on blends of African indigenous crops, i.e., orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) flour, and leguminous (i.e., cowpea, and Bambara groundnut) and cereal flours (i.e., teff, finger millet, maize, and amaranth), and milk powder. Plant‐based, African complementary foods are often lacking in vitamin A, zinc, iron, and energy. Porridge with OFSP on a 32% dry weight (dw) basis achieved recommended levels of vitamin A (530 µg per 100 g dw). Satisfactory energy (431 Kcal per 100 g dw) was obtained by supplementation of vegetable oil. A nutritious, low‐cost porridge (costing 0.15 € per 100 g can) that fulfills consistency constraints was obtained by including supplements of zinc and iron salts as ingredients. The solids content and thus protein/energy could be significantly increased using protein fractionated or germinated cowpea flours without compromising on viscosity. The sensory profile was characterised by more intense vegetable, leguminous, and malty flavours as compared to traditional reference porridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a crucial crop for food security and economic stability in many regions, including Costa Rica. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and genetic diversity of two major viruses associated with sweet potato virus disease (SPVD) in Costa Rica: sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV) and sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV). A total of 50 leaf samples displaying typical viral disease symptoms were collected from major sweet potato‐growing regions. Using multiplex reverse transcription (RT)‐PCR, SPFMV was detected in 82% of the samples and SPCSV in 52%, with a coinfection rate of 48%. Genetic analysis revealed that SPFMV isolates belonged predominantly to phylogenetic group B, while SPCSV isolates clustered with the West African (WA) strain. The low genetic diversity within these viral populations suggests a limited number of initial infection events followed by local spread. Riboprobe technology was evaluated as an alternative to RT‐PCR for virus detection. While the riboprobes for SPFMV demonstrated sensitivity comparable to RT‐PCR, the SPCSV riboprobes showed slightly lower sensitivity, particularly when using crude leaf extracts. Despite this, riboprobes offer significant advantages in terms of cost and ease of use for large‐scale screening. Our findings underscore the need for robust diagnostic and management strategies to control SPVD and highlight the importance of continuous monitoring and research to mitigate the impact of viral diseases on sweet potato production in Costa Rica. These insights contribute to the global understanding of SPVD and support collaborative efforts in plant pathology research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for low-cost and functional snacks in many developing nations called for interest in the use of locally grown crops as substitutes for costly imported wheat flour. The amino acid composition, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the cookies from whole wheat, sweet potato, rice bran and peanut (56.25:18.75:5:20; 37.50:37.50:5:20; 18.75:56.25:5:20% as WPRG 1, WPRG 2, WPRG 3) composite flour blends, respectively, were obtained in this study. The 100% whole wheat and 100% refined flours served as control 1 and 2, respectively. The level of hydrophobic and aromatic amino acids was significantly (p < 0.05) high in WPRG 2 (~ 30 and ~ 10%), respectively when compared to others. However, the branched chain amino acids and Fischer ratio was significantly (p < 0.05) high in WPRG 1 (11.40% and 1.29), respectively, which could have contributed to their improved bioactivities. Notably, the composite cookie samples WPRG 1, 2 and 3 had higher hydroxyl (73.86 − 84.16%), DPPH (76.52 − 84.60%) radical scavenging as well as ferric reducing antioxidant (0.64–0.87 mmolFe2+/mg) properties than the control samples WWF and CWF, respectively. On the contrary, the metal chelating activities of the cookies WPRG 1–3 were not significantly (p > 0.05) different from control samples WWF and CWF. The improved amino acid profile and enhanced antioxidant properties of the composite cookies might have effectively influenced their anti-inflammatory properties (IC50; < 26 μg/ml) when compared to the control samples (IC50; ~ 40 μg/ml), respectively. Hence, the cookies that comprised of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory potentials needed in human health, were acceptable by the consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical tuber crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes and elephant foot yam play vital roles in global food security and economic development, particularly in developing nations. The present study examines the current scenario of tuber crop production and trade dynamics, focusing on India's role both as a producer and an exporter. Using empirical data from various sources including Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority, the study analyses production trends, trade patterns and policy frameworks, to elucidate potential pathways for enhancing productivity, sustainability and competitiveness in the tuber crops sector. The analysis reveals significant growth in cassava and sweet potato production globally, with India emerging as a key player. However, climate change, pests and diseases, soil degradation, and trade barriers pose hurdles to the growth of the sector. This study also recommends comprehensive strategies, including climate-resilient agricultural practices, integrated pest management, soil health enhancement and infrastructure development, to address these challenges and promote the sustainable growth of tuber crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of utilizing sweet potato waste for distilled beverage production in two process scenarios: (i) acid hydrolysis and (ii) enzymatic hydrolysis. Laboratory experiments were conducted using in natura sweet potato waste and the data obtained were used to design a production system capable of producing 1000 L of distillate per day. Net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR), and discounted payback indicators were used for economic analysis, with a minimum attractiveness rate (MARR) of 15%. The initial investment for the projects was BRL 1 139 610.86 (USD 223 146.80) for enzymatic hydrolysis and BRL 1 314 824.54 (USD 257 455.36) for acid hydrolysis. Packaging costs were identified as the greatest expenses in the process. Assuming a selling price of BRL 14.50 (USD 2.84), the enzymatic hydrolysis process demonstrated an NPV of BRL 4 792 520.77 (USD 938 421.92) and IRR of 83.39%, and the acid hydrolysis process showed an NPV of BRL 2 191 636.78 (USD 429 143.68) and IRR of 42.49%. Consequently, establishing a production plant for distilled beverages proved to be more economically attractive when employing the enzymatic hydrolysis process and fermentation simultaneously, resulting in a return on investment within 1.46 years of operation. Upon scrutinizing the gain matrix, it became apparent that critical factors with the potential to affect the project's feasibility detrimentally, if increased, included the cost of acquiring packaging, the final volumetric fraction of the distilled beverage, and the tax rate. Nevertheless, an upturn in the selling price of the beverage and a process improvement yield both have the potential to underpin the project effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multi-trait selection revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the genotypes. • Significant genotype-environment interaction was observed for yield traits. • Genotypes with high commercial tuberous root yield and stability were selected. Few purple-fleshed sweet potato (PFSP) cultivars are available for Brazilian growers, urging for the development of new and adapted cultivars. PFSP breeding programs should include multiple traits during the selection process to increase the chances of developing an adequate genotype, specially yield-related and quality-related traits. The objective was to select promising PFSP genotypes based on yield and tuberous-roots-related traits exploring genotype x environment interaction (GEI). Four experiments were carried out, in which 23 pre-selected PFSP genotypes were evaluated based on yield and quality traits, after screening among 2500 experimental genotypes. The first experiment adopted an augmented block design, with 'Luiza' interspersed as a control. From this first experiment, the 19 experimental genotypes with the best performance were selected for the following three experiments, which were conducted in a randomized block experimental design, with three replications each, including 'Luiza' as control. The best genotypes were selected in the first experiment using the multi-trait genotype-ideotype distance index (MGIDI). For the following experiments, the performance of the genotypes was assessed using deviance analysis, genotypic stability through weighted average of