DRYING EFFECT ON THE QUALITY OF FOXTAIL MILLET SEEDS

Setaria italica (foxtail millet) is the most economically important species of the Setaria genus and it is widely used as food for humans and animals around the world. In the present study, the drying of foxtail millet seeds was performed in a spouted bed according to a central composite design, which was used to assess the effect of the entrance variables (time and temperature of drying), on the responses variables (moisture ratio, percentage of germination, and germination speed index), that are related to the quality of seeds. The optimal condition was determined using a global desirability function and the results showed that the seeds can be subjected to the process of spouted bed drying to attain the appropriate moisture content during storage. Moreover, the seed exhibited a satisfactory germination percentage (89%), as well as, the germination speed index (27.65). Therefore, it was possible to attain a moisture content suitable for storage, without inhibiting the germination of foxtail millet seeds, which is attractive for both the food and agricultural industry.