This book provides comprehensive and up-to-date knowledge relating to the morphological, structural, and functional characteristics of tuber starches, particularly in relation to their applications in food and industry. In recent years there has been significant progress and extensive research conducted on tropical root starches and especially on some of the lesser known tuber crop starches. There has also been a shift towards using biomaterials in place of synthetic materials in various applications. As researchers investigate the availability of natural products with similar properties, starch has been identified as a reliable alternative to these synthetic materials. The book is a valuable resource for researchers and students, plant breeders, and commercial producers working with, or considering working with, tropical tuber starches.

Roots and tubers are considered as the most important food crops after cereals and contribute significantly to sustainable development, income generation and food security especially in the tropical regions. The perishable nature of roots and tubers demands appropriate storage conditions at different stages starting from farmers to its final consumers. Because of their highly perishable nature, search for efficient and better methods of preservation/processing have been continuing alongside the developments in different arena. This book covers the processing and technological aspects of root and tuber foods, detailing the production and processing of roots and tubers such as taro, cassava, sweet potato, yam and elephant foot yam. Featuring chapters on anatomy, taxonomy and physiology, molecular and biochemical characterization, GAP, GMP, HACCP, Storage techniques, as well as the latest technological interventions in Taro, Cassava, Sweet potato, yam and Elephant foot Yam.

In the Indian context.

Tuber and root crops are the third important group of food crops after cereals and pulses, feeding about one fifth of the world population. With the burgeoning population coupled with limited land, water and other resources, the future beckons tuber and root crops in fulfilling the country's food requirements. These crops have higher biological efficiency and greater adoption with profound production potential per unit area per unit time. Tuber and root crops are well known from time immemorial as nature's energy bank and famine savior. This book is conceived to have an updated version on the tuber and root crops especially in the Indian context, including information on the history, biodiversity, geographical distribution, botany, neutraceutical and pharmaceutical values, new varieties, production technologies, IPM strategies, starches, post harvest technologies and value added products, bio-processing, biotechnology, ITK and future thrusts. Various aspects of cassava, sweet potato, elephant foot yam, taro, yams, coleus, yam bean and arrow root are elucidated in 17 s and appendices. This book will be of immense use to the policy makers, scientists, post graduate and under graduate students and officials concerned with tuber and root crops research, development and extension.

In the Indian context; contributed articles.

This book, chock full of color illustrations, addresses the main postharvest physiological disorders studied in fruits and vegetables. For a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, Postharvest Physiological Disorders in Fruits and Vegetables describes visual symptoms, triggering and inhibiting mechanisms, and approaches to predict and control these disorders after harvest. Color photographs illustrate the disorders, important factors, physiology, and management. The book includes a detailed description of the visual symptoms, triggering and inhibiting mechanisms, and possible approaches to predict and control physiological disorders. The mechanisms triggering and inhibiting the disorders are discussed in detail in each chapter, based on recent studies, which can help readers better understand the factors regulating each disorder. The description of possible approaches to predict and control each disorder can help growers, shippers, wholesalers, and retailers to determine the best management practices to reduce disorder incidence and crop losses. Features: Presents visual symptoms of postharvest physiological disorders that will help readers to precisely identify the disorders in fruits and vegetables Details mechanisms triggering and inhibiting the postharvest disorders Explains possible approaches to predict and control these disorders Suggests the best postharvest management approaches for each crop Although there are many scientific publications on postharvest physiological disorders, there are no recent reviews or books putting together the most recent information about the mechanisms regulating, as well as about the possible approaches to predict and control these disorders.