Comparative Analysis of Qualitative and Bioactive Compounds of Whole and Refined Flours in Durum Wheat Grains with Different Year of Release and Yield Potential

Durum wheat varieties are important sources of nutrients and provide remarkable amounts of phytochemicals. Especially, phenolics, which are mostly located in external layers of grains, have recently gained increased interest due to their high antioxidant power. This study aimed to evaluate the differences in the quality traits and phenolic compounds' concentration (e.g., phenolic acids) of different durum wheat genotypes, namely four Italian durum wheat cultivars and a USA elite variety, in relation to their yield potential and year of release. Phenolic acids were extracted both from wholemeal flour and semolina and analysed through HPLC-DAD analysis. Ferulic acid was the most represented phenolic acid, both in the wholemeal flour (438.3 µg g^-1 dry matter) and in semolina (57.6 µg g^-1 dry matter) across all cultivars, followed by p-coumaric acid, sinapic acid, vanillin, vanillic acid, syringic acid, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid. Among the cultivars, Cappelli showed the highest phenolic acid content, whilst Kronos had the lowest one. Negative correlations occurred between some phenolic acids and morphological and yield-related traits, especially for Nadif and Sfinge varieties. On the contrary, durum wheat genotypes with low yield potential such as Cappelli accumulated higher concentrations of phenolic acids under the same growing conditions, thereby significantly contributing to the health-promoting purposes.

Evaluation of pasting and gelling properties of commercial flours under high heating temperatures using Rapid Visco Analyzer 4800

In this study, pasting and gelling behaviors of flours were investigated at heating temperatures of 95-140 °C. Overall, both peak and breakdown viscosities of the flours were positively correlated with starch contents (p < 0.01) but inversely correlated with protein (p < 0.01) and fiber contents (p < 0.05) at 95-140 °C. When the heating temperature increased, pasting temperatures and peak viscosities of most waxy and normal flours largely remained the same, but their holding strengths and final viscosities gradually decreased. However, pulse and high-amylose maize flours required a holding temperature above 95 °C to achieve the highest peak and final viscosities. Normal maize and pulse flours formed hard gels after cooking at 120 °C, and high-amylose maize flour developed the firmest gel after cooking at 140 °C. Chemical compositions, particle sizes, and thermal properties of the studied flours influenced their pasting and gelling properties to certain levels under the different heating temperatures.

Evaluation of molecular weight distribution of unreduced wheat gluten proteins associated with noodle quality

Unreduced gluten proteins of Indian wheat varieties viz.C306, DBW16, HI977 and HW2004 were separated using size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). Statistical correlation of area % of eluted peaks with properties of flour, dough and noodles was elucidated. Chromatograms of gluten proteins were classified primarily into five peaks in decreasing molecular size range and relative proportion were expressed in terms of area % of individual peaks which depicts the quantitative variation in protein eluted at different retention times. Cooking time and cooked weight of noodles depicted positive correlation with peak I and negative correlation with peak II which predominantly composed of glutenins and gliadins, respectively. Oil uptake and cooking loss were negatively association with peak I and positively with peak II. Noodle hardness, springiness, cohesiveness and chewiness were positively correlated with peak I and negatively to peak II, though adhesiveness was unaffected by SEC eluted peaks statistically.

Using the Hexaploid Nature of Wheat To Create Variability in Starch Characteristics

In hexaploid crops, such as bread wheat, it should be possible to fine-tune phenotypic traits by identifying wild-type and null genes from each of the three genomes and combining them in a calculated manner. Here, we demonstrate this with gene combinations for two starch synthesis genes, SSIIa and GBSSI. Lines with inactive copies of both enzymes show a very dramatic change in phenotype, so to create intermediate phenotypes, we used marker-assisted selection to develop near-isogenic lines (NILs) carrying homozygous combinations of null alleles. For both genes, gene dosage effects follow the order B > D ≥ A; therefore, we completed detailed analysis of starch characteristics for NIL 3-3, which is null for the B-genome copy of the SSIIa and GBSSI genes, and NIL 5-5, which has null mutations in the B- and D-genome-encoded copies of both of these genes. The effects of the combinations on phenotypic traits followed the order expected on the basis of genotype, with NIL 5-5 showing the largest differences from the wild type, while NIL 3-3 characteristics were intermediate between NIL 5-5 and the wild type. Differences among genotypes were significant for many starch characteristics, including percent amylose, chain length distribution, gelatinization temperature, retrogradation, and pasting properties, and these differences appeared to translate into improvements in end-product quality, since bread made from type 5-5 flour showed a 3 day lag in staling.

Optimization of ingredients for noodle preparation using response surface methodology

In the present investigation, the composite flour combinations using whole wheat flour (X1), tapioca flour (X2) and defatted soy flour (X3) for the noodle preparation were made through central composite rotatable design (CCRD). The analyzed responses were bulk density (BD), proximate composition, water uptake ratio (WUR), cooking volume expansion (VE), water absorption capacity (WAC), swelling capacity (SC), gruel solid loss (GSL), and sensory characteristics. A second order quadratic polynomial equation was fitted to the data of all responses for prediction. The maximum protein content of 16 g% was achieved by the combination of 75.54 g of whole wheat flour, 10 g of tapioca flour and 19.78 g of defatted soy flour. Since the inclusion of defatted soy flour >10 g resulted negative influence on good quality determining responses, the Chinese salted noodles of excellent quality with maximum WAC, WUR, VE, SC, protein, carbohydrate, ash and minimum GSL, BD, fat, moisture could be made from ratio of combination of three independent variables at 77.33 g (X1): 22.19 g (X2): 8.92 g (X3) respectively. The cost of production per kg of noodles with optimum level of ingredient was Rs.75.50/-.