KEEPING QUALITY OF SOYBEANS STORED UNDER AEROBIC AND ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS

Abstract

The keeping quality of soybean seed (Glycine max), cv. Amsoy 71, was determined by storing seedlots of 13.1 and 17.3% moisture content at 10 and 30 °C under aerobic and anaerobic conditions for 22 wk. The variables monitored on the seeds were: germinative energy, germination, respiration, microflora, insects, mites, composition of triglycerides and fat acidity values (FAV) in oil. Seeds of both moisture contents, stored at 10 °C in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, had negligible quality loss in 22 wk. Maximum quality loss occurred in damp seeds stored at 30 °C in anaerobic conditions: FAV increased sharply, seed viability was drastically reduced and microorganisms developed rapidly. The relative ratio of components of triglycerides did not change during 22 wk. The major post-harvest microflora invading soybeans were: Penicillium, Aspergillus flavus, Ascomycetes and bacteria, particularly Erwinia herbicola. Two mites, Acarus farris (Oud.) and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (Schrank), could not survive on the soybeans; the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), however, multiplied on seeds at 30 °C under aerobic conditions.