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Kehinde, Abisola Zainab

University of British Columbia

Breadfruit is an underutilized staple crop originating from Borneo and carried across the Pacific islands through generations of migration. My research investigated the potential of breadfruit as (1) a source of high-quality starch and, (2) a key ingredient for infant formula. To determine starch quality amongst cultivars A. altilis and hybrids, I analyzed starch yield, structure, swelling power, solubility, dietary fiber (DF), and starch-bound protein of 16 cultivars of A. altilis and hybrids. Hybrids differed significantly only in soluble DF content and starch solubility. Three cultivars, Yuley, Ulu fiti, and Ma’afala, showed distinct profiles in multivariate analysis of the cultivars by starch and fiber properties. To investigate breadfruit as a source of novel terpenes, I analyzed the glandular trichomes which is the site of synthesis of these important compounds across cultivars. My results showed that breadfruit contained both glandular and non-glandular trichomes and can be viewed successfully without sample preparation that involves chemical fixation and freeze-drying. Also, the younger leaves had a greater amount of glandular trichomes than the mature leaves and varied across cultivars. To identify breadfruit as a suitable food staple that can provide adequate nutrition for infant formula, I compared studies that determined the nutritional content of breadfruit to the standard for infant formula by the world health organization. My results showed that breadfruit contains nutrients that meet the recommended dietary allowance for children. The results of these experiments provide the basic scientific evidence necessary to support the development of novel bioproducts and breadfruit-based food products.

Text

2021-07-19

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/79038

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

University of British Columbia

UBCO

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/