Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Grain Science and Industry / R. P. Kingsly Ambrose / Praveen V. Vadlani / Wheat flour processing involves gradual size reduction and size-based fractionation of milled components. The size-based separation efficiency of wheat flour particles, with minimum bran contamination, is an important flour mill operational parameter. The flour particles often behave as imperfect solids with discontinuous flow and agglomerates during the separation process due to their differences in physical and chemical characteristics. Noticeable loss in throughput has been observed during sieving of soft wheat flour compared to that of hard wheat flour due to differences in inter-particle cohesion. However, there is limited understanding on the factors that influence the inter-particulate forces. Direct and indirect methods were applied to investigate the effects of moisture content, particle size, sifter load, and chemical composition on the cohesion behavior of flours from different wheat classes. Image analysis approach was used to quantify the particle characteristics such as surface lipid content, roughness, and morphology with respect to particle size to better understand the differences between hard and soft wheat flours. Surface lipid content and roughness values showed that the soft wheat flours are more cohesive than hard wheat flours. The morphology values revealed the irregularity in flour particles, irrespective of wheat class and particle size, due to nonuniform fragmentation of endosperm particles. The chemical composition significantly contributes to the differences in cohesion and flowability of wheat flours. Based on the particle parameters, a granular bond number (GBN) model was developed to predict the dynamic flow of wheat flour. In order to further understand the wheat flour flow behavior during size-based separation, a correlation was developed using the discrete element method (DEM). The error of predictions demonstrated that this correlation can be used to estimate the sieving performance and sieve blinding phenomenon of wheat flour. The experimental results from this dissertation work and the numerical model could eventually be instrumental to improve the efficiency of size-based separation of flour from various wheat classes. In addition, the models developed in this study will contribute significantly to understand the inter-particle cohesion as influenced by chemical composition.

Marama bean (Tylosema esculentum (Burch) A. Schreib) is an underutilised, drought-tolerant legume native to the drier parts of Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. The bean is comparable to soya beans in protein content and quality whereas its oil content is comparable to that of peanuts. By adding value to the marama bean through processing into protein-rich flours, its utilisation may be increased. Therefore, one of the objectives of this study was to adopt suitable low-cost processing technologies used for soya processing to produce protein-rich marama bean flours. The effect of dry heating of whole marama beans on lipoxygenase enzymes of its defatted flour was determined since oxidative rancidity catalysed mainly by lipoxygenase enzymes can reduce the shelf-life of the flour. The presence of trypsin inhibitors can affect the protein digestibility of the marama bean flour adversely. The effect of dry heating of whole marama beans on in-vitro protein digestibility and amino acid content of its defatted flour was determined. Lastly, the effect of dry heating of whole marama beans on the protein-related functional properties of the resultant defatted flour was determined. The presence of lipoxygenase iso-enzymes (L-1 and L-2) activity in marama beans was determined by a visual and spectrophotometeric method using unheated soya beans as reference. Lipoxygenase iso-enzymes (L-1 and L-2) activity was not detected in marama beans. This may possibly suggest that these lipoxygenase iso-enzymes are absent or possibly inhibited in marama beans. In an attempt to optimise dry heating to inactivate trypsin inhibitors in marama beans, whole marama beans were dry heated at 100°C, 120°C and 150°C, respectively for 20 min. Defatted flours prepared from the heated marama beans (HMF’s) were analysed for their trypsin inhibitor activity using defatted flours from unheated marama beans (UMF) and soya beans (USF) as control and reference samples, respectively. Trypsin inhibitor activity in UMF was almost four and half times higher than in USF. Dry heating of whole marama beans at 150°C/20 min significantly reduced the trypsin inhibitor activity in its defatted flour to almost zero probably due to inactivation of the trypsin inhibitor. The effect of dry heating of whole marama beans at 150°C/20 min on the physico-chemical, nutritional and protein-related functional properties of defatted marama bean flour was determined. UMF was used as a control while USF and HSF were used as reference samples. HMF had higher protein content but lower fat content than UMF. It is suggested that dry heating disrupted the lipid bodies of the marama beans allowing more oil to be expelled during coarse milling of the flour. Heating significantly reduced the L* values of marama and soya bean flours possibly due to Maillard browning reactions. Heating significantly increased in-vitro protein digestibility of marama and soya bean flours probably due to protein denaturation and inactivation of trypsin inhibitors. Heating generally decreased the amino acid contents of marama and soya bean flours possibly due to chemical modification of the amino acids. UMF and HMF can