80 Individual rice kernel size distributions during drying.

R. C. BAUTISTA (1) and T. J. Siebenmorgen (2). (1) Food Science Dept., University of Arkansas, 272 Young Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72704.

Size distributions (length, width, thickness) of individual kernels of rice in a panicle were measured for three rice varieties (cv. Bengal, Cypress and Drew) at different harvest moisture contents. The objective was to obtain fundamental information on the size distributions of individual kernels during drying. A Satake Rice Imaging Systems was used to measure the individual kernel size dimensions. Results showed that average individual kernel size distributions for rough and brown rice were skewed and multi-modal among the varieties tested. Variations in length were greater in rough rice than brown rice. Results of this study will be used as fundamental information in optimizing post harvest processes specially in drying and milling. Data obtained can be fed into an available mathematical model to determine which size fractions are susceptible to fissure formation in rice kernels.