Maize is a globally significant crop, used extensively in food and biofuel industries. Postharvest losses, including during drying and storage, significantly impact its value (25-30%). Timely drying is crucial to reduce moisture content for safe storage, but improper drying methods can compromise grain quality. Factors such as drying air and grain temperature, initial and final moisture content, airflow, and ambient conditions must be carefully monitored to minimize damage during the drying process. Modeling this process is important for optimizing drying speed and capacity. Grain quality during storage is primarily affected by temperature and water content, which influence respiration and microbial growth. Excessive drying or high moisture content accelerates deterioration. Aeration helps cool the grain mass, slowing down biochemical reactions. Technologies that modify storage atmospheres (e.g., reducing oxygen, increasing CO2) can further minimize deterioration. This study investigated drying kinetics and the impact of high temperatures combined with different storage technologies on maize kernel quality, aiming to identify optimal strategies for preserving quality on both laboratory and field scales.

The literature review extensively cites prior research on maize drying and storage. Studies have investigated the impact of drying temperature on grain properties and quality (Peplinski et al., 1994; Zogzas et al., 1996; Soysal et al., 2006; Xu et al., 2020), modeling of drying kinetics (Kwiatkowski et al., 2006; Huang et al., 2013; Ma et al., 2015; Hemis et al., 2012; Niamnuy et al., 2012), and the effects of storage conditions on grain quality (Lopes et al., 2008; Palzer et al., 2012; Puzzi, 1986; Reed et al., 2007; Neethirajan et al., 2010; Mbofung et al., 2013). The effects of temperature and moisture content on grain respiration and microbial activity (Alencar et al., 2011; Zhang et al., 2014; Garcia-Cela et al., 2019; Babalis & Belessiotis, 2004; Mourad et al., 2016; Yubonmhat et al., 2019) and the role of aeration and modified atmosphere storage (Jian et al., 2014; Atungulu & Olatunde, 2017; Lozano-Isla et al., 2018; Steidle Neto & Lopes, 2015; Taher et al., 2019; Chotikasatian et al., 2017; Bakhtavar et al., 2019) are also reviewed. Research on the physical properties of maize kernels and their influence on postharvest handling is also discussed (Isik & Izli, 2007; Payman et al., 2011; Abdul-Rasaq et al., 2011; Ashwin et al., 2017; Yalçin & Özarslan, 2004; Yalçin et al., 2007; Varnamkhasti et al., 2008; Shirkole et al., 2011; Sirisomboon et al., 2007; Sharma et al., 2011; Seifi & Alimardani, 2010; Sangamithra et al., 2016; Singh et al., 2010). Studies on germination and seed vigor after storage (Guberac et al., 2003; Moncaleano-Escandon et al., 2013; Wang et al., 2013; Zhao et al., 2016) are also incorporated. Finally, studies focusing on the chemical changes in maize during storage, such as changes in protein, ash, and acidity levels (Zhou et al., 2002; Nikoobin et al., 2009; Mohapatra & Rao, 2005; Defendi et al., 2016; Doymaz & Pala, 2003; Hashemi et al., 2009; Lopes et al., 2014; Karababa, 2006; Eissa et al., 2010; Ferreira et al., 2017) are reviewed.

The study used a hard-type transgenic hybrid corn (Herculex 30S31H). Corn kernels were harvested, cleaned, and subjected to drying and storage under various conditions. **Field-scale evaluation:** Corn was dried in a commercial continuous-flow dryer at 80, 100, and 120°C. Dried corn was then stored for six months in four systems: hermetic containers, permeable nylon bags, aerated vertical silos, and non-aerated vertical silos. Three types of corn lots were used: healthy, normal (2-4% impurities), and broken (5-7% broken grains). Samples were collected at 0, 3, and 6 months for physical quality assessment and at 0 and 6 months for physicochemical analysis. **Rewetting study:** Dry corn (dried at 80, 100, and 120°C) was rewetted for varying times (0-120 min) in a BOD chamber (10°C, 90% RH) to simulate wetting during storage. Samples were then dried at the same temperature, and water content, absorbed/desorbed water, volume changes, and electrical conductivity were measured to assess damage. **Low-temperature storage:** Corn dried at 80, 100, and 120°C was stored at 10°C (40% RH) and 23°C (60% RH) for six months. Physicochemical qualities were assessed at the beginning and end. **Analysis:** Water content was determined using the oven method. Physical parameters (length, width, thickness, volume, projected area, sphericity, circularity, porosity, bulk density, thousand kernel weight) were measured. Electrical conductivity, crude protein, acidity, and ash content were analyzed. Statistical analysis included ANOVA, Tukey's test, linear regression, principal component analysis (PCA), and Pearson correlation. PCA biplots and k-means clustering were used to analyze treatment groups.

