Life Sciences Commons^™

Marginal Agricultural Land Identification In The Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley, Prakash Tiwari

Theses and Dissertations

This study identified marginal agricultural lands in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley using crop yield predicting models. The Random Forest Regression (RFR) and Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) models were trained and validated using county-level crop yield data, climate data, soil properties, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). The RFR model outperformed MLR model in estimating soybean and corn yields, with an index of agreement (d) of 0.98 and 0.96, Nash-Sutcliffe model efficiency (NSE) of 0.88 and 0.93, and root mean square error (RMSE) of 9.34% and 5.84%, respectively. Marginal agricultural lands were estimated to 26,366 hectares using cost and sales …

Fusarium Species Structure In Nebraska Corn, Yuchu Ma

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Fusarium species are known to infect corn and cause significant yield losses and mycotoxin contamination worldwide. In this study, we investigated the diversity of Fusarium species infecting corn in Nebraska and their potential to produce fumonisins and trichothecenes. A total of 259 Fusarium isolates were collected from different corn tissues (ear, stalk, and root), revealing a significant association between the various Fusarium species complexes and different plant parts (p < 0.05). Fusarium incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC) was the most widespread and abundant, followed by the Fusarium sambucinum (FSAMSC) and Fusarium fujikuroi species complexes (FFSC). In the subsequent analysis, we investigated the mycotoxin …

Quality Comprehensive Assessment Of Different Maize Varieties Based On Aminoaicds Content, Sun Qiang, Guo Yong-Xia

Food and Machinery

Objective:To study quality difference of different maize varieties based on amino acid content.Methods:16 Xinyumaize series varieties were used to be tested materials, amino acid content of corn kernel were measuredand used to be evaluation index and applied to principal component analysis and clustering analysis.Results:The affected order of maize varieties on 16 amino acid content was Met＞His＞Tyr＞Pro＞Thr＞Leu＞Glu＞Ser＞Phe＞Val＞Asp＞Ala＞Ile＞Gly＞Arg. 2 principal components were extracted by principal component analysis, its accumulative variance contribution rate reach to 90.227%, Ala, Ser, Glu, Leu, Asp, Phe and Met can be used to comprehensive assessment index of 16 maize varieties. Based on amino …

Techniques To Improve The Volume, Texture And Nutritional Quality Of Gluten Free Bread, Zachary Christman

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This article highlights the use of soy flour to improve the protein and fiber of gluten free bread. Also, the use of an extrusion process on soybean and corn flour blends improves the volume and texture of the bread. A full listing of the ingredients and method for production of higher quality gluten free bread is included.

Coccidia Vaccine Challenge And Exogenous Enzyme Supplementation In Broiler Chicken 1. Effect On Digesta Viscosity, Diet Energy Utilization, And Apparent Metabolizable Energy Value Of Wheat, Andrew E. Dunaway, Sunday A. Adedokun

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

This study examined the effect of exogenous mixed-enzyme supplementation (xylanase, β-glucanase, and pectinase) to a corn-SBM (CS) and a wheat-CS-based (WCS) diet in birds challenged with coccidia vaccine (Coccivac B-52™). The WCS-based diet was produced by replacing 30% of the energy-yielding portions of the CS-based diet with wheat. On day 14, 448 (n = 7) Cobb by-product breeder male broilers were assigned to a 2 (diet types) × 2 (with or without enzyme supplementation) × 2 (0 or 20 × coccidia vaccine challenge; CVC) factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design for the determination of the apparent …

Assessment Of Grain Safety In Developing Nations, Jose R. Mendoza

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Grains are the most widely consumed foods worldwide, with maize (Zea mays) being frequently consumed in developing countries where it feeds approximately 900 million people under the poverty line of 2 USD per day. While grain handling practices are acceptable in most developed nations, many developing nations still face challenges such as inadequate field management, drying, and storage. Faulty grain handling along with unavoidably humid climates result in recurrent fungal growth and spoilage, which compromises both the end-quality and safety of the harvest. This becomes particularly problematic where there is little awareness about health risks associated with poor …

Effect Of Homofermentative Inoculant On Fermentation Characteristics And Nutritive Values Of Corn Silage, Nafeesa Qudsia Hanif, Iffat Tahira, Nighat Sultana, Mujahid Hasan

