A mean reduction of 26% and 14% in fat contentwas measured at
70 C and 95 C drying treatment, respectively; differences between
hybrids were limited, with the exception of H14 that showed
a 50% and 40% reduction, respectively, with the 2 thermal treatments.
A very similar mean trend was observed for all the fatty
acids with a mean decrease of 25% and 15% at 70 C and 95 C,
respectively. The only exceptionwas stearic acid, which dropped on
average 40% and 30%. The behaviour varied between hybrids, with
an 80% reduction in H3 in both drying treatments, 60% and 50% in
H14, respectively with the exposure to 70 C and 95 C (Table 2).
Regarding chemical composition of maize kernels, both protein
and starch content resulted almost unvaried after drying, with a
slight increase of 5% and 2% respectively at 70 C and 95 C drying,