Cashew kernels have high
nutritive value. Upon exposure
to air kernels turn rancid and
their nutritive value decreases.
From this study it is concluded
that chemical treatment using
antioxidants reduced oxidative
rancidity but failed to prevent
deterioration in organoleptic
characteristics and decrease in
protein and carbohydrate
content of stored kernels.
Laser irradiation at wavelength 514 nm was used to study the effect, of lasers in inducing
chromosomal aberrations at mitosis. This study offers a new radiation system which could be used for the
induction of mutations. Results are compared with those obtained from studies using y-rays as irradiation
source.
A comparative study of the effect of laser in inducing chromosomal
aberrations at 488 nm was done in Vicia faba L. (faba bean)
and Allium cepa L. (onion) with Argon ion laser (Spectra Physics Model
171). Seeds and bulbs of V. faba and A. cepa were subjected to laser irradiation
by 488 nm excitations from Argon ion laser source at power levels
200 and 400 mW with power densities 2.25 mW cm-2 and 4.49 mW
cm-2 and different exposure times ( 10, 20, 30 & 40 ..... tc) similar to the effect of other physical and chemical mutagens, laser caused a dose
dependent decrease in mitotic index and a rise in mitotic aberrations
when compared to the control . In both plant species, mutations were
observed in all stages of mitotic cell cycle . The total percentage of aberrations
was two fold higher at 400 mW than at 200 mW exposure.
The changes occuring to cashew
kernels during storage at two humidity
levels - 80% to 20% with respect
to organoleptic characteristics,
protein content, carbohydrate content,
oil content, iodine and peroxide
values were studied. From the
present study it is concluded that
organoleptic characteristics of
cashew kernels deteriorates with increase
in humidity. Decrease in protein
and carbohydrate content of
stored cashew kernel is dependent
on humidity. Humidity increased
oxidative rancidification.