Studies on the Selection of Plastic Woven Sacks for Storage of Food CommoditiesStudies on the Selection of Plastic Woven Sacks for Storage of Food Commodities (original) (raw)

2009, Biosciences, Biotechnology Research Asia

Mycological and insect penetration studies were evaluated on paddy, rice and wheat stored for six months (at RT and accelerated condi- tion) in Jute, Poly Propylene (PP) and High Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE) woven sacks. Thirty different species of fungi belonging to the genus Aspergillus, Mucor, Rhizopus, Alternaria, Penicillium, Cladosporium and some mycelia sterile were isolated by decimal serial dilution technique. Aspergillus, Sp. was predominant in almost all t he samples analysed. T fungal counts varied considerably among the commodity and the paddy harboured higher number of fungal population than rice and wheat. The samples stored at an accelerated condition exhibited total deterioration of the commodity within 15 days due to rapid fungal growth and at the end of 30 days of storage, visible fungal colonies were observed on the surface of the grain. Based on the mycological analysis and insect penetration studies it is evident that HDPE and PP woven sacks are more suitable f...