A.P. Vermaak’s scientific contributions

South Africa with its recent major socio-political transformation to a full democracy, has also inherited a considerable technology base from the past. Although some of this asset has already been severely weakened by erosion, the correct management of this national asset to serve the needs of the new society being created in this country, can be a considerable force in the reconstruction of our economy and our society. In particular, the following roles will be dealt with: 1.• technology as a driver of greater productivity and increased global economic competitiveness;2.• technology as a force to transform the South African industry from an exporter of base minerals to a manufacturing base through value-addition to its minerals;3.• technology as a catalyst in the reconstruction of South African society through a refocused value system.Technologically based decision making, such as LIFEX and many others, is a typical example where the productive use of scarce capital resources, can be optimised and spread over a greater part of the economy.

The effects of soaking, cooking and autoclaving on the levels of phytic acid and oligosaccharides, raffinose, stachyose and verbascose, present in two germplasm seed materials of Mucuna monosperma collected from Kerala and Tamil Nadu states, were investigated. The loss of phytic acid was found to be higher in distilled water soaking compared to salt water soaking in Kerala germplasm. There was no significant reduction in content of raffinose during soaking in distilled water in Tamil Nadu germplasm. Cooking for 3 h effected significant reduction of phytic acid, raffinose, stachyose and verbascose in both the germplasms studied. The percentage loss of oligosaccharides with autoclaving was higher than with cooking. These results revealed that autoclaving was more effective in eliminating the contents of phytic acid and oligosaccharides, in both the germplasms of the Indian tribal pulse, Mucuna monosperma, presently studied.