Rehydration kinetics and biological damage in Zea mays stored at a Relative Humidity of the Intergranular Air (RHIA) of 92%

Abstract

Maize grains (Zea mays var indurata) «Plata» tipe destined to commercialization were submitted to a relative humidity of the intergranular air of 92% during 120 days to 25 °C. The kinetics of rehydration, humidity and biological damage («mouldy» «blue eye» and «spoiled») was determined. After 14 to 17 days, the sample rehydrates on the basis of commercialization of 14,5% of humidity and in the same period a degree of standard of commercial quality is lost. It is established that the basis of commercialization of 14,5% is very near the limit which favours the biological damage.