Preservation of Head Rice Yield Under High‐Temperature Tempering as Explained by the Glass Transition of Rice Kernels

Tempering has been shown in literature to preserve head rice yield after heated air drying. Most reported tempering work was done adiabatically at a temperature below that for rice drying. In this study, the effect of a tempering temperature above that for rice drying on the whole kernel percentage was investigated. High‐temperature tempering is an effective way to preserve the whole kernel percentage for rice dried at a raised temperature (e.g., 60°C) at which head rice yield would otherwise incur a pronounced reduction without tempering. Tempering helped relax the strains inside a rice kernel induced by internal stresses developed during the drying process. The strains had two components (elastic component and viscous component) due to the viscoelasticity of rice kernels. The reduction of moisture content gradients inside a rice kernel during tempering helped eliminate the elastic component of the strains due to the elasticity of the rice kernel. Results showed that to effectively eliminate the viscous component of the strains due to the viscosity of the rice kernel, tempering temperatures must be kept well above the glass transition temperature of the rice kernel. A tempering temperature below the glass transition temperature failed to preserve the whole kernel percentage. For example, with a tempering temperature of 80°C and a tempering duration of 80 min, the whole kernel percentage for the rice with an initial moisture content of 20.4% wb dried at 60°C and 17% rh for 120 min down to 10.2% wb (10.2 percentage points of moisture content removal in one drying pass) was preserved to a level close to that of the control sample.     

Glassy State Transition and Rice Drying: Development of a Brown Rice State Diagram

The effect of moisture content (MC) on the glass transition temperature (T_g) of individual brown rice kernels of Bengal, a medium‐grain cultivar, and Cypress, a long‐grain cultivar, was studied. Three methods were investigated for measuring T_g: differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermomechanical analysis (TMA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Among these methods, TMA was chosen, because it can also measure changes in the thermal volumetric coefficient (β) of the kernel during glass transition. TMA‐measured T_g at similar MC levels for both cultivars were not significantly different and were combined to generate a brown rice state diagram. Individual kernel T_g for both cultivars increased from 22 to 58°C as MC decreased from 27 to 3% wb. Linear and sigmoid models were derived to relate T_g to MC. The linear model was sufficient to describe the property changes in the MC range encountered during rice drying. Mean β values across both cultivars in the rubbery state was 4.62 × 10^‐4/°C and was higher than the mean β value of 0.87 × 10^‐4/°C in the glassy state. A hypothetical rice drying process was mapped onto the combined state diagram generated for Bengal and Cypress.     

Factors Affecting the Slope of Head Rice Yield vs. Degree of Milling

Milling data of four long-grain rice cultivars were analyzed to determine the uniformity in the slope of their curves for head rice yield (HRY) versus the corresponding degree of milling (DOM). The data set for each cultivar comprised samples that had been subjected to various drying air conditions and durations and milled over a range of moisture contents. All treatment combinations were split and milled for either 15, 30, 45, or 60 sec in a McGill no. 2 laboratory mill to obtain HRY versus DOM data. Linear relationships between HRY and DOM, as observed in past research, were confirmed. This implies that as rice is milled to greater extents (higher DOM), the HRY decreases linearly. Within the bounds of the experimental levels tested, neither the drying air condition nor drying duration affected the rate at which HRY changed with DOM. However, the cultivar and the moisture content at which the rice was milled significantly (P < 0.05) influenced this rate. At higher milling moisture contents, the decrease in HRY per unit of increase in the DOM was greater than at lower moisture contents. While not conclusive, there was an indication of a relationship between the average kernel thickness of a cultivar and the HRY versus DOM slope.     

Influence of Storing Rough Rice with High Moisture Content on Subsequent Drying Characteristics and Milling Quality

The objective of this research was to determine the influence on drying characteristics and resultant milling quality of storing high moisture content (MC) rough rice (Oryza sativa L. ‘Bengal’ and ‘Cypress’) under various conditions and durations before drying. Immediately after harvest, drying experiments were performed with samples of both cultivars using two drying air conditions: 52°C with 25% rh and 60°C with 17% rh. Rough rice from each cultivar also was stored for 27 and 76 days at ‐9 or 4°C. After storage, all samples were dried under the same two drying air conditions as at harvest. Head rice yields (HRY) were determined for all dried samples. There were no significant differences between the drying rates or resultant HRY of Bengal or Cypress rice samples stored for either 27 or 76 days at both storage temperatures and then dried compared with the HRY of samples dried immediately after harvest. This research shows that it may be possible to store high MC rice for extended periods of time without detrimental effects on HRY.     

