Avinash Kakade

Some physical and germination properties of bitter gourd seed were determined in a moisture content range of 9.3-32.1% d.b. For this moisture, the average length, width, and thickness of seed increased by 3.68, 4.07, and 4.56%, respectively. The geometric properties increased with increasing moisture content. The bulk density and rupture force decreased while thousand seed mass, true density, porosity, terminal velocity and static coefficient of friction increased with increasing moisture content. At all moisture contents, the maximum friction was offered by rubber, followed by plywood, aluminum, and galvanized iron surface. The seed germination duration, seedling emergence percentage, and germination index values gave the best results at the 19.9% moisture content, whereas fresh seedling mass was not affected by different moisture contents.

Soybean is an excellent source of protein and fat. However, beany flavour, indigestible components and anti-nutritional factors present in soybean pose obstacles in utilization of soybean. Soyapaneer one of the most nutritional products can be prepared from soymilk. Soypaneer contain 14 per cent proteins, 3.6 % fats and about 72 per cent moisture content. Milk paneer, though it is popular, but it is expensive costing Rs.300/kg. Hence it is out of economy to reach the majority of Indian people.  In this context soypaneer is an appropriate alternative to milk paneer.  Cost of soypaneer is only one third of milk paneer (Rs.100/kg) and gives all nutritional advantages and psychological satisfaction of eating cow milk paneer dish. Groundnut milk is good source of protein. Fortification of soypaneer with groundnut milk may produce best quality of paneer with improved texture and taste. Soya-groundnut paneer is one of the most nutritional products, which can be prepared from different proportions of soymilk and groundnut milk.  In the present investigation, soy- groundnut paneer was prepared from different proportions of soymilk and groundnut milk. Further prepared soy-groundnut paneeer were evaluated for its proximate composition, textural characteristics and organoleptic properties.  Soypaneer fortified with 10% groundnut milk improved taste soy-groundnut paneer and reduced typical beany flavour of soypaneer. The soy-groundnut paneer prepared from 90:10 proportion of soymilk and groundnut milk produced maximum yield and best quality attributes in terms of proximate composition, textural characteristics and organoleptic properties as compared to other proportions of soymilk and groundnut milk

Prior to detailed quality and physiology evaluations, different immersion solutions (SIs) were analysed by means of a nontrained sensory panel. Each SI (calcium chloride, pectin, potassium sorbate, garlic extract and citric acid) was analysed at three concentrations. Based on at least 70% acceptance, the best mixed SI (P<0.05) was determined to be 2g/L citric acid, 1g/L calcium chloride and 250g/L garlic extract (SI). The control treatment was washed only with 0.05g/L active chlorine. Treated lettuce was stored at 5°C in darkness in sealed polypropylene bags, for 9 days. Some senescence indicators (weight loss, colour), certain enzymes related to colour (chlorophyllase and polyphenoloxidase), and a nutrient (ascorbic acid), were measured during storage. SI showed a positive effect on shelf-life of minimally processed lettuce, controlling enzymatic browning, chlorophyllase activity and weight loss. The microorganisms growth was not significantly controlled, but the fact that the organoleptic results of SI-treated lettuce showed about 80% acceptability during 9 days of storage, suggests that some slight modifications on SI could be the basis of a promising formula for minimally processed lettuce.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 contaminated spinach has recently caused several outbreaks of human illness in the USA and Canada. However, to date, there has been no study demonstrating an effective way to eliminate E. coli O157:H7 in spinach. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of chemical sanitizers alone or in combination with packaging methods such as vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on inactivating E. coli O157:H7 in spinach during storage time. Spinach inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 was packaged in four different methods (air, vacuum, N(2) gas, and CO(2) gas packaging) following treatment with water, 100 ppm chlorine dioxide, or 100 ppm sodium hypochlorite for 5 min at room temperature and stored at 7+/-2 degrees C. Treatment with water did not significantly reduce levels of E. coli O157:H7 in spinach. However, treatment with chlorine dioxide and sodium hypochlorite significantly decreased levels of E. coli O157:H7 by 2.6 and 1.1 log(10)CFU/g, respectively. Levels of E. coli O157:H7 in samples packaged in air following treatments grew during storage time, whereas levels were maintained in samples packaged in other packaging methods (vacuum, N(2) gas, and CO(2) gas packaging). Therefore there were significant differences (about 3-4 log) of E. coli O157:H7 populations between samples packed in air and other packaging methods following treatment with chemical sanitizers after 7 days storage. These results suggest that the combination of treatment with chlorine dioxide and packaging methods such as vacuum and MAP may be useful for improving the microbial safety of spinach against E. coli O157:H7 during storage.