This study focuses on heat-induced gelation of pea (Pisum sativum L.) proteins to assess the potential of pea protein aggregates (PPA) as novel plant-based meat alternatives. The microstructural (SEM, CLSM), mechanical (TPA analysis), and rheological properties (G', G'') of heat-induced gels at pH 2 were systematically investigated as a function of a different pea protein concentration (7.5, 10, 12.5%) and a varying heating time (1, 3, 6, 16 h). The result showed that PPA formation at higher protein concentration and heating time contributed to a homogenous and compact heat-induced gel formation. Such gel network strengthened mechanical properties in terms of high gel hardness (40 g) and elastic texture (2.7 mm springiness). For the rheological studies, the storage modulus (G') showed an increase during both the heating and cooling phases and then stabilized during the cooled-holding phase. This suggested that the formation of durable and stable gel was induced due to the decreased mobility of protein aggregates at low temperatures. Therefore, the PPA is indicated as a potential additive for enhancing the food texture quality in the plant-based meat food industry.

The effects of Rhizobium inoculant, nitrogen, phosphorus, and molybdenum on nodulation, dry matter production, yield attributes, pod and seed yields, protein and phosphorus contents in seed of pea (pisum sativum) var. IPSA Motorshuti-3 were assessed by a field experiment. Among the treatments Rhizobium inoculant in combination with 25kg P and 1.5kg Mo/ha performed best in recording number of nodules/plant, total dry matter yield, number of pods/plant, number of seeds/pod, 1000-seed weight, green pod yield, green and mature seed yields of pea. The highest green pod yield of 15.37 t/ha (97.05~% increase over control) and green seed yield of 9.6t/ha (69.31~% increase over control) were obtained by inoculating pea with Rhizobium inoculant in association with 25kg P and 1.5 Mo/ha. The effects of 60 or 120kg N/ha were comparable to Rhizobium inoculant in most cases. There were positive correlations among yield attributes, yield, protein and phosphorus contents in seeds of pea. From the viewpoint of yield attributes, yield, and seed quality, application of Rhizobium inoculant along with 25kg P and 1.5kg Mo/ha was considered to be the balanced combination of nutrients for achieving the maximum output from cultivation of pea in Shallow-Red Brown Terrace Soil of Bangladesh.

This study was conducted to establish a rapid analysis method for determining protein and moisture contents of pea. Ninety and eighty pea (Pisum sativum L.) lines were analyzed to determine protein and moisture contents, respectively using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Simple correlations (~gamma ) of protein content in a ground sample and an intact grain sample by an automatic regression method were 0.978 and 0.910, respectively. Simple correlations by partial least square regression/principal component analysis (PLS/PCA) methods were 0.982 and 0.925, respectively. Standard error of performance (SEP) in protein content was the lowest value, 0.446 in ground sample by PLS/PCA methods. Simple correlation of moisture content was the highest at 0.871 in ground samples. when using a standard regression method. Accuracy for the moisture content was slightly lower than for protein content. It was concluded that the NIRS method would be applicable only for rapid determination of protein content in pea.