Effect of Electron Beam Irradiation on Pest Control, Mold Prevention, and Quality of Lotus Seeds

To investigate the effects ofelectron beam irradiation on microorganisms.insect pests, and nutritional components in lotus seeds (also known as lotus kernels), thisstudy irradiated lotus seeds with different doses of electron beams (0, 0.4, 1, 2, 4, 6 kGy).Results indicated that 0.4 kGy irradiation effectively suppressed insect egg hatching in lotusseeds, with adult rice weevil mortality reaching 100% with in 72 hours post-treatment. Totalbacterial counts and mold counts in lotus seeds significantly decreased with increasingirradiation dose. After 0.4 kGy irradiation, both parameters dropped to 20 CFU/g at 0 days,After 1 80 days ofstorage following 2 kGy irradiation, both values remained below 10^2 CFU/g. lrradiation doses ranging from 0 to 6 kGy had no significant effect on lotus seedmoisture, ash, crude protein, crude fiber, or amylose content Crude fat content decreasedmarkedly post-irradiation, while amylopectin content in itially increased before decreasingThis study provides scientific evidence for the application ofelectron beam irradiationtechnology in preventing insect infestation and mold growth during lotus seed storage.