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The effects of cathode ray irradiation of wheat on surface moulds, respiration, flour flavour and odour, and germination
Author(s) -
CROPSEY M.G.,
LEACH C.M.,
CHING TE MAY,
SATHER LOIS A.,
WIANT D.E.
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1962.tb06044.x
Subject(s) - germination , spore , moisture , biology , irradiation , penicillium , horticulture , respiration , spore germination , botany , food science , materials science , composite material , physics , nuclear physics
SUMMARY The effects of cathode ray radiation on the respiration, germination, flavour and odour, and microflora of stored wheat were determined by irradiating kernels at different moisture levels, under different combinations of dosage (10,600‐2,000,000 rep) and of voltage (600,000–1,000,000 V.) and on one side or two sides. The lethal effects of irradiation on the natural microflora of kernels, and on the spores of Penicillium corymbiferum artificially inoculated onto kernels, were determined in preliminary experiments. Extensive studies with kernels artificially inoculated with Aspergillus repens , a proven storage mould, showed that as dosage was increased there was a corresponding reduction of viable spore load, with some reduction even at the lowest dosage of 10,600 rep. Irradiation of kernels at the highest applied voltage of 1,000,000 was more effective in killing spores than at 600,000; also a dosage applied on two sides was more effective than an equal dosage applied on one side. Spores were more readily killed when kernels were irradiated at a higher moisture level. Dosages above 42,400 rep (total dosage at 600,000 V.) significantly reduced the total number of normal plants germinating from irradiated kernels whether radiation was applied on one or both sides, or at high or low moisture levels. At 23,000 rep (total dosage at 1,000,000 V.) the number of normal plants produced from germinated kernels was significantly reduced, whether radiation was applied on one or both sides, or to kernels held at high or low moisture levels. The thresholds for irradiated flavour and odour for flour milled from irradiated kernels were about 169,600 rep (total dosage at 600,000 V.) and about 46,000 rep (total dosage at 1,000,000 V.), regardless of the moisture content or whether the dosage was applied on one or both sides. There was a significant reduction of the respiration of high moisture wheat inoculated with Aspergillus repens , when irradiated at dosages greater than 11,500 rep (total dosage at 1,000,000 V.), whether radiation was applied on one or both sides. Likewise, there was a significant reduction in respiration of kernels irradiated at dosages of 19,500 rep (total dosage at 600,000 V.), whether this was applied to one or both sides. The respiration of high moisture kernels was not reduced to that of the low moisture kernels until the 500,000 rep dosage.