Quality evaluation of the edible blue–green alga Nostoc flagelliforme using a chlorophyll fluorescence parameter and several biochemical markers

• Published in: Food chemistry Vol. 143; pp. 307 - 312
• Main Authors: Gao, Xiang, Yang, Yiwen, Ai, Yufeng, Luo, Hongyi, Qiu, Baosheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.01.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - chemistry; Chlorophyll - chemistry; Chlorophyll a; Chlorophyll fluorescence; Chlorophyta - chemistry; Fluorescence; Food Storage; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fv/Fm; Microbiology; Nostoc - chemistry; Nostoc flagelliforme; Pathogenicity, virulence, toxins, bacteriocins, pyrogens, host-bacteria relations, miscellaneous strains; Quality Control; Quality evaluation; Water-soluble sugars; Chlorophyll fluorescence; Water-soluble sugars; Nostoc flagelliforme; Quality evaluation; Fv/Fm; Chlorophyll a; Chlorophyll; Evaluation; Algae; Fluorescence; Quality; Cyanobacteria; Pigments; Water solubility; Bacteria; Parameter; Nostoc; Sugar; Food
• ISSN: 0308-8146; 1873-7072
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.07.127

•Longer storage results in darker solution colour or more release of pigments.•Longer storage results in decreased Chl a and water-soluble sugars contents.•Higher Fv/Fm value suggests better physiological recovery and quality.•Sample treatment with 1mM K+ solution for Fv/Fm detection is cost-effective. Nostoc flagelliforme is an edible blue–green alga with herbal and dietary values. Due to the diminishing supply of natural N. flagelliforme and the large investment on the development of its cultivation technology, it is anticipated that artificially cultured N. flagelliforme will soon sustain the market supply. Once this change occurs, the storage-associated quality problem will become the focus of attention for future trade. In this paper, we used a chlorophyll fluorescence parameter, maximum quantum efficiency of Photosystem II (Fv/Fm), and several biomarkers to evaluate the quality of several N. flagelliforme samples. It was found that longer storage times resulted in darker coloured solutions (released pigments) and decreased amounts of chlorophyll a (Chl a) and water-soluble sugars (WSS). Additionally, a higher Fv/Fm value suggests better physiological recovery and quality. In actual application, determination of Fv/Fm would be the first step for evaluating the quality of N. flagelliforme, and the biochemical indexes would serve as good secondary markers.