Effect of storage, initial grain moisture, and fumigation on rheological quality of wheat stored in hot steppe climate

Abstract

Background and objectivesAs a seasonal crop, the government (Pakistan) and the milling industry purchase and store a reasonable quantity of wheat (T. aestivum) annually. After filling in jute/polypropylene bags, the major portion of this wheat is stacked in a room type warehouse under uncontrolled conditions. The aim of this study was to find the impact of the storage period, initial grain moisture, annual temperature variations, relative humidity, and fumigation on rheological changes in wheat stored in a hot steppe climate using the latest approach (mixolab).FindingsDuring this study, the gluten index (GI) (72.4%–97.1%) and falling number (FN) (455–593.1 s) values increased for most of the storage months and showed a strong negative temperature correlation. Significant variability was also noted during the storage period in mixolab behavior and a strong correlation was found with the storage temperature. The starch gelatinization (C3) (1.824–2.063 Nm) and C3‐C2 (1.320–1.583 Nm) increased, while retrogradation (C5) (2.833–2.506 Nm) and cooling setback (C5‐C4) (1.265–0.840 Nm) decreased over most of the month. Pasting properties (C4) showed a mixed pattern during storage (1.7965–1.536 Nm). The GI and FN were positively correlated with C3 and C3‐C2, and negatively correlated with C5‐C4. Fumigation showed significant effect on GI and FN of the grains, while the initial grain moisture (<11%) showed non‐significant impact on most of the rheological characteristics during storage.ConclusionsMost of the rheological characteristics of wheat (GI, FN, and mixolab) changed significantly during the storage period, while the fumigation and initial grain moisture did not show any significant impact.Significance and noveltyThe quality characteristics of stored wheat vary depending on the geographical region. For millers, it will be important to understand these variations to produce a consistent quality flour.

Impact of initial grain moisture, fumigation, and storage period on physicochemical characteristics of wheat in Pakistan

“…Within a month, the rh increased from 45.8% (June) to 69%. Later, it gradually decreased from 69% (July) to 47% (November) (Akhlaq & Ali, 2020).…”

“…The variations in environmental conditions, that is, temperature and relative humidity (rh), have a significant impact on the physical, chemical, and biological quality of wheat grains during bin storage (Akhlaq & Ali, 2020; Chattha et al, 2015). Grain respiration, intrinsic enzymatic activity, and insect and microbial infestation are the main causes of wheat deterioration during long‐term storage (Baik & Donelson, 2018).…”

“…In the previous study, rh, temperature, and storage period were shown a significant effect on the different quality parameters of wheat, that is, protein, wet gluten (WG), dry gluten, gluten index, falling number, and zeleny sedimentation at varying levels (Akhlaq & Ali, 2020; Kibar, 2015).…”

Optimization of the electrostatic fumigation process of grain seeds in a transferled layer

“…The efficiency of the electrostatic fumigation process is characterized by the degree of deposition of the fumigant on pea seeds K, which can be determined using expression (1), which expresses the ratio of the difference in the concentration of the fumigant at the input с1 and output с2 fumigation chamber to concentration at the entrance to the fumigation chamber с1: To simulate and optimize the rational modes of electrostatic fumigation of pea seeds with an ionized fumigating agent in the overflowing layer, Box-Wilson compositional plans were used, which make it possible to construct a second-order polynomial model describing the response dependence Y from factors j x . For the convenience of calculations, all calculations were performed in the system of symbolic mathematics Mathcad.…”

“…Traditionally, fumigation has been widely used to prevent the introduction and spread of regulated pests and therefore has a positive impact on biodiversity [1,2]. The purpose of fumigation as a phytosanitary measure is to ensure the mortality of pests with a given efficiency [3].…”