Effects of Fermentation and Baking of Whole Wheat and Whole Rye Sourdough Breads on Cereal Alkylresorcinols

Alkylresorcinol (AR) content was determined in multiple-stage whole wheat and whole rye flour sours, as well as in whole wheat and whole rye flour doughs and breads. AR content decreased considerably during fermentation and baking. AR content was reduced by 20 and 46%, respectively, at the end of sourdough starter fermentation of whole wheat and whole rye flour sours. AR content, which was 512 and 210 μg/g in whole rye and whole wheat flour doughs, respectively, was 30 and 0 μg/g, respectively, after baking of breads. Synthetic AR added at different levels to doughs was also greatly reduced during fermentation and baking.     

Volatiles in Selected Commercial Breads

Selected types of commercial breads obtained from local markets, including white sandwich, Irish oatmeal, soft rye, hearty rye, sour dough, home-like white, and onion-basil, were analyzed for volatiles. Using a purge and trap instrument, volatiles were purged directly from fresh crumb and crust samples of each bread type, collected on a trap (Tenax-TA), and transferred to a gas chromatograph. Separated components were detected and identified using mass and infrared spectroscopic detectors. Many components were present in all of the bread samples, with relative amounts varying among bread types and crust and crumb samples of a given bread type. Alcohols were generally the most abundant, followed in approximate order by aldehydes, esters, ketones, acids, various aromatics, terpenes, and hydrocarbons. Flavor additives, such as limonene, carvone, and other related compounds, were found mostly in rye and onion-basil breads. Composition of volatiles from sour dough bread differed greatly from the other breads, especially in increased levels of aldehydes, acids, and certain esters. Unsaturated aldehydes, such as 2-hexenal and 2-heptenal, were most abundant in sour dough bread.     

Innovative Traditional Italian Durum Wheat Breads: Influence of Yeast and Gluten on Performance of Sourdough Moddizzosu Breads

This research investigated the impact of semolina dough formulation (percentage of sourdough [SD] addition and presence of yeast [Y] or common wheat gluten [G]) added singly and in combination on the sensory and physicochemical profiles of fresh and stored sourdough‐started durum breads, particularly Moddizzosu type. Main distinctive features of breads were identified, and optimal amounts of SD addition in presence of either yeast or gluten were used to achieve high‐quality fresh and stored soured durum breads made with semolina and remilled semolina at a ratio of 80:20. Common features of durum breads included color parameters and crumb grain characteristics of either fresh or stored samples. Increasing SD significantly increased scores for overall acceptability. In yeasted costarted samples, a linear promotion of both aroma and taste intensity resulted from increasing amounts of SD, whereas the opposite trend was observed for unyeasted breads. Higher values for degree of acidification, specific volume, crumb cohesiveness, resilience, and springiness but lower pH, moisture content, crumb hardness, and chewiness in durum samples were achieved with increased SD. The presence of Y counteracted acidification, harmonized volume increase, hardness, cohesiveness, springiness, and resilience, minimizing the effects of the SD added. Y and G acting singly as crumb softeners when added together to soured durum breads started with SD at a dose >10% provided lower and slower crumb firming kinetics. Breads with especially slow retrogradation kinetics corresponded to yeasted started samples with or without added gluten, regardless the presence or absence of SD. In unyeasted soured breads, the dose of SD slightly decreased the rate and extent of amylopectin retrogradation, irrespective of gluten addition.     

Effect of Baking Method and Fermentation on Folate Content of Rye and Wheat Breads

The effect of baking method on folates of rye and wheat breads, as well as the effect of sourdough fermentation of rye, were examined. Sourdough fermentations were performed both with and without added yeast, and samples were taken throughout the baking process. Samples were analyzed microbiologically for their total folate content after trienzyme extraction. Individual folate vitamers were determined by HPLC after affinity chromatographic purification. The lowest folate contents for both rye and wheat breads were found from breads baked without added yeast. Total folate content increased considerably during sourdough fermentation due to increased amounts of 10‐HCO‐H₂folate, 5‐CH₃‐H₄folate, and 5‐HCO‐H₄folate. Baker's yeast contributed markedly to the final folate content of bread by synthesizing folates during fermentation. Proofing did not influence total folate content but changes in vitamer distribution were observed. Folate losses in baking were ≈25%. The variety of sourdoughs and baking processes obviously lead to great variation in folate content of rye breads. The possibilities to enhance natural folate content of rye bread by improving folate retention in technological processes and by screening and combining suitable yeasts and lactic acid bacteria should be further investigated.     