Surface Lipid and Free Fatty Acids (FFA) Content of Head and Broken Rice Produced by Milling After Different Drying Treatments

The surface lipids and free fatty acids (FFA) content of head and broken rice samples generated through milling after various drying treatments were studied. Long grain cultivars Francis, Wells, and Cypress, and medium grain cultivar Bengal were dried under three air conditions (mild 25°C, 50% rh; moderate 45°C, 40% rh; and stressed 65°C, 20% rh) for two durations (10 and 30 min). Immediately after drying, the rough rice samples were placed in a conditioning chamber to continue drying slowly to ⋍12.5% moisture content (MC), which occurred within three to five days. After dehulling, a McGill No. 2 mill was used to mill the samples for 30 sec. The head rice yield (HRY) for all rice samples were within the range of 40–68%. Rice surface lipid was extracted with isopropanol (IPA) and the lipid and FFA content of the IPA extracts were determined. Broken rice kernels had significantly greater surface lipid and FFA content than head rice kernels. The surface FFA contents of broken kernels were within the range of 0.045–0.065% of broken rice mass, while that of head rice was 0.027–0.040%. Broken ricehad greater b values indicating greater yellow color than did head rice.     

Thermomechanical Transitions of Rice Kernels

Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to investigate the thermal transitions of long‐grain rice kernels. Three distinct thermomechanical transitions were identified as rice kernels were heated from 0 to 200°C. The identified transitions were a low temperature transition with onset at ≈45°C, an intermediate temperature transition at ≈80°C, and a high temperature transition at ≈180°C. Low temperature transition with onset from ≈60°C at 5% moisture content (MC) to 30°C at 20% MC was identified as the glass transition of the rice kernels. Intermediate temperature transition from 60 to 100°C, depending on MC, may be caused by rapid evaporation of moisture in the rice kernels. High temperature transition was associated with melting of the crystalline structure of rice starch. The temperatures of all three transitions decreased as MC increased, confirming that moisture acted as a plasticizer in rice kernels.     

基于玻璃化转变的稻谷爆腰产生机理分析

稻谷爆腰是造成碎米的主要原因之一,为此,人们一直在探讨产生稻谷爆腰的机理.介绍了一种新的稻谷爆腰机理--基于玻璃化转变的稻谷爆腰机理.根据该机理分析了稻谷干燥和缓苏过程中爆腰的产生原因.基于玻璃化转变的稻谷爆腰机理,干燥过程中,当稻谷颗粒由外表向里形成玻璃态时,颗粒内部形成玻璃态和橡胶态两个部分.由于玻璃态和橡胶态的弹性模量和膨胀系数有很大的差别,因此在一定水分梯度条件下,银纹(微裂纹)从两者交界处产生,并可能进一步扩展成爆腰.稻谷缓苏过程中,颗粒内部如果存在橡胶态区,则其不同含水率部分就会在不同水分梯度下分别进入玻璃态,如果此时水分梯度足够,就会引起各部分不均匀收缩和各不相同的应力、应变,这样使玻璃态层产生大量银纹,银纹持续生长即产生爆腰.最后,介绍了两种控制稻谷爆腰的干燥工艺--变温干燥工艺和高温干燥工艺.     

Determining Weight and Moisture Properties of Sound and Fusarium‐Damaged Single Wheat Kernels by Near‐Infrared Spectroscopy

Single kernel moisture content (MC) is important in the measurement of other quality traits in single kernels because many traits are expressed on a dry weight basis. MC also affects viability, storage quality, and price. Also, if near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is used to measure grain traits, the influence of water must be accounted for because water is a strong absorber throughout the NIR region. The feasibility of measurement of MC, fresh weight, dry weight, and water mass of single wheat kernels with or without Fusarium damage was investigated using two wheat cultivars with three visually selected classes of kernels with Fusarium damage and a range of MC. Calibration models were developed either from all kernel classes or from only undamaged kernels of one cultivar that were then validated using all spectra of the other cultivar. A calibration model developed for MC when using all kernels from the wheat cultivar Jagalene had a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.77 and standard error of cross validation (SECV) of 1.03%. This model predicted the MC of the wheat cultivar 2137 with R² of 0.81 and a standard error of prediction (SEP) of 1.02% and RPD of 2.2. Calibration models developed using all kernels from both cultivars predicted MC, fresh weight, dry weight, or water mass in kernels better than models that used only undamaged kernels from both cultivars. Single kernel water mass was more accurately estimated using the actual fresh weight of kernels and MC predicted by calibrations that used all kernels or undamaged kernels. The necessity for evaluating and expressing constituent levels in single kernels on a mass/kernel basis rather than a percentage basis was elaborated. The need to overcome the effects of kernel size and water mass on single kernel spectra before using in calibration model development was also highlighted.     

