The use of ultrasound pretreatment to enhance liquefaction and saccharification of cassava chips was investigated. Cassava chip slurry samples were subjected to sonication for 10-40 s at three power ...levels of low (2 W/mL), medium (5 W/mL), and high (8 W/mL). The samples were simultaneously exposed to enzymes to convert starch into glucose. The cassava particle size declined nearly 40-fold following ultrasonic pretreatment at high power input. Scanning electron micrographs of both unsonicated (control) and sonicated samples showed disruption of fibrous material in cassava chips but did not affect the granular structure of starch. Reducing sugar release improved in direct proportion to the power input and sonication time. The reducing sugar increase was as much as 180% with respect to the control groups. The slurry samples with enzyme addition during sonication resulted in better reducing sugar release than the samples with enzyme addition after sonication. The heat generated during sonication below starch gelatinization temperature apparently had no effect on the reducing sugar release. The reducing sugar yield and energy efficiency of ultrasound pretreated samples increased with total solids (TS) contents. The highest reducing sugar yield of 22 g/100 g of sample and efficiency of 323% were obtained for cassava slurry with 25% TS at high power. The reducing sugar yield at the completion of reaction (Rinfinity) were over twofold higher compared to the control groups. The integration of ultrasound into a cassava-based ethanol plant may significantly improve the overall ethanol yield. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2008;101: 487-496.
The influence of temperature and photoperiod on raffinose synthesis in spruce roots (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) was investigated under controlled environmental conditions in a phytotron. The raffinose ...content of the roots increased when the plants were subjected simultaneously to a change from long to short days and from summer-like day and night temperatures to a climate which was more than 10° C colder. Only a very slight raffinose accumulation resulted from a change of daylength or temperature alone, but a subsequent additional change of temperature or daylength, respectively, caused an increase in the raffinose content, yet only to half the amount found when both climate factors changed simultaneously. When the shoot was left under non-inducing conditions, but the root was cooled, the raffinose content increased in the root, but not in the shoot. The root was also capable of inducing raffinose if the shoot was cut off after a few days of cold adaptation of the whole plant. For all climate changes the sucrose content changed much less than the raffinose content. Induction of raffinose was comparable in mycorrhizal and in non-mycorrhizal roots.
Coconut calli were cultivated on two somatic embryogenesis induction media (SEIMs), differing in their 2,4-D content. Gain in dry matter weight, composition of soluble sugars within calli, but also ...pH and contents of glucose and macroelements in media were analysed at 0, 15, 28, and 60 days of culture. Relationships between contents of endogenous sugars, on the one hand, and between contents of media macroelements, on the other hand, were analysed. Comparison was made with calli maintained on a control multiplication medium.
Traits could be classified into 3 types of response with regard to condition of somatic embryogenesis induction (SEI condition).
The first correspond to traits that were modified by the SEI condition and varying over time. Two phases were determined. During the first phase (T0–T15), soluble sugar contents within calli decreased over time. The higher the 2,4-D content in SEIMs, the higher the sugar contents. Consumption of glucose and macroelements in media was negligible. However, strong relationships in the contents of chloride, nitrate, phosphate, and sulfate were modified in the SEI condition. During the second phase (T15–T60, growth became lower in the SEI condition. Requirements for glucose, nitrate and phosphate and acidification of media were higher. The relationship, determined by changes in nitrate and phosphate (R>0.98), was modified by the SEI conditions, showing a preferential consumption for nitrate in this case. Endogenous sucrose content decreased to become lower in the SEI condition. The higher the 2,4-D content in SEIMs, the higher the requirements for media compounds, the higher the contents of sugars within calli, but the lower the growth.
The second type of response corresponded to traits modified by the SEI condition, but constant over time. It concerned relationships between contents of some cations in the media.
The third type of response corresponded to traits unchanges by the SEI condition and over time. It concerned the high relationship contents of endogenous glucose and fructose (R = 0.88), and between contents of chloride, ammonium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
