JWSS - Journal of Water and Soil Science

---

Four cultivars of olive, Kalamata, Marri, Zard and Fishmi were obtained from Roodbar town and treated with two methods, natural and controlled fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum as a starter culture at 25°C for 100 days. HPLC analysis experiments were conducted during the whole study period. A higher level (1.08% w/w) of total acidity was produced in Fishmi cultivar especially in the natural fermentation (0.8-1.1 g lactic acid/ml) than in other cultivars. Individual organic acids were determined by HPLC. Quantitative changes of organic acids in olives showed (P<0.0l) an increasing pattern of lactic and acetic acids during fermentation, but decreasing levels of malic and citric acids were revealed. The highest level of lactic acid (1.1% w/v) was observed in Zard cultivar and the type of fermentation had no effect on acid production. Malic and citric acids gradually disappeared during 50 days of fermentation period and this change was faster for citric acid during controlled fermentation. Malic acid did not follow this pattern.

---

Citrus juice and concentrate are among the major industrial products in Iran. Large quantities of citrus peels with considerable amounts of pectin are also produced. Pectin could be extracted from the peels to be used as a gelling agent in some food products. Unfortunately, all pectin used in the food industry is imported. This study was carried out to find the best conditions of pectin extraction from orange peels. Samples of orange peels were collected from a concentrated orange juice factory. Pectin was extracted by sulfuric, nitric and hydrochloric acids. Certain qualitative and quantitative tests, such as yield of extraction and cost of extraction were determined. Also, food safety aspects as a result of using the above acids were considered. Hydrochloric acid was found to be the most suitable acid. In the second part of the research, the effects of temperature (85 and 90˚C), time (40, 50 and 60 minutes) and pH (1.6, 1.8 and 2.0) on the yield of extraction, purity, gelling ability, percentage of methoxylation and degree of esterification of the extracted pectins were measured. Statistical analysis of the results showed that the best conditions for the extraction of pectin include a pH level of 1.6, a temperature of 90˚C and a period of 50 minutes.

---

Iranian flat breads generally have short shelf life. The result of this situation is usually enormous bread wastage. Among the most important factors involved are lack of proper packing and storage methods. In this study, the best temperature for bread packing was determined and the effects of three types of plastic wrapping on Taftoon bread baked of the typical flour were investigated after 72 hours of storage. These wrappings included a two-layer wrapping of oriented polypropylene and polyethylene (OPP/PE) with a thickness of 60 µ, a three-layer wrapping of PP/PE/PE with a thickness of 70 µ, and a two-layer polyethylene with a thickness of 70 µ together with cardboard and plastic. Bread packing was carried out at two different temperature ranges (20-25^oC and 45-50^oC). Results from moisture measurements and water activity test indicated that the characteristics of breads packed in different wrappings showed significant differences (p<0.01). Moisture percentage and water activity (a_w) were lower in layers with higher permeability to moisture and water vapor and, consequently, algal growths reduced in these wrappings. Reduced moisture content, however, reduced the final bread quality score. It was also found that employing cardboard covered in polyethylene had no significant effect on bread shelf life during 72 hours of bread storage. Another finding from the present study was that packing a large number of 10×10 cm bread pieces within one single wrapping with cardboard and plastic was satisfactory and that the presence of the cardboard helped maintain bread shape during transportation and storage.

---

The meat productions are the most popular among different food products. On of the serious problems of this kind of products may be the change of the physical and chemical properties. The Restriction of the use of synthetic antioxidants have prompted the extensive research on the effect of the natural antioxidant and replacement of synthetic antioxidant with the natural ones. In this study, the effect of α-tochopherol (vitamin E) and propyl gallate on German sausage was evaluated. Four different German sausages were formulated and prepared in 30 Kg batches as follows: control without antioxidant, sausages plus α- tochopherol (200 or 500 ppm) and sausages plus propyl gallate (200 ppm). Twelve Kg of the samples were filled into cellulosic casings and the other 18 Kg in polyamidic casings. All samples were cooked. One third of the packed samples were stored at (4˚C ± 1) for 10 days and the rest were stored at (– 18 ˚C ± 1) for 6 months. The extent of autoxidation for samples were determind by peroxid and TBA values. During the storage period, autoxidation rates of control samples were more than other treatments. Propyl gallate was more effective in reduction of autoxidation than α- tochopherol treatments. Addition of 500 ppm vitamin E was more effective than 200 ppm. Significant differences were observed among treatments (P< 0.05). The study of the shear strength of the stored susages at the (4 ºC ±1) for the 10 days indicated that the most shear strength is seen in the cellulosic casing samples. The same results obtained for the stored samples at the (-18 ºC ±1) for the 6 months.

---

To obtain a suitable explant and efficient culture medium for plant regeneration in spinach, two cultivars of Melody and Karaj local seedlings were chosen. A hypocotyl and cotyledon segments as well as shoot tip explants were dissected from seedlings. The explants were then cultured on MS medium supplemented with IAA, GA₃, NAA, and BAP and their response to this media was studied. A completely randomized design with different replicates was used to conduct the experiments. Callus was formed at the base of the hypocotyl explants on the medium containing 15 mg.l^-1 IAA, and 3.4 mg.l^-1 GA₃. Calli capable of regeneration was obtained after subculturing on the medium containing 2 mg.l^-1 IAA, and 3.4 mg.l^-1 GA₃ at the rate of 38 percent. The vitrified plantlets were abnormally glassy, and translucent which might have high water content. It was a physiological disorder which was overcome when an improved agar medium raising to 9 gl^-1 was used. Callus has been obtained only from the hypocotyl explants, while regeneration has been obtained from shoot tip cultured on the medium containing 0.02 mgl^-1 BAP at the rate of 80 percent.

