Separation of conjugated octadecatrienoic acids by open tubular gas liquid chromatography (GLC) was performed using glass capillary columns coated with Carbowax 20 M and with OV‐1. The equivalent chain length of geometrical isomers of the conjugated octadecatrienoic acids belonging to the two series C18:3Δ8.10.12 and C18:3Δ9.11.13 were determined. The application of these results to the study of theMomordica balsamina seed oil shows that this oil contains two conjugated octadecatrienoic fatty acids in appreciable amounts, punicic acid (50%) and α‐eleostearic acid (13%). The isomerization of conjugated acids inM. balsamina seed oil was followed for one year. Quantitation of octadecatrienoic acids using GLC gave results similar to those obtained with13C NMR.

The storage of milled rice requires monitoring to achieve the goal promoted for its consumption: preserving the quality to feed effectively. Sometimes, however, contamination infiltrates under an atmosphere favoring the formation of weevils. A futile loss is created by the unexpected degradation. The effect of capsaicin on whitened rice Sitophilus o. weevils was monitored over time based on four different factors: the presence of chilli, the initial number of weevils present or introduced into milled rice, the weight of rice processed, and the variety of rice. The number of surviving weevils has been determined for up to six months. The Kruskall-Wallis test was performed on 34 samples of five varieties of milled rice. This showed a significant effect of chilli capsaicin action regardless of the factors considered. There are varieties of rice that respond well to treatment with capsaicin. Our experimentation proved that these are the varieties forming a high number of weevils at the beginning. The action of chilli capsaicin was also verified as an insect repellent and unappetizing, especially at the initial time that allowed to see leaking insects. It does not prevent the hatching of larvae, even if it has the capacity to kill weevils. The observed facts show that capsaicin is reserved for the protection of samples of whitened milled rice still devoid of contamination of larvae or adult weevils.

Anther/pollen culture technology is being efficiently used for accelerating rice breeding progress and improving grain quality characters. Using pollen culture technique, we obtained elite rice (Oryza sativa L.) line DHP6, which is well adapted to the highlands of Madagascar. Here we show that certain grain, nutritional, and culinary quality characteristics have been significantly improved in line DHP6. Morphometric and physico-chemical analysis demonstrated that physical (colour, transluscency, and chalkiness), chemical (amylose content, alkali spreading value, and gel consistency) and cooking (volume expansion, elongation ratio) features were greatly improved compared to the parental line. Culinary and nutritional quality analyses showed a significant increase in nutritional values and mineral richness. Some desired concentrations of minerals like Mg and Cu were much higher (e.g. three times richer in Cu) than those of its parental line (variety IR58614). Taken together, such ameliorated grain quality traits will promote its wide-scale planting by the farmers and should thus help to improve the nutritional quality of the population of Madagascar.

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