Popcorn quality parameters and nutritional properties of oily maize (Zea mays var. 'Everta') hybrids subjected to different thermal treatments.

This research assessed the popcorn quality parameters and nutritional properties of 5 oily maize (Zea mays var. 'Everta') hybrids under several thermal treatments (hot air, microwave, and wet cooking). Grains contained 2.16-4.51 % crude fat and 11.08-12.94 % protein, displayed a similar amount of individual p-coumaric and ferulic acid derivatives (p > 0.05) (free: 3.61-40.53 µg/g; bound: 1621.75-1970.94 µg/g), and total phytosterols ranging from 8.76 to 13.17 µg/g. Hot air- and wet cooking-treated grains showed the highest expansion volume (121.5-133.1 mL), and there were no differences in yield and residual percentage (p < 0.05). PCA analysis clustered samples 1 and 3 as the most influential on bound phenolics, expansion time, yield, and popped grains weight, mostly under hot air and wet cooking treatments. Spearman's correlations outlined the potential of the grains' total and bound phenolics on popping quality (weight and expansion time: 0.50-0.90). Results suggested the oily hybrids' nutritional potential and suitability to produce high-quality popcorn.

Biophysical, Nutraceutical, and Technofunctional Features of Specialty Cereals: Pigmented Popcorn and Sorghum.

Different pigmented corn and sorghum types were evaluated to characterize their biophysical, nutraceutical, and technofunctional properties for the first time. Commercially pigmented (blue, purple, red, black, and yellow) popcorn (Zea mays var. everta) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) of yellow and red colors were analyzed. Biophysical and proximal analyses were performed using official methods. The nutraceutical profile included the total phenolic and anthocyanin content. In addition, rheological, structural, and morphological studies were conducted. The results demonstrated significant differences between the popcorn samples and grain types, especially in terms of their biophysical and proximate features. The nutraceutical profile revealed that these specialty grains contained higher concentrations of antioxidant compounds (up to 3-fold when compared with the other grains). The rheological analysis demonstrated that sorghum grains developed higher peak viscosities than popcorn. According to the structural assessments, the type A pattern displayed peaks at the interplanar spaces corresponding to the crystalline and amorphous regions in all the samples. The data obtained in this study provides a base to further investigate the products obtained using these biomaterials.

"Por causa da liberdade que eu tenho": trabalho e cotidiano de mulheres pipoqueiras / "For the freedom I have": work and daily life of female popcorn makers / "Por la libertad que tengo": trabajo y vida cotidiana de mujeres fabricantes de palomitas

Esta pesquisa buscou compreender, por meio dos discursos que atravessam o fazer pipoca, como se (re)produzem as identidades de gênero no cotidiano de mulheres pipoqueiras em Belo Horizonte. Para tanto, foi realizada uma análise do discurso de vinte e oito entrevistas semiestruturadas com mulheres pipoqueiras, além da observação participante e do diário de campo. Em consonância com as teorias discutidas, notamos que a divisão sexual do trabalho faz com que essas sujeitas sofram duplamente as consequências do cenário de precarização e informalidade do trabalho. À guisa de conclusão, estratégias de liberação e resistência caracterizadas por táticas singulares no cotidiano do fazer pipoca foram observadas e analisadas.

This work sought to understand how gender identities are (re)produced in the daily lives of female popcorn makers in Belo Horizonte through the conversations that surround the popcorn making. For this purpose, a discourse analysis of twenty-eight semi-structured interviews with female popcorn makers was carried out, in addition to participant observation and a field diary. In line with the theories discussed, it was noted that the gender division of labor makes them suffer twice the consequences of the precarious and informal work scenario. By way of conclusion, strategies of liberation and resistance characterized by singular tactics in the daily life of making popcorn were observed and analyzed.

Este trabajo buscó comprender, a través de los discursos que atraviesan la elaboración de las palomitas de maíz, cómo se (re)producen las identidades de género en la vida cotidiana de las mujeres fabricantes de palomitas en Belo Horizonte. Para ello, se realizó un análisis del discurso de veintiocho entrevistas semiestructuradas con mujeres fabricantes de palomitas, además de la observación participante y un diario de campo. En línea con las teorías discutidas, se observó que la división sexual del trabajo les hace sufrir el doble de las consecuencias del escenario de precarización e informalidad del trabajo. A modo de conclusión, se observaron y analizaron estrategias de liberación y resistencia caracterizadas por tácticas singulares en la vida cotidiana de hacer palomitas de maíz.

