Safe storage time of high moisture wheat

Deterioration rates were determined for 15-19% moisture content (m.c., wet basis) wheat (Triticum aestivum L, cv. 'Barrie') stored at constant tempera tures or with a step decrease in storage temperatures. Deterioration rates were determined by measuring germination capacity of the grain and respirat ion rates of grain and microorganisms. Safe storage time was defined as the time for germination to decrease to 90%. Safe storage times of 19% m.c. wh eat stored at constant temperatures ranged from 2.5 d at 30 and 35 degreesC to 37 d at 10 degreesC. Deterioration rates of 19% m.c. wheat stored with a step decrease in storage temperatures (35-25, 30-20, 25-20, and 20-15 deg reesC) were determined and safe storage times were satisfactorily predicted . Safe storage times of 17% m.c. wheat were 5, 7, and 15 d at 35, 30, and 2 5 degreesC, respectively. Respiration rates and germination percentages of 15 and 16% m.c. wheat stored at 25 degreesC remained constant for 70 d. The respiration rates of 17-19% m.c. wheat at 25 degreesC increased while the germination percentages decreased with storage time. Germination dropped fr om 98 to 92-89% when the dry matter losses were about 0.05% and visible mou ld occurred when the dry matter losses were about 0.1% in 17-19% m.c. wheat . Safe storage times of 17% m.c. wheat stored at 35-25 degreesC were compar ed with those determined in similar previous work with cultivars 'Domain' a nd 'Katepwa'. 'Domain' had the longest and 'Barrie' had the shortest storag e times. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.