absolute scores (WAASB) index, and the multi-trait stability index (MTSI). In the first experiment, three factors were retained, being associated to commercial production of tuberous roots ('K-104′, 'K-25′ and 'U1–29′), total production of tuberous roots ('K-110′, 'C-42′, 'F-16′, and 'U1–29′), and quality of tuberous roots ('F-22′), respectively. Desired gains were observed for all traits. For the experiments II, III, and IV five factors were retained, being four related to quality of tuberous roots and one to yield components. The GEI was significant for yield-related traits and desired gains were observed for most traits. Due to high commercial tuberous root yield and low WAASB values, the genotypes 'U1–29′, 'K-98′, 'F-22′, 'K-57′, 'C-36′, 'U1–15′, 'K-25′, and 'U2–12′ were highly productive and stable. The genotypes selected by the MTSI index were 'U1–15′, 'U2–10′, 'U1–29′, 'K-98′, and 'K-78′. The multi-trait selection enabled the identification of promising genotypes highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: The formation and development of storage roots is the most important physiological process in sweetpotato production. Sucrose transporters (SUTs) regulate sucrose transport from source to sink organs and play important roles in growth and development of plants. However, whether SUTs involved in sweetpotato storage roots formation is so far unknown. In this study, we show that IbSUT1, a SUT, is localized to the plasma membrane. Overexpression of IbSUT1 in sweetpotato promotes the sucrose efflux rate from leaves, leading to increased sucrose levels in roots, thus induces lignin deposition in the stele, which inhibits the storage roots formation and compromises the yield. Heterologous expression of IbSUT1 in Arabidopsis significantly increases the sucrose accumulation and promotes lignification in the inflorescence stems. RNA‐seq and biochemical analysis further demonstrated that IbMYB1 negatively regulates the expression of IbSUT1. Overexpression of IbMYB1 in Arabidopsis reduces the sucrose accumulation and lignification degree in the inflorescence stems. Moreover, co‐overexpression of IbMYB1 and IbSUT1 restores the phenotype of lignin over‐deposition in Arabidopsis. Collectively, our results reveal that IbSUT1 regulates source‐sink sucrose transport and participates in the formation of sweetpotato storage roots and highlight the potential application of IbSUT1 in improving sweetpotato yield in the future. Significance Statement: The formation and development of storage roots is the most important physiological process in sweetpotato production. IbSUT1 plays a crucial role in the formation of storage roots by regulating sucrose transport to affect lignin biosynthesis in roots, which provides valuable information for understanding the mechanisms underlying sweetpotato root development and may have implications for the improvement of sweetpotato yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for food is increasing and the use of soil organic amendments in agricultural management practices has been instructed to increase crop yield and reduce dependence on synthetic inorganic fertilizers at low cost to limited resource farmers. However, the effect of organic amendments on the quality and nutritional composition of edible plants has received little attention. Locally available organic amendments (sewage sludge SS, chicken manure CM, cow manure Cow, vermicompost Vermi, and biochar Bio) were chosen to test their impact on field-grown sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas L. yield, root quality, and root nutritional composition. The results indicated that utilizing Cow manure in growing sweet potatoes significantly promoted root yield and root nutritional composition. Cow treatment produced the greatest number of roots compared to Bio, CM, SS, and the control treatments. The results also revealed that the concentrations of vitamin C (260. 3 µg g−1), β-carotene (45.4 µg g−1), soluble sugars (16.7 mg g−1), and total phenols (196.3 3 µg g−1 fresh roots) were greater in the roots of plants grown in Cow compared to the roots of the control treatment. The results indicated the low impact of biochar whereas Cow is recommended for enhancing sweet potato yield and nutritional composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Sweet potato leaves are rich in nutrients and bioactive substances. They are commonly utilised as human foodstuff in some Asian, African and North American countries. Leafy vegetables are generally processed through domestic cooking or industrial processing techniques before consumption. This paper reviews the available literature on the nutritional composition and phytochemical profile, along health benefits of processed sweet potato leaves. Discussion on the applications of sweet potato leaves as a valuable fortifying ingredient in a variety of food formulations is included. Domestic cooking resulted in a substantial increase in protein content at optimal conditions but led to a significant loss of bioactive compounds. Vacuum freeze‐drying retained most of nutrients and caffeoylquinic acid derivatives. Fermentation and supplementation as fortifying ingredients in food formulations could improve the nutritional status and sensory characteristics of the final products. This review can facilitate the development of an integrated plant for the valorisation of sweet potato agro‐industrial residues and aid the food industry in obtaining fortified foods with sweet potato leaf loaded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is an important food crop that plays a pivotal role in preserving worldwide food security. Due to its polyploid genome, high heterogeneity, and phenotypic plasticity, sweet potato genetic characterization and breeding is challenging. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) can provide important resources for breeders to improve breeding efficiency and effectiveness. GWASpoly was used to identify 28 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), comprising 21 unique genetic loci, associated with sweet potato storage root traits including dry matter (4 loci), subjective flesh color (5 loci), flesh hue angle (3 loci), and subjective skin color and skin hue angle (9 loci), in 384 accessions from the USDA sweet potato germplasm collection. The I. batatas 'Beauregard' and I. trifida reference genomes were utilized to identify candidate genes located within 100 kb from the SNPs that may affect the storage traits of dry matter, flesh color, and skin color. These candidate genes include transcription factors (especially Myb, bHLH, and WRKY family members), metabolite transporters, and metabolic enzymes and associated proteins involved in starch, carotenoid, and anthocyanin synthesis. A greater understanding of the genetic loci underlying sweet potato storage root traits will enable marker-assisted breeding of new varieties with desired traits. This study not only reinforces previous research findings on genes associated with dry matter and β-carotene content but also introduces novel genetic loci linked to these traits as well as other root characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the establishment of a sensory evaluation system for purple sweet potato rice steamed sponge cake (PSPRSSC) utilizing fuzzy mathematics. Initially, eight key sensory evaluation indices were identified through expert consultations. These indices were subsequently prioritized using fuzzy binary comparison, resulting in the following order: aroma, taste, crust color, elasticity, viscosity, chewiness, hardness, and brightness. The corresponding weight values assigned to each index were 23%, 18%, 16%, 13%, 12%, 8%, 6%, and 4%, respectively. Notably, aroma was found to have a more significant impact than visual attributes in the sensory evaluation of PSPRSSC. Based on this prioritization, comprehensive sensory evaluation criteria for PSPRSSC were formulated. Verification tests confirmed the efficacy of the proposed evaluation system. This study provides critical data and theoretical support for the sensory quality assessment of PSPRSSC, thereby facilitating its industrialization and enhancing its market viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petroleum-based plastic packaging materials have negative impacts on the environment and food safety. Natural biopolymer-based food packaging materials are the proper substitutes for plastic-based ones, which is because biopolymers are nontoxic, biodegradable and even edible. The incorporation of bioactive and functional substances into a biopolymer-based film matrix can produce novel smart packaging materials. Anthocyanins, one class of natural colorants with potent antioxidant activity and pH-response color-changing ability, are suitable for producing biopolymer-based smart packaging films. The purple sweet potato is a functional food rich in anthocyanins. In the past decade, numerous studies have reported the extraction of anthocyanins from purple sweet potato and the utilization of purple sweet potato anthocyanins (PSPAs) in biopolymer-based smart packaging film production. However, no specific review has summarized the recent advances on biopolymer-based smart packaging films containing PSPAs. Therefore, in this review, we aim to systematically summarize the progress on the extraction, isolation, characterization, purification and functional properties of PSPAs. Moreover, we thoroughly introduce the preparation methods, physical properties, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity, pH sensitivity, stability and applications of biopolymer-based smart packaging films containing PSPAs. Factors affecting the extraction and functional properties of PSPAs as well as the properties of biopolymer-based films containing PSPAs are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freezing plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety of foods over long storage periods. However, ice crystals within the cells can cause irreversible damages to tissue structures during the freezing process, resulting a significant problem on the quality. