Volume 1 Issue 1
Authors: Elahe Elahe Ahmadi; Seyed Mohammad Hoseini Nasr; Hamid Hamid Jalilvand
Abstract: In present study the thermal properties of the fenugreek powder have been determined and discussed here. The thermal properties of the fenugreek powder are important parameter in designing and fabricating equipment for its processing, developing structures for handling, transporting, processing at different temperature and storage, and also for assessing quality. The study was conducted to investigate thermal properties of fenugreek seed powder at varying moisture content. Thermal conductivity was measured by thermal conductivity meter, specific heat by Differential Scanning Calorimeter whereas bulk thermal diffusivity was determined by using standard relationship. It was found that as moisture content and temperature of fenugreek powder increases, the thermal conductivity and specific heat are increasing, but bulk thermal diffusivity was found to be decreasing in nature.
Keywords: Thermal conductivity; Specific heat; Diffusivity; Bulk density
Authors: M. Siddharth; N. Varadharaju; A. Karthiayani
Abstract: Two varieties of banana (Musa acuminata), Poovan (AB group) and Robusta (AAA group) were stored under modified atmosphere conditions (MA) using diffusion channel at ambient, 24C and 14C. The diffusion channels of dimensions (lengths 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm and inner diameters 3, 5 and 7 mm) were chosen for the study. The textural property in terms of firmness were determined using real-time texture analyser (Stable Micro Systems)for the stored fruits at 10 days interval till 20, 30 and 40 days at ambient, 24C and 14C respectively. The firmness decreased with the storage period. The penetration force decreased from initial value of 325 g, 329 g to 8.2g, 9.4g for Poovan and Robusta respectively on 40th day of storage at 14C which represents the softening of the fruit tissues at the end of the storage period.
Keywords: Modified Atmosphere Storage; Firmness; Texture;
Authors: Hamid Jalilvand; Seyed Mohammad Hoseini Nasr; Elahe Ahmadi
Abstract: Ziziphus spina -christi (L.) ecologically and economically important due to its tolerance to drought and salinity. The purpose of this study was developing a standardized protocol to induce a high frequency of callus in Z. spina -christi for breeding programs with the final objective of plantlet regeneration from node explants. Node explants of aseptic seedlings, were cultured on MS medium containing the hormone, such as 2, 4-D, NAA, TDZ and BAP. For regeneration, different levels of the PGRs including BAP, TDZ and Kin were applied. Also rooting of seedlings obtained from 1/2MS medium, were performed in the presence of IBA and NAA. Results showed that culture medium containing 2, 4-D and TDZ at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 mg/l ( ) has the highest amount of callus induction. Most of the node explants cultured on BAP medium were producing direct shoot at callusing phase. 5 mg/l of Kin and 1 mg/l of TDZ respectively, had the highest average shoot with numerical average of 84.8, 95.8 but the shoot produced by TDZ had an unusual shape but applying Kin, direct normal shoots were produced. The value of root produced by the hormone IBA more than NAA at all concentrations.
Keywords: Callus Induction; Growth Regulators; Node Explants; Ziziphus Spina -Christi
Authors: Asadollah Akram; Shahin Rafiee; Paria Sefeedpari
Abstract: Increasing population level and food demand around the world has made producers and policy makers to utilize scientific models and techniques for taking sustainability into consideration. Energy as an important ingredient in all production systems has been focused in this study for the production process of egg in some selected poultry farms in Alburz province, Iran. The following research tries to assess an optimal input use for egg producers and determine the efficient and inefficient farmers. The study uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) approach. DEA is used to determine the efficient decision-making units. Data were collected from 40 currently active and industrial poultry for egg production farms and we found that 6 and 9 units are efficient in CCR and BCC models, respectively. Mean value of technical efficiency, pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency scores were 0.85, 0.93 and 0.91, respectively. Based on the findings, fossil fuel and electricity were determined as the most inefficient inputs. The results also revealed that about 22% of the total input resources could be saved if the farmers follow the input package recommended by the DEA. Based on the results, we finally drew to some conclusions including promoting the inefficient farmers’ level of knowledge, applying more high-tech equipment and taking advantage of renewable energy sources.
Keywords: Energy use; Data envelopment analysis; Egg production; Technical efficiency; Sustainability.