Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea.L)

This work report the effect of irradiation with gamma rays (1, 2 and 3 kGy) on the chemical composition, microbial loads, chemical characteristics and sensorial properties of the peanut seeds. The data obtained from the experiments showed that gamma irradiation process has no effect on the proximate composition (water content, proteins, sugars, lipids, and ash), and chemical attributes (free fatty acids, pH value and based nitrogen value (BVN)) of peanut seeds. Irradiation was found to cause significant reduction in microbial load and no fungal colonies were detected in irradiated samples with 2 and 3 kGy. Bacterial and fungal load of irradiated peanut seeds and there comparison with control samples suggest that gamma irradiation treatment at low doses is an effective post-harvest treatment and quarantine control for fungal load. However, non-irradiated and irradiated peanut seeds did not show significant differences in the sensorial test (texture, odor, color and test).