No description available.

Variation in pollen viability and the meiotic behaviour of sweet cherry Prunus avium L. cv. Lambert were studied. Pollen viability was estimated using aceto-carmine. Three types of pollen grain were observed; large, triangular; small, aborted; and intermediate. Only the first type were considered to have been viable at time of blossom harvest. No significant differences were detected between trees, between branches, or within branches, except for a North and South branch of one tree. Highly significant differences were detected among blossoms in a bud. The relative frequency of abnormal pollen was 42.26 per cent. Premeiotic budwood was stored at -5°C. Subsequent forcing at 10°, 15°, 20°, and 25°C to bring the buds to meiosis, and staining in alcoholic hydrochloric acid-carmine, revealed meiotic abnormalities at all temperatures except 15°C. Early meiotic division stages of additional material forced at this temperature were synchronous, but asynchrony developed after first metaphase. The first meiotic division was characterized by the frequent presence of a single pair of univalents, which appeared to arise from desynapsis of a bivalent in diplotene. Meiotic abnormalities associated with the univalents were observed at later division stages. The metaphase-anaphase division was typified by sequential disjunction of the bivalents, characteristic for sweet cherry meiosis. The relative frequency of abnormal first meiotic divisions was 45.49 per cent. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the value of sulphur dioxide as a dehydrating agent for sweet potatoes.

The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of cooking on the vitamin A value of "Vita-Yam" candy and cookies.

The sweet cherry crop has always been the number one fruit crop in Utah until the last three or four years when it shifted to second place due to severe spring frosts. However, the outlook for its continued success is still very good. Even though there are drawbacks such as virus infestations, spring frosts, nutritional disorders, cracking, doubling, and bird injury, new plantings are being made each year in each of the important fruit producing counties. Utah is also important in the national production of sweet cherries and is presently sixth in the nation.

Temperature and soil moisture (SM) are the two main environmental factors affecting sweetpotato growth and yield. Quantitative functional algorithms of plant growth and developmental processes under a wide range of above factors are needed for developing tools for modeling. Four experiments were conducted to quantify early and late season SM and temperature effects on sweetpotato growth, development, and physiology. In experiment I, effects of five SM levels were evaluated in a greenhouse using cultivars, Beauregard and Evangeline. Experiment II was conducted to evaluate late-season SM effects with four evapotranspiration (ET) based irrigation. In experiment III, five temperatures were imposed at early season (0-59 days after transplanting (DAT)). Late season temperature effects were evaluated with four day/night temperatures from 17 to 91 DAT, in experiment IV. Experiments II, III, and IV were conducted in soil plant atmosphere research facility using Beauregard. Growth, developmental, and physiological parameters were measured. Rate of storage root (SR) development of both cultivars showed a quadratic decline with decreasing SM. Soil moisture optima for SR initiation were 0.168 and 0.199 m3 m-3, equivalent to 63 and 75% field capacity (FC), for cultivars Beauregard and Evangeline, respectively. Shoot biomass declined more rapidly than root with declining SM. Results revealed that, maintaining SM closer to FC during early season is beneficial for early development of root and shoot. Storage root biomass declined quadratically with declining irrigation. The optimum irrigation was 72% of ET and less biomass was partitioned to SRs above that level. Early season temperature study revealed, SR conversion efficiency increased quadratically and reached optimum at 23.9°C with increasing temperature. Maximum rate of SR initiation was reached at 29.5°C in 16.7 d. Biomass partitioned to roots declined linearly with increasing temperature. The SR production efficiency declined from 0.43 to 0.08 g SR kg-1 total weight, and dropped by 81% relative to optimum temperature. The SR fresh weight at high temperature declined 99% relative to optimum temperature. High temperature during mid- and late-seasons partitioned more biomass to shoots, less to roots lowering SR yield. The functional algorithms developed are vital to make management decisions and to develop crop models.

Vitamin A deficiency is recognized as a major health concern worldwide, especially in developing countries. Sweet potatoes are a cash crop that is abundantly grown and available, providing an excellent source of the carotenoid, beta-carotene. Carotenoids are precursors to vitamin A (retinol). Three sweet potato cookie products were developed: glutenree, wheat-containing, and glutenree with extra sweet potato. Products were evaluated by adults and pre-school aged children based on appearance, aroma, texture, flavor, and overall acceptability. Results showed that overall the children liked both the glutenree and wheat-containing cookies (p<0.05). Adults preferred (p<0.05) the glutenree with extra sweet potato and the wheat-containing products. The glutenree cookie contained 10.1 parts per million of beta-carotene as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography.

No description available.

This study seeks to determine the value of sulfur dioxide as a method for the dehydration of sweet potatoes for use in cow feed.

Wheyruit slush formulas were evaluated prior to consumer testing of pre-selected formulated beverages. Varying ingredients were prepared in accordance to a factorial design of maximum use of whey and minimum use of additional ingredients. Whey was obtained from the Mississippi State University Dairy Processing Plant and evaporated. The evaporated sweet whey was combined with blueberries, cherry concentrate, Splenda®, water and ice. Sensory tests were conducted to evaluate appearance, flavor and overall acceptability of formulations. Panelists were asked to participate in a survey to elaborate personal perceptions of the products. Formulation of 125mL whey and 30g blueberries had the higher acceptability score, but was not different from the beverage with 150mL whey and 30g blueberries. These two formulas were tested for chemical analysis. Adequate levels of antioxidants, total phenolics and neutral pH were observed. Results from proximate analysis showed minimal caloric levels with low presence of protein and carbohydrate.