Effect of Single‐Pass and Multipass Milling Systems on Whole Wheat Durum Flour and Whole Wheat Pasta Quality

Single‐pass and multipass milling systems were evaluated for the quality of whole wheat durum flour (WWF) and the subsequent whole wheat (WW) spaghetti they produced. The multipass system used a roller mill with two purifiers to produce semolina and bran/germ and shorts (bran fraction). The single‐pass system used an ultracentrifugal mill with two configurations (fine grind, 15,000 rpm with 250 μm mill screen aperture; and coarse grind, 12,000 rpm with 1,000 μm mill screen aperture) to direct grind durum wheat grain into WWF or to regrind the bran fraction, which was blended with semolina to produce a reconstituted WWF. Particle size, starch damage, and pasting properties were similar for direct finely ground WWF and multipass reconstituted durum flour/fine bran blend and for direct coarsely ground WWF and multipass reconstituted semolina/coarse bran blend. The semolina/fine bran blend had low starch damage and had desirable pasting properties for pasta cooking. WW spaghetti was better when made with WWF produced using the multipass than single‐pass milling system. Mechanical strength was greatest with spaghetti made from the semolina/fine bran or durum flour/fine bran blends. The semolina/fine bran and semolina/coarse bran blends made spaghetti with high cooked firmness and low cooking loss.     

Stability of Vitamin E in Wheat Flour and Whole Wheat Flour During Storage

The stability of vitamin E during 297 days of storage of wheat flour and whole wheat flour ground on a stone mill or a roller mill, respectively, were studied. One day after milling, the total content of vitamin E, expressed in vitamin E equivalents (α‐TE), was 18.7 α‐TE and 10.8 α‐TE for stone‐milled and roller‐milled wheat flour, respectively. The difference in total vitamin E content was primarily due to the absence of the germ and bran fractions in the roller‐milled flour. The total loss of vitamin E during storage was 24% for stone‐milled wheat flour but 50% for roller‐milled wheat flour. These results indicate that vitamin E, which is present in high amounts in wheat germ, functions as an antioxidant in the stone‐milled wheat flour. Hexanal formation showed that lipid oxidation in roller‐milled flour occurred just after milling, whereas the formation of hexanal in the germ fraction displayed a lack period of 22 days, confirming that vitamin E functions as an effective antioxidant in the wheat germ. Results showed no significant difference in total loss of vitamin E for stone‐milled and roller‐milled whole wheat flour. Total loss after 297 days of storage for both milling methods was ≈32%.     

Relationship Between Grain,Semolina, and Whole Wheat Flour Properties and the Physical and Cooking Qualities of Whole Wheat Spaghetti

Durum breeding programs need to identify raw material traits capable of predicting whole wheat spaghetti quality. Nineteen durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum ) cultivars and 17 breeding lines were collected from 19 different environments in North Dakota and were evaluated for physical and cooking qualities of whole wheat spaghetti. Raw material traits evaluated included grain, semolina, and whole wheat flour characteristics. Similar to traditional spaghetti, grain protein content had a significant positive correlation with cooking quality of whole wheat spaghetti. Stepwise multiple regressions showed grain protein content, mixogram break time, and wet gluten were the predominant characteristics in predicting cooked firmness of whole wheat spaghetti.     

Objective Texture Measurements of Commercial Wheat Flour Tortillas

Texture is a property of major importance in the evaluation of baked products. To determine a sample of commercial ranges for stretchability, rollability, firmness, and Kramer shear cell measurements for wheat flour tortillas using the TA‐XT2 texture analyzer, three separate sets of five tortilla brands purchased from stores in Manhattan, KS, were evaluated. Two brands had two formulations, regular and fat‐free. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in stretchability, firmness, and Kramer shear cell occurred between regular and fat‐free tortillas of one tortilla brand. Significant differences (P < 0.05) also were found among the sets of some tortilla brands. Kramer shear cell and stretchability measurements are recommended because Kramer shear cell measures the force combined with compression, shearing, and extrusion. Stretchability measurements were repeatable and are an important textural property of wheat flour tortillas. Ranges for textural properties for commercial wheat flour tortillas were determined, as well as the variability of the textural methods used.     

