Sensory profile development of Oaxaca cheese and relationship with physicochemical parameters.

A sensory profile of Oaxaca cheese was developed. To represent both industrial and artisanal Oaxaca cheese, 3 types of cheese were manufactured under controlled conditions: 2 with pasteurized milk using a mesophilic lactic acid bacteria culture (Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis and L. lactis ssp. cremoris) and a thermophilic lactic acid bacteria culture (Streptococcus salivarius ssp. thermophilus), and a third with naturally acidified raw milk. The cheeses were evaluated by a panel of 11 trained judges. Additionally, chemical composition and instrumental color parameters were determined, an instrumental texture profile analysis was performed, and volatile compounds were identified by solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The sensory profile developed includes 43 descriptors, of which 13 are discriminant among these 3 cheese types. Descriptors include visual attribute waxy; tactile (manual) attributes moist and oily; orthonasal aroma attributes empyreumatic and cow; basic taste attribute salty; mouth texture attributes chewable, gummy, adherent, fibrous, moist, and fatty; and auditory attribute squeaky. A strong correlation was found between specific sensory data and physicochemical parameters measured by instrumental and chemical methods.

Prosopis laevigata a potential chromium (VI) and cadmium (II) hyperaccumulator desert plant.

The bioaccumulation of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) in Prosopis laevigata and the effect of these heavy metals on plant growth were assessed. P. laevigata seeds were cultured during 50 days on modified Murashige-Skoog medium supplemented with four different concentrations of Cr(VI) (0-3.4mM) and Cd(II) (0-2.2mM), respectively. Heavy metals did not stop germination, but smaller plants with fewer leaves and secondary roots were produced. Seedlings showed an accumulation of 8176 and 21,437 mg Cd kg(-1) and of 5461 and 8090 mg Cr kg(-1) dry weight, in shoot and root, when cultured with 0.65 mM Cd(II) and 3.4mM Cr(VI), respectively. These results indicated that significant translocation from the roots unto aerial parts took place. A bioaccumulation factor greater than 100 for Cd and 24 for Cr was exhibited by the seedlings. P. laevigata can be considered as a potential hyperaccumulator of Cd(II) and Cr(VI) species and considered as a promising candidate for phytoremediation purposes.