Deciphering the major metabolic pathways associated with aluminum tolerance in popcorn roots using label-free quantitative proteomics.

MAIN CONCLUSION: Al responsive proteins are associated with starch, sucrose, and other carbohydrate metabolic pathways. Sucrose synthase is a candidate to Al tolerance. Al responses are regulated at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Aluminum toxicity is one of the important abiotic stresses that affects worldwide crop production. The soluble form of aluminum (Al3+) inhibits root growth by altering water and nutrient uptake, a process that also reduces plant growth and development. Under long-term Al3+ exposure, plants can activate several tolerance mechanisms. To date, no reports of large-scale proteomic data concerning maize responses to this ion have been published. To investigate the post-transcriptional regulation in response to Al toxicity, we performed label-free quantitative proteomics for comparative analysis of two Al-contrasting popcorn inbred lines and an Al-tolerant commercial hybrid during 72 h under Al-stress conditions. A total of 489 differentially accumulated proteins (DAPs) were identified in the Al-sensitive inbred line, 491 in the Al-tolerant inbred line, and 277 in the commercial hybrid. Among them, 120 DAPs were co-expressed in both Al tolerant genotypes. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that starch, sucrose, and other components of carbohydrate metabolism and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis are the biochemical processes regulated in response to Al toxicity. Sucrose synthase accumulation and an increase in sucrose content and starch degradation suggest that these components may enhance popcorn tolerance to Al stress. The accumulation of citrate synthase suggests a key role for this enzyme in the detoxification process in the Al-tolerant inbred line. The integration of transcriptomic and proteomic data indicates that the Al tolerance response presents a complex regulatory network into the transcription and translation dynamics of popcorn root development.

Comparison of Selection Traits for Effective Popcorn (Zea mays L. var. Everta) Breeding Under Water Limiting Conditions.

Climate change is expected to intensify water restriction to crops, impacting on the yield potential of crops such as popcorn. This work aimed to evaluate the performance of 10 field cultivated popcorn inbred lines during two growing seasons, under well-watered (WW) and water stressed (WS) (ψsoil≥ -1.5 MPa) conditions. Water stress was applied by withholding irrigation in the phenological phase of male pre-anthesis. Additionally, two contrasting inbred lines, P7 (superior line) and L75 (low performer) were compared for grain yield (GY) and expanded popcorn volume (EPV), selected from previous studies, were tested under greenhouse conditions. In the field, no genotype x water condition x crop season (G×WC×CS) interaction was observed, whereas GY (-51%), EPV (-55%) and leaf greenness (SPAD index) measured 17 days after anthesis (DAA) (> -10%) were highly affected by water limitation. In general, root traits (angles, number, and density) presented G×WC×CS interaction, which did not support their use as selection parameters. In relation to leaf senescence, for both WS and WW conditions, the superior inbred lines maintained a stay-green condition (higher SPAD index) until physiological maturity, but maximum SPAD index values were observed later in WW (48.7 by 14 DAA) than in WS (43.9 by 7 DAA). Under both water conditions, negative associations were observed between SPAD index values 15 and 8 days before anthesis DBA), and GY and EPV (r ≥ -0.69), as well as between SPAD index 7, 17, and 22 DAA, and angles of brace root (AB), number of crown roots (NC) and crown root density (CD), in WS (r ≥ -0.69), and AB and CD, in WW (r ≥ -0.70). Lower NC and CD values may allow further root deepening in WS conditions. Under WS P7 maintained higher net photosynthesis values, stomatal conductance, and transpiration, than L75. Additionally, L75 exhibited a lower (i.e., more negative) carbon isotope composition value than P7 under WS, confirming a lower stomatal aperture in L75. In summary, besides leaf greenness, traits related to leaf photosynthetic status, and stomatal conductance were shown to be good indicators of the agronomic performance of popcorn under water constraint.

Effects of drying temperature of red popcorn grains on the morphology, technological, and digestibility properties of starch.

