PEANUT MOISTURE SIZE, RELATION TO FREEZE DAMAGE AND EFFECT OF DRYING TEMPERATURE ON VOLATILES

Moisture level and seed size at time of exposure to freezing temperatures affected the chemical composition of peanuts. Potassium and total organic carbon in the leachate from freeze damage peanuts decreased as moisture level of peanuts exposed to freezing temperatures was decreased from 40 to 6%. Acetaldehyde and ethanol, excellent indicators of cold stress, also decreased in concentration as moisture level of peanuts exposed to freezing was decreased from 40 to 6%. Small seeds were more severely damaged than larger seeds, and higher drying temperatures increased concentrations of acetaldehyde, ethanol, and ethyl acetate.