BIOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHANGES IN STORED FABABEANS
Two lots of frost-damaged fababeans of low germinability, high bacterial infection, and above-normal free fatty acid (FAV) were stored as a single bulk for 12 mo in 1974–75. A brief period of biological heating occurred during June-July 1975 in the upper lot which had a moisture content of 15–17.8% as compared to 13.2–16.2% in the lower lot. In both lots bacterial infection decreased, and was accompanied by increased levels of intergranular CO2, FAV, Aspergillus glaucus and later by A. flavus. In the heated upper lot, A. candidus, A. nidulans and Cephalosporium also occurred. A third lot of bin-stored, non-frosted fababeans of high germinability, low bacterial infection, average FAV and 13.8–14.2% moisture content served as a control during 1975–77 and showed few changes in physical and chemical variables; its Penicillium contamination, however, increased. At the bottom of the bin leakage of rain water resulted in seed rot associated with incidence of Scopulariopsis, Gliocladium, Streptomyces and in drier areas Penicillium and the A. glaucus group. Rotten fababeans were heavily infested by mites, mostly Acarus immobilis.