ABSTRACT

In this work, the effects of storage environments and storage period on the composition, physical and physicochemical properties of stored African breadfruit whole seeds were investigated. Storage environments used were; covered pot-in-pot storage system with moist sand in between the pots, open pot-in-pot storage system with moist sand in between the pots, covered pot-in-pot storage system with moist sawdust in between the pots, open pot-in-pot storage system with moist sawdust in between the pots, open plastic bucket filled with water and open storage system (room condition). One kilogram (1kg) of fresh African breadfruit seeds were stored in each of the six (6) traditional storage systems for a period of twenty-one days. The temperature and relative humidity of the storage environments were evaluated every seven days. The proximate. Physical and physicochemical properties of the stored seeds were also evaluated. Results showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in temperature and increase in relative humidity of the pot-in-pot storage systems. Covered pot-in-pot storage system with moist sand in between the pots recorded the lowest temperature throughout the storage period while open plastic bucket filled with water had the highest relative humidity. The study further reveals that seeds stored in the open plastic bucket filled with water recorded the highest weight gain of 17.02% after 21 days of storage. Fbrtherrnore seeds stored in the open plastic bucket filled with water, and open potin-pot storage system with moist sand in between the pots showed the hithest swelling capacity (0.11 8m1) while those subjected to open plastic bucket filled with water had the highest hydration capacity (0.034g). However, seeds stored in covered pot-in-pot storage system with moist sawdust in between the pots recorded the least values in all the physical and physicochemical parameters measured after twenty-one days of storage. The study indicates that the weight, volume and density differences among the seed samples in the traditional storage systems were statistically significant for the 7th , 14th and 21st day of storage at P><0.05. Seed swelling and hydration capacities followed the same trend. One may conclude that low temperature and high relative humidity lead to increase in seed size whether measured as weight or volume. It was also found that storage environments influences both hydration and swelling capacities of African breadfruit seeds during storage. > decrease in temperature and increase in relative humidity of the pot-in-pot storage systems. Covered pot-in-pot storage system with moist sand in between the pots recorded the lowest temperature throughout the storage period while open plastic bucket filled with water had the highest relative humidity. The study further reveals that seeds stored in the open plastic bucket filled with water recorded the highest weight gain of 17.02% after 21 days of storage. Furthermore seeds stored in the open plastic bucket filled with water, and open potin-pot storage system with moist sand in between the pots showed the highest swelling capacity (0.11 8m1) while those subjected to open plastic bucket filled with water had the highest hydration capacity (0.034g). However, seeds stored in covered pot-in-pot storage system with moist sawdust in between the pots recorded the least values in all the physical and physicochemical parameters measured after twenty-one days of storage. The study indicates that the weight, volume and density differences among the seed samples in the traditional storage systems were statistically significant for the 7th , 14th and 21st day of storage at P< Seed swelling and hydration capacities followed the same trend. One may conclude that low temperature and high relative humidity lead to increase in seed size whether measured as weight or volume. It was also found that storage environments influences both hydration and swelling capacities of African breadfruit seeds during storage.