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The Effect of Ozone Gas Treatment on Fungal contamination, Chemical Indices and Germination of Wheat Grain (cv. Morvarid)

Document Type : Research Paper

10.22092/fooder.2026.369804.1424

Abstract

Extended Abstract
Abstract
Wheat, providing about 47% of the daily caloric intake of Iranian households, is considered the most strategic agricultural crop in the country. To introduce novel and environmentally safe approaches for grain storage while maintaining product quality, the effects of ozone gas concentration and exposure duration on selected characteristics of Triticum aestivum cv. Morvarid wheat kernels was investigated. The evaluated parameters included germination rate, Zeleny sedimentation value, oil content, acidity and peroxide value of the extracted oil, fungal contamination level, and total aflatoxin content after a four-month storage period. The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized factorial design (4×4), with four ozone concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 75 ppmv) and four exposure durations (1, 3, 5, and 7 days). Analysis of variance showed that ozone concentration, exposure time, and their interaction had significant effects (P< 0.01) on germination rate, Zeleny value, fungal contamination, and total aflatoxin content of the treated wheat. The lowest germination rate (94%) was recorded at 75 ppmv ozone, while the highest (99.0%) occurred at 0 and 25 ppmv with no significant difference (P > 0.05). The highest Zeleny sedimentation value (34.19 mL) was observed at 50 ppmv ozone, and the lowest (30.16 mL) at 0 ppmv. Minimum fungal contamination (3.88 CFU/g) was found at 75 ppmv ozone, while the maximum (2725 CFU/g) occurred in the untreated control. Similarly, the highest total aflatoxin level (14.96 µg/g) was measured at 0 ppmv ozone, whereas at 75 ppmv it was undetectable. Ozone exposure duration also had a significant effect (P< 0.01) on germination rate, Zeleny value, fungal contamination, and aflatoxin content. The maximum germination rate (100%) occurred after 5 days of exposure, and the minimum (96%) after 3 days. The highest Zeleny value (32.72 mL), not significantly different from the 1- and 5-day treatments, was obtained after 3 days, while the lowest (32.15 mL) occurred after 7 days. Overall, increasing ozone concentration significantly (P < 0.01) reduced fungal contamination and total aflatoxin levels in wheat grains. The minimum fungal count (3.88 CFU/g) was obtained at 75 ppmv ozone, whereas the maximum (2725 CFU/g) was found in the untreated control. The highest aflatoxin content (15.11 µg/g) was detected in the control (0 ppmv, 1-day exposure), while it became undetectable at ozone concentrations ≥50 ppmv for all exposure durations. Therefore, controlled use of ozone gas can be regarded as a novel, eco-friendly postharvest technology that contributes to improving the quality and safety of stored wheat grains during long-term storage.

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References
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Food Engineering Research
Volume 25, Issue 1 - Serial Number 80
Spring & Summer
April 2026
Pages 21-40
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