Modified atmosphere storage to prevent mould-induced nutritional loss in maize

• Main Authors: Janardhana, G. R., Raveesha, K. A., Shetty, H. S.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: John Wiley and Sons 1998
• Subjects: QK Botany; DML
• Online Access: http://repository.ias.ac.in/46655/; http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(199804)76:4%3C573::AID-JSFA991%3E3.0.CO;2-2/abstract

Effect of modified atmosphere storage systems having 60% CO 2 , 40% CO 2 and 20% CO 2 in combination with N 2 and O 2 were studied on freshly harvested maize grain (var Deccan-103) to prevent moulding and loss of food reserves. Under favourable conditions of 90% relative humidity and at 25±2°C, maize grains having 15 and 20% moisture content stored for 45 days revealed significant postponement of visible moulding and the loss of food reserves. The results showed that, maize grain with 15% moisture content does not support mould growth even after 45 days of storage, as a result loss of food reserves reduced considerably. Visible moulding was postponed by 15 days under 60% CO 2 and 40% CO 2 atmospheres in grains with 20% moisture contents and the loss of food reserves in MAS treated samples were significantly reduced over the untreated maize grains. Dry matter loss (DML) was also significantly reduced under 60% CO 2 modified atmospheres in maize grains with 20% moisture content.