Abstract
AbstractThe quality of rapeseed oil largely depends on the quality of postharvest preservation of raw seeds. Fungal infestation at early stages of the storage of rapeseeds is a major cause of their spoilage. The knowledge of relations between the storage conditions, fungal contamination, and technological quality of rapeseeds is essential to specify key control points that can be used to improve postharvest management systems and maintain rapeseed quality. The aim of this study was to define decisive control points on the basis of the kinetics of early mold growth in ecosystems of rapeseeds in a hazardous initial microbiological state, stored under various water activity and temperature conditions (a w =0.78–0.96 and t =12–30 °C). A correlation between the acid value (AV), germination, and fungal infestation of seeds was found in ecosystems with significant mold activity. The analysis of the mold growth kinetics with regard to AV, seed germination, and visible mold time showed that the detection of early (invisible) fungal growth could be a good basis for determining the time during which rapeseeds should be protected from deterioration. The research results showed how to use the length of the lag phase to identify decisive control points, which are necessary to improve the existing control systems of rapeseed preservation and storage.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call