Cereal Chem 45:503 - 511.  |  VIEW ARTICLE
Effect of Gamma-Irradiation on the Microflora of Rice.

H. Iizuka and H. Ito. Copyright 1968 by the American Association of Cereal Chemists, Inc. 

Unpolished and polished rice harvested in Japan, and polished rice imported from Spain, were investigated. Chromogenic Pseudomonas and fluorescent Pseudomonas were the main microflora of unirradiated, unpolished or polished Japanese rice. Of microorganisms found on Spanish rice, 20 to 30% are molds; the rest are chromogenic Pseudomonas and fluorescent Pseudomonas. The principal microorganisms of rice which are chiefly responsible for rice damage, including molds such as Penicillium and Aspergillus, can be sterilized with 0.2 to 0.3 Mrad. When rice was irradiated with 0.2 to 1.2 Mrad, red Pseudomonas was the main survivor. Radiation-resistant yeasts have been isolated from unpolished rice irradiated with 1 Mrad or more. No increase in the number of microorganisms was observed on irradiated rice packed in polyethylene pouch after storage for 30 days at 10 and 30 C.