Effect of ozonation on microbiological and chemical traits of wheat grain

Ozone, as a strong oxidative agent, is used to eradicate microbial, but this treatment affects also the quality of grain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ozonation of winter wheat grain harvested in different cropping and tillage systems on the number and composition of fungi colonizing grain surface and on the contents of total-phosphorus (P), phytate-P and phenolic acids. Wheat was sown in a two-factor experiment established with the method of randomized sub-blocks. The first order factor included cropping systems: (a) crop rotation and (b) monoculture, whereas the second order factor included tillage systems: (1) conventional (CT); (2) reduced (RT); and (3) herbicide. Ozonation significantly reduced the count of fungi on the surface of grain, especially on the grain harvested from wheat monoculture. In addition, it increased the content of phytate-P but decreased the content of total-P. A higher total-P content was determined in the grain harvested from monoculture than from crop rotation, whereas phytate-P content in the grain from crop rotation was higher than from monoculture. The ozonated grain harvested from CT plots was characterized by a higher content of phytate-P and a lower content of total-P, compared to the non-ozonated grain. Ozonation also increased the content of phenolic acids in the grain, especially in that harvested from the RT system.