稻谷颗粒内部水分迁移过程的有限元分析

研究稻谷颗粒内部水分的迁移规律,以求达到较好的烘干效果,是一个重要的问题。该文研制了可用于空间轴对称湿扩散问题的有限元计算软件,并用其对描述圆粒、长粒稻谷的３层圆球和椭球两种模型进行计算,得到了两种模型在干燥、缓苏状态下的湿度及其梯度场随时间变化规律。经分析发现,烘干温度较低时,椭球脱湿速度低于圆球,烘干温度较高时,两者差异变小。两模型的含水率（干基）及其梯度分布有明显差别。     

Effect of Moisture Content at Harvest and Degree of Milling (Based on Surface Lipid Content) on the Texture Properties of Cooked Long-Grain Rice

The effects of the degree of milling (based on surface lipids content [SLC]) on cooked rice physicochemical properties were investigated. Head rice yield (HRY), protein, and SLC decreased with increasing milling, while the percent of bran removed and whiteness increased. Results showed that SLC significantly (P < 0.05) affected milled as well as cooked rice properties across cultivar, moisture content (MC) at harvest, and location (Stuttgart, AR, and Essex, MO). Cooked rice firmness ranged from 90.12 to 111.26 N after milling to various degrees (SLC). The decrease in cooked rice firmness with increasing milling was attributed to the lowering of total proteins and SLC. Cooked rice water uptake increased with increasing degree of milling. Water uptake by the kernel during cooking dictated the cooked rice firmness. The increase in cooked rice stickiness with increasing degree of milling was attributed to an increase in starch leaching during cooking because of the greater starch granule swelling associated with a greater water uptake.     

Impacts of Delayed Drying on Discoloration and Functionality of Rice

In‐bin, on‐farm drying systems for rough rice present challenges for maintaining kernel quality when drying fronts stall and the top layer of grain maintains its harvest moisture content (MC) for extended periods. This high MC, in addition to ambient temperatures in early autumn in the Mid‐South United States, creates ideal conditions for quality losses to occur. This study evaluated the effects of rough rice storage at MCs of 12.5, 16, 19, and 21% for up to 16 weeks at temperatures of 20, 27, and 40°C on milling yields, kernel color, and functionality of three long‐grain cultivars. Head rice yield was negatively impacted only after other reductions in quality had occurred. Temperature‐specific discoloration patterns were observed at 27 and 40°C in 2014; the uniquely discolored kernels seen in 2014 at 27°C were absent from samples in 2015 under identical conditions. Peak viscosity, breakdown, and final viscosity tended to increase over storage duration at 20 and 27°C and all storage MCs but plateaued after 8 weeks. Storage of rice at 40°C and all MCs greatly reduced peak viscosity after 6 weeks. To prevent quality losses, in‐bin dryers should be monitored closely to avoid exceeding the thresholds of storage MC, temperature, and duration identified here.     

Effects of Postharvest Elevated‐Temperature Exposure on Rice Quality and Functionality

