Development of standard operating protocol for measurement of cassava root mealiness.

One of the major attributes of boiled cassava roots is its ability to soften within a short period, otherwise known as mealiness. This study aimed to establish and validate standard operating procedures for assessing the mealiness of boiled cassava roots. Twenty cassava genotypes, including landrace and improved varieties, were selected for the protocol development, with an additional ten genotypes used for validation. Following cooking, the cassava roots were evaluated for hardness and work done in extrusion using a texturometer equipped with a five-blade Ottawa cell probe. The same samples were assessed for sensory texture analysis using trained panelists for parameters such as softness and chewiness. Pearson's correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations (p < 0.01) between sensory softness and instrumental texture measurements, as well as between softness and cooking time (p < 0.01, r = 0.94), and between chewiness and cooking time (p < 0.05, r = 0.81). Validation results confirmed significant correlations (p < 0.01) between cooking time, sensory softness, and chewiness. These findings suggest that cooking time can serve as a reliable indicator, closely associated with sensory attributes, in determining the mealiness of boiled cassava roots. This approach offers a practical, mid-throughput method for assessing cassava root mealiness, with implications for breeding improved varieties, farmers adoption, and consumer acceptance.

Interactions Between Fusarium verticillioides, Aspergillus flavus, and Insect Infestation in Four Maize Genotypes in Lowland Africa.

ABSTRACT An experiment was designed to compare cycles of selection of four maize genotypes for ear- and grain-quality characteristics, interactions with Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium verticillioides infection, and insect ear infestation in two seasons. Mean infection levels by A. flavus and F. verticillioides were significantly higher in inoculated rows than in the controls. The F. verticillioides-inoculated rows had significantly more coleopteran beetles and lepidopteran borers per ear than the controls and A. flavus-inoculated rows. Genotypes and cycles of selection within genotype were not different with respect to number of insects or percent fungal incidence in the ear, but they were different for husk extension, field weight, 100-grain weight, and grain density. Inoculation with either fungus resulted in significantly higher percentage of floaters (i.e., loss of grain density) and lower grain weight than the controls. Aflatoxin (B1 and B2) in A. flavus-inoculated rows averaged 327 ppb in the first season and 589 ppb in the second (dryer) season. Fumonisin levels in F. verticillioides-inoculated rows did not differ between seasons, with an average of 6.2 ppm across seasons. In the noninoculated control rows, fumonisin was significantly higher in the first (5.3 ppm) than in the second (3.1 ppm) season. For all genotypes, husk extension and yield parameters decreased in the fungal-inoculated treatments. General ear-rot scoring was significantly correlated with incidence of F. verticillioides in kernels and grain-weight loss but not with A. flavus in the grain.