Promoting the conservation and use of underutilized and neglected crops. No. 25(2003).

Roots and tubers are considered as the most important food crops after cereals and contribute significantly to sustainable development, income generation and food security especially in the tropical regions. The perishable nature of roots and tubers demands appropriate storage conditions at different stages starting from farmers to its final consumers. Because of their highly perishable nature, search for efficient and better methods of preservation/processing have been continuing alongside the developments in different arena. This book covers the processing and technological aspects of root and tuber foods, detailing the production and processing of roots and tubers such as taro, cassava, sweet potato, yam and elephant foot yam. Featuring chapters on anatomy, taxonomy and physiology, molecular and biochemical characterization, GAP, GMP, HACCP, Storage techniques, as well as the latest technological interventions in Taro, Cassava, Sweet potato, yam and Elephant foot Yam.

Handbook of Goldenberry (Physalis peruviana): Cultivation, Processing, Chemistry, and Functionality presents multidisciplinary coverage of P. peruviana and its role as in food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products. Broken into three sections, the book addresses the cultivation, species, and cultivars of Physalis peruviana, along with its chemistry, functionality, health-promoting properties, technologies, processing, and applications. Written for nutrition researchers, food scientists, food chemists, food technologists, nutritionists, and those studying related field, this book is a timely reference for those who wish to learn more about this functional food. - Presents the chemistry and functionality of Physalis peruviana - Discusses the processing, technology, and functional applications of Physalis peruviana - Explores Physalis peruviana phytochemicals and its health-promoting effects

The succulent species of the families of subclass Rosidae are presented by alphabet of families, genera, and species, with comprehensive listings of synonyms added at all levels. Detailed descriptions are given for all accepted taxa, together with data on the distribution and typification, and references to the most important literature. Where necessary, information on ecology, ethnobotany, history, etc. is added, and in many places, proposed relationships are critically discussed. The volume covers the succulents from the families Anacardiacae, Begoniaceae, Bixaceae, Brassicaceae, Burseraceae, Capparaceae, Caricaceae, Clusiaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Francoaceae, Geraniaceae, Malvaceae, Melastomataceae, Meliaceae, Moraceae, Moringaceae, Oxalidaceae, Passifloraceae, Sapindaceae, Tropaeolaceae, Urticaceae, Vitaceae and Zygophyllaceae.

Tropical fruits such as banana, mango, papaya, and pineapple are familiar and treasured staples of our diets, and consequently of great commercial importance, but there are many other interesting species that are little known to inhabitants of temperate regions. What delicacies are best known only by locals? The tropical regions are home to a vast variety of edible fruits, tubers, and spices. Of the more than two thousand species that are commonly used as food in the tropics, only about forty to fifty species are well known internationally. Illustrated with high-quality photographs taken on location in the plants' natural environment, this field guide describes more than three hundred species of tropical and subtropical species of fruits, tubers, and spices.In Tropical Fruits and Other Edible Plants of the World, Rolf Blancke includes all the common species and features many lesser known species, including mangosteen and maca, as well as many rare species such as engkala, sundrop, and the mango plum. Some of these rare species will always remain of little importance because they need an acquired taste to enjoy them, they have too little pulp and too many seeds, or they are difficult to package and ship. Blancke highlights some fruits—the araza (Eugenia stipitata) and the nutritious peach palm (Bactris gasipaes) from the Amazon lowlands, the Brunei olive (Canarium odontophyllum) from Indonesia, and the remarkably tasty soursop (Annona muricata) from Central America—that deserve much more attention and have the potential to become commercially important in the near future.Tropical Fruits and Other Edible Plants of the World also features tropical plants used to produce spices, and many tropical tubers, including cassava, yam, and oca. These tubers play a vital role in human nutrition and are often foundational to the foodways of their local cultures, but they sometimes require complex preparation and are often overlooked or poorly understood distant from their home context.

Traditional Starch Food Products: Application and Processing is the fourth volume of the "Underground Starchy Crops of South American Origin" book series. Organized in five volumes, this series brings information on the applied level of producing and using starch from a range of plants grown in tropical and subtropical areas that have South American origin. This book describes the use of starchy roots, tubers and rhizomes in food, medicine, local culture, and religion, emphasizing the vital roles they play in indigenous Andean or Amazonian communities, offering cultural identity and economic value. The book's comprehensive exploration highlights the multifaceted world of underground starchy crops, emphasizing the challenges to their successful development and preservation. Edited by a team of experts with solid background on starch extraction research, these books are aimed at all those involved in research and development, new technology processes and quality control and legislation in the field of starch. - Thoroughly explores traditional, post-harvest processes and innovation in conservation of fresh roots and tubers - Examines nutrients and antinutrients in starchy roots, tubers and rhizomes - Includes traditional as well as innovative food processing technologies through cooking and freezing

