A unique plant on many levels, the distinctive properties of the Jerusalem artichoke, or Helianthus tuberosus L., present novel answers to some of today's most pressing problems. The potential of Jerusalem artichoke as a source for inulin, a fructose polymer that may provide dietary health benefits for obesity, diabetes, and several other health is

This is the first book to explore the science underlying the Jerusalem artichoke, which is also known as Helianthus tuberosus L. and it is attracting increasing interest among food scientists and professionals worldwide. Due to a wide perspective for the production of inulin due to its high economic and ecological importance, the development of technologies for isolating and processing tuberous sunflower raw materials using environmentally friendly technologies (green chemistry and white biotechnology) and the global production of inulin shows an increasing tendency. Here we focus on the latest technological achievements related to the use of inulin in the food processing. In this book, readers will find full explanation of the conceptual aspects and the latest research results on a wide range of topics, including the relevant characteristics and applications from various fields. Written by leading scientists in the field, the book will be a valuable resource for students and researchers in the fields of food chemistry, nutritional science, physiology, and bioengineers, as well as for professionals in the food industry.

The topics dealt with in this book cover a broad range of disciplines, such as agronomy and processing; analysis; chemistry and non-food applications; biochemistry; microbiology and molecular biology; and food and medical applications. Although emphasis is put on inulin and inulin-containing crops, the scope of the book is much wider, encompassing other fructans and fructan-containing plants, and even microorganisms producing and/or degrading fructans. It also deals with the possibiltiy of inulin-containing crops as alternatives in agricultural practice. This volume is recommended to those working in such diverse fields as agronomy and process technology, food science, analytical and organic chemistry, biochemistry, biology, microbiology and molecular biology, and medical sciences, as well as to industries involved in the research and development of carbohydrate-based novel chemicals.

Volume 9 is part of a multicompendium Edible Medicinal and Non-Medicinal Plants, on plants with edible modified stems, roots and bulbs from Acanthaceae to Zygophyllaceae (tabular) and 32 selected species in Alismataceae, Amaryllidaceae, Apiaceae, Araceae, Araliaceae, Asparagaceae, Asteraceae, Basellaceae, Brassicaceae and Campanulaceae in detail. This work is of significant interest to medical practitioners, pharmacologists, ethnobotanists, horticulturists, food nutritionists, botanists, agriculturists, conservationists, and general public. Topics covered include: taxonomy; common/ vernacular names; origin/ distribution; agroecology; edible plant parts/uses; botany; nutritive/medicinal properties, nonedible uses and selected references.

Many North American plants have characteristics that are especially promising for creating varieties needed to expand food production, and there are excellent prospects of generating new economically competitive crops from these natives. The inadequacy of current crops to meet the food demands of the world’s huge, growing population makes the potential of indigenous North American food plants even more significant. These plants can also generate crops that are more compatible with the ecology of the world, and many also have inherent health benefits. Presenting detailed scholarship, a thoroughly accessible style, and numerous entertaining anecdotes, North American Cornucopia: Top 100 Indigenous Food Plants is a full-color book dedicated to the most important 100 native food plants of North America north of Mexico that have achieved commercial success or have substantial market potential. The introductory chapter reviews the historical development of North American indigenous crops and factors bearing on their future economic success. The rest of the book consists of 100 chapters, each dedicated to a particular crop. The book employs a user-friendly chapter format that presents the material in sections offering in-depth coverage of each plant. The first section of each chapter provides information on the scientific and English names of the plants, followed by a section on the geography and ecology of the wild forms, accompanied by a map showing the North American distribution. A section entitled "Plant Portrait" comprises a basic description of the plant, its history, and its economic and social importance. This is followed by "Culinary Portrait," concerned with food uses and culinary vocabulary. The chapters then provide an analysis of the economic future of each crop, discuss notable and interesting scientific or technological observations and accomplishments, and present extensive references.

