Effects of storage conditions on quality loss of hull-less and hulled oatsand barley

Oat and barley cultivars were stored at various temperatures (10-30 degrees C) and relative humidities (35-80%) for one year to determine rates of see d deterioration. Two hulled oat cultivars (Robert and AC Marie), one hull-l ess oat cultivar (AC Belmont), one hulled barley cultivar (Bedford) and one hull-less barley cultivar (Condor) were stored. Experimental data were obt ained at specified intervals for fat acidity values (FAV), germination and moisture content to determine the deterioration during storage. FAV were in itially 69 mg KOH 100 g(-1) dry seed for AC Marie, 43 for Robert, and 46 fo r AC Belmont oats. Values for barley were 8 mg KOH 100 g(-1) dry seed for B edford and 9 for Condor. The incidence of microfloral infection by Aspergil lus glaucus group, Penicillium spp., Cladosporium spp., Rhizopus spp., and Alternaria alternata during the storage period was determined. Storage guid elines for barley and oat, based on grain moisture and temperature, were re lated to FAV increases of 1.5-fold for oats and two-fold for barley. Genera lly, hull-less cultivars of both crops stored as well as hulled cultivars a t cool, dry conditions, but they deteriorated faster at high temperatures a nd high moisture contents.