تعيين دز مناسب پرتودهي جهت كاهش بار ميكروبي زعفران

Saffron samples collected 16 regions of Khorasan province were investigated For existence of contaminating microbes. Staphylococci , Gram- negative bacilli, fungi and yeast were observed to exist on collected samples .The levels of contamination were counted , over 105, 103 , 8×103 for bacteria , fungi and yeasts respectively. To reduce the contamination levels affron samples were irradiated with 2,4,6,and 7 KGy The higest decrease in contamination level was obtained with 6KGy , however at 7KGy contamination reached zero . Spectrophotometric analysis showed no change in colour quality of saffron samples. Aroma differentiation by saffron experts indicated no change in treated samples compared with the check.