**Drying:** Increasing drying temperature sped up moisture reduction but increased damage. **Storage:** * Storage time (6 months) at 23°C negatively impacted physical and physicochemical qualities. 10°C storage maintained quality. * Aeration and hermetic storage preserved chemical quality. * Storage systems (aerated, non-aerated, bags, hermetic) didn't impact physical properties of healthy kernels, but hermetic and aerated systems maintained better chemical quality. * Defective kernels were more negatively affected by all storage conditions. * Wetting during storage caused significant quality loss. * 80°C drying and natural aeration silo storage matched the quality of controlled drying and airtight, low-temperature storage. **Physical Properties:** Tables 1 and 2 detail changes in physical dimensions (length, width, thickness, volume, projected area, sphericity, circularity) and mass properties (porosity, bulk density, thousand kernel weight) across different storage systems and times. Generally, storage time led to increased porosity and reduced bulk density and thousand kernel weight, with non-aerated storage showing the most significant negative impacts. **Physicochemical Properties:** Table 3 shows changes in germination and electrical conductivity. Germination decreased with storage time, particularly for broken kernels; airtight storage showed better germination. Electrical conductivity increased with storage time, indicating cell membrane degradation; aerated storage exhibited the greatest increase, while airtight storage had the lowest. Table 4 details changes in water content, crude protein, acid value, and ash content. Water content increased with storage time, particularly in aerated storage with broken kernels. Crude protein decreased, especially in non-airtight storage; this could include fungal protein. Acid value decreased, suggesting positive storage effects. Ash content decreased with storage time. Table 5 shows acidity, crude protein, and ash content under varying drying temperatures and storage conditions. Higher drying temperatures yielded lower protein and acidity. The storage time had a stronger impact than the drying temperatures on the protein and ash content. **PCA:** PCA revealed patterns in data. For physical quality (Figure 5A, B), broken corn had the highest electrical conductivity. For physicochemical quality (Figure 5E, F), treatments with higher acidity, ash, and crude protein were clustered with zero storage time. Figure 5C, D showed that higher water content was associated with lower other parameters. Figure 5G, H showed that storage time, not drying temperature, was the major influencer on physicochemical properties.

This study successfully identified optimal maize drying and storage strategies to minimize postharvest losses and preserve grain quality. The findings highlight the importance of both drying temperature and storage conditions. While higher drying temperatures accelerate the process, they also increase the risk of damage. Adequate aeration or hermetic storage is essential for maintaining chemical quality. The superior performance of the 80°C drying and natural aeration silo storage compared to more controlled methods is significant, suggesting a more cost-effective approach in certain contexts. The negative impacts of moisture migration and the detrimental effects on broken kernels underscore the need for careful pre-processing and handling. The results provide practical guidelines for maize producers and storage operators to optimize postharvest management and minimize quality degradation.

This study demonstrates the importance of integrated approaches to maize drying and storage for maximizing quality retention. Optimal drying temperature and appropriate storage techniques (hermetic or aerated) are crucial. The finding that simple, cost-effective methods (80°C drying and natural aeration silo storage) can yield comparable results to controlled methods highlights practical implications. Future research could focus on exploring different maize hybrids and further optimization of aeration strategies, potentially including modified atmosphere storage.

The study focused on a single maize hybrid. The findings may not be generalizable to all maize varieties. The field-scale drying and storage involved a specific commercial dryer and silo types; results might vary with different equipment. The rewetting study used a controlled environment; real-world conditions can be more complex and variable. The study's duration was limited to six months, longer-term storage impacts were not evaluated.