potentially be used to improve protein quality in marama-cereal composite flours, porridges and breads. Heating significantly decreased the nitrogen solubility index (NSI) and emulsifying capacity (EC) of marama and soya bean flours possibly due to protein denaturation and/or cross-linking. This may make HMF and HSF not suitable for applications in emulsion type meat products such as sausages because emulsion formation is critical during processing of sausages. Heating significantly decreased the foaming capacity of soya flour but did not have an effect on that of marama bean flour probably due to their high residual fat content which may have disrupted protein films during foam formation. UMF has a potential to be used in comminuted meat products because of its relatively high NSI, EC and OAC. The laboratory process used in this study can be modified and adopted by SME’s to produce defatted marama bean flours with potential applications in bakery and meat products and as a protein supplement in composite marama-cereal products. / Dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Food Science / unrestricted

Density dependence is a common phenomenon in nature, and the intensity of density dependence is driven by competition over depletable resources. Habitat selection patterns are often density-dependent, and are driven by decreasing population mean fitness in a habitat as population density increases in that habitat. Yet not all resources are depletable, and non-depletable resources may sometimes be most important in dictating patterns of habitat selection. Ectotherms, for example, are defined by their dependence on environmental temperature to regulate body temperature, and temperature is often the most important resource for ectotherms. Is density dependence an important mechanism in ectotherms, especially when temperature is a limiting factor? In this thesis, I examine density dependence of fitness and habitat selection by ectotherms using red flour beetles and common gartersnakes. In chapter one and three, I test whether density-dependent habitat selection occurs when habitats differ in both temperature and food availability with red flour beetles and common gartersnakes, respectively. In chapter two, I modify the isodar model of habitat selection to account for the effect of temperature on ectotherms, derive predictions from the modified model, and test these predictions with controlled experiments with red flour beetles selecting between habitats that differ in food quantity and temperature. Finally, in chapter four, I examine the effect of density on metrics of fitness and habitat selection with common gartersnakes. Red flour beetles exhibited strong density dependence in both habitat selection and fitness at their optimal temperature, but density dependence weakened at lower temperatures. Common gartersnakes exhibited mostly density-independent habitat selection with a strong preference for warm field habitat over cool forest habitat, but exhibited some density dependence in habitat selection within field habitat. Overall, my thesis demonstrates that ectotherms have variable density-dependent responses, and that these responses are strongly modulated by temperature.

Ce travail est une étude préliminaire qui a pour objectif principal d'étudier l'impact des caractéristiques de surface des poudres céréalières sur leurs mécanismes d'agglomération dans le cas particulier de la fabrication de couscous. Cet objectif a été réalisé par une approche multi-échelle : particules, mécanismes, et procèdes. A l'échelle des particules, on a identifié deux caractéristiques relatives à la réactivité physique et chimique des particules (la morphologie et la composition chimique de surface). D'abord, une méthode d'analyse d'images pour décrire la morphologie des particules a été introduite. Ensuite, l'applicabilité de la spectroscopie par photoélectron rayon-X (XPS) pour mesurer la composition chimique de surface des poudres céréalières a été on a examinée. A l'échelle des mécanismes, on a décrit et modalisé une étape importante des mécanismes d'agglomération des poudres céréalières. A l'échelle de procèdes, du couscous a été fabriqué à l'échelle pilote et ses paramètres de qualité ont été estimées. La relation entre les échelles a été évaluée en étudiant l'impact des caractéristiques des particules et de taux d'hydratation sur les mécanismes d'agglomération, le rendement d'agglomération, et la qualité finale de couscous. / Our research work is a preliminary study to investigate the impact that the surface characteristics of wheat powder particles have on their agglomeration mechanisms in the particular case of couscous production process. The objective of this research work was achieved by considering a multi scale approach: particle, mechanism, and process scale. On particle scale, we identified two characterizing factors of particles related to their physical and chemical reactivity (particles shape and surface chemical composition). We first presented a method based on image analyzing system to describe particles shape of wheat powders and then examined the applicability of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to measure the surface chemical composition of wheat powders. On mechanism scale, we described and modeled one stage of the wet agglomeration mechanisms of wheat powders. On process scale, we produced couscous in pilot scale and evaluated its quality parameters. The relationship between the scales was evaluated by studying the impact of particles characteristics and hydration rate on agglomeration mechanisms, agglomeration yield, and couscous quality.

