The application of ultraviolet light (UV-C, 254 nm) hormesis on fruits and vegetables to stimulate beneficial responses is a new method for controlling storage rots and extending the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables. The present study was aimed at treating tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) with different UV-C dosages (1.3 to 40 KJ/m2) to induce resistance to black mold (Alternaria alternata), gray mold (Botrytis cinerea), and Rhizopus soft rot (Rhizopus stolonifer). These diseases were effectively reduced when tomatoes were inoculated following UV-C irradiation. UV-C treated tomatoes were firmer in texture and less red in color than the control tomatoes, indicating a delay in ripening. Slower ripening and resistance to storage rots of tomatoes are probably related. The positive effect of UV-C on tomatoes decreased as treatments were performed at stages of increased ripeness.
One of the delicate steps in the preparation of soybean curd is the addition of a salt to precipitate soy protein. The commonly employed salt is calcium sulfate. In this study, the use of other calcium salts (calcium chloride, calcium lactate, calcium acetate, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate, calcium hydroxide, calcium gluconate) and two noncalcium compounds (gluconod-lactone and acetic acid) was'investigated. The result showed that soy protein was pfecipitated by calcium chloride, calcium lactate, calcium acetate, calcium gluconate, gluconod-lactone, and acetic acid. The amount of chemical added to precipitate soy protein varied depending upon the type of compound used, but in all cases, soy protein was pmcipitated when the pH of soy milk was at or near 6.0. Calcium acetate and calcium chloride appeared to be good precipitants for soybean curd preparation. The quality and sensory score of the soybean curd prepared from these salts requires less skill than calcium sulfate because of solubility; besides, the amount of the salt needed to precipitate soy protein was less than one-half that of calcium sulfate.
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