Question

Define biotic factors. Name some biotic factors which damage the food material during storage.

Answer 1

A biotic factor is any living component that affects the population of another organism, or the environment. This includes animals that consume the organism, and the living food that the organism consumes. Biotic factors also include human influence, pathogens, and disease outbreaks.
Factors which damage the food materials during storage:
(a) Abiotic factors :
1. Temperature. If food is stored at lower temperature, then enzymes, insects and the other micro-organisms, which spoil the food, become less active. The damage to the stored food is decreased.
2. Moisture. For safe storage of food grains, it is essential that the moisture in the food grains should not be more than 14% by weight.
3. Humidity. Growth of moulds and fungi in food grains takes place due to humidity of air.
4. Material of the container. Food grains should not be stored in lead container, because lead is a toxic metal.
(b) Biotic factors :
1. Rodents, birds and animals.
2. Insects and micro-organisms. Micro organisms like fungi, bacteria, yeast, moulds etc. greatly damage the stored food.