Rapid drying with high‐temperature air has gained interest in the rice industry, but the effects of elevated‐temperature exposure on physicochemical properties of rice are of concern. This study investigated the effects of exposing rough rice to elevated temperatures for various durations without removing moisture. Physicochemical property response was evaluated in terms of head rice yield (HRY), germination rate (GR), milled‐rice yellowing, pasting properties, and gelatinization temperatures. Two long‐grain cultivars (pure‐line Wells and hybrid CL XL729) at initial moisture contents (IMCs) of 17.9 and 18.6%, respectively, and dried moisture content (DMC) of 12.5%, were hermetically sealed and exposed to 40, 60, and 80°C for various durations. Exposure to 80°C of IMC samples of Wells and CL XL729 resulted in a significant (2.3–2.5 percentage point) reduction in the HRYs. A 2 hr exposure of both cultivars at IMC level to 60°C completely inhibited GR, and exposure to 80°C of the cultivars at both moisture content (MC) levels immediately inhibited GR. Exposure to 80°C for almost all durations and 60°C for durations over 4 hr produced significant yellowing in both cultivars at IMC. Significant yellowing in both cultivars at DMC was also observed during a 28 day storage following 80°C exposure. In general, peak viscosities of both cultivars at IMC increased only after extended exposure to 40 and 60°C, but peak viscosities of the cultivars exposed to 80°C increased sharply and immediately upon exposure. No significant differences were observed in gelatinization temperatures of either cultivar at either MC level from elevated‐temperature exposure. Results from this study suggest that extreme‐temperature exposure of rough rice affects HRY, GRs, yellowing, and pasting properties of rice, but the extent of impact is MC dependent.     

Moisture Effects on the Prediction Performance of a Single‐Kernel Near‐Infrared Deoxynivalenol Calibration

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a serious disease in wheat that affects grain quality owing to the accumulation of mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON) in grains. Near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been used to develop techniques to estimate DON levels in single wheat kernels to facilitate rapid, nondestructive screening of FHB resistance in wheat breeding lines. The effect of moisture content (MC) variation on the accuracy of single‐kernel DON prediction by NIR spectroscopy was investigated. Sample MC considerably affected accuracy of the current NIR DON calibration by underestimating or overestimating DON at higher or lower moisture levels, respectively. DON in single kernels was most accurately estimated at 13–14% MC. Major NIR absorptions related to Fusarium damage were found around 1,198–1,200, 1,418–1,430, 1,698, and 1,896–1,914 nm. Major moisture related absorptions were observed around 1,162, 1,337, 1,405–1,408, 1,892–1,924, and 2,202 nm. Fusarium damage and moisture related absorptions overlapped in the 1,380–1,460 and 1,870–1,970 nm regions. These results show that absorption regions associated with water are often close to absorption regions associated with Fusarium damage. Thus, care must be taken to develop DON calibrations that are independent of grain MC.     

Evaluation of Air Oven Moisture Content Determination Methods for Rough Rice

The effects of air oven drying temperature and drying duration on moisture content determination of medium grain rough rice were studied for moisture content levels from 10·2 to 32·5% (w.b.). Six different methods were compared in this study. A moisture content determination model for an air oven was developed to describe the effect of drying temperature, drying time, and sample grinding on moisture content determination. Drying whole kernels for 72 h at 105°C had the smallest standard deviation. Regression equations obtained from the measured data were used to validate the model developed in this study. This model could be employed to evaluate the moisture determination methods for other varieties of rough rice and other crops obtained from previous literature.     

稻谷种子安全干燥温度模型研究

以稻谷干燥时的活力退化动力学方程为基础，结合稻谷玻璃化转变理论建立了稻谷种子安全干燥温度模型。并通过稻谷种子的发芽率试验确定了种子安全干燥温度模型方程的系数。数学模拟结果表明，稻谷干燥过程中随着水分的降低，种子安全干燥温度曲线存在一个最低点；依据稻谷初始含水率由高到低，其最低安全干燥温度由低到高，而且种子通过最低安全干燥温度曲线最低点以后所能承受的温度则有所提高；当稻谷初始含水率低于13%(w.b.)时，种子安全干燥温度曲线后半段近似为一直线，不再有拐点（最低点）。论文最后提出了稻谷种子安全干燥温度和操作工艺，以及选择种子安全干燥温度时应注意的问题。     

蒸煮过程中稻米水分状态的质子核磁共振谱测定

对3种稻米蒸煮过程中水分的状态进行了¹H-NMR测定。结果表明, 不同品种的原料稻米具有相近的弛豫特征。但在蒸煮过程中，纵弛豫时间会因品种的不同而呈现出显著的差异。分析结果认为，稻米中水分的存在状态有自由水、构造水和结合水等3种形式。蒸煮过程中各种稻米水分状态的差异与谷粒中有机物的理化特性密切相关，并可能是导致米饭具有不同食味特性的重要原因。     