Pearl millet is a cereal crop cultivated by subsistence farmers in semi-arid parts of Africa and Asia. In Namibia, pearl millet porridge is a staple food for over half of the population. Healthful Harvest, a cooperative of subsistence farmers in a rural area in Namibia is developing a flour product with extended shelf life and a short cooking time comprising pearl millet and cowpea. This requires the application of simple technology. The pearl millet grain is small (3-15 mg) but has a proportionally larger germ than all other cereal grains, except perhaps maize. Therefore, it tends to contain a high content of triglycerides, which are rich in unsaturated fatty acids. Pearl millet flour is susceptible to rancidity within a few days due to lipolysis and subsequent oxidation of the de-esterified unsaturated fatty acids. To try to prevent rancidity and to pre-cook, pearl millet grain was subjected to toasting, boiling and toasting then boiling before reduction to flour. The effects of these different thermal treatments on fat acidity, peroxide value (PV) and conjugated diene and triene values of pearl millet flour before and after three months storage at ambient conditions were determined. The degree of cook of starch was determined on fresh flours. The porridges made from the flour of the treated grains were evaluated by a trained panel and by consumers. Analyses of energy demands and practicality of the thermal treatments and extrusion cooking as processing technologies in manufacturing pearl millet flour in rural parts of Namibia were made. Fat acidity for the untreated flour increased significantly from 0.11 to 3.72 g KOH kg-1, whereas no significant increase observed in the flours of wet thermally-treated grains. This indicates that wet thermal treatments inhibited triglyceride hydrolysis. The PVs of the flours of the wet thermally-treated grain increased seven-fold, while the PV of the untreated flour decreased. A similar trend was observed for the conjugated diene values. The conjugated triene values increased significantly for all the samples. These results indicate autoxidation in the thermally-treated samples and that there was accumulation of hydroperoxides. The degree of cook of the wet thermally-treated grain (~40%) was twice that of the untreated and toasted grains, indicating that the wet thermal treatment partially gelatinised the grain. Porridges prepared using untreated flours were associated with rancid flavours, while those of other treatments were not, indicating that the thermal treatments can prevent rancidity. Consumers preferred the porridge prepared using flour of the boiled grain, presumably because it was fully cooked, whereas others were not. Thus, the boiling treatment can be applied to extend the shelf life of and pre-cook pearl millet flour. The energy demands for boiling and extrusion cooking were estimated to be 0.6 and 0.2 kWh kg-1, respectively. The energy demand for the boiling process can be minimised by sun-drying instead of using electricity. The cost of an extruder would be prohibitively costly for Healthful Harvest. Thus, boiling the grain is a suitable appropriate technology that can be applied in the Healthful Harvest situation by ordinary people, with no specialist skills. / Thesis (MSc(Agric) (Food Science and Technology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Food Science / MSc(Agric) / unrestricted

Submitted by biblioteca unifenas (biblioteca@unifenas.br) on 2016-07-06T20:33:59Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Domicio Pereira da Costa JuniorDissertacao.pdf: 1369630 bytes, checksum: 4e4dd1f99195d8559cc26002937d5d72 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-06T20:34:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Domicio Pereira da Costa JuniorDissertacao.pdf: 1369630 bytes, checksum: 4e4dd1f99195d8559cc26002937d5d72 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-12-16 / One of the main causes of loss in production Anagasta kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in biofactories is the attack of a ectoparasitoid of larvae, the Bracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The production of Anagasta kuehniella eggs in a biofactory can be reduced by 69% due to the attack of this ectoparasitoid. What can totally destroy an creation of these insects. The aim of this study was to evaluate a new method of creating the moth-the-flour (Anagasta kuehniella), aimed at isolating the parasitoid Bracon hebetor and compare the production of the creation method, already used (conventional), with the production of proposed method (experimental). To this end, it used sulfite role in trying to isolate the parasitoid Bracon hebetor, of creating Anagasta kuehniella, which it obtained 100% efficiency, while all plots of conventional treatment were attacked. With regard to production, there was no significant difference in the production of adult and eggs of Anagasta kuehniella in both the treatments. Both methods were efficient in the production and productivity. The proposed method was considered the most efficient in this work by effectively isolating the said parasitoid attacks da mass rearing of insect host. / Uma das principais causas de perda na produção de Anagasta kuehniella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), Traça-da-farinha, em biofábricas é o ataque de um ectoparasitoide de larvas, o Bracon hebetor (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). A produção de ovos de Anagasta kuehniella em uma biofábrica pode ser reduzida em 69% devido ao ataque deste ectoparasitoide, podendo chegar à destruição total da criação desse inseto. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar uma nova metodologia de criação da Traça-da-farinha (Anagasta Kuehniella) visando o isolamento do parasitoide Bracon hebetor e a comparação da produção entre o método de criação já utilizado (convencional) e o método proposto (experimental). Para tanto, foi utilizado papel Sulfite na tentativa de isolar o parasitoide Bracon hebetor frente à criação de Anagasta kuehniella, do qual se obteve 100% de eficiência, enquanto que todas as parcelas do tratamento convencional foram atacadas. Em relação à produção, não houve diferença significativa na produção de adultos e de ovos de Anagasta Kuehniella em ambos os tratamentos avaliados. Ambos os métodos foram considerados eficientes, quanto à produção e produtividade. O método proposto foi o mais eficiente neste trabalho por isolar com eficiência os ataques do referido parasitoide, da criação massal do hospedeiro.

A presença de desoxinivalenol (DON) em produtos da moagem de trigo tem sido estudada, evidenciando que a contaminação ocorre em todas as frações. No Brasil, os limites máximos toleráveis (LMT) para DON em cereais e produtos de cereais são regulamentados pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária - ANVISA. O entendimento da distribuição de DON nas frações da moagem do trigo é importante, pois pode fornecer base técnica para o gerenciamento desta contaminação e subsídios para as agências regulamentadoras no estabelecimento e ou revisão dos LMT. Este estudo teve como objetivo principal avaliar a distribuição de DON entre as frações obtidas da moagem experimental de grãos de trigo naturalmente contaminados. Trinta amostras de grãos de trigo (3-4 kg), naturalmente contaminadas com DON em concentrações que variaram de 350 a 4.150 ?g.kg-1, passaram por processo de limpeza (Labofix Brabender), seguido de condicionamento e moagem experimental (Brabender Quadrumat Senior). Quatro frações foram obtidas, de acordo com o tamanho das partículas: farelo (>=530 ?m), farelinho (>=195 e <=529 ?m), farinha de quebra (<=154 ?m) e farinha de redução (>=155 e <=194 ?m). As frações e o resíduo de limpeza foram avaliados quanto ao percentual obtido e concentração de DON. O DON foi extraído com H2O destilada, seguido de purificação em coluna de imunoafinidade e detecção/quantificação empregando cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência e detector de arranjo de diodos (UV-DAD). O percentual médio de resíduo de limpeza foi de 15,9% (6,9 a 23,2%). A redução média de DON nos grãos limpos foi 22,5% de (5,5 a 37,3%). A moagem experimental do trigo produziu