A STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF GERMINATION ON THE PROTEIN OF SOME OILSEEDS

Soybean, sunflower and cottonseed kernels were germinated in different aqueous solutions for 12, 24 and 48 hours. The germinating solutions included: sodium carbonate-sodium bicarbonate buffer (pH 9.4), 2% ammonium carbonate, 2% ammonium carbonate + yeast, tap water and acidified water. Germination for 48 hours with 2% ammonium carbonate gave the highest improvement in oil content, protein content and N-solubility of the investigated kernels and defatted meals.
The meals prepared under these best conditions showed a decrease in phytate content, and a slight decrease in urease activity of soybean and gossypol of cottonseed. Nitrogen solubility and digestibility were improved. Protein isolates were prepared from germinated defatted kernels and the non germinated defatted kernels which showed improvement in their functional properties especially their nitrogen solubility index and protein dispersibility index.