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of physical field-assisted freezing on the quality attributes of frozen baked sweet potato and identify the optimum operational parameters of quick-frozen process. Combination of magnetic field and ultrasound suggested the best results, with a 58.33% reduction in freezing time, 59.63% reduction in thawing loss, compared to IF. The hardness and the signal values of Sweetness and W2W of CF were 58.90%, 20.03%, and 27.07% higher than those of IF, which showed that CF have better maintenance of sample quality. Low field-nuclear magnetic resonance results showed that CF caused a decrease in the proportion of free water and an increase in the proportion of immobile water, and the water status are more similar to FB. Microscopic observations confirmed that the CF had the smallest and the most evenly distribution of ice crystals. Optimization of frozen baked sweet potato via response surface methodology, which revealed that the optimal conditions included a magnetic field intensity of 30 mT, an ultrasonic intensity of 320 W, and an ultrasonic time of 10 s. Therefore, treatment of combination with magnetic field and ultrasound is a promising novel method to improve the quality of frozen foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucose syrup is a clear and viscous liquid often produced using starch that is subjected to acid hydrolysis or enzymatic methods. Therefore, this review aimed to evaluate the potential starch sources to produce glucose syrup using these two methods. The data used were articles retrieved from Scopus and Google Scholar databases based on relevant keywords. The search was conducted by limiting the articles to only English-language journals published between 2013 and 2023. The results show that the starch sources capable of being hydrolyzed into glucose syrup using either enzymatic or acid hydrolysis include sago, cassava, wheat, corn, potato, taro, sorghum, jicama, sweet potato, and rice. The enzymatic method was proven to be more effective in producing high returns compared to acid hydrolysis. Moreover, the key factors to be considered in the process included catalyst concentration which was found to be optimal at 0.02% α-amylase and glucoamylase for enzymatic methods and 150 ml 0.1 M/50 g starch for acid hydrolysis. Another factor was incubation time was observed to be optimal at 2 h for liquefaction and 48 h for saccharification in enzymatic methods but 13 h for acid hydrolysis. Furthermore, the best incubation temperature was reported to be 95 °C for liquefaction and 60 °C for saccharification in enzymatic methods but 95 °C for acid hydrolysis. The results also showed that the optimal pH was 6–6.2 for liquefaction and 4–4.2 for saccharification in enzymatic methods but 1–2 for acid hydrolysis. It was also reported that corn produced the highest yield compared to other materials. The review provided a comprehensive and holistic overview of glucose syrup production from several types of starch and two different methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION The identification of adulterated sweet potato vermicelli faces significant challenges, seriously hindering the development of the vermicelli industry. Herein, we investigate effects of energy‐gathered ultrasound (EGU) and energy‐divergent ultrasound (EDU) (30, 40 and 50 W  L−1) on structure, DNA extraction and adulterated quantification of sweet potato vermicelli and its starch, thereby exploring their potential in adulteration of sweet potato vermicelli.EGU‐assisted modified cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) protocol with β‐mercaptoethanol significantly improved DNA extraction from sweet potato vermicelli (223.7–249.2 ng μL−1) and its starch (133.4–186.4 ng μL−1), followed by EDU‐assisted DNA extraction from sweet potato vermicelli (115.1–209.3 ng μL−1) and its starch (33.4–61.0 ng μL−1). Both EGU and EDU treatments resulted in the destruction of microstructure and crystalline structure, as well as changes in pasting and thermal properties of sweet potato vermicelli and its starch. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification results revealed that EGU and EDU enhanced the efficiency of DNA amplification, and EDU showed smaller cycle threshold (Ct) values than EGU. In addition, EDU‐assisted CTAB protocol combined with real‐time PCR could detect levels of less than 1% of cassava and maize starches in sweet potato vermicelli.EDU‐assisted CTAB protocol combined with real‐time PCR shows promise as a sensitive and reliable analytical tool for vermicelli adulteration. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit and vegetable producers were creating a large amount of waste in homes, cafeterias, and agroprocessing units. The majority of this waste is composted and disposed in landfills and waterways. Recycling these wastes as animal feedstuffs will lessen food‐feed competition and minimize environmental hazards. This study was carried out in the Gamo zone of southern Ethiopia, in the heart of the southern rift valley, to ascertain the nutritional profiles of fruit and vegetable by‐products in relation to livestock feed potentials. All fruit and vegetable waste (FVW) samples were collected from homes, marketing facilities, restaurants, and waste disposal facilities. Proximate, detergent fiber component, minerals, and antinutritional factors were among the analyses performed on the collected samples. The results showed that, highest CP values recorded from banana leaf, 15.8 ± 0.8 (%DM) followed by avocado peel (14 ± 0.8) among fruit by‐products and that of highest values of vegetable components were obtained from Moringa oleifera strip (20.6 ± 1.25) sweet potato (18.5 ± 1.55), respectively. The highest ME (MJ/kg DM) contents obtained from avocado and mango by‐products among fruit wastes, while that of highest values recorded for cassava and potato peel (12.2 ± 0.4) and (11.3 ± 0.1) among vegetable components, respectively. The antinutrients included in FVW, namely, tannin, oxalate, and phytate, did not exceed the maximum permissible level for animal needs, which is less than 5% of DM. The macro‐ and micromineral profiles of these by‐products also show encouraging results that contribute to maintaining the mineral needs of farm animals. FVW can be a viable and alternative source of supplemental feed for farm animals that primarily rely on low‐quality natural pasture and crop residues, and can partially replace more expensive feedstuffs and their efficient reuse would minimize environmental impacts associated with the disposal of such wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Practical Application This study examined the effects of various heat treatments on physicochemical properties, functionality, and starch digestibility of sweet potato flour. Heat treatments darkened the color but did not change the chemical structure. Solubility decreased and swelling power increased (17.3%–18.3%) with baking, frying, and microwaving, while extrusion and steaming had opposite effects. Rapidly digestible starch content increased (8.96%–41.91%) in all treatments except steaming, which reduced slowly digestible starch (61.81%–28.97%). Based on the analysis of these studies, using low‐temperature baked and extruded sweet potato flour as the main raw material, combined with the concept of complete nutrition, supplemented by nutritious ingredients such as quinoa, oats, and whey protein, we have successfully developed two sweet potato meal replacement flours (SP‐1 and SP‐2) and found they had good brewing properties and showed shear‐thinning behavior. This study provided theoretical basis for sweet potato deep processing and functional product development.This paper studied the effects of different heat treatments on sweet potato flour, and developed two meal replacement flour based on this, to provide a theoretical basis for the application of the sweet