Initial Moisture Content of Corncobs Plays an Important Role in Maintaining its Quality during Storage

Abstract

Maize is one of the important staple foods for people in Timor, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia. Subsistent farmers store the maize for their own consumption until the next harvest season, for seed and feed. However, high initial water content of the kernel due to improper drying prior storage initiate serious damage and losses during the maize storage. High water content promotes the growth of fungi and insects, and increase respiration rate, resulting in rapid deterioration of maize. The purpose of this study was to determine the initial moisture content that might minimize damage and losses of maize in the farmers' storage, and to study the effects of some plant materials that are used to smoke corns before storage. The experiment was initiated by sun-drying the harvested corncobs for 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days (6 hours a day). This experiment was designed using Completely Randomized Design with 6 treatments and 3 replications. Dried corncobs were stored in the farmer's storage for 4 months. The effects of maize kernels' initial water content on the development of water content in kernels; the percentage of damaged kernels; and the species of pathogen and insects were investigated during storage with 2-week intervals. The results demonstrated that drying the corncobs prior storage for 10 days, resulting in 12.96% of water content, significantly decreased the percentage of seed damage to 6.5%, as compared to without drying process which resulted in 63%.Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium sp., and Penicillium sp were found to be the main pathogen during storage. There are no insect pests found during the storage.

Provenance variation in seed storability of jabon (Neolamarckia cadamba) and their response to seed invigoration by priming and gamma irradiation treatments

“…High water content, temperature, and humidity can accelerate seed damage (Jyoti and Malik 2013). Low seed moisture content is also able to reduce seed pathogen attacks (Mukkun et al 2018). Seed viability, vigor and storability are not only influenced by seed handling (Khatun et al 2009), but are also related to genetic and environmental factors in which they are grown (Arif et al 2012;Sudrajat 2016;Li et al 2017;Hay et al 2019).…”

Identifikasi Karakteristik Dan Mutu Jagung Di Kabupaten Sidenreng Rappang

“…Penelitian (Sulaeman et al, 2013) telah mendapatkan juga bahwa kerusakan jagung terutama dipengaruhi oleh kadar air, suhu (Biji-bijian dan udara), kelembaban relatif, kondisi penyimpanan, pertumbuhan jamur dan serangan hama. (Mukkun et al, 2018) mengemukakan hal yang sama dalam artikelnya, bahwa dengan pengeringan, dapat menurunkan persentase kerusakan biji jagung sehingga petani dapat menyimpan biji jagung hingga panen berikutnya.…”

Physical and Chemical Qualities of Corn With Different Moisture Levels Supplemented With Mold Inhibitor

“…Physical and chemical damages to corn kernels during storage can be caused by various factors, such as the initial moisture content of corn during storage, the temperature, humidity, corn variety, and warehouse pests (Mutungi et al 2019;Mukkun et al 2018;Muga et al 2018;Li et al 2014;Suleiman et al 2013). Table 1 shows the effect of treatments on the physical quality and moisture content of corn stored for 90 days.…”

“…Corn grain having high moisture content is often associated with aflatoxin content. In Indonesia, freshly harvested corn usually has a high moisture content, approximately 31.28%, so that if it is not immediately and properly dried, it will very quickly become contaminated with various fungi including Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium (Hausufa & Rusae 2018;Mukkun et al 2018).…”

“…The growth of Aspergillus flavus is influenced by various factors such as initial moisture content, relative humidity, temperature, atmospheric gases, light, oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH, mechanical damage, contamination, and competitive effects of other molds (Kumar et al 2021;Muga et al 2019;Mukkun et al 2018). Aspergillus flavus can live well at a temperature range of 20 -35 o C, pH 4-6, relative humidity 80 to 90%, aerobic atmosphere conditions, and 18% water content (Talanca & Mas'ud 2009;Muga et al 2019).…”