Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The importance of indigenous fruit wines is not well researched and documented. There is a need to develop and exploit these valuable food resources through improved production practices, storage, preservation and utilization technologies. The maruia fruit is beneficial in many ways, it can be used for making juice, jam, beer or can be eaten as a whole fruit. The highly nutritive nature of the fruit, its distinctive tropical flavor, its wild occurrence and demand by the local and international communities for the by-products of the fruit necessitated efforts to optimize the technological processes for the production of the possible by-products. This study focuses on the fermentation technology of the maruia fruit. The effect of enzymes prior to the fermentation process and post-fermentation was evaluated. For pre-fermentation processes we focused on the ability of commercial enzymes to increase juice yield, improve the clarification and filterability. For pre- and post-fermentation applications, aroma release was considered. The results indicated a significant increase in the yield depending on the enzyme used. An increase of at least 2% was recorded and a maximum of 12% yield increase was observed. The enzymes also had a phenomenal effect on the release of bound monoterpenes and hence enhancing the flavor of the juice. The panel of judges confirmed the results from the gas chromatography analyses by noting an increase in flavor intensity in the enzyme treated juice. The possibility of selecting a yeast strain that performs best during the fermentation of maruia pulp was also looked at. This study aimed at selecting a strain that produces wine and distillate with the typical maruia flavor complex. We showed the effect of the different yeast strains, in the wines and distillates, on the principal volatile compounds. We then correlated the performance of the different strains as perceived by the panel to the various volatile compounds. The effect of fermentation temperature on the performance of the different yeast strains was also considered. Fermenting the maruia pulp at different temperatures resulted in the production of wines and distillates with different volatile profiles for the different yeast strains. The wines and distillates fermented at a low temperature of 15°C were preferred to the wines and distillates fermented at 30°C. However, not all strains performed well at 15°C, strains like NT116 performed better at 30°C. The different commercial strains produced wines and distillates with significantly different flavor profiles. These differences in the flavor profiles were reflected in the sensory evaluation where, depending on the interaction of the volatile compounds some wines and distillates were preferred to others. The effect of the different commercial enzymes and yeast strains should thereof be further evaluated and optimized on a larger scale. This would greatly help prevent variation in quality of the fermented by-products of the maruia fruit. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die belang van inheemse vrugtewyne is nie goed nagevors en gedokumenteer nie. Daar is 'n behoefte om hierdie waardevolle voedselbronne te ontwikkel en te benut, deur verbeterde produksiepraktyke, storing, preservering en benuttingstegnologieë. Die maroelavrug is veelsydig op baie wyses, deurdat dit gebruik word vir die maak van sap, konfyt, bier, of as heel vrug geëet kan word. Die vrug is hoog in voedingswaarde, het In kenmerkende tropiese geur, kom wild voor, en is in aanvraag by plaaslike en internasionale gemeenskappe vir die by-produkte van die vrug. Dit maak dit essensieel om die tegnologiese prosesse vir die produksie van hierdie moontlike by-produkte te optimiseer. Hierdie studie fokus op die fermentasie-tegnologie van die maroelavrug. Die effek van ensieme voor en na die fermentasie-proses is geëvalueer. Vir prosesse wat voor fermentasie plaasvind, het ons gefokus op die vermoë van kommersiële ensieme om sapopbrengs te verhoog, asook om verheldering en filtrering te verbeter. Vir beide voor- en na-fermentasie toepassings is die vrystelling van aroma gemonitor. Die resultate dui op 'n betekenisvolle verhoging in die sapopbrengs, afhangende van die ensiem wat gebruik is. 'n Verhoging van ten minste 2% is opgeteken, en 'n maksimum van 12% opbrengsverhoging is waargeneem. Die ensieme het ook 'n geweldige effek op die vrystelling van gebonde monoterpene gehad, en dus die verhoging in die geur van die sap. Die proepaneel het die resultate bevestig van die gaschromatografie-analises, deur 'n verhoging in die geurintensiteit in die ensiembehandelde sap te bemerk. Daar is ook gekyk na die moontlikheid om 'n gisras te selekteer wat die beste presteer tydens die fermentasie van maroela-pulp. Hierdie studie het die doelstelling gehad om In gisras te selekteer wat wyn en distillaat produseer met In tipiese maroelageurkompleks. Ons het die effek van verskillende gisrasse aangedui in die wyne en distillate, op grond van van vlugtige komponente. Ons het dan die prestasie van die verskillende rasse, soos waargeneem deur die paneel, gekorrelleer met die verskeie vlugtige komponente. Die effek van fermentasie-temperatuur op die werkverrigting van die verskillende gisrasse is ook in ag geneem. Fermentasie van die maroela-pulp by verskillende temperature het gelei tot die produksie van wyne en distillate met verskillende vlugtige profiele vir die verskillende gisrasse. Die wyne en distillate wat by In laer temperatuur van 15°C gefermenteer is, is verkies bo die wyne en distillate wat by 30°C gefermenteer is. Alle rasse het egter nie baie goed presteer by 15°C nie, soos byvoorbeeld NT116 wat beter presteer het by 30°C. Die verskillende kommersiële rasse het wyne en distillate geproduseer met betekenisvol verskillende geurprofiele. Hierdie verskille in geurprofiele is gereflekteer in die sensoriese evaluering waar, afhangende van die interaksie van die vlugtige komponente, sommige wyne en distillate bo ander verkies is. Die effek van die verskillende kommersiële ensieme en gisrasse moet verkieslik verder op groter skaal geëvalueer en geoptimiseer word. Dit sal veral help om variasie in kwaliteit van die gefermenteerde by-produkte van die maroelavrug te voorkom.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (PhD (Viticulture and Oenology. Wine Biotechnology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Although bananas are widely grown worldwide in many tropical and a few subtropical countries, banana beverages are still among the fruit beverages processed by use of rudimentary methods such as the use of feet or/and spear grass to extract juice. Because banana juice and beer remained on a home made basis, there is a research drive to come up with modern technologies to more effectively process bananas and to make acceptable banana juices and wines. One of the main hindrances in the production of highly desirable beverages is the pectinaceous nature of the banana fruit, which makes juice extraction and clarification very difficult. Commercial enzyme applications seem to be the major way forward in solving processing problems in order to improve banana juice and wine quality. The particular pectinolytic enzymes that were selected for this study are Rapidase CB, Rapidase TF, Rapidase X-press and OE-Lallzyme. In addition this study, investigate the applicability of recombinant yeast strains with pectinolytic, xylanolytic, glucanolytic and amylolytic activities in degrading the banana polysaccharides (pectin, xylan, glucan starch) for juice and wine extraction and product clarification. The overall objective of this research was to improve banana juice and wine by enzymatic processing techniques and to improve alcoholic fermentation and to produce limpid and shelf-stable products of clarified juice and wine. The focus was on applying the selected commercial enzyme preparations specifically for the production of better clarified banana juice and wine. This is because the turbid banana juice and beer, which contain suspended solids that are characterised by a very intense banana flavour, require a holistic approach to address challenges and opportunities in order to process pure banana beverages with desirable organoleptic qualities. The specific objectives of applying commercial enzymes in the processing of banana juice and wine, comparing with grape winemaking practices, use of recombinant yeast and analyses of various parameters in the juices and wines made have enabled generation of information that could be of help to prospective banana juice and wine processors. The research findings obtained could be used to establish a pilot plant or small-scale industry in the banana processing beverages producing large quantities,and finally the overall objective of obtaining limpid and shelf stable products would be achieved.