The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of different air drying temperatures upon the physical, chemical and biological quality of white oat grains, Albasul cultivar. Oat grains (Avena sativa L.) were submitted to stationary drying at 25, 50, 75 and 100 ºC until 13 % of moisture, in totally randomized arrangement. In the samples, volumetric weight, weight of 1000 grains, germination and vigor were determined. The oats grains were husked, grounded at granulometry inferior to 0.5 mm, and analyzed according to centesimal composition, residual activity lipase and peroxidase, color and content of â-glucans. Increasing the temperature of drying air intensified the reduction of biological quality, expressed through germinative power and vigor, and also led to a decrease in weight of 1000 grains and volumetric weight. The drying conditions were not sufficient to deactivate lipase and peroxidase, although they reduced enzymatic activity. Drying with air temperature above 75 ºC showed significant decrease in the â-glucans.
Avena sativa; chemical composition; β-glucans; lipase
