Effects of radiation and cultivar on soy foods

CHED 303

Apollonia L. McMillan, alam_02@yahoo.com, Department of Chemistry, Texas Southern University, 3100 Cleburne Ave., Houston, TX 77004
In the year 2030, NASA plans to venture out to Mars. While on this long mission, the astronauts will have to eat. To lower cargo weight on the spaceship, NASA plans to have the astronauts grow crops on Mars and use that as their food supply. Soybeans are one of the crops that NASA is considering to take to Mars. From the soybeans, soymilk, tofu, and other soy byproducts can be made. During space flight, radiation exposure may cause the soybeans to not behave in the same manner. Two cultivars of soybeans (Vinton 81 and IA2032LS) were studied with varied amounts of radiation. The tofu, okara, and whey were analyzed for texture, color, moisture, and pH. Radiation does have an effect on soy-food characteristics. Also, the type of cultivar that is used has an effect on soy-food yields, sensory, and process characteristics.