Predicting Rice Physicochemical Properties Using Thickness Fraction Properties

Long‐grain rice cultivars Francis and Wells and hybrid XL8 Clearfield were harvested from two locations at three harvest moisture contents (HMC) in 2003. The rough rice was dried, fractionated into thin, medium, and thick fractions, and milled. Physicochemical properties of unfractionated and fractionated samples were determined. The effects of HMC and location on thickness distributions were investigated and the weighted‐average physicochemical properties of the thickness fractions were compared with those of unfractionated rice. Generally, the growing location and HMC affected kernel thickness distributions, green kernel content, fissured kernel content, and head rice yield (HRY). As kernel thickness within samples increased, amylose content increased and the protein content and α‐amylase activity decreased. Thick fractions had greater peak viscosities than medium and thin fractions. The thin, medium, and thick fraction physicochemical property weighted averages provided good predictions of most unfractionated rice sample properties. However, this approach was not entirely accurate for predicting HRY, milled rice total lipid content, and bulk density.     

Effect of Rice Blast and Sheath Blight on Physical Properties of Selected Rice Cultivars

Observations in 1997 indicated a significant reduction in kernel bulk density and head rice yield of rice cultivar LaGrue due to blast (Pyricularia grisea). A more detailed study on rice cultivar M202 in 1998 confirmed such observations but it also showed negative effects of blast on other physical properties of rice. Rough rice from blast‐infected panicles was drier by 7–10 percentage points and 10% thinner than rough rice from blast‐free panicles. Blast also caused incidences of chalky, unfilled, and fissured kernels that were 21, 30, and 7 percentage points higher, respectively. The effects of sheath blight (Rhizoctonia solani) on kernel thickness and moisture content of rice cultivars Cocodrie, Cypress, Drew, and LaGrue were similar to the effect of blast on M202. Sheath blight generally reduced kernel bulk density but did not significantly affect head rice yield of the cultivars in 1997 and 1998 (except in one sample of Drew). There was a general trend toward higher incidences of unfilled, chalky, and fissured kernels in sheath‐blight‐infected samples. The data indicated that blast could be a significant preharvest factor in causing high variability in physical properties as well as in reducing the milling quality of rice. Sheath blight is also a potentially significant preharvest factor in affecting these properties in situations where sheath blight pressure is high.     

Effect of Hybrid and Physical Properties of Individual Popcorn Kernels on Expansion Volume

The relationships between expansion volume and physical properties of three varieties of popcorn kernels were investigated on a single kernel basis. Physical properties studied were kernel size, kernel sphericity, and kernel density. Methods of measuring densities and popped volumes of individual popcorn kernels were developed. Popcorn kernels were separated into seven kernel sizes by screening with round‐hole sieves. Thirty kernels from each of three kernel sizes (4.76 < D < 5.16, 5.56 < D < 5.95, 6.35 < D < 6.75 mm) of three popcorn varieties were individually measured for sphericity, density, and popped volume. Density and sphericity measures of popcorn kernels showed little variability. Variety, kernel sphericity, and kernel density had minor effects on expansion volume. Kernel size had no effect. There were no strong linear relationships (R² = 0.28) among expansion volume and physical properties of the three varieties of popcorn kernels. The variety with the highest mean density and the highest mean sphericity showed a tendency of producing higher mean expansion volumes.     

Effects of Nighttime Temperature During Kernel Development on Rice Physicochemical Properties

Rice quality can vary inexplicably from one lot to another and from year to year. One cause could be the variable temperatures experienced during the nighttime hours of rice kernel development. During the fall of 2004, a controlled temperature study was conducted using large growth chambers, testing nighttime temperatures of 18, 22, 26, and 30°C from 12 a.m. until 5 a.m. throughout kernel development, using rice cultivars Cypress, LaGrue, XP710, XL8, M204, and Bengal. As nighttime temperature increased, head rice yields (HRY) significantly decreased for all cultivars except Cypress and Bengal, for which HRY did not vary among nighttime temperature treatments. Kernel mass did not vary among temperature treatments for any cultivar. Grain dimensions generally decreased as nighttime temperature increased. The number of chalky kernels increased with an increase in nighttime temperature for all cultivars but Cypress. The amylose content of Cypress and LaGrue was significantly lower at the nighttime temperature of 30°C, while total brown rice lipid and protein contents did not vary among temperature treatments for all cultivars.