Annual report 1990.
Author Affiliation: 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands.
Jaarverslag 1990. : 161 pp.
Abstract : Research is reported from the following divisions: (1) Storage and transport. Controlled atmosphere storage of potatoes, vegetables, apples and pears; water relations of cut flowers; effects of low temperature and light on pot plants; packaging and coatings for agricultural produce; storage and quality of onions and potatoes; and sprouting in stored potatoes. (2) Shelf/storage life and quality. Cell physiology in tomato fruits; carbohydrate metabolism and regulation in flower bulbs; hormonal regulation in flowers of cymbidiums, carnations and Kniphofia sp. and in leaves of Populus sp.; membrane biochemistry of mushrooms; membranes and signal transduction in cut carnation flowers; microbiology of cut rose flowers and stored potatoes, vegetables and fruits; and food safety and quality (glycoalkaloids in solanaceous vegetables including potatoes). (3) Biochemical processing of food products. Taste and quality of vegetables; taste, structure and sensory analysis of potatoes and other vegetables; action of pectinase and hemicellulase on plant tissue (potatoes, celery and apples); native enzymes (mushrooms and potatoes); biochemical characterization and quality optimization (canned mushrooms and peas; peas, French beans, gherkins and asparagus for processing); and enzyme substrate interactions in carrots. (4) Physical treatment and processing. Extrusion technology of food crops (pastes, pellets, fried products); non-food extrusion techniques (including hemp processing into paper pulp); heat treatment and electro-magnetic energy (including heat treatment and drying of vegetable products); frying and potato processing (potatoes, onions and mushrooms); and mechanical methods and mass transfer operations (drying processes). (5) Non-food processing. Fibres and cellulose (hemp processing into paper pulp); flax and hemp fibres; carbohydrate-protein complex (wheat); carbohydrate, protein, fatty acid modification (wheat starch and gluten, inulin from Jerusalem artichokes, fatty acids from Dimorphotheca pluvialis seeds); vegetable oils and fats (annual oilseed crops); anti-nutritional factors (Vicia faba, Brassica napus); fodder crops (cell wall degradation by microorganisms); and immunochemistry (radish and chicory). (6) Bioconversion. (Biochemistry and genetics of potatoes); processing of agricultural wastes including manure; production of carvone from caraway [Carum carvi] seed oil; and production of phytopathogens (onion wastes) and biological insecticides (grasses). (7) System knowledge. Hybrid solution methods (agricultural business); decision support systems (including post-harvest chains for vegetables and fruits, hemp processing and vegetable processing); quality change models (for mushrooms); packaging and storage systems (fruits and vegetables); refrigerated storage and transportation systems (for mushrooms, flower bulbs, mangoes and potatoes); image processing (for mushrooms and hemp fibre); data analysis and statistical modelling (hemp and apples); and systems management and computer centre.