Fungal infection of processed arecanuts
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Date
2007-02
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Abstract
Arecanuts (Areca catechu L.) are damaged by fungi during the course of processing on the drying yard or later in storage rendering the nuts unsuitable for chewing. The damage due to fungal infection in processed nuts was beyond 60 per cent. There was no incipient fungal infection at any stage of development of the nut. On the other hand the nuts contracted fungal infection from the soil at the.time of karvest ing and also from the drying yard. Tha tnijaricy of infec&ioa tooi placa during the initial days of san drying. The percentage of infection differed in different months, maximum being in October-November and minimum in February-March. The extent of damage was dependent upon factors like temperature, humidity and rainfall. Maximum percentage of infection was caused by Botryodipledia theobromae followed by Aspergillus sp. Fungal infection could be reduced "by eliminating soil contact with the nuts at the time of harvest and also by drying in a mechanical drier, possibility of reducing fungal infection in nuts by drying on cement floor etc. where drying will be quicker is indicated. Storing nuts in jute bags lined with polythene Was found to be better than jute bags alone in reducing fungal infection in storage.
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Andhra agric.J. 1971 v-18 i-1 p-1-7