Phytoliths - rigid microscopic bodies that occur in most plant species - have gone a long way since that day when Darwin became curious about a fine powder deposited on the instruments of the HMS Beagle. This fascinating subject started because of curiosity, and in that respect it was a good start since curiosity is probably the most important drive behind first-rate research. Fortunately curiosity is still present in phytolith research; the articles in this book are full of curiosity and ingenuity. Phytolith research has grown since the times of Darwin and in the last three decades has bloomed. The papers in this collection span most of the application of phytolith analysis (from archaeology, palaeoenvironmental studies and botany, to name just some) and the majority of them were presented at the 4th International Meeting on Phytolith Research that was held in Cambridge (UK) in August 2002.

Despite their long tradition spices are subject to international modern scientific research. This has made it necessary to disseminate knowledge to a large audience of interest. The book addresses this need by informing the reader about the complex worldwide use of spice plants. The many spice and aromatic plants are arranged in alphabetical order of their botanical relevance. It includes all species which have been cultivated for the above purposes. It also covers species whose usage has long ceased or which are used only rarely or have become wild. In this respect the author has aimed at comprehensiveness. In total over 1400 plants have been collated. The very extensive register of literature has been designed to facilitate intensive study of a specific plant or spice. Works both on botany and agriculture, and on chemistry, pharmacodynamics and usage have been considered. The book is aimed principally at spice and aroma experts, pharmacists, botanists and interested lay persons. But the author also had in mind food chemists, dieticians and agricultural scientists, for whom botany, chemistry and pharmacological aspects may be of interest. It is hoped that those occupied in the spice and aroma industry involved in creating spice blends and the like will also take inspiration from the book.

This book covers such plants with edible modified storage subterranean stems (corms, rhizomes, stem tubers) and unmodified subterranean stem stolons, above ground swollen stems and hypocotyls, storage roots (tap root, lateral roots, root tubers), and bulbs, that are eaten as conventional or functional food as vegetables and spices, as herbal teas, and may provide a source of food additive or neutraceuticals. This volume covers selected plant species with edible modified stems, roots and bulbs in the families Iridaceae, Lamiaceae, Marantaceae, Nelumbonaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Nymphaeaceae, Orchidaceae, Oxalidaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae and Simaroubaceae. The edible species dealt with in this work include wild and underutilized crops and also common and widely grown ornamentals. To help in identification of the plant and edible parts coloured illustrations are included. As in the preceding ten volumes, topics covered include: taxonomy (botanical name and synonyms); common English and vernacular names; origin and distribution; agro-ecological requirements edible plant parts and uses; plant botany; nutritive, medicinal and pharmacological properties with up-to-date research findings; traditional medicinal uses; other non-edible uses; and selected/cited references for further reading. This volume has separate indices for scientific and common names; and separate scientific and medical glossaries.

Completely revised, updated and enlarged, now encompassing two volumes, this third edition of Fruit and Vegetables reviews and evaluates, in comprehensive detail, postharvest aspects of a very wide international range of fresh fruit and vegetables as it applies to their physiology, quality, technology, harvest maturity determination, harvesting methods, packaging, postharvest treatments, controlled atmosphere storage, ripening and transportation. The new edition of this definitive work, which contains many full colour photographs, and details of species not covered in the previous editions, provides key practical and commercially-oriented information of great use in helping to ensure that fresh fruit and vegetables reach the retailer in optimum condition, with the minimum of deterioration and spoilage. With the constantly increasing experimental work throughout the world the book incorporates salient advances in the context of current work, as well as that dating back over a century, to give options to the reader to choose what is most relevant to their situation and needs. This is important because recommendations in the literature are often conflicting; part of the evaluation of the published results and reviews is to guide the reader to make suitable choices through discussion of the reasons for diverse recommendations. Also included is much more on the nutritional values of fruit and vegetables, and how these may vary and change postharvest. There is also additional information on the origin, domestication and taxonomy of fruit and vegetables, putting recommendations in context. Fruits and Vegetables 3e is essential reading for fruit and vegetable technologists, food scientists and food technologists, agricultural scientists, commercial growers, shippers, packhouse operatives and personnel within packaging companies. Researchers and upper level students in food science, food technology, plant and agricultural sciences will find a great deal of use within this popular book. All libraries in research establishments and universities where these subjects are studied and taught should have copies readily available for users.