---

For production of fabricated potato chips, two potato- cultivars namely, Agria and Marfona, were obtained from Daran region of Isfahan Province and stored in cool storage at a proper and constant conditions ( T = 9°C and RH=85% ) . Specific gravity, dry matter and reducing sugars were determined at the time. Potato granule was prepared from both the cultivars by the Add-back procedure. To prepare a sheetable dough, potato granule, corn flour, emulsifier, shortening, water, starch, salt and wheat flour were used. After formulation of a non- adhesive dough, it was sheeted to thickness of mm and formed into slices of 3 cm diameter. These slices were processed by baking, vacuum drying, deep frying and combination of pre-drying and deep frying methods. To select the sample with the best texture a multiple comparison taste panel was held .The best method was baking at 125 for 30 minutes. To improve flavor and acceptability of selected chips, different seasonings (garlic powder, pepper, thyme, lactic acid, onion powder, salt, sugar) were used in chips formula and were compared by multiple comparison and triangle tests. Panelists selected treatments containing salt, pepper and garlic powder as the best formulatins.

---

Bread is widely consumed as a staple food all over the world. The major ingredient of bread is wheat flour which suffers of a couple of shortcomings, such as essential amino acids. To overcome of this problem, a great deal of attention has been made by fortification of bread with different cereal and legume flours. In this study, wheat flour was replaced with 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40% of oat flour to investigate of its effects on dough texture and sensory attributes at room and lower temperatures for 0, 24, 48, 72 h in improved and unimproved breads. Improved formula containing levels of blanched oats, 1.5% fat and 60 ppm ascorbic acid. Addition of oat flour improved bread shelf life. Breads baked with up to 20% oat flour, were considered to be stable along over the time as indicated by sensory evaluation. Samples substituted with 30% and 40% oat flour had the high intensities of bitterness.

---

To determine the preheating effect on frozen French - fries quality, four potato cultivars: Agria, Marfona, Auozonia & Auola were selected from Faridan region in Isfahan province & transferred to cold storage at temp.=5+0.5°C and RH=85-90%. At first, some physico – chemical characteristics of potato tubers such as specific gravity and dry matter content were measured by A.O.A.C methods. Also reducing sugar contents were analyzed by “High Performance Liquid Chromatography” (HPLC). The potato strips were blanched in hot water at different condition: 70°C - 4 min, 70 °C 10 min, 95 °C - 2min and then deep - fat fried at temperature 175°C for 2 minutes. Product quality properties such as texture, color and oil absorption were determined by standard methods. The data were analyzed using a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design, and average comparisons were made by by Duncan's multiple range test (p < 0.01). The results showed that blanching at 70 °C for 10 minutes markedly improved the quality parameters. Treatment at 95 °C – 2 min did not have any significant effect on Hunter Lab color parameters compared with 70 °C – 10 min. treatment, but the texture was significantly different. The oil absorption increased in strips blanched at 95 °C for 2 minutes. The samples blanched at 70 °C – 4 min had no significant effect on the product quality. In conculsion, Agria &Auola cultivars were more suitable for manufacturing French - fries than the other two varieties.

---

In this study, the flow characteristics have been investigated by measuring separation zone, surface and velocity profiles over the circular crested side weirs. An equation was proposed for the length of the separation zone using dimensional, statistical and regression analysis. The dimensional analysis showed that the length of separation zone depends on the upstream to the downstream water depth over the side weir, channel width to the downstream water depth and the Froude number. Comparison of the longitudinal and sectional surface profiles showed that the surface profiles at the vicinity of the side weir are non-uniform, due to separation zone close to the side weir. Therefore, the suitable place for measuring the characteristics of flow is along the centre line of the channel. It was observed that the maximum velocity occurred below the surface water which might be due to the secondary flow around the side weir. By increasing the distance far enough from the side weir, the effects of secondary flow were minimized and the velocity profiles tended to be uniform.

---

Pistachio processing, such as production of pistachio butter, is one of the ways to increase the added value of pistachio. Pistachio butter is a paste containing mainly milled, roasted pistachio kernel and sugar. In this investigation, the effect of two emulsifiers (lecithin and mono-di glycerids) at three levels of 0.0, 1.0, 2.0%, on the oil leakage and the effects of BHT as an antioxidant at three levels of 0.00, 0.01 and 0.02% on the peroxide values of pistachio butter and paste after 4 months storage at 20 °C were studied. Each experiment was performed in triplicates. Rheological and organoleptic tests were performed on the finished products. The results were statistically analyzed by a completely randomized Design and by making comparisons between the means via multiple range Duncan's test (P <0.05). Roasting of the pistachios at 110°C for 15 min was the best condition as determined by taste panelists. Moreover, addition of 15-25% of sugar in butter formula, received the best score by the panelists. The results of organoleptic tests showed that the sample containing lecithin and mono-diglycerides had the least leakage of oil. Based on the results, pistachio butter produced in this investigation received higher score in terms of flavor and texture than industrial pistachio butter in the market. Results also showed that addition of BHT had a significant effect on shelf life of pistachio butter. Rheological experiments showed that pistachio butter produced in this investigation was 1.5 times softer than its industrial counterpart. The results indicated that the best formula for production of pistachio butter was 72.99 - 82.99 % roasted pistachio kernels, 15-25 % sugar, 1% lecithin, 1% mono di glyceride and 0.01 % BHT.