Distribution and characterisation of fructan in wheat milling fractions

Structure and health effects of inulin-type fructans have been extensively studied, while less is known about the properties of the graminan-type fructans in wheat. Arabinoxylan (AX) is another important indigestible component in cereal grains, which may have beneficial health effects. In this study, the fructan content in milling fractions of two wheat cultivars was determined and related to ash, dietary fibre and AX contents. The molecular weight distribution of the fructans was analysed with HPAEC-PAD and MALDI-TOF MS using ¹H NMR and enzymatic hydrolysis for identification of fructans. The fructan content (g/100 g) ranged from 1.5 ± 0.2 in flour to 3.6 ± 0.5 in shorts and 3.7 ± 0.3 in bran. A correlation was found between fructan content and dietary fibre content (r = 0.93, P < 0.001), but with a smaller variation in fructan content between inner and outer parts of the grain. About 50% of the dietary fibre consisted of AX in all fractions. The fructans were found to have a DP of up to 19 with a similar molecular weight distribution in the different fractions.     

Dietary fiber in triticale grain: Variation in content, composition, and molecular weight distribution of extractable components

Triticale, a man made cereal is mainly used in animal feed but also in food and as a renewable crop for energy. In this study, eight triticale cultivars and reference rye and wheat were grown at two locations in Sweden (Svalöv and Kölbäck). The harvested grains were characterized for dietary fiber (DF) content, molecular weight distribution of extractable DF components, and some general quality parameters (bulk density, thousand kernel weight, and content of crude protein, crude fat, starch, maltose, sucrose, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber). Total DF content (13-16%) was affected by both location and cultivar. Arabinoxylan (average 6.8%), fructan (average 2.3%), cellulose (average 2.1%), Klason lignin (average 1.6%), and β-glucan (average 0.7%) were main components of DF. Cultivars grown at Kölbäck contained extractable arabinoxylan with significantly lower weight-average and number-average molecular weights, probably due to rainy weather and sprouting in the ears. The Calcofluor average molecular weight of extractable β-glucan was highly reduced at this site. About 80% of the fructan had a low degree of polymerization (3-9). Our results show that modern triticale grain has a DF profile and molecular weight distribution of extractable DF components that are much more similar to wheat than rye.     

Influence of wheat variety and dough preparation on FODMAP content in yeast-leavened wheat breads

FODMAPs are fermentable oligo-, di, and monosaccharides and polyols, which can have adverse effects on human health. Especially in individuals with gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, ingestion of FODMAPs may trigger or aggravate symptoms like abdominal pain, bloating, or diarrhea. Our objectives were to investigate the FODMAP content in the flour of 21 wheat varieties and in their 42 yeast-leavened breads prepared with a short (110 min) or a long dough fermentation (24 h), the latter according to a typical baker's recipe. Fructan, glucose, fructose and excess fructose were measured using enzymatic kits. On average, the breads of both dough fermentations had a FODMAP content reduced by > 65% compared to that of the whole grain wheat flour. Average FODMAP content of both dough fermentations was 0.22 g per 100 g fresh bread. FODMAP content tended to be lower in the long compared to the short dough fermentation, however, the difference was not statistically significant. We also found that the 21 wheat varieties differed up to five times in their potential to form FODMAPs in bread. In conclusion, the choice of a low fructan wheat variety coupled with long dough fermentation with sourdough and yeast is best to minimize FODMAPs in breads.     

Assessment of antioxidant activity and rheological properties of wheat and buckwheat milling fractions

This study examined the antioxidant properties of the ethanolic extracts of wheat milling fractions (wheat flour type 500 and type 850, and bran) and their polyphenol and tocopherol content, and rheological characteristics of wheat dough supplemented with buckwheat flours (light and wholegrain). The results obtained in this study were correlated with our previously published data on wheat flour type 400, wholegrain wheat flour and buckwheat flours.Buckwheat flours exhibited significantly higher (P < 0.05) antiradical activity on hydroxyl (OH), superoxide anion (O₂⁻) and (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) DPPH radicals, antioxidant activity and reducing power than all investigated wheat milling fractions when their corresponding IC₅₀ values were compared.The rheological parameters of wheat dough supplemented with light and wholegrain buckwheat flour (0-50%) were obtained by using Mixolab. Results indicated changes in protein and starch properties of dough.The obtained results indicate the benefit of using buckwheat flours in wheat-based food products, i.e. their contribution in functional and tailor-made-food production.     

