A Study on the Application of CO2-Modified Atmosphere Combined with Temperature-Control Technology in Rice Warehouse Storage

Abstract

In recent years, as two globally recognized green grain storage technologies, CO2-modified atmosphere (CO2) storage and temperature-controlled (TC) storage have gained prominence. However, research on their integrated application remains limited. This study monitored quality dynamics and microbial activity in rice stored for 360 days under CO2 + TC versus conventional storage (control), with analyses conducted at stratified sampling points (upper, middle, and lower layers). Compared to conventional storage, CO2 + TC preserved rice color more effectively, while retarding the increase in fatty acid value and the decline in brown rice yield, head rice yield, and germination percentage. Furthermore, CO2 + TC storage effectively suppresses the proliferation of Fusarium and Aspergillus, thereby retarding aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) accumulation by inhibiting fungal metabolic activity. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis further verified that CO2 + TC storage enhanced rice antioxidant capacity and disease resistance by modulating amino acid, carbohydrate, and linolipid metabolic pathways. This technology effectively maintained nutrient retention (e.g., amino acids and proteins) and delayed quality deterioration in stored rice. These findings elucidated the underlying mechanism of CO2 + TC on rice quality, offering a novel perspective for grain storage technology.