potato industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sweet potato and potato, sensory traits are critical for acceptance by consumers, growers, and traders, hence underpinning the success or failure of a new cultivar. A quick analytical method for the sensory traits could expedite the selection process in breeding programs. In this paper, the relationship between sensory panel and instrumental color plus texture features was evaluated. Results have shown a high correlation between the sensory panel and instrumental color in both sweet potato (up to r = 0.84) and potato (r > 0.78), implying that imaging is a potential alternative to the sensory panel for color scoring. High correlations between sensory panel aroma and flavor with instrumental color were detected (up to r = 0.66), although the validity of these correlations needs to be tested. With instrumental color and texture parameters as predictors, low to moderate accuracy was detected in the machine learning models developed to predict sensory panel traits. Overall, the performance of the eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGboost) was comparable to the radial‐based support vector machine (NL‐SVM) algorithm, and these could be used for the initial selection of genotypes for aromas and flavors (r2 = 0.64–0.72) and texture attributes like moisture or mealiness (r2 > 50). Among the chemical properties screened in sweet potato, only starch showed a moderate correlation with sensory features like mealiness (r = 0.54) and instrumental color (r = 0.65). From the results, we can conclude that the instrumental scores of color are equivalent to those scored by the sensory panel, and the former could be adopted for quick analysis. Further investigations may be required to understand the association between color and aroma or flavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Certain carotene components, such as lycopene and beta‐carotene, are found in tomatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes, etc. and are good for human health. It gives plants their distinctive red color. A class of lipid‐soluble natural pigments known as carotenoids is the precursor of vitamin A and is vital for antioxidant defense against peroxides in cells and tissues. This review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge and research on the sources, structures, physiochemical properties, absorption and metabolism, functional advantages, and prevention of many diseases associated with lycopene and beta‐carotene. These antioxidants have been linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and they also help draw pollinators to flowers. Carrots and sweet potatoes are also rich sources of beta‐carotene, which strengthens the immune system and improves eye health. The vivid color of many plants reproductive organs, including flowers and fruits, is caused by carotenoid, a secondary metabolite that is produced in plastids. The distinctive red color and many other health advantages are attributed to lycopene. When ingested through food or supplements, lycopene and beta‐carotene help manage and prevent a number of diseases, including cancer, metabolic, inflammatory, cardiovascular, hepatic, ophthalmic, skeletal, and infertility disorders. The main point is that toxicity is uncommon, and these carotenoids are generally accepted to be safe at different doses. Including these nutrients in your diet can improve your general health and provide illness prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-cell transcriptome sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a powerful tool for describing the transcriptome dynamics of plant development but has not yet been utilized to analyze the tissue ontology of sweetpotato. This study established a stable method for isolating single protoplast cells for scRNA-seq to reveal the cell heterogeneity of sweetpotato root tip meristems at the single-cell level. The study analyzed 12,172 single cells and 27,355 genes in the root tips of the sweetpotato variety Guangshu 87, which were distributed into 15 cell clusters. Pseudo-time analysis showed that there were transitional cells in the apical development trajectory of mature cell types from stem cell niches. Furthermore, we identified novel development regulators of sweetpotato tubers via trajectory analysis. The transcription factor IbGATA4 was highly expressed in the adventitious roots during the development of sweetpotato root tips, where it may regulate the development of sweetpotato root tips. In addition, significant differences were observed in the transcriptional profiles of cell types between sweetpotato, Arabidopsis thaliana, and maize. This study mapped the single-cell transcriptome of sweetpotato root tips, laying a foundation for studying the types, functions, differentiation, and development of sweetpotato root tip cells. Highlights: This is the first single-cell transcriptional atlas of sweetpotato root apex tissue. Single-cell analysis of stem cell niche initiation showed unique transitional states. Sweetpotato, Arabidopsis, and maize root tip cell types were correlated. GATA4 may be involved in regulating sweetpotato root tip development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of this study was to examine the biological activity and probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from sweet potato stalk kimchi (SPK). Various LAB and Bacillus spp. are active in the early stages of the fermentation of kimchi made from sweet potato stalk. Four strains of LAB were identified, including SPK2 (Levilactobacillus brevis ATCC 14869), SPK3 (Latilactobacillus sakei NBRC 15893), SPK8 and SPK9 (Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. dextranicum NCFB 529). SPK2, SPK3, SPK8, and SPK9 showed 64.64–94.23% bile acid resistance and 78.66–82.61% pH resistance. We identified over 106 CFU/mL after heat treatment at 75 °C. Four strains showed high antimicrobial activity to Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium with a clear zone of >11 mm. SPK2 had the highest antioxidative potentials, higher than the other three bacteria, with 44.96 μg of gallic acid equivalent/mg and 63.57% DPPH scavenging activity. These results demonstrate that the four strains isolated from sweet potato kimchi stalk show potential as probiotics with excellent antibacterial effects and may be useful in developing health-promoting products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the responses of sweet potatoes to Cadmium (Cd) stress through pot experiments to theoretically substantiate their comprehensive applications in Cd-polluted agricultural land. The experiments included a CK treatment and three Cd stress treatments with 3, 30, and 150 mg/kg concentrations, respectively. We analyzed specified indicators of sweet potato at different growth periods, such as the individual plant growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant capacity, and carbohydrate Cd accumulation distribution. On this basis, the characteristics of the plant carbon metabolism in response to Cd stress throughout the growth cycle were explored. The results showed that T2 and T3 treatments inhibited the vine growth, leaf area expansion, stem diameter elongation, and tuberous root growth of sweet potato; notably, T3 treatment significantly increased the number of sweet potato branches. Under Cd stress, the synthesis of chlorophyll in sweet potato was significantly suppressed, and the Rubisco activity experienced significant reductions. With the increasing Cd concentration, the function of PS II was also affected. The soluble sugar content underwent no significant change in low Cd concentration treatments. In contrast, it decreased significantly under high Cd concentrations. Additionally, the tuberous root starch content decreased significantly with the increase in Cd concentration. Throughout the plant growth, the activity levels of catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase increased significantly in T2 and T3 treatments. By comparison, the superoxide dismutase activity in T1 treatment was significantly lower than that of CK. With the increasing application of Cd, its accumulation accordingly increased in various sweet potato organs. The the highest bioconcentration factor was detected in absorbing roots, while the tuberous roots had a lower bioconcentration factor and Cd accumulation. Moreover, the transfer factor from stem to petiole was the highest of the potato organs. These results demonstrated that sweet potatoes had a high Cd tolerance and a restoration potential for Cd-contaminated farmland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