Astonishingly rich in nutrients, Spirulina is one of the most popular and well researched functional foods in the multi-billion dollar global food supplement market. This ancient species provides readily bioavailable protein along with carotenoids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals and has therapeutic applications in non-communicable di

Examines the biochemistry behind cooking and food preparation, rejecting such common notions as that searing meat seals in juices and that cutting lettuce causes it to brown faster

While tomatoes continue to be one of the most widely grown plants, the production and distribution of tomato fruits have been changing worldwide. Smaller, flavorful tomatoes are becoming more popular than beefsteak tomatoes, greenhouse-grown tomatoes have entered the marketplace, and home gardeners are using the Internet to obtain information for g

Introduction to Chemicals from Biomass, Second Edition presents an overview of the use of biorenewable resources in the 21st century for the manufacture of chemical products, materials and energy. The book demonstrates that biomass is essentially a rich mixture of chemicals and materials and, as such, has a tremendous potential as feedstock for making a wide range of chemicals and materials with applications in industries from pharmaceuticals to furniture. Completely revised and updated to reflect recent developments, this new edition begins with an introduction to the biorefinery concept, followed by chapters addressing the various types of available biomass feedstocks, including waste, and the different pre-treatment and processing technologies being developed to turn these feedstocks into platform chemicals, polymers, materials and energy. The book concludes with a discussion on the policies and strategies being put in place for delivering the so-called Bioeconomy. Introduction to Chemicals from Biomass is a valuable resource for academics, industrial scientists and policy-makers working in the areas of industrial biotechnology, biorenewables, chemical engineering, fine and bulk chemical production, agriculture technologies, plant science, and energy and power generation. We need to reduce our dependence on fossil resources and increasingly derive all the chemicals we take for granted and use in our daily life from biomass – and we must make sure that we do this using green chemistry and sustainable technologies! For more information on the Wiley Series in Renewable Resources, visit www.wiley.com/go/rrs Topics covered include: • The biorefinery concept • Biomass feedstocks • Pre-treatment technologies • Platform molecules from renewable resources • Polymers from bio-based monomers • Biomaterials • Bio-based energy production Praise for the 1st edition: “Drawing on the expertise of the authors the book involves a degree of plant biology and chemical engineering, which illustrates the multidisciplinary nature of the topic beautifully” - Chemistry World

Comprehensive reference on the characteristics of rhizomes, stems growing roughly horizontally below ground level, important for perennial and hard-to-control weeds and for the propagation of some commercially important crops. Rhizomes describes and compares rhizomes, classifies them based on their features, and presents their ecological and commercial importance. The book is divided into seven parts. After a short introduction, Part I discusses the evolution of rhizomes and their function as organs. Part II provides an introduction into rhizomes of basal tracheophytes, formerly called pteridophytes, now referred to as Lycopodiopsida and Polypodiopsida or lycophytes and ferns. Part III covers monocot rhizomes with a focus on the high diversity of rhizomes found in monocots. Part IV focuses on dicot rhizomes and their morphological diversity. Part V explores the ecological and commercial importance of rhizomes, with special information on crops and weeds with rhizomes. Lastly, findings on rhizomes in different plant groups are compared, and conclusions on the development and diversification of rhizome characters are presented. Written by two highly qualified authors with significant research experience in the field, Rhizomes covers topics such as: Difficulty in making a clear distinction between rhizomes, runners, and stolons and inner cortex cells of rhizomes differing in sheath modifications Different types of species with stem-borne roots, including dicot representatives with roots arising from the hypocotyl and plants with roots at nodes, internodes, and buds Molecular genetics research analyzing molecular mechanisms and signaling processes leading to stolon and rhizome initiation and development Rhizome producing species forming either large colonies or genetically identical groups, with advantages and disadvantages of each With English literature on rhizomes being relatively sparse, Rhizomes is a unique and highly comprehensive reference on these types of stems, ideal for agronomists, botanists, horticulturists, breeders, ecologists, and weed scientists seeking to understand their important role in agriculture and food.