em média 28,5% de farelo, 5,8% de farelinho, 27,9% de farinha de quebra, 37,8% de farinha de redução, totalizando 65,7% de farinha. As concentrações de DON verificadas no farelo e farelinho foram significativamente maiores quando comparadas com as farinhas (p<=0,05), as quais não diferiram entre si. A concentração relativa (CRel) de DON (relação entre a concentração da fração e do grão) indicou que a concentração de DON foi, em média, 73% maior no farelo e 35% maior no farelinho, comparada à concentração inicial nos grãos limpos. Na farinha de quebra, farinha de redução e farinha total a CRel foi em média 24%, 38% e 33% menor que nos grãos limpos, respectivamente. De acordo com os LMT para DON em farelo (2.000 ?g.kg-1) e farinha de trigo (1.750 ?g.kg-1), em vigência no Brasil, das 30 amostras avaliadas, 15 amostras de farelo (50%) e 1 amostra de farinha (3%) encontravam-se acima dos LMT. Considerando os LMT previstos pela legislação para 2017 (1.000 ?g.kg-1 para farelo e 750 ?g.kg-1 para farinha), 22 amostras de farelo (73%) e 16 amostras de farinha (53%) estariam acima dos LMT. Os resultados observados neste estudo demonstraram que a moagem experimental de grãos de trigo com contaminação igual a 3.000 ?g.kg-1, que será o LMT para grãos para posterior processamento em 2017, poderá acarretar a produção de farelos e farinhas com contaminação acima dos LMT previstos nesta mesma legislação. / The presence of deoxynivalenol (DON) in wheat milling products has been studied, showing that the contamination occurs in all streams. In Brazil, the maximum tolerable limits (MLT) for DON in cereals and cereal products are regulated by Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária - ANVISA. The knowledge of DON distribution in wheat milling streams is important to provide the technical basis for the management of this contamination and could assist regulatory agencies to establish or review MTL. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the fate of DON among experimental milling streams of naturally DON contaminated wheat kernels. Thirty wheat samples (3-4 kg), naturally DON contaminated (350-4.150 ?g.kg-1) were cleaned (Labofix Brabender), conditioned and milled (Brabender Senior Quadrumat mill). Four milled streams were obtained, according to the particle size: bran (>=530 ?m), shorts (>=195 e <=529 ?m), break flour (<=154 ?m) and reduction flour (>=155 e <=194 ?m). The streams and the screenings were evaluated for percentage and DON contents. DON analysis was performed with distilled H2O as extraction solvent, immunoaffinity column for cleanup and HPLC/diode array detector. The mean screening percentage obtained was 15,9% (6,9 to 23,2%). The mean reduction of DON in the cleaned wheat was 22,5% (5,5 to 37,3%). In the experimental milling of wheat it was obtained 28,5% of bran, 5,8% of shorts, 27,9% of break flour, and 37,8% of reduction flour, totaling 65,7% of flour. DON concentration obtained in bran and shorts were significantly higher when compared with the flours (p<=0,05), which did not differ from each other. The Relative Concentration (RConc) of DON (ratio between stream and cleaned wheat concentration) indicated that DON concentration was, on average, 73% higher in bran and 35% higher in shorts, compared to the initial concentration of the cleaned wheat, whereas in the break flour, reduction flour and total flour it was 24%, 38% and 33%, respectively, lower than the cleaned wheat. According to MTL for DON in bran (2.000 ?g.kg-1) and wheat flour (1.750 ?g.kg-1), in force in Brazil, the 30 samples evaluated, 15 samples of bran (50%) and 1 sample of flour (3%) were above the MLT. Considering the MTL provided in the legislation for 2017 (1.000 ?g.kg-1 for bran and 750 ?g.kg-1 for flour), 22 samples of bran (73%) and 16 samples of flour (53%) were above the MTL. The results of this study demonstrate that the experimental milling of wheat kernel contaminated at level of 3.000 ?g.kg-1 of DON, which will be the MTL for wheat kernels for further processing in 2017, may result in bran and flour contamination above the MTL provided in the same legislation.