West Sumatra is a region in Indonesia with a high supply of local food sources at reasonable costs, such as cassava, purple sweet potatoes, white sweet potatoes, and taro. However, it turns out that local food sources have not been widely utilized. This study aims to formulate a sustainability strategy for the development of the local food industry. The research method used is a focus group discussion with the government and business actors in the local food industry in West Sumatera. The strategies created will consider the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats faced by the local food industry using a SWOT analysis. Results classified 8 items under strengths, 9 under weakness, 10 under opportunities, and 8 under threats. Based on this, a strategy will be formulated which is a combination of the part of SWOT area that consists of 2 SO strategies, 2 WO strategies, 2 WT strategies, and 2 ST strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato flour (SPF) is used to produce food products worldwide due to good biological activity in the human diet and low cost. In this experiment, sweet potato tubers were processed into flour including purple-SPF, yellow-SPF and orange-SPF and applied in breadsticks. The proximate, physical, phytochemical and antioxidant properties of flour and breadsticks were investigated. The carbohydrate, moisture, ash, fat, protein and fiber contents of SPF ranged from 82.19 - 85.21, 4.12 - 5.78, 1.30 - 2.46, 0.32 - 0.86, 4.07 - 4.74 and 3.58 - 5.65 %, respectively. The water activity (aw) of SPF ranged from 0.2277 - 0.2695. The phytochemical analysis showed that purple-SPF and purple-SPF based breadstick products exhibited the highest total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC) and total anthocyanin contents (TAC), while total carotenoid contents (TCC) was observed in both orange-SPF and breadstick made from orange-SPF. In addition, purple-SPF and breadstick produced from purple-SPF had the highest antioxidant activity against ABTS, FRAP, DPPH and metal chelating activity. The X-ray diffraction patterns of SPF samples showed a C-type crystal structure, with a crystallinity ranging from 19.43 - 31.05 %. The scanning electron micrographs of SPF granules revealed that they were mostly round and spherical, with a size range between 5 - 28 µm. The viscosity characteristics of yellow-SPF had the highest peak viscosity (307.97 ± 9.87 RVU), trough viscosity (200.81 ± 10.07 RVU), breakdown (108.42 ± 3.13 RVU), final viscosity (277.75 ± 8.60 RVU) and setback (76.95 ± 4.03 RVU). The physical quality showed breadstick from yellow-SPF had the highest hardness and fracturability with values of 11,537.67 ± 190.58 g and 11,143.33 ± 161.97 g, respectively. These results indicate that sweet potato flour composite breadstick has high phytochemical and antioxidant potential and may be applied in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study selected two sweet potato varieties as research subjects and conducted a field experiment using a two-factor design with two potassium (K) levels (K0 and K1) and five nitrogen (N) levels (N0–N4). The physiological changes in sweet potato leaves under different N and K treatments were measured, and nutrients such as the soluble sugar, protein, and starch content of sweet potato roots were analyzed. The results indicate that the activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) and the soluble protein content in sweet potato leaves increase first and then decrease with increasing N application, while K application can significantly increase the activity of GS and the soluble protein content. The N metabolic capacity of leaves is strongest when the fertilizer ratio is K1N2. The SPAD value of sweet potato leaves increases with increasing N application. The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO2 concentration first increase and then decrease with increasing N application. K fertilizer has a significant effect on these parameters. As the N application rate increases, the starch and protein content in the tubers increase, while the soluble sugar content decreases. However, the number of tubers per plant, fresh weight of the tubers, and dry weight of the tubers increase initially and then decrease, while the vine length continuously increases. The application of K fertilizer can significantly increase the number of tubers per plant and stem thickness of sweet potato. In conclusion, the appropriate N–K combined application can promote N metabolism, enhance the photosynthetic capacity of sweet potato, increase yield, and improve quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The sweet potato is an important food crop grown and traded in many regions of the world, especially in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions. Several insect pests feed on sweet potatoes in open fields and storage. As a result, the yield and quality are generally impacted. In addition, some of the insect pests are of regulatory importance. Indeed, the United States and Brazil are subject to stringent pest and quarantine regulations concerning sweet potatoes, encompassing the plant's roots and aerial parts. This review describes the current status of sweet potato regulations and management options in the United States and Brazil. We also describe research on sweet potato production, monitoring, biological control, and regulatory pest management information that may relieve these problems. This can help small and large farmers produce sweet potatoes in the United States and Brazil. The sweet potato [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] is considered one of the most important crops in the world as food, fodder, and raw material for starch and alcohol production. Sweet potato consumption and demand for its value-added products have increased significantly over the past two decades, leading to new cultivars, expansion in acreage, and increased demand in the United States and its export markets. Due to its health benefits, sweet potato production has multiplied over the past decade in Brazil, promoting food security and economic development in rural areas. Their adaptability and nutritional value make them a food of great importance for Brazil. As pest attacks and disease infection are the main limiting aspects that often cause yield loss and quality degradation in sweet potatoes, there is a great demand to develop effective defense strategies to maintain productivity. There is a critical need for research into non-pesticide control approaches that can provide safe, cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly pest and disease management techniques. Pests which feed on roots have trade implications worldwide. For example, sweet potato tuber shipments infested with the sweet potato weevil are generally not allowed for trade in North and South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.), a key global root crop, faces challenges due to its narrow genetic background. This issue can be addressed by utilizing the diverse genetic resources of sweet potato's wild relatives, which are invaluable for its genetic improvement. Methods: The morphological differences in leaves, stems, and roots among 13 Ipomoea species were observed and compared. Chromosome numbers were determined by examining metaphase cells from root tips. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to identify the number of 5S and 18S rDNA sites in these species. PCR amplification was performed for both 5S and 18S rDNA, and phylogenetic relationships among the species were analyzed based on the sequences of 18S rDNA. Results: Three species were found to have enlarged roots among the 13 Ipomoea species. Chromosome analysis revealed that I. batatas had 90 chromosomes, Ipomoea pes-tigridis had 28 chromosomes, while the remaining species possessed 30 chromosomes. Detection of rDNA sites in the 13 species showed two distinct 5S rDNA site patterns and six 18S rDNA site patterns in the 12 diploid species. These rDNA sites occurred in pairs, except for the seven 18S rDNA sites observed in Ipomoea digitata. PCR amplification of 5S rDNA identified four distinct patterns, while 18S rDNA showed only a single pattern across the species. Phylogenetic analysis divided the 13 species into two primary clades, with the closest relationships found between I. batatas and Ipomoea trifida, as well as between Ipomoea platensis and I. digitata. Conclusions: These results enhance our understanding of the diversity among Ipomoea species and provide valuable insights for breeders using these species to generate improved varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important fertilizers in agriculture because it promotes the growth of plants and the uptake of other plant nutrients. This nutrient plays a significant role in determining the yield and nutrient composition of sweet potato root tubers. