The effects of dual modification on functional, microstructural, and thermal properties of tapioca starch.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dual modification on the functional, microstructural, and thermal properties of tapioca starch. Tapioca starch was first hydrolyzed by 0.14 M HCl for 0, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hr and then hydroxypropylated by adding 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% (v/w) propylene oxide. The degree of hydroxypropylation, solubility, water absorption, rheological, thermal, and microstructure characterization of dually modified tapioca starch was determined. Hydroxypropylation did not cause any considerable changes in the starch granular size and shape of tapioca starch. Acid hydrolysis disrupts the starch granules, and the starches with smaller sizes were produced. The degree of molar substitution (DS) of dual modified starches ranged from 0.118 to 0.270. The dual modified starches significantly had higher solubility than native starch (p < .05). Hydrolysis of starches with acid decreases swelling power while hydroxypropylation increases the swelling power. The results also showed lower gelatinization (To, Tp, Tc, and ΔH) and pasting parameters (the peak and final viscosity, peak time, and pasting temperature) for the dual modified starches than other treatments. In summary, this study showed that dually modified tapioca starch has potential application in dip molding and coating.

In vitro polyploidy induction: changes in morphology, podophyllotoxin biosynthesis, and expression of the related genes in Linum album (Linaceae).

MAIN CONCLUSION: Induction of tetraploidy was performed and podophyllotoxin production increased by upregulating the expression level and enzyme activity of genes related to its biosynthesis in tetraploid compared to diploid Linum album. Linum album is a valuable medicinal plant that produces antiviral and anticancer compounds including podophyllotoxin (PTOX). To achieve homogeneous materials, in vitro diploid clones were established, and their nodal segments were exposed to different concentrations and durations of colchicine. This resulted in successful tetraploidy induction, confirmed by flow cytometry, and is being reported for the first time. The highest efficiency of tetraploid induction (22%) was achieved after 72 h exposure to 2.5-mM colchicine treatment. The stable tetraploids were produced after being subcultured three times, and their ploidy stability was confirmed after each subculture. The effects of autopolyploidy were measured on the morphological and phytochemical characteristics, as well as enzyme activity and the expression levels of some key genes involved in the PTOX biosynthetic pathway, including phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamoyl-Coa reductase (CCR), cinnamyl-alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), and pinoresinol-lariciresinol reductase (PLR). The tetraploid plants had larger leaves and stomata (length and width) and lower density stomata. Increasing the ploidy level from diploid to tetraploid resulted in 1.39- and 1.23-fold enhancement of PTOX production, respectively, in the leaves and stem. The increase in PTOX content was associated with upregulated activities of some enzymes studied related to its biosynthetic pathway and the expression of the corresponding genes. The expression of the PAL gene and PLR enzymatic activity had the most positive correlation with the ploidy level in both leaf and stem tissues. Our results verified that autotetraploid induction is a useful breeding method, remarkably increasing the PTOX content in the leaves and stem of L. album.

Fabrication and characterization of soluble soybean polysaccharide and nanorod-rich ZnO bionanocomposite.

In this study, a novel bionanocomposite film was prepared by the casting method. Different concentrations [i.e., 0%, 1%, 2%, and 4% (w/w)] of nanorod-rich ZnO (ZnO-nr) were incorporated into soluble soybean polysaccharide (SSPS). The mechanical, thermophysical, antimicrobial, and barrier properties of the resultant bionanocomposite films were evaluated. Incorporation of 4% ZnO-nr into the SSPS matrix reduced water vapor permeability from 8.19×10(-11) to 5.25×10(-11) (gm(-1)s(-1)Pa(-1)) and oxygen permeability from 223 to 127(cm(3)µmm(-2)day(-1)atm(-1)). The elongation at break and heat seal strength of the films increased by over 20%. The moisture content, glass transition temperature, and tensile strength of the SSPS films significantly decreased by ZnO-nr incorporation. SSPS/ZnO-nr (4%) films showed 0% UV transmittance and were able to absorb over 70% of the near-infrared spectrum. The SSPS/ZnO-nr films exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In summary, ZnO-nr is an excellent potential filler for SSPS-based films used as packaging materials.