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito da radiação gama e da irradiação seguida de tratamentos hidrotérmicos sobre as características físico-químicas, funcionais e nutricionais (digestibilidade) de farinha e amido de banana verde. Bananas verdes Musa acuminata (AAA Cavendish) foram processadas visando a obtenção de farinha e a extração do amido. A farinha foi submetida às doses de radiação gama de 0 (controle); 1,0; 2,0; 5,0 e 10,0 kGy e o amido à 0 (controle); 0,5; 1,0; 1,5 e 2,0 kGy. Parte da farinha e do amido seguiu para os tratamentos hidrotérmicos, que constaram de umidificação na a proporção 1:20 p/v (farinha ou amido : água destilada), banho térmico (80 °C por 1 hora), armazenamento refrigerado (5 °C por 24 horas) e desidratação em estufa (45 °C por 24 horas). A avaliação da farinha somente irradiada demonstrou que, com o aumento da dose de radiação aplicada, houve aumento dos teores de açúcares redutores e de redutores totais, índice de solubilidade em água (ISA), croma (C), índice de escurecimento (IE) e dos teores de amido rapidamente digerível (ARD) e lentamente digerível (ALD). Houve também redução dos teores de amido resistente (AR) e das viscosidades de pasta (máxima, final e de quebra), além da tendência a retrogradação. Nas farinhas irradiadas e tratadas hidrotermicamente, o aumento da dose causou elevação dos teores de açúcares redutores e de ALD, do ISA, temperatura de pasta, C e IE. Nestas houve também redução do índice de absorção de água (IAA), do teor de ARD, das viscosidades máxima, final e tendência a retrogradação. O teor de AR das farinhas destes tratamentos apresentou elevação até 2 kGy. A inclusão dos tratamentos hidrotérmicos às farinhas irradiadas alterou a digestibilidade do amido, elevando o teor de ARD e reduzindo os de ALD e AR em função da gelatinização em todas as doses. Também houve elevação dos teores de fibra dietética total (FDT) em doses acima de 2 kGy. A cor foi alterada, com redução de luminosidade (L) e do ângulo Hue (°H), e elevação de C e IE. Houve aumento do IAA e redução do ISA. Os tratamentos hidrotérmicos alteraram o perfil viscoamilográfico das amostras gerando picos menos agudos, com menor quebra de viscosidade e maior tendência a retrogradação. A avaliação dos amidos somente irradiados demonstrou que, com o aumento da dose de radiação aplicada, houve apenas aumento do °H. Tanto no amido somente irradiado como no irradiado com posteriores tratamentos hidrotérmicos, houve elevação do teor de amido com ligações beta e redução do teor de amilose, da cristalinidade relativa, das viscosidades máxima, final e de quebra e também houve quebra da amilopectina. A inclusão dos tratamentos hidrotérmicos promoveu ainda o escurecimento dos amidos (redução de L e elevação de C, °H e IE). Os teores de amilose foram reduzidos e os de FDT elevados. A digestibilidade in vitro apresentou elevação do teor de ARD e redução em ALD e AR. Foi observada quebra da amilopectina, principalmente, e também redução da cristalinidade relativa. Todos os pontos críticos dos viscoamilogramas apresentaram elevação com os tratamentos hidrotérmicos, exceto a temperatura de pasta, que permaneceu inalterada. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gamma radiation and gamma radiation followed by hydrothermal treatments on the physicochemical, functional and nutritional (digestibility) characteristics of flour and starch from green bananas. Green bananas Musa acuminata (AAA Cavendish) were processed in order to obtain flour and extract starch. The flour was subjected to gamma radiation doses of 0 (control); 1,0; 2,0; 5,0 and 10,0 kGy and the starch to doses of 0 (control); 0,5; 1,0; 1,5 and 2,0 kGy. Part of the flour and starch received hydrothermal treatments, consisted of humidification in the ratio 1:20 w/v (flour or starch : distilled water), thermal bath (80 °C for 1 hour), cold storage (5 °C for 24 hours) and dehydration in oven (45 °C for 24 hours). The assessment of only irradiated flours showed that with the increase of radiation dose, there was an increase in levels of reducing sugars and total reducing sugar, water