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the optimum application rate of N in sweet potatoes to maximize yields and increase growth efficiency. Four levels of N (50, 100, 150, and 200 kg/ha) were applied as treatments. A randomized complete block design was used, and each treatment was replicated five times. Vine length, leaf length, stem thickness, and chlorophyll content were measured weekly, and the storage root yield was determined at the end of the experiment. The results showed a significant effect of the N treatments on plant growth, chlorophyll content, vine length, leaf area index and storage root yield. The chlorophyll content and vine length increased with an increase in the N rate. However, an inverse relationship was observed between storage root yield and N rates; the highest yield was recorded for the 50 kg/ha N treatment and the lowest yield was recorded for the 200 kg/ha N applied. Therefore, a rate of 50 to 100 kg/ha N is recommended for the production of orange-fleshed sweet potatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Processed plant-based foods, particularly high carbohydrate-containing foods, are among the greatest contributors to dietary acrylamide, a probable human carcinogen, uptake. Between 2009 and 2020, five surveys were conducted to determine acrylamide in high carbohydrate-containing foods in Canada. These surveys included sampling of potato and sweet potato chips, French fries, and frozen potato/sweet potato products, as a follow-up to our earlier surveys from 2002 - 2008. Samples were analyzed using isotope dilution (13C3-acrylamide) with LC-MS/MS. The highest mean acrylamide levels were found in sweet potato chips. Among potato chips (57 to 4660 ng g−1), one brand consistently showed the highest concentrations with wide variability. Acrylamide concentrations decreased over time in ready-to-eat French fries (from 480 to 358 ng g−1), and one brand showed a clear reduction temporally. Wide variations were observed among brands, among lots/outlets of same brands, and among different food chains. Acrylamide levels in potato chips decreased between 2009 and 2016 (504.3 ng g−1) relative to the period 2002 - 2008 (1096.9 ng g−1). The acrylamide trends observed in the products measured in the latest study indicate that food producers may have adopted mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artisanal and small-scale gold mining has commonly used the mercury amalgamation method for gold ore extraction. The processing waste or tailings often contain gold and other metals. This study examined the effects of cow manure amendment and the ratio of gold mine tailings on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) gold phytomining. The pot experiment was conducted in the Faculty of Agriculture greenhouse at Padjadjaran University in Indonesia. The sweet potato MZ119 clone (an orange-fleshed sweet potato) was planted on a polybag (40 x 40 cm) consisting of 10 kg of planting media, which was a mixture of gold mine tailing and soil. The design used was a completely randomized design factorial with three replications. The first factor was ratios of gold mine tailing consisting of three levels, namely 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100% (w/w). The second factor was doses of organic manure, namely without cow manure, 250 g pot-1, 500 g pot-1, and 750 g pot-1. The results demonstrated that the application of cow dung and the gold mine tailings ratio (w/w) had a significant (p = 0.05) effect on plants' dry weight biomass, gold accumulation, and gold phytomining by sweet potato. The highest gold mass yield of 0.066 mg gold plant-1 was achieved by a 50% (w/w) gold mine tailing ratio and 750 g pot-1 cow manure treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV‐A light exposure (365 nm, 4.6 ± 0.2 mW/cm2) was combined with low relative humidity (RH) air flow at room temperature to dehydrate sweet potatoes and reduce the population of inoculated bacteria. Control samples underwent dehydration with low RH air at room temperature and in the absence of UV‐A light to assess the importance of UV‐A light in the dehydration and microbial reduction processes. The UV‐A light‐dehydrated sweet potatoes resulted in the removal of approximately 97.2% ± 2% of the original mass of water, which was significantly higher than the control samples. Infrared spectroscopy analyses confirmed the preservation of the physical and chemical integrity of the UV‐A light‐dehydrated samples. Despite the absence of pretreatments for enzyme inactivation, the UV‐A light‐dehydrated sweet potato did not exhibit a decrease in luminosity or darkening of color often associated with dehydration. Additionally, the utilization of UV‐A light for the dehydration of sweet potatoes inoculated with ~6 log(CFU/gDry solids) of Escherichia coli K12 resulted in a 99.9% ± 0.1% or 3.1 ± 0.5 log(CFU/gDry solids) reduction with only a 92.2% ± 0.1% or 1.3 ± 0.5 log(CFU/gDry solids) reduction resulting from the control samples dehydrated without UV‐A exposure. In the case of samples inoculated with ~6 log(CFU/gDry solids) of Listeria innocua L2 there was a 99.2% ± 0.5% or 2.2 ± 0.3 log(CFU/gDry solids) reduction when UV‐A light was utilized and only a 60.9% ± 10.3% or 0.4 ± 0.1 log(CFU/gDry solids) reduction when samples were dehydrated in its absence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: Incorporating rice straw into upland has been adopted as a strategy to increase crop productivity and decrease poisoning to rice from reducing substances accumulation as well as mitigate methane emission from paddy fields in South China. However, the mechanism underlying long-term ex situ incorporation of rice straw in upland on soil organic carbon (SOC) and crop yields through microbial metabolism remains unclear. Materials and methods: Hence, a field experiment was established to investigate the response mechanism of SOC and crop yields underlying microbe-mediated carbon dynamics with nutrient stoichiometry by ex situ incorporation of rice straw in upland. Results and discussion: The results showed that the treatment of cropping with chemical fertilizers plus rice straw (SCF) had the highest SOC accumulation rate (0.14 ± 0.03 g C kg−1 yr−1) during the 22-year experimental period. The mean yields of rapeseed and sweet potato were increased by 5.0% and 4.7% in the SCF treatment, correspondingly, compared with the treatment of cropping with chemical fertilizers (CF). Additionally, based on ecoenzymatic stoichiometry, soil microorganisms were found to be co-limited by carbon and phosphorus, which was aggravated by the decrease of soil available nutrients. The SCF treatment exhibited a higher soil microbiomass, resulting in an increased secretion of ecoenzymatic activities to mediate stoichiometric imbalance and mitigate nutrient competition between plant and microbial nutrient limitations. The findings revealed a significant association between stoichiometric imbalance and both SOC and crop yields, respectively. Conclusions: Therefore, our study indicated that long-term ex situ incorporation of rice straw in upland could be adopted as an effective agricultural management strategy to improve SOC and crop yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purple-fleshed sweetpotatoes (PFSPs) are rich in anthocyanins and are one of the health foods of interest. In this study, the effects of steaming on the anthocyanin, starch, soluble sugar, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and pasting properties of nine PFSPs from China were investigated. The anthocyanin content of raw PFSP ranged from 9 to 185 mg/100 g. The total starch content decreased and soluble sugar content increased in all purple potatoes after steaming. Among the nine PFSPs varieties, Guangshu20 showed the greatest decrease in starch content (30.61%) and the greatest increase in soluble sugar content (31.12%). The pasting properties affected the taste of the PFSPs, with Shuangpihuang having the lowest peak viscosity (720.33 cP) and Guangzishu12 having the highest peak viscosity (2501.67 cP). Correlation studies showed that the anthocyanin content and pasting properties were negatively correlated with most of the sensory indicators, whereas the soluble sugar content of steamed PFSPs was significantly positively correlated with sweetness. A total of 54 VOCs were identified in this study, and aldehydes and terpenoids were the major VOCs in PFSPs. This study provides a theoretical basis for the processing of different PFSP varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, three kinds of thermal treatments were applied to sweet potatoes: steaming (100 °C, 20 min), frying (150 °C, 10 min), and baking (200 °C, 30 min). We analyzed the changes in the physicochemical structure, antioxidant properties, and hypoglycemic activities of sweet potato polysaccharides between untreated and heat-treated samples. The results showed that the polysaccharides of all sweet potatoes (untreated and heat-treated) were composed of pyranose structures, had low protein content, and shared the same monosaccharide composition. Infrared spectra showed that the three thermal processing treatments had no significant effect on the functional groups or chemical bonding of sweet potato polysaccharides. In addition, all four polysaccharides exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities. The above experimental results suggest that thermal processing did not affect the physicochemical, antioxidant, or hypoglycemic activities of sweet potato polysaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación is the property of Federacion Espanola de Asociaciones de Docentes de Educacion Fisica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is an essential food crop globally, especially for farmers facing resource limitations. Like other crops, sweetpotato cultivation faces significant production challenges due to viral infections. This study aimed to identify and characterize viruses affecting sweetpotato crops in Uganda, mostly those associated with sweetpotato virus disease (SPVD). Infected leaf samples were collected from farmers' fields in multiple districts spanning three regions in Uganda. MiSeq, a next-generation sequencing platform, was used to generate reads from the viral nucleic acid. The results revealed nine viruses infecting sweetpotato crops in Uganda, with most plants infected by multiple viral species. Sweet potato pakakuy and sweet potato symptomless virus_1 are reported in Uganda for the first time. