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Astronauts experience body mass loss while in a microgravity environment. The consumption of sweetpotatoes [Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam] can provide nutritional stability to astronauts. The objective of this study was to incorporate sweetpotato starch syrup into rats' diets and measure metabolic responses over a five week period. Twenty-four zucker fatty rats were given four treatments (glucose, corn, maple, and sweetpotato syrup) to determine glycemic index values and then randomly assigned into three groups: standard diet; sweetpotato diet; corn syrup diet. Rats assigned the sweetpotato diet exhibited significantly (P<0.05) lower postprandial glucose peaks and triglyceride levels as compared to the standard.

Protein profiles and morphological characteristics of two newly developed sweetpotato varieties (TU-82-155 and J6/66) were compared to a commercial variety (Beauregard) using SDS-PAGE, and SEM, respectively. Under reducing and denatured conditions, electrophoresis displayed the major protein, sporamins, at 25 kDa, for all the three cultivars. No major variability in protein profile or morphological structures, among the sweetpotatoes, was observed. Presence of sporamin was established and total protein was higher in TU-82-155 on a dry weight basis. Starch granules were slightly larger and more sparsely distributed in J6/66.

This study compared the physicochemical properties and consumer acceptance of seven nutrient film technique (NFT) and eight microporous tube membrane nutrient delivery system (MTMS) grown hydroponic carrots. NFT-grown carrots had moisture contents range from 86.3–92.1% while the MTMS-grown carrots a range of 82.0–92.0%. β-carotene contents for the NFT-carrots ranged between 2,030–9,900 μg/100 g and for the MTMS-carrots between 2,977–10,488 μg/100 g. Royal Chantenay-NFT- and Mignon-MTMS-grown were the lightest in color, whereas, Mignon-NFT, and Little Finger-MTMS were the darkest. Paramex MTMS-grown was the most acceptable cultivar to the consumers. Paramex, Kinko and Mignon have good potential to be considered for further screening.

The sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) is a candidate crop for future space missions. However, sweetpotatoes are highly perishable and difficult to store, therefore, novel avenues for processing the surplus roots into value-added products that are commercially viable are needed. Technology was developed on a laboratory scale for the production of sweetpotato syrup and: i) the effect of varying levels of α-amylase on syrup quality determined; and ii) the storage stability and consumer acceptance of the syrup evaluated. Three levels of thermostable bacterial α-amylases (1.5, 3.0, 4.5 mL) were used for conversion of sweetpotato starch (SPS) into glucose syrup. The 1.5 mL α-amylase-treated was dropped from the experiment because there was no hydrolysis. The enzymatic conversion of SPS into glucose was significantly higher (P<0.05) for the 4.5 mL α-amylase-treated compared to the 1.5 and 3.0 mL levels.

This study compared nutritional and physical properties of Beauregard sweetpotatoes grown without, A2, and with, A4, cover crop (ryegrass). Moisture, β-carotene, ash, ascorbic acid and protein contents, color, and texture were determined. A2 Sweetpotatoes had moisture contents of 75.2±1.69% verse 76.3±1.78% for A4. Ash was about 0.7% for all the sweetpotatoes. Average β-carotene for A2 was 35300 µg/100 g while that for A4 was 36100 µg/100g. Ascorbic acid for A2 was 13.6±4.02 versus 17.5±4.12 mg/100 g for A4. No significant nutritional and physical differences were found between A2 and A4 sweetpotatoes.

