Mohammad Maqbool Mir

Understanding the Role of Plasma Technology in Food Industry

The need for enhancing microbial food safety and quality, without compromising the nutritional, functional, and sensory characteristics of foods, has created an increasing interest in innovative technologies in food industry. Plasma is an emerging, green processing technology offering many potential applications and fulfills the need of the industry. The present review presents the latest developments and applications of plasma technology in food industry. Recent research investigations showed that plasma processing have caught the interest of various areas of industry including cereal, meat, poultry, dairy, fruits, vegetables, packaging, etc. Plasma processing helps to modify the food material for the desirable trait, and maintains the nutritional and textural properties in addition to microbial decontamination.

Effect of puffing on physical and antioxidant properties of brown rice.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of puffing process on the physical, antioxidant properties and mineral composition of brown rice. Bulk density significantly varied (P<0.05) among the puffing stages and was lowest in expanded rice. From Hunter colour analysis, the lowest L(∗) value and highest a(∗) and b(∗) values were observed for parboiled rice (P<0.05). A-type of diffraction pattern, observed in raw rice was altered by puffing process and led to the formation of B- and V-type patterns. Raman spectrum showed the intense peaks in raw rice and the intensity of those peaks was decreased during the puffing process. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a highly porous structure of expanded rice kernel. Significant decrease in the antioxidant properties was observed upon puffing process as compared to raw rice samples. Hence the present study demonstrates that the puffing process leads to the significant changes in the properties of brown rice.

Microgreens: Production, shelf life, and bioactive components

ABSTRACT Microgreens are emerging specialty food products which are gaining popularity and increased attention nowadays. They are young and tender cotyledonary leafy greens that are found in a pleasing palette of colors, textures, and flavors. Microgreens are a new class of edible vegetables harvested when first leaves have fully expanded and before true leaves have emerged. They are gaining popularity as a new culinary ingredient. They are used to enhance salads or as edible garnishes to embellish a wide variety of other dishes. Common microgreens are grown mainly from mustard, cabbage, radish, buckwheat, lettuce, spinach, etc. The consumption of microgreens has nowadays increased due to higher concentrations of bioactive components such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants than mature greens, which are important for human health. However, they typically have a short shelf life due to rapid product deterioration. This review aimed to evaluate the postharvest quality, potential bioactive compounds, and shelf life of microgreens for proper management of this specialty produce.

Process Optimization and Characterization of Popped Brown Rice

The popping process was optimized for brown rice based on an expansion ratio. A central composite design with interactive effect of three independent variables, including salt content (1–2.5 g/100 g raw material), moisture content (13–17 g/100 g raw material), and popping temperature (210–240°C) was used to study their effects on the expansion ratio of rice using response surface methodology. The experimental values of expansion ratio were ranged from 5.24 to 6.85. On fitting the experimental values of expansion ratio to a second order polynomial equation, a mathematical model with the predictability was developed with the statistical adequacy and validity (p ˂ 0.05). From the model, the optimal condition including salt content (1.75 g/100 g raw material), moisture content (15 g/100 g raw material), and popping temperature (225°C) were predicted for a maximum expansion ratio of 6.79, which was then proved to be 6.85 through experiment. Raw and popped brown rice were investigated for physical properties including hardness, L*, a*, and b* value, length/breadth ratio, bulk density, and minerals, which showed the significant differences. The optimized popped rice sample was evaluated for structural, spectroscopic, and thermal properties, which showed the significant difference from raw rice.

Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Physicochemical Properties of Brown Rice

Abstract Brown rice was exposed to 60Co source at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 kGy doses and the effect of gamma irradiation treatment on physicochemical properties were investigated. L* value of brown rice was decreased with increase of irradiation dose, whereas a* and b* values increased. The results showed the decrease of kernel hardness, amylose content and pasting properties considerably with irradiation treatment. A-type diffraction pattern was observed in non-irradiated and irradiated rice samples and crystallinity was decreased with irradiation dose. Raman spectrometry showed the decrease of Raman band intensity at higher irradiation doses. Thermal properties of rice samples were decreased slightly after irradiation treatment. Pearson’s correlation studies revealed that irradiation dose was positively correlated with b* value and negatively correlated with amylose content and pasting properties.