solubility index (WSI), chroma (C), browning index (BI) and of rapidly digestible (RDS) and slowly digestible starch (SDS) content. There was also a reduction in resistant starch (RS) levels and in paste viscosities (maximum, final and breakdown) and setback. In the irradiated and hydrothermically treated flours, the dose increase caused an elevation in levels of reducing sugars and SLS, of WSI, pasting temperature, C and BI. In these flours there was also reduction in the water absorption index (WAI), RDS content, maximum and final viscosities, and setback. The content of RS from the flours of these treatments increased up to 2 kGy. The inclusion of hydrothermal treatments (gelatinization and retrogradation) to irradiated flours changed the digestibility, raising RDS level and reducing the SDS and RS levels at all doses. There was an increase in the levels of total dietary fiber (TDF) at doses above 2 kGy. The color was altered with reduction of luminosity (L) and Hue angle (°H), and elevation of C and BI. There was an increase of WAI and reduction of WSI. The hydrothermal treatments altered the viscosity profile of the samples generating less sharp peaks, with less viscosity breakdown and a greater setback. The evaluation of only irradiated starches showed that with the use of increasing radiation dose, there was only an increase of °H. Both in the only irradiated starch and in the irradiated one with subsequent hydrothermal treatments, there was an increase of starch with beta bonds and reduction of amylose content, relative crystallinity, maximum and final viscosity, breakdown as well as amylopectin molecules break. The inclusion of hydrothermal treatments promoted browning of starches (reduction of L and elevation of C, °H and BI). The amylose contents were reduced and those of TDF were elevated. The in vitro digestibility presented elevated levels of RDS and reduction in SDS and RS. It was observed amylopectin break and also relative crystallinity reduction. All critical points of viscoamylograms showed an increase caused by hydrothermal treatments, except for pasting temperature, that remained unchanged.

Dough strengtheners are the most common and largest group of chemicals used in bread formulations. This study evaluated the capability of hard red spring (HRS) wheat flour to replace commercial dough strengtheners in bread production. Doughs were prepared by blending different percentages (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) of four different HRS wheat flours with hard red winter (HRW) wheat flour. In addition, doughs were prepared by adding ten commercially available additives with HRW wheat flour to compare the dough strengthening ability of HRS wheat flour. All the HRS wheat flour blends had significantly (p<0.05) strong dough rheological characteristics than most of the additives. The 40% blends of HRS wheat cultivar Glenn and Linkert had better bread making quality than other blends and all the additives. The SE-HPLC unextractable protein fractions of these two cultivars also showed a better correlation with bread making properties than all the additives.

Historic market volatility has made risk management decisions by firms in the agricultural supply chain more challenging. Market risk measurement methods, such as Value-at-Risk, were developed in the financial industry to objectively measure, and thus better comprehend, market risk's effect on positions. This thesis gives a thorough background of the issues involved with risk measurement. Different scenarios were then used to demonstrate how the risk measurement method can be applied to the agricultural processing margin. In this thesis, the flour milling margin was used to demonstrate how a firm can incorporate sophisticated risk analytics into its risk management decision making process. Multiple scenarios were developed to account for different situations faced by flour millers. Ocean freight, exchange rate risk, futures price risk, basis risk and flour price risk are all included to provide examples of how market risk measurement can be beneficial to industry participants.