Physical and rheological characterization of seeds of three legume trees Caracterización física y reológica de semillas de tres leguminosas arbóreas

The Chilean algarrobo ("Prosopis chilensis (Mol) Stuntz), the tara (Caesalpinea spinosa (Mol) Kuntze) and the honey locust (Gleditsia triacanthos L) have an interesting potential for the development of arid zones. The endosperm of the seeds of these species has a galactomannan-type gum which has the property of thickening and stabilizing emulsions. This study evaluates the physical characteristics of the pods and seeds, and the rheological properties of the gums of these species. We studied fruits of five ecotypes of algarrobo (Coquimbo and Metropolitan Regions), of tara from the Coquimbo Region and of honey locust (three-spined acacia) from the Metropolitan Region. We measured the dimensions of the pods, number of seeds per pod, seed weight, gum yield and color parameters of the cotyledon and gum, and the rheological properties of the gums extracted. Gums were extracted manually and dried at 50° C. The seeds of algarrobo weighed 0.04 g; their gum yield varied between 25.5% and 31.5%. The seeds of tara weighed 0.14 g and those of the acacia 0.16 g, with a gum yield of 31.0% and 40.1%, respectively. The gums had high luminosity and high contribution of yellow, along with low contribution of red. The dispersions of all the studied gums showed a non-Newtonian Herschel-Bulkley behavior corresponding to an inelastic fluid, independent of time. The apparent viscosity of the gum of algarrobo fluctuated between 0.020 and 0.12; that of tara between 0.06 and 1.3, and that of honey locust between 0.034 and 0.08 Pa*s. The gums of these species have rheological characteristics which would allow their addition to foods. El algarrobo chileno (Prosopis chilensis (Mol) Stuntz), la tara (Caesalpinea spinosa (Mol) Kuntze) y la acacia de las tres espinas (Gleditsia triacanthos L) ofrecen un interesante potencial para promover el desarrollo de las zonas áridas. En el endosperma de sus semillas existe una goma del tipo galactomanano que posee propiedades viscosantes y estabilizadoras de emulsiones. Se realizó una investigación para evaluar las características físicas de las vainas y semillas y las propiedades reológicas de las gomas de estas especies. Se estudiaron frutos de cinco ecotipos de algarrobo (Región de Coquimbo y Región Metropolitana), de tara (Región de Coquimbo) y de acacia de las tres espinas (Región Metropolitana). Se midieron las dimensiones de las vainas, número de semillas/ vaina, peso de semillas, rendimiento y parámetros de color de cotiledón y goma y las propiedades reológicas de las gomas extraídas. Las gomas se extrajeron manualmente y se secaron a 50