Effects of irradiation on physical and sensory characteristics of cowpea seed cultivars (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp)

Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) are leguminous seeds widely produced and consumed in most developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa where they are a good source of affordable proteins, minerals and vitamins to the mainly carbohydrate-based diet of sub-Saharan Africa. At storage cowpea may be attacked by insects that cause severe damage to the seeds. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of gamma irradiation on some physical and sensory characteristics of cowpea seed cultivars. Four cowpea cultivars were irradiated with gamma radiation at dose levels of 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.5 kGy. Moisture content, thousand grain weight and bulk densities were determined as well as the amount of water absorbed during soaking and some sensory characteristics were equally determined. All the physical parameters studied were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the radiation. There was no significant (p>0.05) effect of the radiation on the sensory attributes like flavour, taste, texture, softness and colour of the cowpea seeds. Similarly, the radiation did not affect significantly (p>0.05) the acceptability of the treated cowpea cultivars.     

Physical, proximate, functional and pasting properties of flour produced from gamma irradiated cowpea (Vigna unguiculata, L. Walp)

Cowpeas are leguminous seeds widely produced and consumed in most developing countries of sub Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the physical, proximate, functional and pasting properties of flour obtained from gamma irradiated cowpea. Four cowpea cultivars were irradiated with gamma radiation at dose levels of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and 1.5 kGy with the unirradiated cultivars serving as controls. The samples were hammer milled, sieved and stored at 4 °C for analysis. Physical, proximate, functional, pasting properties were determined using appropriate methods. In general, the irradiation dose applied to cowpea for insect control did not significantly affect the physical and proximate properties of the flour. However, significant increase (p<0.05) was achieved in paste bulk density, water and oil absorption capacities, foam capacities and least gelation concentrations of flour in general, which may be attributed to the irradiation. The radiation reduced the swelling power and water solubility index significantly. The peak temperature, peak viscosity and setback viscosity of the pastes were significantly (p<0.05) reduced while breakdown viscosity was significantly (p<0.05) increased by the radiation. It was established that the doses used on cowpea affected both the functional and pasting properties of the flour.     

通过式固相萃取净化/超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法测定黄瓜、番茄及豇豆中的克百威与涕灭威残留

建立了黄瓜、番茄和豇豆中克百威和涕灭威及其代谢物3-羟基克百威、涕灭威砜、涕灭威亚砜的超高效液相色谱-串联质谱检测方法。样品经乙腈和QuEChERS(0.5 g柠檬酸二钠盐水合物、1 g无水柠檬酸钠、1 g氯化钠、4 g MgSO_4)提取盐包提取,Oasis PRiME HLB固相萃取柱通过式净化,超高效液相色谱-串联质谱(UPLC-MS/MS)进行检测,采用空白基质匹配的校准曲线外标法定量。结果显示,2种农药及其代谢物均在0.001～0.5 mg/L范围内呈良好的线性关系,相关系数均大于0.996 0。在0.02～0.2 mg/kg加标浓度范围内的平均回收率为80.4%～110%,相对标准偏差(RSD)为1.1%～4.8%。克百威、3-羟基克百威、涕灭威、涕灭威砜和涕灭威亚砜的检出限(LOD)分别为0.07、0.3、1.0、4.0、13μg/kg,定量下限(LOQ)分别为0.2、1.0、2.0、13、42μg/kg。