[Sterilization of cereal grain samples by gamma-irradiation (author's transl)]. / Osservazioni sulla sterilizzazione di cereali con raggi gamma

With the aim of sterilizing cereal grain samples as to microfungal contamination, while causing possibly small changes in the qualitative characteristics, the effects of various doses of gamma-irradiation on slightly and strongly moulded soft wheat, and at low and high moisture contents, were studied. In order to obtain a satisfactory sterilization, high doses of greater than or equal to 1100 krad were needed, at which a noteworthy decrease of the germination energy and capacity was observed, while the main chemical parameters of wheat quality remained unaltered.