Rheological characterisation of aqueous extracts of triticale grains and its relation to dietary fibre characteristics

Rheological properties of triticale extract are important determinants of the grain utility. Extracts of eight triticale cultivars and a wheat reference grown at two different locations i.e. Svalöv and Kölbäck were analysed for their viscoelastic properties. Extracts of triticale cultivars grown at Svalöv were significantly higher in elastic modulus (average 9.0 Pa), viscous modulus (average 12.7 Pa) and complex modulus (average 15.6 Pa) at 2.1 Hz than those grown at Kölbäck (average 3.1, 5.6 and 6.4 Pa, respectively). However phase angle was not affected by location, and all triticale extracts had phase angle >45°. Large inter-cultivar variation was also observed in viscoelastic properties of triticale extracts. Some of the triticale cultivars grown at Kölbäck (Dinaro, Cando, Talentro, and DED 145/02) and Svalöv (DED 145/02) were similar to wheat in their complex modulus values. When evaluating the contribution of arabinoxylan (AX) and β-glucan to rheological properties of triticale extracts by partial least square (PLS) regression, it was evident that β-glucan had little role and most of the contribution to viscoelastic properties came from AX. AX fine structure was more important in explaining variation in complex modulus of triticale extract than content and extractability, or molecular size.     

Analysis of the milling reduction of bread wheat farina: Physical and biochemical characterisation

The reduction of coarse farina during milling from five representative hard and soft French bread wheat cultivars was followed step by step. Particle size distribution of the milled products and energy required to dissociate wheat farina revealed large differences between cultivars. A grinding index (required energy to produce 1 kg of flour), K′, corresponding to the energy necessary to obtain a given amount of flour, was found to be related with both grain hardness and vitreousness. Analysis of particle size distribution suggested a major influence of hardness in the production of fine particles <50 μm during the reduction process. On the other hand, vitreousness appeared to impact on the extent of coarse particle size reduction. Differences in farina reduction behaviour of the wheats analysed were related to their endosperm mechanical properties as determined by compression tests and structural characteristics as measured by Hg intrusion porosity. Vitreousness appeared to affect the endosperm extensibility and degree of porosity. The profile of the different lipid and protein classes in the reduction products of two cultivars showing opposite behaviour as well as different PINA/PINB ratio were determined. The results suggest that the most resistant parts of the grain are enriched in glycolipids, whereas phospholipids appear associated with the most friable parts, at least in the soft wheat grains tested.     

A novel method for ash analysis in wheat milling fractions by using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Ash content is an important quality control parameter in milling industry. Measurement of ash content is routinely performed using standard ash analysis method in which the sample is burned at 500–600 °C for 5–6 h. However, this method is not convenient for industrial applications, and thus, rapid and reliable methods are needed to be developed. The aim of this study was to develop a new method for ash analysis to be used in wheat milling fractions by using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). LIBS is an optic based multi-elemental, spectroscopic method which can analyze high number of samples in a considerably short time. In the study, wheat flour, whole wheat meal and semolina samples with different ash contents were analyzed using LIBS, and the spectra were evaluated with partial least squares (PLS) method. The results were correlated with the ones taken from standard ash analysis method. Calibration graph showed good linearity with the ash content between 0.48 and 2.44%, and 0.997 coefficient of determination (R²). Limit of detection for ash analysis was calculated as 0.11%. The results indicated that LIBS is a promising and reliable method with high sensitivity for routine ash analysis in milling industry.     

Distribution and composition of phytosterols and steryl ferulates in wheat grain and bran fractions

Phytosterols and steryl ferulates are bioactive compounds accumulating in the bran and germ of wheat. However, little is known regarding their localisation and composition in the bran layers of the kernel. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of phytosterols and steryl ferulates in the wheat grain and in the different layers of bran. The wheat fractions, produced by conventional debranning, aleurone separation and a novel electrostatic process, were analysed for phytosterol contents using GC–FID and for steryl ferulate contents using HPLC–UV. The compounds were identified by GC– and LC–MS. Phytosterols and steryl ferulates were concentrated in the bran layers. The steryl ferulates were accumulated in the intermediate layers, whereas the phytosterols were more evenly distributed in the intermediate layers and aleurone cell contents. The phytosterol composition varied within the wheat kernel, while the steryl ferulate composition was similar in different fractions. Sitosterol and campestanyl ferulate were the main compounds. The highest levels of phytosterols (up to 2117 μg/g) and steryl ferulates (up to 703 μg/g) were found in the pearling, aleurone and certain bran fractions. The phytosterol-rich fractions could be utilised in cereal foods to enhance the intake of health-promoting compounds from natural sources.     

Effects of genotype,harvest year and genotype-by-harvest year interactions on arabinoxylan,endoxylanase activity and endoxylanase inhibitor levels in wheat kernels