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that some viruses have evolved to form new phylogroups, likely due to high mutations and recombination, particularly in the coat protein, P1 protein, cylindrical inclusion, and helper component proteinase regions of the potyvirus. The sweet potato virus C carried more codons under positive diversifying selection than the closely related sweet potato feathery mottle virus, particularly in the P1 gene. This study provides valuable insights into the viral species infecting sweetpotato crops, infection severity, and the evolution of sweet potato viruses in Uganda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study provides an overview of the composition of the raw root flesh of a panel of 22 sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) cultivars, with a focus on bioactive compounds. The large diversity of the proximate and phytochemical compositions observed between cultivars and within and between different flesh colors pointed out the importance of composition analysis and not only color choice for the design of foods with nutritional benefits. Methods: The nutritional composition (starch, protein, total dietary fibers) and bioactive compound composition of 22 cultivars from Reunion Island, maintained in the Vatel Biological Resource Center, were investigated. Results: Orange and purple cultivars stood out from white and yellow cultivars for their higher nutritional composition. Purple sweet potatoes were notable for their high contents of anthocyanins (55.7 to 143.4 mg/g dry weight (DW)) and phenolic compounds, in particular chlorogenic acid and ferulic acid, contributing to antioxidant activities, as well as their fiber content (14.1 ± 2.1% DW). Orange cultivars were rich in β-carotene (47.2 ± 0.7 mg/100 g DW) and to a lesser extent α-carotene (4.8 ± 1.2 mg/100 g DW). In contrast, certain white cultivars demonstrated suboptimal nutritional properties, rendering them less relevant even for applications where the lack of coloration in food is desired. Conclusions: Those characteristics enable the selection of sweet potato varieties to design food products ensuring optimal nutritional benefits and culinary versatility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Malnutrition and food insecurity are major public health problems in developing countries including Ethiopia. Because of an economic issue and information gap, developing countries' survival depends on foods rich in carbohydrates but deficient in protein and micronutrients. However, it is paramount to mix ingredients that complement different nutritional profiles to alleviate the problem of malnutrition. Hence, in this research, maize, orange‐fleshed sweet potato, sweet lupine, and moringa leaf powder composites were used to develop nutritious instant porridge flour through extrusion cooking. Formulations containing powdered maize, orange‐fleshed sweet potato, sweet lupine, and moringa leaf were developed in the following ratios: 100:0:0:0, 50:35:10:5, 45:30:15:10, and 40:25:20:15, respectively. A completely randomized design was used to determine the blending effect on the functional properties, proximate composition, minerals, and beta‐carotene content of formulated instant porridge flour. Whereas, a randomized complete block design was used for the organoleptic characteristics data. Accordingly, the addition of orange‐fleshed sweet potato, sweet lupine, and moringa leaf powder to maize‐based porridge showed a significant (p < .05) increase in bulk density (0.70 ± 0.02 to 0.74 ± 0.03), water solubility index (10.09 ± 0.08 to 14.16 ± 0.23), protein (9.00 ± 0.00 to 21.10 ± 0.02), ash (1.43 ± 0.07 to 3.36 ± 0.08), fiber (1.55 ± 0.05 to 3.21 ± 0.01), fat (3.37 ± 0.02 to 5.37 ± 0.07), energy (370.89 ± 0.70 to 400.53 ± 0.65), vitamin A (0.00 to 41.00 ± 1.55), iron (3.49 ± 0.02 to 9.58 ± 0.29), zinc (2.89 ± 0.01 to 3.62 ± 0.06), and calcium (40.49 ± 0.42 to 113.34 ± 0.52) contents. However, water absorption index (4.76 ± 0.01 to 3.84 ± 0.01), moisture (8.50 ± 0.08 to 5.60 ± 0.04), and carbohydrate (76.11 ± 0.22 to 66.94 ± 0.02) content were decreased as a result of blending proportion compared to maize porridge (control). Formulated instant maize‐based porridge prepared from 50% maize, 35% orange‐fleshed sweet potato, 10% sweet lupine, and 5% moringa leaf powder scored the highest (above 4 out of 5 in a 5‐point hedonic scale) in all sensory attributes. In conclusion, the addition of orange‐fleshed sweet potato, sweet lupine flour, and moringa leaf powder has improved both macro‐ and micronutrients. Therefore, the development of nutritious maize‐based instant porridge formulated from readily available and underutilized crops can be achieved by extrusion cooking that helps to reduce the prevalence of malnutrition and food insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enhancing the amount of dietary fiber without compromising the quality of noodles remains a challenge in the food industry. This study aimed to optimize the ultrasound‐assisted extraction parameters to enhance the yield of nanocellulose from sweet potato residue (SPR) using a response surface methodology. The impact of SPR nanocellulose on noodles' physicochemical properties was also explored. Results showed that the optimal extraction conditions for nanocellulose from SPR were identified as 180.73 U/mL cellulase concentration, 4.28 h ultrasonic time, 444.12 W ultrasonic power, and 14.17 h enzymatic hydrolysis time. The max yield of nanocellulose was 15.93% at optimum extraction conditions. Increasing the amount of SPR nanocellulose resulted in a reduction in the optimal cooking time, water absorption, elongation index, and springiness, as well as an increase in the breaking rate, cooking loss, hardness, gumminess, and chewiness of the noodles. Sensory analysis revealed higher acceptability of the noodles with 6%–12% SPR nanocellulose compared to other treatments. Microstructure demonstrated that noodles with 0%–18% SPR nanocellulose exhibited fewer holes and denser network structures, but higher SPR nanocellulose damaged the protein network. Those findings suggested that noodles with less than 12% SPR nanocellulose exhibited higher quality. This research provided the foundation for the development of nanocellulose‐enriched foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, precise spraying of sweet potatoes is mainly accomplished through semi-mechanized or single spraying robots, which results in low operating efficiency. Moreover, it is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and the pests and diseases cannot be eliminated in time. Based on multi robot navigation technology, multiple robots can work simultaneously, improving work efficiency. One of the main challenges faced by multi robot navigation technology is to develop a safe and robust collision avoidance strategy, so that each robot can safely and efficiently navigate from its starting position to the expected target. In this article, we propose a low-cost multi-robot collision avoidance method to solve the problem that multiple robots are prone to collision when working in field at the same time. This method has achieved good results in simulation. In particular, our collision avoidance method predicts the possibility of collision based on the robot's position and environmental information, and changes the robot's path in advance, instead of waiting for the robot to make a collision avoidance decision when it is closer. Finally, we demonstrate that a multi-robot collision avoidance approach provides an excellent solution for safe and effective autonomous navigation of a single robot working in complex sweet potato fields. Our collision avoidance method allows the robot to move forward effectively in the field without getting stuck. More importantly, this method does not require expensive hardware and computing power, nor does it require tedious parameter tuning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food & Fermentation Industries is the