Grain Storage: The Role of Fungi in Quality Loss

Dr. Christensen, Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Minnesota, and Dr. Kaufmann, Manager of the Grain Research Laboratory, Cargill, Inc., an international farm-products firm, have written a small but useful book. They have presented in non-technical language information about the causes and methods of preventing deterioration of stored grains and seeds. While the emphasis is on the role of fungi, they do cover problems associated with insects, mites, and rodents. Chapters covers: problem of losses in stored grains; characteristics of field and storage fungi; measurement of moisture content; heating and respiration; germinability, discoloration, and fat acidity values; mycotoxins and grain quality; evaluation of condition and storability; drying, aeration, and refrigeration; and insects, mites, and rodents. Each chapter has a list of selected references (total number of references 111). The book has an excellent index. The book is definitely useful to commercial grain. and seed interests, and many others in agriculture and food processing will fmd the book of value.