Whole Grain Wheat Flour Production Using an Ultracentrifugal Mill

Interest has been growing in whole grain products. However, information regarding the influence of the ultracentrifugal mill on whole grain flour quality has been limited. An experiment was conducted to produce whole wheat flour with hard red spring (HRS) wheat using an ultracentrifugal mill. This study determined the effect of centrifugal mill parameters as well as grain moisture (10–16%) on producing whole wheat flour and its final products. Mill parameters studied were rotor speed (6,000–15,000 rpm) and feed rate (12.5–44.5 g/min). Results showed that fine particle size (<150 µm) was favored by low seed moisture content (10–12%) and high rotor speed (12,000–15,000 rpm). Flour moisture content was positively related to seed moisture content. Wheat grain with low seed moisture content (10–12%) milled with high rotor speeds (12,000–15,000 rpm) produced desirable whole grain wheat flour quality, with 70–90% of fine particle size portion and low damaged starch (less than 11%). This whole wheat flour produced uniform and machinable dough that had low stickiness and formed bread with high loaf volume.     

Laboratory Milling Method for Whole Grain Soft Wheat Flour Evaluation

Whole grain wheat products are a growing portion of the foods marketed in North America, yet few standard methods exist to evaluate whole grain wheat flour. This study evaluated two flour milling systems to produce whole grain soft wheat flour for a wire‐cut cookie, a standard soft wheat product. A short‐flow experimental milling system combined with bran grinding in a Quadro Comil produced a whole grain soft wheat flour that made larger diameter wire‐cut cookies than whole grain flour from a long‐flow experimental milling system. Average cookie diameter of samples milled on the short‐flow mill was greater than samples milled on the long‐flow system by 1 cm/two cookies (standard error 0.09 cm). The long‐flow milling system resulted in more starch damage in the flour milling than did the short‐flow system. The short‐flow milling system produced flours that were useful for discriminating among wheat cultivars and is an accessible tool for evaluating whole grain soft wheat quality.     

Influence of Durum Genotype on Whole Wheat and Traditional Spaghetti Qualities

This research was conducted to determine if genotypes selected for their superior traditional semolina pasta quality would also make the best whole wheat pasta. Results from 19 durum wheat cultivars and 17 breeding lines grown at 19 different environments in North Dakota showed that physical and cooking qualities varied differently for whole wheat and traditional spaghettis, respectively. Ward's clustering segregated the 36 genotypes into five groups based on whole wheat spaghetti quality. Groups 1 and 2 (21 genotypes) produced good to high‐quality whole wheat pasta that displayed high mean values for cooked firmness (4.3 and 4.1 g·cm), mechanical strength (31.3 and 31.0 g), and color (brightness, 34.92 and 34.54), respectively. Groups 4 and 5 produced poor quality whole wheat pasta that had low cooked firmness (both 3.5 g·cm) and high cooking loss (10.1 and 10.4%). Grain protein content (≥13.9%) was found with high quality of whole wheat spaghetti. Of the 36 genotypes evaluated, 21 and 3 genotypes produced good and poor qualities, respectively, of whole wheat and traditional spaghettis, and 12 other genotypes produced good traditional spaghetti but produced poor quality whole wheat spaghetti. These data indicate the need to select genotypes specifically for their whole wheat pasta quality.     

Physical and Cooking Quality of Spaghetti Made from Whole Wheat Durum

The effects of cultivar on dough properties of ground whole wheat durum, and the effects of cultivar and drying temperature on the physical and cooking quality of spaghetti made from semolina and whole wheat were evaluated. Rankings of cultivars based on dough properties were similar for whole wheat and semolina. Dough made from whole wheat was weak and had poor stability. Whole wheat spaghetti had a rough reddish brown surface compared with the very smooth, translucent yellow color of spaghetti made from semolina. The reddish brown color of whole wheat spaghetti was enhanced by high‐temperature drying (70°C). Mechanical strength and cooking quality of spaghetti made from ground whole wheat or semolina varied with cultivar and with drying temperature. Compared with spaghetti made from semolina, whole wheat spaghetti had lower mechanical strength and cooked firmness and had greater cooking loss. Mechanical strength of whole wheat spaghetti was lower when dried at high temperature (70°C) than at low temperature (40°C). Conversely, the mechanical strength of spaghetti made from semolina was greater when dried at high temperature than at low temperature. Whole wheat and traditional spaghetti dried at high temperature had lower cooking losses than spaghetti dried at low temperature. When overcooked 6 min, firmness of spaghetti made from semolina or whole wheat was greater when dried at high temperature than at low temperature.     