Popcorn consumption is becoming increasingly attractive, and the effects of post-harvest operations are essential for the improvement of industrial processes. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of drying temperature on the morphology, technological, and digestibility properties from the isolated starch from red popcorn grains. Red popcorn grains were dried in oven-drying (30 °C) and fixed-bed dryer at 40, 70, and 100 °C. The morphology properties of grains and starch, the technological and digestibility properties of the starch, were evaluated. The drying temperature of 100 °C reduces the extraction yield by 13.14%, changes the internal structure of the popcorn grains and the native morphology of the starch granules, increases the pasting temperature and the gelatinization enthalpy, and reduces digestibility compared to drying temperature of 40 °C, which is more indicated due to reduced drying time.

"Ser um ambulante é necessidade que nós temos de trabalhar": cotidiano e identificação de trabalhadores pipoqueiros de Belo Horizonte / "Being a street vendor is a necessity that we have to work on": daily life and identification of popcorn sellers of Belo Horizonte

O objetivo deste artigo é compreender o que é ser um trabalhador pipoqueiro na cidade de Belo Horizonte, as práticas cotidianas que envolvem a profissão e como é construída a identificação com esse trabalho. Para a proposta, adotamos uma abordagem qualitativa e realizamos sessenta e duas entrevistas com pipoqueiros atuantes na região central da cidade. Utilizamos a técnica de Análise Linguística do Discurso para analisarmos os dados e debruçamo-nos sobre o percurso semântico "cotidiano e identificações: ser ambulante e a necessidade de trabalhar", considerando o cotidiano como aquele que interfere na construção das identificações dos pipoqueiros. Por fim, buscamos também ampliar e fomentar o debate acerca de saberes não hegemônicos.

The objective of this article is to understand what it is to be a popcorn seller in the city of Belo Horizonte, the daily practices that involve the profession and how the identification with this work is constructed. For the proposal, we adopted a qualitative approach and carried out 62 interviews with popcorn sellers active in the central region of the city. The technique of Linguistics Discourse Analysis was used to analyze the data and in this article, we looked at the semantics path "daily life and identifications: being street vendor and the need to work", and we consider the daily life as one that interferes in the construction of the identifications of the popcorn workers. Finally, we seek to broaden and foster the debate on daily life and non-hegemonic knowledge.

Simultaneous determination of fumonisins B1 and B2 in different types of maize by matrix solid phase dispersion and HPLC-MS/MS.

This work involved the optimization and validation of a method, according to Directive 2002/657/EC and the Analytical Quality Assurance Manual of Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento, Brazil, for simultaneous extraction and determination of fumonisins B1 and B2 in maize. The extraction procedure was based on a matrix solid phase dispersion approach, the optimization of which employed a sequence of different factorial designs. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for determining these analytes using the selected reaction monitoring mode. The optimized method employed only 1g of silica gel for dispersion and elution with 70% ammonium formate aqueous buffer (50mmolL-1, pH 9), representing a simple, cheap and chemically friendly sample preparation method. Trueness (recoveries: 86-106%), precision (RSD ≤19%), decision limits, detection capabilities and measurement uncertainties were calculated for the validated method. The method scope was expanded to popcorn kernels, white maize kernels and yellow maize grits.

Fumonisins B1 and B2 in the corn-milling process and corn-based products, and evaluation of estimated daily intake.

The distribution of fumonisins (FBs: FB1 and FB2) in the corn-milling process and in corn-based products, as well as daily intake estimates for the Brazilian population were evaluated. Among corn fractions samples, corn meal had the highest mean concentration of FB1 (1305 µg kg(-1)) and FB2 (651 µg kg(-1)) and a distribution factors of 452% and 256% in relation to corn grain, respectively. On the other hand, the distribution factor of FB1 and FB2 in corn flour was found to be 144% and 88% respectively, which demonstrates that fumonisins in this fraction were reduced compared with corn grain. As a result, almost half the corn meal samples (47%) would be non-compliant with future Brazilian regulation (2017) for fumonisins. However, corn-based products, such as corn flakes and popcorn, were in compliance with the regulation. The average probable daily intake and maximum probable daily intake of fumonisins estimated for the Santa Catarina state (Brazil) population were below the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake of 2 µg kg(-1) body weight day(-1) for all corn samples. Despite this, the adoption of practices to control the occurrence of fumonisins should be applied to the corn-milling fractions that may contain a higher concentration of this toxin, such as corn meal, often used for animal feed in Brazil.