Storage Root of Cassava: Morphological Types, Anatomy, Formation, Growth, Development and Harvest Time

Cassava (Manihot esculenta, Crantz) is considered a starchy root crop that provides staple food for millions of people in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Research efforts are directed toward genetic breeding and cultivation of cassava to improve cassava storage root starch production, nutritional values, and industrial utilization. Cassava storage root (CSR) is a vegetative storage organ with indeterminate type of growth that has a central cylinder (edible part) originated by the swelling of primary root and crown roots. Comprehensive studies on thickened primary root (secondary growth) are rare, incomplete, and to a certain extent, missing. In this chapter, we review and forward studies that move our knowledge on cassava storage root (CSR). CSR generally forms up to 12–14 storage root (SR) per plant, which can originate from three sources of propagating plant materials as well as being induced in vivo and in vitro. Types of storage root (morphologically defined), CSR physiology, tissue anatomy/histology (secondary growth), chemical composition of the edible part, biochemical features, gene expression and proteomics as secondary growth proceeds are of major importance in order to breed cassava plant for agriculture utilization. Storage root morphology varies in shape from cylindrical to globular. Time to initiation of storage root formation varies from 45 to 90 days after planting (DAP), depending on the leaf auxiliary bud position in the vegetative propagating material at the plant source. Storage root growth, starch accumulation, and nutrient contents are largely dependent on genotypes. Storage root anatomy can be identified by eight characteristics common to a root with secondary growth and starch reserve variants. Histological characterizations can be used to identify cell types of primary and secondary meristems, procambium, vascular cambium, phellogen, phelloderm, primary and secondary xylem and phloem, storage parenchyma and sclerenchyma. Three types of meristematic cell differentiations occur as secondary growth proceeds; one due to cork cambium with plane perpendicularly oriented cell division, second due to plane longitudinally oriented cell division in the root apex, and third longitudinally oriented in the epidermal cells. Chemical composition of the storage root varies in the central cylinder (edible part) depending on the sample position in the root and the plant genotype. Therefore, biochemical characteristics are known to change with tissue age as secondary growth proceeds. Moreover, the composition of stored starch varies with tissue age across the central cylinder and may be used as a physiological indicator for bulk storage root maturation and storage root harvest time

Ecological phytochemistry of Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) plants

The Cerrado (the Brazilian savanna) is one of the vegetation formations of great biodiversity in Brazil and it has experienced strong deforestation and fragmentation. The Cerrado must contain at least 12,000 higher plant species.We discuss the ecological relevance of phytochemical studies carried out on plants from the Cerrado, including examples of phytotoxicity, antifungal, insecticidal and antibacterial activities. The results have been classified according to activity and plant family. The most active compounds have been highlighted and other activities are discussed. A large number of complex biochemical interactions occur in this system. However, only a small fraction of the species has been studied from the phytochemical viewpoint to identify the metabolites responsible for these interactions

Efeito de diferentes temperaturas na qualidade de mandioquinha-salsa minimamente processada Effect of different temperatures on the quality of fresh-cut Peruvian carrot

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar a vida útil de mandioquinha-salsa 'Amarela de Senador Amaral' minimamente processada e armazenada em três temperaturas de armazenamento. As raízes foram descascadas manualmente, fatiadas (±1 cm de espessura), imersas em solução de dicloro isocianurato de sódio 100 mg L-1 por 15 minutos e acondicionadas em embalagem rígida de polipropileno (15 x 11,5 x 4,5 cm). As embalagens, contendo cerca de 150 g de raízes minimamente processadas, foram armazenadas a 0±1ºC, 5±1ºC ou 10±1ºC durante 15 dias, sendo realizadas análises a cada 3 dias. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em fatorial 3 x 6, sendo 3 temperaturas de armazenamento e 6 períodos de armazenamento, com 3 repetições. O armazenamento a 0ºC determinou, ao longo do armazenamento, aumento nos valores de L* e b*, menores valores de a*, menor atividade da peroxidase, polifenoloxidase, poligalacturonase, solubilização péctica e taxa respiratória, sendo a temperatura mais indicada para o armazenamento da mandioquinha-salsa 'Amarela de Senador Amaral' minimamente processada.<br>The shelf life of fresh-cut Peruvian carrots 'Amarela de Senador Amaral', stored under three temperatures, was evaluated. The roots were peeled manually, sliced (±1 cm thick), immersed in a solution of sodium dichloroisocyanurate 100 mg L-1 during 15 minutes and packed in rigid polypropylene package (15 x 11.5 x 4.5 cm). The packages containing around 150 g of fresh cut roots were stored under 0±1ºC, 5±1ºC or 10±1ºC during 15 days. The analyses were performed every 3 days. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 x 6 factorial (3 storage temperature) and 6 periods of storage, with three replicates. The storage at 0ºC provided higher L* and b* values, lower a* values, lower peroxidase, polyphenoloxidase and polygalacturonase activity, pectic solubilization and respiration rate. This temperature is the most proper for the storage of the fresh-cut peruvian carrot 'Amarela de Senador Amaral'