Tocopherol and Tocotrienol Content in Commercial Wheat Mill Streams

The content of tocopherols and tocotrienols, collectively known as vitamin E (tocols), was determined in fractions of roller‐milled wheat grains. The results showed that vitamin E components are present in all major flour fractions of wheat, but that the vitamin E content and composition differed significantly between fractions. The total content of vitamin E, calculated as alpha‐tocopherol equivalents, changed from 16.1 mg α‐TE/g in wheat grain to 12.2 mg α‐TE/g in roller‐milled wheat flour. The germ fraction had the highest content of tocopherols, and the content of α‐tocopherol (195.2 μg/g) was 16 times higher (on average) than in any other fraction. The content of tocotrienols was distributed more uniform in the wheat grain with the highest content in the bran fractions, and the content of β‐tocotrienol was higher than the content of α‐tocopherol in all milling fractions except the wheat germ. The content of β‐tocotrienol was 24.1 μg/g in wheat grain, 25.3–31.0 μg/g in the bran fractions, and 14.3–21.9 μg/g in the fractions of endosperm. Overall, germ and fine bran fractions represent good sources of vitamin E and might be used in breadmaking.     

Influence of Foliar Fungicide Treatment on Lipolytic Enzyme Activity of Whole Wheat

Lipolytic enzymes play a key role in the deterioration of whole wheat flour upon storage but may also be involved in plant disease and stress tolerance while the crop is in the field. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of foliar fungicide treatment on lipolytic activity in wheat. A significant cultivar × fungicide × year interaction for esterase (p‐nitrophenyl butyrate as substrate [EA‐B]) and lipoxygenase (LOX) activities was observed; however, a large portion of the variability was owing to year (environment). Fungicide influenced lipase (olive oil as substrate [LA‐O]), EA‐B, and LOX activities. Lipase (p‐nitrophenyl palmitate as substrate [LA‐P]) showed variation in terms of cultivar and year rather than the application of fungicide. Partial correlation (year as a partial variable) between LA‐P and EA‐B activities was observed (r = 0.78, P < 0.001), although neither was correlated with LA‐O. The influence of foliar fungicide on lipolytic enzyme activities depends mostly on growing conditions but is also affected by disease stress, disease resistance of the varieties tested, and the substrate being used in the assay.     

Spectroscopic Analysis of Wheat Fractions and Reconstituted Whole Wheat Mixtures by 1H‐NMR and NIR

Commercial success of whole wheat products has warranted development of new analytical approaches for differentiating whole grain products from conventional food products made from refined grains. Here, we have analyzed three different wheat fractions (namely, bran, germ, and refined flour) of two wheat varieties. In addition, a whole wheat sample containing all three fractions was also included in the study to investigate the application of two spectral fingerprinting methods—proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H‐NMR) and near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy—for differentiating the three fractions and the whole wheat. Results show that both these methods provide unique spectral fingerprints for the bran, germ, refined, and whole wheat flours. In addition, we were able to distinguish whole grain composed of different ratios of the germ, bran, and refined grain, exemplifying the potential applicability of both fingerprinting methods (NIR and NMR) for the differentiation of whole and refined wheat samples. Principal component analysis on ¹H‐NMR data with four different bin sizes (0.02, 0.04, 0.08, and 0.16 ppm) did not have significant influence on differentiation of the four fractions.     

Particle Distribution and Composition of Retail Whole Wheat Flours Separated by Sieving

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the differences among four retail whole wheat flours with respect to particle size distribution and composition of fractions separated by sieving. Interestingly, not only were significant differences discovered among the brands for particle size distribution, but lots within two of the brands were significantly different (P < 0.05), suggesting that flour particle size produced by the same company is not always consistent. Starch damage ranged from 4.67 to 7.69%. As expected, darker colors were associated with the larger particle size fractions, and the colors lightened as particle size decreased. This observation suggested that the differences in particle size resulted from differences in the degree to which the bran fraction of the kernel was milled, an observation substantiated by the distribution of ash in each fraction, which ranged from 0.37 to 38.0% of total ash. Distribution of protein ranged from 0.19 to 61.8% of total protein. These data are relevant because differences in particle size distribution and composition affect functionality, sensory acceptability, nutritional properties, and shelf life of whole wheat flour.     

