Tomato-processing by-product, also known as tomato pomace, consists of peel and seeds and represents around 4% of the fruit weight. If these wastes remain unused, they not only add to the disposal problem but also aggravate environmental pollution. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the chemical composition of tomato pomace collected at different steps during industrial processing in order to assess the quality of this by-product. Twenty-one tomato pomace samples were considered for analysis. Samples corresponded to different steps during tomato processing for paste: seven after pulper, five after finisher, six before turbopress and three after turbopress. Samples were analyzed for moisture content, total and soluble sugars, protein, fat, soluble and total fiber, as well as mineral content. From the results obtained we can conclude that tomato pomace composition (in dry weight basis) is as follows: 59.03% fiber, 25.73% total sugars, 19.27% protein, 7.55% pectins, 5.85% total fat and 3.92% minerals.

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The contents of oxalic acid and calcium in several wild edible plants were analyzed. Oxalic acid was determined by an espectrophotometric method based on the decrease of absorbance at 335 nm due to the dissociation of the zirconium(IV)−chloranilate complex, consecutive to the addition of oxalic acid. Calcium was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The results show the absence of this acid in two of the studied plants:  hoary cress (Cardaria draba (L.) Desv.) and vervain (Verbena officinalis L.). Also noticeable is the high content of oxalic acid in goosefoot (Chenopodium album L.), with a range of values from 360 to 2000 mg/100 g of fresh weight, and the high ratio (oxalic acid/calcium) in curly dock (Rumex crispus L.), with a mean value of 32. Keywords: Oxalic acid; calcium; antinutritive substance; wild edible plants

Soymilk is a water extract of soybeans, closely resembling dairy milk in physical appearance and composition. Most fatty acids in soybean and its derivates are unsaturated, and therefore susceptible to oxidation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effect of the thermal conditions during the elaboration process of soymilk on its fatty acid profile. For this, the fatty acid composition of soymilk, okara (soymilk residue), and soybean were studied by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID). No major differences in the fatty acid patterns were found.

Extrusion cooking and chemical leavening agents such as sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), may induce changes in carbohydrate fractions of extruded black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) flours. Bean flours at 20% moisture, with NaHCO3 added at levels from 0.0 to 2.0%, were extruded at a screw speed of 200 rpm. The temperature profile ranged from 23 to 160C. Extruded bean flours with 0.1 to 0.4% added NaHCO3 were selected for sugar analyses based on color and flavor acceptability. The major sugars determined in the bean samples were galactose (0.10%), sucrose (2.08%), and stachyose (2.00%). Extruded samples had an increase in total sugars. Also, an increase in soluble fiber and a decrease of insoluble fiber fractions were observed. Sucrose was the only free sugar which concentration decreased consistently as a result of extrusion processing. Extrusion conditions and the selected levels of NaHCO3 used in this study did not significantly change the oligosaccharide content of the black bean flours.

The characterization of Lycopersicon germplasm for internal quality properties is essential to choose suitable donor parents for breeding programs. When donor parents belong to species of subgenus Eulycopersicon, which are phyletically closer to L. esculentum Mill., the recovery of agronomic traits is faster. When using these materials, a careful selection of donor parents which could improve several internal quality properties allows the acceleration of these breeding programs. In this work, we combine general determinations, such as soluble solid content, titratable acidity, pH, total sugars, pectic substances and total protein contents with precise high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), quantitations of individual compounds (vitamin C; citric, malic, fumaric and oxalic acids; glucose, fructose, and sucrose), in order to obtain a more complete characterization of flavor intensity and nutritional properties in Lycopersicon germplasm. The multidimensional analysis of all these variables allows classification of several accessions of L. esculentum Mill. and L. pimpinellifolium (Jusl.) Mill., according to their usefulness for internal quality breeding programs of fresh tomato. The classification obtained and the comparison of accessions quality characteristics with selected controls show that five of the L. pimpinellifolium (Jusl.) Mill. accessions tested can be of great usefulness for being used in breeding for internal quality characteristics. A flavor intensity ≈625% higher than commercial hybrids was obtained in the best accession tested. Some of these L. pimpinellifolium (Jusl.) Mill. accessions showed better flavor intensity properties than a high SSC L. cheesmanii Riley control, traditionally used in internal quality breeding. In addition, three of the L. esculentum Mill. accessions tested with medium-to-high flavor intensity value could be useful in advanced stages of breeding programs.

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