The influence of chemical composition diversity in the cooking quality of Andean bean genotypes.

Andean beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) chemical compositions and cooking characteristics contribute to a healthy diet. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of chemical composition on the cooking quality of 14 Andean beans genotypes with different seed coat colors. More specifically, water retention (WR), cooking time (CT), and solids released in the broth, were analysed. WR values ranged from 128.4% to 160.7% and CT ranged from 13.7 (BRS Embaixador) to 21.7 min (KID44). Andean beans showed variability in chemical composition, mainly starch content (39.43 g 100 g-1, BRS Realce to 51.92 g 100 g-1, LP15-04) and polymer composition. The profile of starch and interactions among minerals and chemical compounds influenced the cooking profiles than do the individual compounds. Andean beans traits of cooking, mainly CT, were influenced by their chemical composition; however they can be incorporated into diets without drastic changes in preparation methods.

Indication of the geographical origin of honey using its physicochemical characteristics and multivariate analysis.

Honey from different botanical sources presents a great variability in chemical composition, physical properties, and sensorial attributes. The association between honey qualities and its geographical origin allows the recognition of honey, and beekeepers are economically benefited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of honey produced in Ortigueira, Brazil and to compare it with the honey produced in the neighboring localities for the request of geographical indication certification. In the 112 honey samples collected between 2010 and 2013 from Ortigueira and the neighboring localities, moisture acidity, pH, hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF), diastase activity (DA), sugars, proline (Pro), electrical conductivity (EC), color absorbance at 635 nm (C635), and Cielab color parameters were evaluated. HMF, reducing sugars (RS), total sugars (TS), proline, and color parameters (L*, a* and b*) were significantly different in Ortigueira 2010 honey seasons. Principal component analysis separated assapeixe (Vernonia sp) and capixingui (Croton floribundus) honeys from wild honeys (polyfloral). In addition, HMF, RS, L*, and lactonic acidity values promoted the separation between assapeixe and capixingui honeys. Ortigueira honey differs significantly from honeys from neighboring locality in pH, proline, HMF, DA, EC, RS, sucrose, TS, free and total acidity, and color parameters (C635, L*, a*, b*). The multivariate analysis applied to variables was efficient to discriminate honeys from different botanical sources and different locals, and is recommended for studies on the geographical indication of honey.

Correlation between the composition of green Arabica coffee beans and the sensory quality of coffee brews.

This research aimed to correlate the composition of green Arabica coffee beans with the sensory quality coffee brews. The chemical composition of green Arabica coffee bean (66 samples) from three coffee quality contests was analyzed by near-infrared spectroscopy. Coffee brews with lower quality scores were correlated with high levels of caffeine, protein, chlorogenic acids and total titratable acidity (TTA) in the green coffee beans. High sucrose/TTA and cafestol/kahweol ratios in the green coffee beans were usually associated with higher scores for the coffee brews. By multivariate analysis techniques, the samples were separated into groups according to production years indicating a strong influence of the environmental conditions on the chemical composition. The profile of the composition of the crude coffee can be indicative of the sensory quality of the coffee brews, relevant information for producers and industry since the green beans are the material used for trading and purchasing coffee.

The typicity of coffees from different terroirs determined by groups of physico-chemical and sensory variables and multiple factor analysis.

Coffee production is the result of the relationship between local environmental conditions and coffee cultivars that grow in this place. Coffee plants develop original physico-chemical and sensory characteristics that together with the agricultural techniques practiced by growers define the terroir. The objective of this study was to describe the typicity of coffee prepared by coffee growers from seven coffee terroirs in Paraná, Brazil. The terroir categorization was based on the local latitude, longitude, altitude and annual average temperature. Coffee samples were prepared by the coffee growers according to their agricultural techniques. A multiple factor analysis (MFA) was applied to the groups of variables of the green and roasted coffee bean physico-chemical and sensory attributes. The variability in environmental conditions was sufficient to modify the green and roasted coffee bean characteristics and sensory attributes. The terroir description obtained with MFA description compared to that obtained with individual groups of variables was different among terroirs. Roasted coffee variables and sensory attributes caused the greatest differences. The individual use of these groups of variables may result in non-representative descriptions of coffee from different terroirs. Mandaguari and Ivaiporã terroirs were associated with high nitrogenous compounds content, high expansion volume and low density of roasted coffees, and the beverages showed a high turbidity and intense body. Apucarana, São Jerônimo da Serra and Ribeirão do Pinhal terroirs were associated with low lipids content, high density and low volume expansion roasted coffee, and the beverage showed intense coffee and sweet aromas and a low turbidity and body texture. In coffee from the Londrina terroir, medium nitrogenous compounds content and high sucrose and lipids contents were found. Their beverage showed a high turbidity and intense body as well as a grassy green taste and astringency. Coffee from Ribeirão Claro terroir presented high lipids and sucrose contents and low caffeine and phenolic compounds contents, and the main sensory attributes were a coffee aroma and sweet and sour tastes. In conclusion, a terroir formed by environmental conditions and agricultural techniques can produce coffee with a set of physico-chemical and sensory characteristics that define its typicity.

