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Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences Vol. 2(7) pp.203-207, December 2011
Available online Available online http://www.globalresearchjournals.org/journal/?a=journal&id=jabs
Copyright ©2011 Global Research Journals.
Full length Research.
Effects of gamma irradiation on the sprouting, nutritional and phytochemical composition of Meccakusha yam tubers in Abuja, Nigeria.
1Abdulmojeed Olusegun Lawal, 1Emmanuel Chukwuma Akueche, 2Samuel Toba Anjorin, 1Chukwuma Egbule Anyanwu, 1Basene Iyenebowa Harcourt, 1Owotayo Abiodun Shonowo,1 Ayobami Ogunsola, 1Toluwani Olabode Olasehinde and 1Charles Adedokun Adesanmi.
1Nuclear Technology Centre, Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission, Sheda, Abuja, Nigeria.
2Department of Crop Science, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria.
1Corresponding author: Charles Adedookun ADESANMI; Tel. No: +234 7055882906, Mobile: +234 8132483885.
Email: dradesanmi@yahoo.co.uk
Accepted 12th September 2011.
| Abstract |
Meccakusha yam (Dioscorea rotundata L.Poir) tuber samples from Abuja, Nigeria were treated with gamma radiation of doses 40, 80, 120, 150 and 180 Gy respectively and some un-irradiated were used as control. The effects of gamma irradiation on the sprouting, nutritional and phytochemical composition of the Meccakusha yam tubers were investigated. All were monitored during storage for eight weeks. After storage, the control and yams irradiated with 40Gy sprouted with average vine lengths of 71.7 and 2.0 cm respectively, while the rest did not sprout. The percentage weight loss (47.2%) in the control was significantly (P≤0.05) higher than the irradiated tubers when the mean values were separated with Duncan Multiple Range (DMRT). At 21 weeks after storage, crude lipids and protein contents were significantly higher in irradiated tubers than the control. Phytochemical analysis showed that flavonoids, tannins and saponins were unaffected by radiation treatment of Meccakusha yam tubers. The study confirmed that radiation processing preserved the quality of the yam tubers through sprout inhibition, reduction of weight loss, preservation of lipid and protein while carbohydrate as well as flavonoids remained unchanged.
Keywords:Food, Gamma irradiation, Meccakusha, Nutrition, Phytochemical, Sprout inhibition, Yam tubers.