Characteristics of Starch Extracted from the Stem of Pineapple Plant (Ananas comosus) - an Agro Waste from Pineapple Farms

Abstract The present study focused on the use of pineapple plant stem, which is an agro-waste, for the production of starch (11.08 % ± 0.77). Characters were studied using X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and rheological methods. The granular size of stem starch was comparatively smaller than corn starch granules. The X-ray diffraction data revealed that stem starch has an A-type crystal structure. The molecular structure was similar to those obtained for native starches, which is confirmed by NMR and FTIR. The gelatinization temperature was observed to be higher than corn starch and rheological studies revealed; stem starch is more viscous than corn starch. The purity analysis showed that the harmful heavy metals were in negligible quantity and the tested pesticides were absent. This could make this a good source of starch for food industries. Results revealed that this agro-waste has a high potential for the production of good quality starch.

Coroa do abacaxi 'Smooth Cayenne' na produção de mudas do tipo rebentão / 'Smooth Cayenne' pineapple crown on the yield of suckers type planting material

Com o objetivo de avaliar o emprego da coroa na produção de mudas do tipo rebentão, coroas do abacaxizeiro 'Smooth Cayenne', pesando de 200 a 300 gramas, foram cultivadas em vasos com 5 dm³ de substrato, em casa de vegetação. Aos quinze e aos trinta dias após o plantio, foram pulverizadas com 10 mL de solução contendo GA3 (0, 100, 200 e 400 mg L-1) e BAP (0, 100, 200 e 400 mg L-1) em uma combinação das diferentes concentrações, totalizando 16 tratamentos e quatro repetições. O delineamento foi em blocos casualizados, no esquema fatorial 4x4. Observou-se efeito do GA3 e do BAP na emissão de brotos, a cada período de dois meses, sendo que os maiores valores estimados foram de 1,81 brotos a cada 60 dias e um total médio de 12,6 brotos em 420 dias após o plantio, quando se utilizou 230 mg L-1 de BAP. Não houve efeito do GA3 e do BAP sobre o número, peso e comprimento dos maiores brotos colhidos aos 124, 214, 314 e 360 dias. Foram colhidas, em um período de 360 dias após o plantio da coroa, 5,2 mudas com peso médio de 145 g e comprimento igual a 35,9 cm.

Aiming to evaluate the use of 'Smooth Cayenne' pineapple plant crowns on yielding planting material of the suckers type, pineapple crowns, weighting from 200 to 300 g, were planted in pots containing 5 dm³ of substrate, in a greenhouse. Fifteen and thirty days after being planted, they were pulverized with 10 mL of GA3 (0, 100, 200 and 400 mg L-1) and BAP (0, 100, 200 and 400 mg L-1) combining the concentrations totalizing 16 treatments with four replicates. The experimental outline was in randomized blocks in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme. Effects of GA3 and BAP on shoot emission were evaluated every two-month intervals. The highest rates of shoot emission were 1,81 shoots every 60 days and a total average of 12.6 shoots at 420 days after planting, under 230 mg L-1 of BAP. There were no GA3 or BAP effects on the number, weight and length of the largest offshoots harvested at 124, 214, 314 and 360 days. In a 365-day-period after planting, an average of 5.2 offshoots were harvested, with 145 g of average weight and 35.9 cm in length.