CARACTERÍSTICAS FÍSICAS E QUÍMICAS DE CAFÉS TORRADOS E MOÍDOS EXÓTICOS E CONVENCIONAIS / PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF EXOTIC AND CONVENTIONAL ROASTED AND GROUND COFFEES

O presente trabalho refere-se à pesquisa de dois cafés exóticos comercializados no Brasil: o café Jacu, proveniente do estado de Espírito Santo, e o café Civeta procedente da Indonésia (cujos frutos maduros são ingeridos e "processados" no trato digestivo de animais). Suas características químicas e físicas foram comparadas às de cafés torrados e moídos comerciais brasileiros (Tradicional, Superior ou Premium e Gourmet). Os valores referentes à composição centesimal, teor de cafeína (1,04 a 1,45%) e sólidos solúveis totais (24,50 a 32,23%) de todas as amostras atenderam aos limites preconizados pela legislação brasileira. Os cafés exóticos, Jacu e Civeta, apresentaram os maiores e menores parâmetros de cor, respectivamente (L* = 20,46 e 11,55; h* = 58,13 e 51,06 e C* = 21,00 e 14,85). Os maiores teores (média de 35,21 mg em equivalente de ácido gálico/g amostra) de compostos fenólicos totais foram verificados nos cafés Tradicional e Premium. Os cafés Jacu e Gourmet apresentaram os maiores teores de 5-ACQ (média de 0,65%) e de trigonelina (média 0,63 g/100 g amostra) e os menores teores de ácido nicotínico (média de 0,022 g/100 g amostra). O café Premium continha os maiores teores de açúcar total (1,37 g glicose/100 g amostra) e o café Tradicional mostrou o maior teor de açúcares redutores (0,27 g sacarose/100 g amostra). O café Gourmet apresentou a maior acidez titulável total (171,13 mL NaOH 0,1 N/100 g amostra) e o Premium a menor (121,31 mL NaOH 0,1 N/100 g amostra).

Reliable indirect competitive ELISA used for a survey of ochratoxin A in green coffee from the North of Paraná State, Brazil.

The performance of an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) based on a monoclonal antibody (mAb) for ochratoxin A (OTA) detection was evaluated in a comparative study with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis using 68 freshly harvested coffee samples from the North of Paraná State, Brazil. The anti-OTA mAb showed high specificity and low cross-reactivity with OTA analogues (OTB and OTalpha), but cross-reacted with OTC. This ic-ELISA showed a detection limit of 3.75 ngg-1 sample, when compared to 0.80 ngg-1 by HPLC, with an ic-ELISA/HPLC correlation coefficient of 0.90. As regards OTA analysis of these coffee samples, natural contamination was detected in 10 samples (14.7%) by both methods, where the ic-ELISA values (range 3.9-7.3 ngg-1) were 1.1 to 1.6-fold higher than HPLC data (2.7-4.7 ngg-1). Five samples (7.4%) were OTA positive (range 0.84-1.30 ngg-1) only by HPLC assay, probably due to the higher detection limit reached by ic-ELISA. OTA was undetectable in 53 samples (77.9%) by both methods, while all positive samples (range 0.84-7.30 ngg-1) showed OTA levels lower than 8 ngg-1 (maximum limit recommended by the European Union). The matrix interference of green coffee was minimized by dilution of sample extracts before carrying out the ELISA assay. This mAb-based ic-ELISA can be effectively applied for OTA screening in coffee, because it is simple, sensitive and sample preparation is easy.

Desenvolvimento vegetativo, produção e qualidade dos frutos da laranjeira æFolha Murcha' sobre seis porta-enxertos no Norte do Paraná / Vegetative growth, yield and quality fruits of the 'Folha Murcha' orange on six rootstocks in North Parana, Brazil

Esta pesquisa avaliou em Londrina, PR, plantas de laranjeira 'Folha Murcha' sobre os porta-enxertos: laranjeira 'Caipira' (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osb.), limoeiro 'Cravo' (Citrus limonia Osb.), tangerineira 'Sunki' (Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tan.), limoeiro 'Rugoso da Flórida (Citrus jambhiri Lush.), tangerineira 'Cleópatra' (Citrus reshni Hort. ex Tan.) e limoeiro 'Volcameriano' (Citrus volkameriana Ten. e Pasq.). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, seis porta-enxertos como tratamentos, cinco repetições e duas plantas por parcela. A altura, diâmetro e volume da copa foram significativamente superiores em plantas enxertadas em laranjeira 'Caipira', quando comparadas com aquelas em limoeiro 'Volcameriano'. A menor diferença entre os diâmetros dos troncos abaixo/acima da enxertia ocorreu nas plantas em limoeiro 'Cravo' e tangerineira 'Sunki'. A produção acumulada foi superior nas plantas sobre limoeiro 'Cravo'e laranjeira 'Caipira', sem mostrar significância estatística entre si, porém significativamente diferentes daquelas sobre tangerineira 'Cleópatra' e limoeiro 'Volcameriano'. A eficiência da produção não foi influenciada pelos porta-enxertos estudados. O peso do fruto foi significativamente maior para as plantas em tangerineira 'Sunki', em comparação àqueles sobre limoeiros 'Cravo', limoeiro 'Rugoso da Flórida' e limoeiro vVolcameriano. Os sólidos solúveis totais (SST) apresentaram teores elevados nos frutos de laranjeiras 'Folha Murcha' sobre limoeiro æVolcameriano' e limoeiro 'Cravo', sem diferirem entre si. A acidez titulável total (ATT), o ratio (SST/ATT) e a cor do suco não foram influenciados pelos porta-enxertos testados. Os limões 'Cravo'e 'Volcameriano' proporcionaram valores de índice tecnológico significativamente maiores em relação aos porta-enxertos restantes. Os parâmetros de qualidade de suco avaliados estão dentro de padrões aceitáveis para variedades copa de laranja.