Journal of Bioresource Management

An in vitro study was planned to assess the effects of a homofermentative microbial inoculant on the fermentation parameters and nutritive value of corn silage. The inoculant was applied at concentrations of 5x10⁴cfu/g of forage (T1), 1x10⁵cfu/g of forage (T2) 1.5x10⁵cfu/g of forage (T3) and a negative control group (T0) without bacterial inoculant in three replicates each. At day 3, 7, 45 and 90 of the experiment individual buckets were opened to characterize the material, quick acidification, dry matter recovery, and aerobic stability of silage respectively. The temperature of the trial samples was 32.75±1.92 …

Study Of Foods Declared As Gmo Free In The Market Of Republic Of Kosovo, Ismail Ferati, Namik Durmishi, Diellëz Arifi, Sara Selim, Ardit Hoti

UBT International Conference

In this study, several samples from two different producers that are present in the Kosovo market and which are declared as GMO free are analyzed, the method of analysis is Agrastrip® GMO - Romer labs®. Samples were taken on a random basis in the market and the focus of the study were two products (corn and soy). As this problem is relatively new in the Republic of Kosovo, some theoretical and practical issues will be addressed by referring to the researchers in this field: what are GMOs and why GM foods are produced, the distinction to be made (myths and …

Analysis Of The Flow Behaviors Of Corn Meal During Extrusion, Daniel N. Hauersperger, Martin R. Okos, Troy Tonner

The Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) Symposium

Food extrusion can be used to make many products we consume today, including pasta, cereals and more. The ability to predict the characteristics of the final product from an extruder using raw material characteristics and operating conditions is vital to the extrusion process. In order to answer this need, the flow behavior of corn meal was measured in a lab viscometer (off-line) and compared to the flow behaviors from an extruder (in-line) at three different moisture contents (32.5%, 35%, 37.5% wet basis). The extruder and product are heated through the friction of the corn meal passing through the barrel not …

Temporal Evaluation Of Corn Respiration Rates Using Pressure Sensors, Gagandeep Singh Ubhi

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

High respiration rate of a grain indicates faster degradation of its dry matter. Proper grain management requires chronological and precise measurements of carbon dioxide evolved from grain respiration during the postharvest storage duration. Therefore the main goal of this research was to develop a new technique that evaluates temporal corn respiration rate using pressure sensors. It was based on measuring pressure drop associated with the grain respiration in a closed container and using it to calculate the grain respiration rates.

Dry corn (Zea Mays L.) was procured from a local farmer and stored at 4ºC. Corn rewetting technique was applied …

From Milpas To The Market: A Study On The Use Of Metal Silos For Safer And Better Storage Of Guatemalan Maize, José Rodrigo Mendoza

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This project aimed to implement the use of metal silos to improve quality and safety of maize consumed by inhabitants of the highlands of Guatemala. This manuscript includes a literature review of the maize production chain in Guatemala, a survey about agricultural practices used in the region of study, as well as a characterization of the analyzed maize regarding its mycoflora, nutritional composition, and insect infestation. To better understand the current situation regarding agricultural practices and maize consumption, a survey was carried out. Sample consisted of 280 families representing 14 rural communities distributed in the townships of Todos Santos and …

Development Of Infrared Heating Technology For Corn Drying And Decontamination To Maintain Quality And Prevent Mycotoxins, Shantae Wilson

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Infrared (IR) heating of corn followed by tempering treatments has potential to rapidly dry and simultaneously decontaminate corn without adverse effect on the overall quality. However, it is vital to determine the optimal processing parameters that maximize throughput and minimize drying energy without affecting overall corn quality. This study investigated the effects of IR heating and tempering treatments on moisture removal, mold load reduction, corn color change, and drying energy requirements. In addition, the study evaluated the feasibility of scaling up IR drying process using a newly built, pilot scale IR dryer. Freshly harvested corn with initial moisture content (IMC) …

Testing Usda Certified Organic And Non-Gmo Verified Project Labeled Foods For The Presence Of Genetic Modifications, Ryan Loren Phelps

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are plants or animals that have been produced using genetic insertion or deletion via technology (also called genetic engineering or GE). Merged DNA from different species creates combinations of plant, animal, bacteria and/or virus genes that cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding.

