title: Modification of cell wall polysaccharides during retting of cassava roots.
abstract: Retting is an important step in traditional cassava processing that involves tissue softening of the roots to transform the cassava into flour and various food products. The tissue softening that occurs during retting was attributed to the degradation of cell wall pectins through the action of pectin-methylesterase and pectate-lyase that possibly originated from a microbial source or the cassava plant itself. Changes in cell wall composition were investigated during retting using chemical analysis, specific glycanase degradation and immuno-labelling of cell wall polysaccharides. Pectic 1,4-β-d-galactan was the main cell wall polysaccharide affected during the retting of cassava roots. This result suggested that better control of pectic galactan degradation and a better understanding of the degradation mechanism by endogenous endo-galactanase and/or exogenous microbial enzymes might contribute to improve the texture properties of cassava products.
authors.affiliation: University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Guillaume Legrand
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Ngolong Ngea
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR 1268 Biopolymères, Interactions Assemblages, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guillon
authors.affiliation: University of Yaounde I, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jean Justin
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Essia Ngang
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR 1268 Biopolymères, Interactions Assemblages, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Estelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bonnin
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR 1268 Biopolymères, Interactions Assemblages, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bouchet
authors.affiliation: INRA, UR 1268 Biopolymères, Interactions Assemblages, Nantes, France. Electronic address: Luc.Saulnier@nantes.inra.fr.
authors.forename: Luc
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saulnier
mesh_terms: D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry*; D002365:Manihot / Q000737:chemistry*; D010368:Pectins / Q000737:chemistry*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D010368:Pectins
keywords: Cell wall degrading enzymes; Galactan; Hemicelluloses; Immunolabelling; Pectic polysaccharides; Softening