Physicochemical and structural properties of starches isolated from corn cultivars grown in Indian temperate climate

ABSTRACT Starches isolated from five corn cultivars namely C4, C5, C6, C8, and C15 were investigated for their physicochemical and structural properties. The amylose content of corn starches varied from 24.74 to 30.32 g/100 g among the cultivars. The starch granules showed polyhedral granule shapes and differences in their mean granule size ranged from 2.3 to 19.5 μm. The starch samples showed A-type diffraction pattern with strong reflection at 15.25, 18.11, and 23.33°. Pasting profile, textural, and thermal properties of corn starch showed the cultivar differences. Raman spectroscopy showed the major band intensities at 1340, 1082, 940, 865, 523, 485, 440, and 412 cm−1. Syneresis and turbidity of gelatinized pastes of starches varied among the cultivars and increased progressively with the increase in storage period. The present study can be used for identifying differences between corn genotypes for starch quality and could provide guidance to possible industries for their end use.

Rice: Parboiling and Milling Properties

Abstract Parboiling is a hydrothermal processing technique during rice has to pass through many stages which alter the physicochemical properties and nutritional profile of grain. Different parboiling techniques have been developed for preparation and industrialization of rice. During parboiling process, starch granules are gelatinized and retrograded as a result various changes occur in rice kernel, which affects its quality parameters. Parboiling has marked influence on organoleptic properties, improved the strength and nutritional profile of grain. Parboiling treatment principally brings the characteristic change in rice grain such as milling, cooking, storage and eating qualities. Milling is an important unit operation for removing the husk and bran from the rough rice. Milling significantly affects the cooking and nutritional properties of rice. The important parameters focussed during milling are the head rice yield and kernel hardness. Milling technology is therefore geared to obtain maximum outturn of milled rice and to reduce breakage.

Orchard Management in Temperate Fruits

The orchard management system is associated with many factors, which has a direct and practical importance on the overall production and productivity of the orchard. The main aim of different cultural practices in temperate orchard management is to find out the real goal at minimum input cost and to sustain the framework of the orchard in a timely and efficient manner. Applications of model concepts lead to the more precise and uniform produce that ultimately support the homogeneity of fruit quality. Recent studies also found that interactions exist between different aspects of orchard management, namely, soil, irrigation, nutrition, training and pruning, weed competition, and plant growth dynamics in temperate fruit orchards. Research showed that adopting a scientific orchard management system will have the advantage of high accuracy in fruit quantity in general and quality in particular.

Postharvest Biology and Technology of Peach

Peach is a climacteric fruit and undergoes rapid ripening after harvest. The fast ripening of the fruit is responsible for its short shelf life and represents a serious constraint for its efficient handling and transportation. Quick softening of the fruit after harvest and subsequent mold growth leads to huge losses in the marketing chain of the fruit. This chapter mainly sums up recent studies about the maturation parameters, ripening, physiological disorders, microbiological disorders, and postharvest techniques (cold storage, controlled atmosphere storage, and modified atmosphere packaging) of peach fruit. Various treatments, including physical (heat treatment, intermittent warming, irradiation, and edible coatings) and chemical methods (1-methylcyclopropene, salicylic acid, methyl jasmonate, calcium chloride, oxalic acid, melatonin, and nitric oxide), have been applied to peach fruit to enhance its shelf life.

Postharvest Biology and Technology of Loquat

Loquat, a non-climacteric fruit, is well known for its taste, juiciness and high nutrition value. Loquat is mainly consumed as fresh fruit and the important quality attributes are skin color, flesh firmness, soluble solids content, acidity and soluble solids content/acidity ratio. It has a short shelf life at ambient temperatures and is susceptible to various physical, mechanical and nutritional losses. A number of technologies have been evaluated for extending the shelf-life of loquat fruit and include cold storage, controlled atmosphere storage, modified atmosphere packaging, edible coatings, chemical and heat treatments.