RESUMO
Gender-disaggregated sensory evaluation has become an essential element that could enhance breeding activities by increasing the adoption of new varieties. The effect of age, sex and geographical location on descriptor preferences for boiled and pounded yam were studied using descriptive and consumer testing. Attributes with definitions and measurement scales were used to generate lexicons for boiled and pounded yam. Analytical tools employed for the inferential statistics were the independent t-test, analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis test, Mann-Whitney test and relative importance index (RII). Descriptive testing showed that all the D. rotundata varieties were good for boiling and pounding. The D. alata varieties afase soanyinto and afase biri were most liked, while afase pa and ahodenfo were disliked. Age had no significant effect on descriptor preferences. Being a female or male, however, influenced preferences for pounded yam descriptors such as mouldability, lumpiness and colour. The RII for the D. rotundata varieties (0.22-0.28) showed that they are all good varieties for boiling and pounding. The local D. alata varieties were still highly acceptable compared the new CRI varieties due to the aroma. Rural consumers preferred all the descriptors of boiled D. rotundata than urban consumers, whereas urban consumers liked the pounded yam varieties better than the rural consumers. Availability of the new yam varieties on local markets could therefore increase consumption and improve adoption.
RESUMO
Improving the effectiveness of breeding programs could be achieved by breeding for consumers' preferences. The relationship between gender and consumer preferences for yam was studied using purposeful sampling for key informants, focus group discussions (FGDs), and individual interviews. Data from qualitative interviews were transcribed and quantitative data analyzed using SPSS (version 20). Cramer's V (Phi) and logistic regressions were used to explain the observations. Males prioritized income-generating varieties over females, while females ranked tuber morphological characteristics high. Sex-based preference for yams showed that moldability and sweet taste are preferred by both females and males. Moderately hard boiled yams and shelf stable food products are liked by males, whereas aroma is rated highly by females. Males described yams that have a longer digestion time as "heavy" and preferred such varieties. Watery tubers and tubers not turning brown are important characteristics during processing. The Phi of 0.157 and 0.163 for sex and ethnic groups show moderate to strong associations between choices for descriptors by females, males, and various ethnic groups. These findings imply that gender disaggregation of information on preference for yam quality descriptors should be considered in future yam breeding programs as it may improve adoption rate and enhance food security.
RESUMO
This study evaluated the influence of 10% vinegar and solar drying using two solar dryers and open-sun drying on the microbiological quality of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) rhizome. The rhizomes were analyzed for bacterial, mold, and Salmonella populations in the raw state, which were water-washed and soaked in 10% vinegar, and in dried form. The fungal population was isolated and identified. Fresh and dried ginger rhizome contained both bacterial and fungal population in the range of 3.0 x 102 ± 1.14 x 102 to 2,180 x 109 ± 70.7 x 109 CFU/g. The stainless steel solar dryer had fewer fungal loads among the drying methods. Aspergillus and Penicillium species of mycotoxin-producing potential were identified. The 10% vinegar as pretreatment showed no significant difference (p ≤ .05) in the bacterial population reduction but in the fungal population reduction. Growth of fungi in fresh and dried ginger extracts was lower compared with growth in Potato Dextrose Broth.
