Sterilization of cereal grain samples by gamma-irradiation
Di Maggio, D.; Shejbal, J.; Dorello, P.M.
Annali Dell'istituto Superiore di Sanita 10(3-4): 158-163
1974
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-2571 PMID: 4470985 Document Number: 72017
With the aim of sterilizing cereal grain samples as to microfungal contamination, while causing possibly small changes in the qualitative characteristics, the effects of various doses of gamma-irradiation on slightly and strongly moulded soft wheat, and at low and high moisture contents, were studied. In order to obtain a satisfactory sterilization, high doses of greater than or equal to 1100 krad were needed, at which a noteworthy decrease of the germination energy and capacity was observed, while the main chemical parameters of wheat quality remained unaltered.