Effects of Foliar Applied Sulfur and Commercial Growth Regulators in Wheat

During the year 1999, two glasshouse experiments (Experiments 1 and 2) were conducted at the University of Wales Aberystwyth, UK to investigate the effects of foliar applied sulfur (S) in wheat in terms of its potential as a growth regulator and to compare the effects with that of commercial growth regulators, chlormequat (CC) and gibberellic acid (GA₃). In Experiment 1, the grain yield was unaffected by sulfur or growth regulator treatments. Similarly, there were no differences in the number of fertile ears at maturity. Stem characteristics were not affected with S application, but CC application reduced the average stem length; although, it did not affect the unit stem weight. The GA₃ did not change stem characteristics. In Experiment 2, the grain yield was significantly reduced by CC. Stem characteristics were not affected by S application while application of CC brought about a significant reduction in the stem length and increased the unit stem weight. Applied CC reduced the stem length irrespective of the timing of its application, maintaining its versatility as a growth regulator. Grain Nitrogen (N) concentration was apparently increased; while in Experiment 2 plant N-uptake occurred significantly by foliar S application at 20 kg/ha. The work emphasized the potential role of S in a low-input wheat production system or in organic wheat production systems.     

Relationships Between Small-Scale Wheat Quality Assays and Commercial Test Bakes

Typical commercial bakeries in the United States are highly mechanized, mass-production facilities. U.S. hard wheat breeding programs use small-scale physical dough testing and pup loaf bake procedures to identify and select improved quality genotypes. The accuracy of such approaches in the prediction of commercial-scale quality performance is poorly understood. Samples from six hard red winter wheat cultivars grown in 11 locations over three harvest years were used to correlate grain hardness, small-scale test bakes, mixograph variables, and various measures of flour protein composition with quality assessments from commercial test laboratories. Samples were milled on both pilot- and small-scale mills. Protein content and 100-g pup loaf volume were more often significantly correlated with commercial test bake variables than all other small-scale variables. Stepwise multiple regression models explained, on average, ≈40% of the variation in commercial test bake procedures. Mixograph properties, pup loaf volumes and absorption, and flour protein content were the most frequent variables identified in model development. Pup loaf bake results on pilot- and small-scale milled flours were highly correlated. Differences in milling technology do not appear to be a significant source of error in relating small-scale test bakes to commercial quality.     

Antioxidant Capacity of Water‐Extractable Arabinoxylan from Commercial Barley,Wheat, and Wheat Fractions

The objective of this research was to analyze the antioxidant capacity directly of water‐extractable nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) and feruloylated arabinoxylans (WEAX) following their characterization. NSP were isolated from barley, wheat, and wheat fractions (germ, bran, and aleurone). WEAX were extracted only from wheat fractions. Antioxidant capacity of NSP measured with the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid (ABTS), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assays was 24.0–99.0, 40.0–122.0, and 140.0–286.0μM Trolox equivalents (TE)/g, respectively. The antioxidant capacity of WEAX was 75.7–84.0, 58.0–105.0, and 110.0–235.0μM TE/g for those three assays. DPPH and ABTS were highly correlated to xylose content (R² = 0.85), degree of substitution (R² = −0.99), total phenolic acids (R² = >0.73), total phenolic content (TPC) (R² = >0.78), and ferulic acid content (R² = >0.86). ORAC was only influenced by TPC (R² = 0.63). By taking yield and antioxidant capacity into account, NSP would provide about 0.4–4.2, 0.6–5.1, and 2.8–12.0μM TE/g of flour of radical scavenging activity as measured by DPPH, ABTS, and ORAC, respectively, compared with WEAX (0.4–1.0, 0.3–1.3, and 0.6–2.8μM TE/g). Our results suggest that NSP or WEAX may play a role in protection against free radicals in a food matrix and likely in the gastrointestinal tract.