property of Food & Fermentation Industries and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Viral diseases of sweet potatoes are causing severe crop losses worldwide. More than 30 viruses have been identified to infect sweet potatoes among which the sweet potato latent virus (SPLV), sweet potato mild speckling virus (SPMSV), sweet potato virus G (SPVG) and sweet potato virus 2 (SPV2) have been recognized as distinct species of the genus Potyvirus in the family Potyviridae. The sweet potato virus 2 (SPV2) is a primary pathogen affecting sweet potato crops. Methods: In this study, we detected an SPV2 isolate (named SPV2-LN) in Ipomoea nil in China. The complete genomic sequence of SPV2-LN was obtained using sequencing of small RNAs, RT-PCR, and RACE amplification. The codon usage, phylogeny, recombination analysis and selective pressure analysis were assessed on the SPV2-LN genome. Results: The complete genome of SPV2-LN consisted of 10,606 nt (GenBank No. OR842902), encoding 3425 amino acids. There were 28 codons in the SPV2-LN genome with a relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) value greater than 1, of which 21 end in A/U. Among the 12 proteins of SPV2, P3 and P3N-PIPO exhibited the highest variability in their amino acid sequences, while P1 was the most conserved, with an amino acid sequence identity of 87-95.3%. The phylogenetic analysis showed that 21 SPV2 isolates were clustered into four groups, and SPV2-LN was clustered together with isolate yu-17-47 (MK778808) in group IV. Recombination analysis indicated no major recombination sites in SPV2-LN. Selective pressure analysis showed dN/dS of the 12 proteins of SPV2 were less than 1, indicating that all were undergoing negative selection, except for P1N-PISPO. Conclusion: This study identified a sweet potato virus, SPV2-LN, in Ipomoea nil. Sequence identities and genome analysis showed high similarity between our isolate and a Chinese isolate, yu-17-47, isolated from sweet potato. These results will provide a theoretical basis for understanding the genetic evolution and viral spread of SPV2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Results Conclusions Pitaya fruit (Hylocereus spp.) is rich in bioactive compounds such as betanin. This study aimed to extract betanin‐rich pitaya fruit and encapsulate it in electrospun nanofibers produced with sweet potato starch. The influence of different concentrations of this bioactive compound on the morphology, functional groups, hydrophilicity, load capacity, color, thermal properties, and contact angle of the electrospun nanofibers with water and milk was assessed. The potential antioxidant and stability of nanofibers during gastrointestinal digestion in vitro were demonstrated.The nanofibers presented average diameters ranging from 134 to 204 nm and displayed homogeneous morphology. The load capacity of the extract in the nanofibers was 43% to 83%. The encapsulation increased the thermal resistance of betanins (197–297 °C). The static contact angle with water and milk showed that these materials presented greater affinity with milk. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) showed that the nanofibers with 5%, 25%, and 45% pitaya extract presented unique characteristics. They showed resistance in delivering betanins to the stomach, with 12% inhibition of the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH˙) radical. However, only the 45% concentration reached the intestine with 9.83% inhibition of the DPPH˙ radical.Pattern recognition from multivariate analyses indicated that nanofibers containing 5%, 25%, and 45% of the extract presented distinct characteristics, with the ability to preserve betanins against thermal degradation and perform the controlled delivery of these bioactives in the stomach and intestine to produce antioxidant activity. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forming ridges in no-tillage farming (FRNF) is an important conservation tillage practice in the purple soil region of China. Whether FRNF will enhance ecosystem services remains unclear. There is a lack of a systematic quantitative research about the effect of FRNF on ecosystem services. We collected 611 data entries from 21 previous publications to quantitatively evaluate the effects of FRNF on runoff and sediment loss, soil physicochemical properties and biomass. The results showed that compared with conventional tillage, (1) FRNF reduced runoff and sediment loss by 49% and 73%, respectively, due to the blocking effect of the ridge-ditch structure; (2) FRNF increased the concentrations of soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, available nitrogen, available phosphorus and available potassium by 15%, 14%, 30%, 58% and 17%, respectively; (3) FRNF decreased soil bulk density on the ridges by 11% and increased soil moisture content in the furrows by 28%, while it had insignificant effects on soil bulk density in the furrows and soil moisture content on the ridges; and (4) FRNF increased aboveground and belowground biomass (maize, oilseed rape, potato, sweet potato and wheat) by 23% and 63%, respectively. Overall, these results highlighted the importance of FRNF in regulating soil erosion, physicochemical properties and biomasses in the purple soil region of China. The implementation of FRNF in this region could significantly improve the ecosystem services in agro-ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In sweet potato, rational nitrogen (N) assimilation and distribution are conducive to inhibiting vine overgrowth. Nitrate (NO3-) is the main N form absorbed by roots, and cultivar is an important factor affecting N utilization. Herein, a hydroponic experiment was conducted that included four NO3- concentrations of 0 (N0), 4 (N1), 8 (N2) and 16 (N3) mmol L-1 with two cultivars of Jishu26 (J26, N-sensitive) and Xushu32 (X32, N-tolerant). For J26, with increasing NO3- concentrations, the root length and root surface area significantly decreased. However, no significant differences were observed in these parameters for X32. Higher NO3- concentrations upregulated the expression levels of the genes that encode nitrate reductase (NR2), nitrite reductase (NiR2) and nitrate transporter (NRT1.1) in roots for both cultivars. The trends in the activities of NR and NiR were subject to regulation of NR2 and NiR2 transcription, respectively. For both cultivars, N2 increased the N accumulated in leaves, growth points and roots. For J26, N3 further increased the N accumulation in these organs. Under higher NO3- nutrition, compared with X32, J26 exhibited higher expression levels of the NiR2, NR2 and NRT1.1 genes, a higher influx NO3- rate in roots, and higher activities of NR and NiR in leaves and roots. Conclusively, the regulated effects of NO3- supplies on root growth and NO3- utilization were more significant for J26. Under high NO3- conditions, J26 exhibited higher capacities of NO3- absorption and distributed more N in leaves and in growth points, which may contribute to higher growth potential in shoots and more easily cause vine overgrowth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Bacillus inaquosorum strains is widely recognized for their plant‐growth‐promoting and biocontrol capabilities, yet their roles in protease production remain unclear. The present study aimed to comprehensively assess the protease‐producing performance of B. inaquosorum strain E1‐8, at the same time as exploring the novel application of agricultural Bacillus proteases in the preparation of protein hydrolysates for fresh‐cut fruits preservation.First, genomic sequencing revealed the diversity of E1‐8 proteases, indicating 15 putative extracellular proteases. Subsequently, the fermentation conditions for E1‐8 protease production were optimized, with sweet potato powder and soybean meal identified as the most suitable carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, resulting in a maximum protease activity of 321.48 U mL−1. Upon culturing the strain under these optimized conditions, only an S8 family serine protease and an M48 family metalloprotease were revealed by secretomic analysis and protease inhibitor assays. Additionally, the optimal protease conditions for generating protein hydrolysates from soy, pea, fish and porcine proteins were determined. The molecular weight of the hydrolysates primarily ranged from 2000 to 180 Da, with a total of 17 amino acids identified. The application of these hydrolysates demonstrated a 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (i.e. DPPH) scavenging activity ranging from 58.64% to 84.12%, significantly reducing of the melting peaks and the freezing points. Furthermore, the browning index of apple slices stored at 4 °C decreased by 14.81% to 22.15% on the second day, and similar effects were observed in fresh‐cut banana stored at 4 °C for 7 days.The protein hydrolysates obtained exhibit remarkable antioxidant, antifreeze and anti‐browning properties for fresh‐cut fruits. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]