Yewle Nileshwari Raju, Stroshine Richard L, Ambrose R P Kingsly, Baributsa Dieudonne
Department of Botany & Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Department of Entomology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
Foods. 2024 Feb 29;13(5):760. doi: 10.3390/foods13050760.
Maintaining maize quality while drying during a rainy season is a major challenge for smallholder farmers in developing countries. We conducted a study to evaluate the impact of temporarily storing wet maize of 18, 21, and 24% moisture content (m.c.) in hermetic Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) and polypropylene (PP) woven (control) bags for 21 days. Oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations were monitored, and m.c., germination, and visual mold were assessed. In PICS bags, oxygen dropped below 1% within 7, 11.5, and 21 days for maize at 24, 21, and 18% m.c., respectively. After 21 days, the m.c. of maize stored in PICS bags remained constant, but decreased in PP bags. Germination of maize in PICS bags decreased by 0.5, 6.2, and 95.5 percentage points for 18, 21, and 24% m.c., respectively. In PP bags, germination decreased by 17.5, 15.2, and 39.5 percentage points for the respective moisture levels. After 21 days of storage, visible mold was present on maize stored in PP bags at both 21 and 24% m.c. No mold was observed on maize stored in PICS bags, but a fermentation smell was released from maize at 21 and 24% m.c. The results indicate that maize can be effectively stored in PICS bags at 21% m.c. or below for 21 days with minimal germination loss or mold growth. These findings highlight the potential of using hermetic bags for short-term grain quality preservation just before and during drying. This new utility adds to the current use of hermetic bags for protection against pests during long-term storage. Hermetic bags' dual functionality could significantly improve postharvest management on smallholder farms, thereby enhancing food and nutritional security and safety. Field testing is required in order to integrate this approach under smallholder farmers' conditions (e.g., temperature, m.c., drying practices, etc.).
在雨季干燥过程中保持玉米品质对发展中国家的小农户来说是一项重大挑战。我们开展了一项研究，以评估将水分含量为18%、21%和24%的湿玉米临时储存在气密的普渡改良作物储存袋（PICS袋）和聚丙烯（PP）编织袋（对照）中21天的影响。监测了氧气和二氧化碳浓度，并评估了水分含量、发芽率和可见霉菌情况。在PICS袋中，水分含量为24%、21%和18%的玉米，氧气分别在7天、11.5天和21天内降至1%以下。21天后，储存在PICS袋中的玉米水分含量保持不变，但在PP袋中有所下降。水分含量为18%、21%和24%的玉米在PICS袋中的发芽率分别下降了0.5个百分点、6.2个百分点和95.5个百分点。在PP袋中，相应水分水平下的发芽率分别下降了17.5个百分点、15.2个百分点和39.5个百分点。储存21天后，水分含量为21%和24%的储存在PP袋中的玉米出现了可见霉菌。储存在PICS袋中的玉米未观察到霉菌，但水分含量为21%和24%的玉米散发出发酵气味。结果表明，水分含量为21%及以下的玉米可以有效地储存在PICS袋中21天，发芽损失或霉菌生长最小。这些发现凸显了在干燥前和干燥期间使用气密袋进行短期谷物品质保存的潜力。这种新用途增加了目前气密袋在长期储存期间防虫的用途。气密袋的双重功能可以显著改善小农户农场的收获后管理，从而加强粮食和营养安全及保障。为了在小农户的条件（如温度、水分含量、干燥做法等）下整合这种方法，需要进行田间试验。