In contribution towards the screening of eight hydroponically grown carrots, some biochemical, physical and sensory properties of the roots were evaluated. The carrots had been grown under two nutrient delivery systems, Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) and Microporous Tube Membrane nutrient delivery System (MTMS). Biochemical measures conducted included, moisture, fat and β-carotene contents, and the physical measures were texture and color. For the NFT- and MTMS-grown carrots, Nantes Touchan (91%) and Nanco Hybrid (87%), respectively, had the highest moisture contents. Fat contents for all the cultivars grown in both systems ranged from 0.1 to 0.4%. In the NFT-grown carrots, Baby Spike and Juwaroot had the highest and lowest β-carotene contents, 8777 and 248 µg/100 g, respectively. For the MTMS-grown carrots, Thumbelina had the highest β-carotene content (7840 µg/100 g). However, the lowest β-carotene value for the MTMS-grown carrots was 3059 µg/100 g.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of storage on the physicochemical properties of a sweetpotato beverage (SWPB) produced through centrifugation. The SWPBs were formulated using 19, 22, and 26% pureed sweetpotato and other ingredients. Each SWPB was centrifuged at 3,500 rpm for 10 minutes. The beverages were stored for 14 days at 5°C. Colony forming units were enumerated every 48h. SWPBs were diluted to 10-5 and distributed on Petrifilm plates in duplicate. ºBrix, color, pH, and ascorbic acid were measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to determine whether there were differences among the means for ºBrix, color, pH, and ascorbic acid. Negligible microbial growth (0-42 CFU/mL) was observed for the beverages during storage. Solids contents in the SWPBs were constant, ranging from 15.2±0.3 to 15.3± 0.7. Lightness values were from 62.7, 63.3, and 63.9, for the 19%, 22% and 26% SWPB, respectively. The mean pH of the beverages ranged from 4.2 to 4.3.

The objective of this work is to develop a computer-aided tool that enables the development, screening, modeling, analysis, and integration of physico-chemical and bio-regenerative components of Advanced Life Support System (ALS) system. The tool has the following four main components that are interrelated and automatically integrated: Process configuration. Particular emphasis is given to food production (e.g., syrup and flour from sweet potato, starch from sweet potato, breakfast cereal from sweet potato). Modeling and analysis for mass and energy tracking and budgeting System integration (both functional as well material and energy integration) Metrics evaluation (e.g., Equivalent System Mass (ESM)) Modeling and analysis is achieved by developing material- and energy-budgeting models. Various forms of mass and energy are tracked through fundamental as well as semi-empirical models. These models include kinetics, mass transfer, heat transfer, and fluid mechanics.

Soybean (Glycine max) is a candidate crop that has been selected to be grown on long-duration planetary missions by the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) Advanced Life Support (ALS) Program. The nutritive composition of the soybean is 38% protein, 18% oil (.5% lecithin), 15% soluble carbohydrates (sucrose, stachyose, raffinose, others), 15% insoluble carbohydrates (dietary fiber), and 14% moisture, ash, and other substances. Several reports have indicated the effects of soy-rich foods on the deterrence of estrogen-associated cancers, cardiovascular diseases, decrease of climacteric symptoms, and prevention of osteoporosis. In spite of its nutritive value, and seemingly popularity, direct consumer consumption of soy remains limited.

This study evaluated moisture, ash and color in sweetpotato varieties: [Beauregard (BEAU), Porto Rican (PR) and Nugget (N)]. The experimental design was a randomized-complete-block with four replications, four treatments and three varieties. Treatments included control without fertilizer (CTRL), broiler litter (BL), Crimson-clover (CLOV) and NPK fertilizers. BEAU had the lowest L values, and was darker in color than PR and N. Mean moisture content for the four groups was 60.1± 6.7% CTRL; 54.7± 7.9% BL; 60.9±5.1% CLOV and 63.2± 6.1% for NPK. Mean ash contents were: 2.5± 0.1; 3.5± 0.3 and 2.1± 0.02 for BEA, PR and N, respectively.

Sustaining long-duration human exploration and development of space requires ensuring that there is a continuous supply of vital resources and maximum utilization of wastes evolving from human habitation and crop biomass production. The products of waste treatment potentially constitute a valuable source of nutrients and utilizable materials. A clear profile of organics derived from aerobic biodegradation would enable the expansion of the list of potential organic species to be considered when examining the sustaining of long-duration, human space exploration. In laboratory studies, a survey was conducted of the products of aerobic degradation of sweetpotato biomass where Serratia marcescens a soil microbial isolate was used as the biological agent.