Bioactivities and Moisture Absorption of Germinated Wheat during Storage
Two germinated wheat varieties,Zhengmai 366andAikang 58, were stored under relative humidity of 70% and temperatures of 25°C and 30°C, respectively. The successive change of moisture content, germination rate, respiration and microbial activity was determined to assess the storage safety of germinated wheat during moisture absorption. Results showed that the germinated wheat absorbed moisture to the equilibrium level within 5d in the early stored period. The equilibrium moisture at 25°C was higher than at 30°C. The budded wheat exhibited higher germination rate, however, the percentage decreased distinctly as the stored period extended. The microbial activities enhanced greatly in the course of moisture absorption, when moisture equilibrium, the microbial activities dropped continuously as the stored period prolonged. Under the tested temperature, the respiration intensity of germinated wheat with 12% moisture content was weaker, whereas the wheat with 14.5% moisture content represented greater respiration than the former, and the respiration at 30°Cwas observed higher than at 25°C.