IMPACT OF STORAGE SOURCES ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF VARIOUS WHEAT VARIETIES

Wheat seed quality, milling and nutritive value always remained a big issue before grower, miller and consumer respectively. Traditional and recent methods of grain storage inflict lot of losses in terms of physical and chemical properties. These losses could be improved by providing appropriate storage source. The laboratory investigations were therefore carried out at Department of Agronomy, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan during 2009. Five wheat varieties viz. Moomal-2000, TJ-83, Imdad-2005, Abadgar-93 and Mehran-89 were stored for 180 days in five storage sources (jute bags kept under open sky covered with plastic, jute bags kept in closed storage, plastic bags kept in closed storage, earthen silos, and iron metal bins) in randomized complete block design (RCBD), replicated three times. Seed stored in iron bins increased seed index value of Imdad-2005 and seed moisture content of Moomal-2000. Seed germination was superior in Moomal-2000 stored in earthen silos, and or plastic and jute bags kept in closed storage, or under open sky covered with plastic sheets. Higher protein content was found in Moomal-2000, TJ-83, Mehran-89 and Imdad-2005 stored in jute bags kept in closed storage or under open sky covered with plastic sheets. Wet gluten was greater in seeds of Mehran-89 and Abadgar-93 stored in jute bags kept in closed storage or under open sky covered with plastic sheets. Ash content increased in Moomal-2000 stored in jute bags kept under open sky covered with plastic sheets or in iron bins. Lipid content and falling number were more in TJ-83 stored in all types of storage sources. EC was more in seed of Moomal-2000. Seed of Mehran-89 kept in jute bags placed in open sky reduced moisture content. Poor seed germination, protein and wet gluten percentage were recorded in variety Abadgar-93 stored in iron bins and jute bags stored in closed stores respectively. TJ-83 kept in jute bags and covered with plastic sheets deprived seed ash content. Mehran-89 stored in metal bins had poor lipids content. All the wheat varieties as affected by storage sources had falling number more than 400 seconds which indicates the suitability of wheat varieties for milling and bread making purposes. Overall, results showed that among the storage sources, iron bins, were found suitable for maintaining physico-chemical properties of wheat grain.