Our goal was to determine the presence or absence of GMO markers in USDA Organic Certified and in Non-GMO Project food products. We investigated only corn or soy-based products that were purchased from many types of retailers. Our study was limited to products that contained a label for USDA organic certification and/or …

Corn Characterization And Development Of A Convenient Laboratory Scale Alkaline Cooking Process, Shreya N. Sahasrabudhe

Department of Food Science and Technology: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Nixtamalized (alkaline cooked) corn (Zea mays L.) products are increasing in popularity due to their affordable cost, ease of production, and the diversity of products that can be made using similar unit operations. The nixtamal produced after alkaline cooking depends on the processing parameters used during cooking and steeping, as well as the physicochemical properties of the corn hybrids used. Processors incur high costs in narrowing down hybrids suitable for a given process, or they must be able to adjust cooking conditions to obtain the desired end-product characteristics. Improper processing generates large quantities of waste. Researchers have developed small …

Field Evaluation Of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Colonization In Bacillus Thuringiensis Toxin-Expressing (Bt) And Non-Bt Maize, Tanya E. Cheeke, Mitchell B. Cruzan, Todd N. Rosenstiel

Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations

The cultivation of genetically engineered Bacillus thuringiensis toxin-expressing (Bt) maize continues to increase worldwide, yet the effects of Bt crops on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in soil are poorly understood. In this field experiment, we investigated the impact of seven different genotypes of Bt maize and five corresponding non-Bt parental cultivars on AMF and evaluated plant growth responses at three different physiological time points. Plants were harvested 60 days (active growth), 90 days (tasseling and starting to produce ears), and 130 days (maturity) after sowing, and data on plant growth responses and percent AMF colonization of roots at each harvest …

Microflora Of Traditional Mexican Corn Masa And Its Effect On Folic Acid Degradation, Stephen J. Adolphson

Theses and Dissertations

Many Mexican women consume inadequate amounts of folic acid. Fortification of the corn tortilla could be an effective way to help increase the folic acid levels among the Mexican population. Previous studies have shown significant folic acid losses in fortified tortilla dough (masa) as it is held before baking. This loss in folic acid could be due to degradation by lactic acid bacteria naturally present in the masa. The microflora of traditionally made nixtamalized corn masa from six tortilla mills in Guadalajara, Mexico were isolated and characterized, and their effect on folic acid content was evaluated. Isolated bacteria were identified …

Superweeds And Suspect Seeds: Does The Genetically-Engineered Crop Deregulation Process Put American Agriculture At Risk, Margaret Sova Mccabe

Law Faculty Scholarship

The federal government’s regulatory approach to genetically engineered (GE) crops, known as “The Framework”, is now twenty-five years old. Despite two and half decades of a consistent regulatory regime, GE crop and food regulation remains controversial. This article suggests that regulatory science and its tenets of independence, transparency, and public science should guide reforms of The Framework so that it is an efficient and reliable regulatory system. The article has four parts: 1) it provides a brief overview of the history of GE crop regulation; 2)it describes the key attributes of The Framework and related regulatory documents, with particular focus …

Practicality Of Large Mylar Bags To Store Corn And Beans In Kenya, Byu Food Quality Assurance Laboratory

Faculty Publications

The purpose of this study is to determine the practicality of using extra large zip-lock mylar bags with oxygen absorber packets to store corn and beans in Chyulu, Kenya. Weevil usually gets in the food after about 5 months, so if the oxygen can be maintained at a low level, the corn and beans could be stored for longer than that. The goal is to be able to store the food for 18 months. In order to determine the practicality of using the mylar bags to store corn and beans, the following questions will need to be answered: · Are …

Vegetable Freezing Methods, Georgia C. Lauritzen Ph. D., Charlotte P. Brennand

Archived Food and Health Publications

Publication gives instructions for properly freezing vegetables, including beets, broccoli, carrots, corn, peas, peppers, and more.

Ultrastructure Of Maize Starch Granules. A Review, Daniel J. Gallant, Brigitte Bouchet

Food Structure

History of starch granule ultrastructure and the principal data obtained on maize starch granules are analyzed. New results are developed: i) growth and development of the maize starch granules during maturation depend on the maize varieties and the tissue site in the kernel, especially the horny and flloury endosperms; ii) cytochemical studies of the starch granules differing from their amylose/amylopectin ratio show important differences in the distribution of their crystalline and amorphous zones that explain their behaviour under some hydrolytic treatments; iii) complexing between colloidal gold labelled concanavalin-A and starch (amylopectin) permits new and greater specificity to ultrastructural study of …

The Biology And Ecology Of Trogoderma Glabrum (Herbst) In Stored Grains, Benjamin H. Kantack, Robert Staples

Historical Research Bulletins of the Nebraska Agricultural Experiment Station

These investigations were undertaken to determine the distribution and importance of Trogoderma glabrum (Herbst) in stored grain in Nebraska, the ecological factors favoring population increase in stored wheat, corn, and sorghum, and the role T. glabrum might play in disseminating internally the Aspergillus molds commonly encountered in stored grain.