CHARACTERISTICS OF SUNFLOWER GRAINS DURING THE HARVEST PERIOD IN TWO COUNTIES OF THE STATE OF GOIÁS

Abstract

The domestic consumption of sunflower oil, in Brazil, ent up 657% in the period of 1993/96 and Goiás is the major roducer, with 70.5% of the 1999 national production. The ultivation of the sunflower seed is becoming more important nd there are no studies about the quality of the grain. Therefore, here is a need to gather information about the characteristics of he grain harvested. The goal of this study is to collect data from wo storage units (Montividiu and Chapadão do Céu counties), hich receive most the state of Goiás’ production. The average oisture content, percentage of impurity and percentage of burned grains from Montividiu were 9%, 2.5% and 1%, and from hapadão do Céu were 10.3%, 4.1% and 3.3%, respectively. he temperature was between 17.5° and 22°C in the Montividiu nit and between 7° and 23.5°C in the Chapadão do Ceu unit. he relative humidity was between 37% and 71.5% in Montividiu nd between 38.5% and 80.5% in Chapadão do Céu. The grain ample collected showed 21.9% protein and 35.6% oil. In the ample, 790 CFU of fungi were encountered per gram of product, ith 86% Cladosporium fungus, 0.9% of Fusarium and 0.4% of Penicillium. One sample of sunflower residue had 8.6% humidity, 6.3% protein and 7.5% oil. In the counting and identification of fungi, 2.5 x 10³ CFU of fungi were encountered per gram of esidue, with 57% Fusarium fungus and 43% Penicillium fungus. he observed characteristics of moisture content, percentage of mpurity and percentage of burned grains are in accordance with uality standards.

KEY-WORDS: Quality; classification; weather.