A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was developed for the determination of free amino acids from corn inbred lines flour. Amino acids were extracted using 6% trichloroacetic acid. The extracts were purified using an ion-exchange solid phase, derivatized as trifluoroacetic butyl esters, and analyzed. The 15 N-methionine was used as the internal standard. The method was repeatable for most of the amino acids (coefficient of variation was in the order of 20%), and good accuracy and limits of detection were obtained. Among the free amino acids determined, the highest concentrations were obtained for aspartic acid, proline, gamma-aminobutyric acid, lysine, alanine, glutamic acid, and histidine. The study established the variation of the free amino acids within the inbred lines.

In order to determine the physico-chemical changes during growth and development of three plum varieties, three species were analyzed (Stanley, Vânăt de Italia and Tuleu Gras) by harvesting the fruits at six different phases of development from the interior and the periphery of the crown. The changes that occurred for the studied samples were the following: the mass increased from 2.29 g to 37.16 g (Stanley 3.90 g / fruit →30.96 g / fruit, Vânăt de Italia variety 4.42 g / fruit →35.11 g / fruit, Tuleu Gras variety 2.81 g / fruit → 38.29 g / fruit), the diameter increased from 2.52 cm to 5.2 cm (Stanley 3.15 cm / fruit → 5.17 cm / fruit, Vânăt de Italia 3.00 cm / fruit → 5.20 cm / fruit ,Tuleu Gras 2.63 cm / fruit → 4.99 cm / fruit), the moisture ranged from 73.83-90.01% (Stanley 79.97%-88.52% , Vânăt de Italia 75.84%-87.80%, Tuleu Gras 79.85%-90.02%), the acidity decreased from 0.48%-0.07% (Stanley 1.27%→ 0.78%, Vânăt de Italia 1.28%→ 0.80%, Tuleu Gras 1.28%→0.75%), pH increased from 2.52 to 5.2 (Stanley 3.14 → 3.74, Vânăt de Italia 2.72 → 3.78, Tuleu Gras 2.97 → 3.94) and the total soluble solide (TSS) ranged from 6.4-23.95˚Brix (Stanley 6.4˚ → 21.3˚ Brix, Vânăt de Italia 7.05˚ → 23.35˚ Brix, Tuleu Gras 8.55˚ → 23.95˚Brix). The obtained results are helpful for the industry and consumers to choose the suitable plum fruits.

In this study, different solvents were used to achieve the maximum extractibility of total carotenoids. The extracted total carotenoids were estimated using UV- visible spectrophotometer. Carotenoids from vegetable matrix can be used as a food colorant, food additive, cosmetics, antioxidants and nutraceuticals.

The research was designed to quantify the carotenoid compounds from the experimental variability of the corn genotypes. The experimental material for the present investigation consisted of 19 corn hybrids from Agricultural Research and Development Station (ARDS)Turda, Romania. The experiment was carried out during two seasons 2011 and 2012. Corn hybrids Turda 215, Mold Turda 188, Turda 200, Turda SU 181 and HS 105 were noticed by the fact that in the year of culture 2012, they showed a beginning of accumulation of total content of carotenoids more than 27 μg/g DW as compared to 15 μg/g DW corresponding to the year o culture 2011 due to soil and climate conditions favoring the accumulation of carotenoid compounds. According to our study, the highest concentration of TC was recorded in light yellow, dark yellow and orange hybrids.

Brewer’s spent grain (BGS) is a by-product of thebrewing process, consisting of the solid fraction of barley malt remainingafter separation of worth. In this research, raw materials and discharged waste from beer production were evaluated on the basis of starch content, using Ewers polarimetric method.