The effects of genotype, harvest year and their interaction on the levels of arabinoxylans (AX), endoxylanases and endoxylanase inhibitors in wheat were studied using 14 varieties grown in three successive growing periods with diverse climatological conditions. Relations with more commonly evaluated wheat characteristics such as yield, thousand kernel weight, specific weight, protein level, Hagberg falling number (HFN) and α-amylase activity level were examined. Water extractable arabinoxylan (WE-AX) levels in wheat varied much more than total arabinoxylan (TOT-AX) levels. This variability was mainly genetically determined, but harvest year also had an important effect. Total endoxylanase activity levels varied more than a factor of 20 between the different wheat samples. Endogenous endoxylanases typically accounted for only 10–15% of this activity, while wheat-associated microbial endoxylanases accounted for the remaining 85–90%. However, when preharvest sprouting occurred, the contribution of endogenous endoxylanases could sometimes amount to over 40% of this total activity. Endogenous endoxylanase activity levels were mainly determined by the interaction of genotype and harvest year, while wheat-associated microbial endoxylanase activity levels were predominantly determined by genotype alone. Endogenous and microbial endoxylanase activity levels were strongly correlated, suggesting that wheat varieties which are susceptible to preharvest sprouting are often also susceptible to microbial contamination. The TAXI and XIP-type endoxylanase inhibitor levels varied by a factor of 8 and 1.8, respectively. They were mainly determined by genotype and were rather similar in the different growing periods.     

Biochemical markers: Efficient tools for the assessment of wheat grain tissue proportions in milling fractions

To produce safe and healthy whole wheat food products, various grain or bran dry fractionation processes have been developed recently. In order to control the quality of the products and to adapt these processes, it is important to be able to monitor the grain tissue proportions in the different milling fractions produced. Accordingly, a quantitative method based on biochemical markers has been developed for the assessment of grain tissue proportions in grain fractions. Grain tissues that were quantified were the outer pericarp, an intermediate layer (including the outer pericarp, the testa and the hyaline layer), the aleurone cell walls, the aleurone cell contents, the endosperm and the germ, for two grain cultivars (Tiger and Crousty). Grain tissues were dissected by hand and analysed. Biochemical markers chosen were ferulic acid trimer, alkylresorcinols, para-coumaric acid, phytic acid, starch and wheat germ agglutinin, for outer pericarp, intermediate layer, aleurone cell walls, aleurone cell contents, endosperm and germ respectively. The results of tissue quantification by hand dissection and by calculation were compared and the sensitivity of the method was regarded as good (mean relative errors of 4% and 8% for Crousty and Tiger outer layers respectively). The impact of the analytical variability (maximum 13% relative error on coarse bran) was also regarded as acceptable. Wheat germ agglutinin seems to be a promising marker of wheat germ: even if the quantification method was not able to quantify the germ proportions in milling fractions, it was able to classify these fractions according to their germ content. The efficiency of this method was tested, by assessing the grain tissue proportions of fractions exhibiting very different compositions such as flour, bran and aleurone-rich fractions obtained from three different grain or bran dry fractionation processes (conventional milling, debranning process, production of aleurone-rich fractions from coarse bran). By calculation of the composition of the different products generated, it was possible to study the distribution of the different tissues among fractions resulting from the different fractionation processes. This quantitative method is thus a useful tool for the monitoring and improvement of processes, and allows the effects of these processes to be understood and their adaption to reach the objectives.     

Impact of water content on the solubilisation of arabinoxylan during xylanase treatment of wheat bran

Arabinoxylan (AX) has a major impact on the functional properties of wheat bran, and it has been shown that technological properties of bran can be improved by using endoxylanases. Enzymatic treatments are typically conducted at high water content. However, in industrial applications, low water content may be advantageous, especially when targeting dry end products. The aim of the study was to examine the impact of water content, ranging from 20 to 90%, on the efficiency of endoxylanase treatment of wheat bran. Interestingly, AX solubilisation was highest at the water contents of 40 and 90%. At water contents 50–80%, AX solubilisation was lower than at 40 and 90%. Furthermore, at low water content, less depolymerisation was detected. At water content of 40%, the bran-water mixture was transformed from powder-like into compact mass. Probably the compact consistency of the material enhanced AX solubilisation by increased breakdown of bran cell walls due to shear forces or via enhanced enzyme binding to the substrate. The results show that solubilisation of bran AX can also be efficiently performed at low water content.     

Effect of soluble dietary fibre addition on rheological and breadmaking properties of wheat doughs

The aim of this experimental work was to evaluate the effect of inulin addition on the rheological properties of common wheat doughs and bread quality. Three commercial fructan products of different number average degree of polymerisation (DPn) were used (DPn = 10 for inulin ST; DPn = 23 for inulin HP and HP-gel). Inulin contents from 2.5 to 7.5% on dry matter (wheat flour plus inulin) were used. Dough rheological properties were investigated using farinograph and dynamic rheological measurements. Upon addition of dietary fibre (DF), significant increase in mixing time and stability, and decrease in water absorption were recorded. Inulin ST exerted greater effect on water absorption than HP products.     

Genotypic variation in wheat grain fructan content revealed by a simplified HPLC method

Fructans are prebiotics, with potentially beneficial effects on human health. This study aimed to examine genetic variation in wheat grain fructan content using a simplified analytical method. The method involves extracting fructans from wheat grain followed by enzymatic hydrolysis to break down fructans into monosaccharides that can then be quantitatively measured by anion-exchange liquid chromatography coupled with pulsed amperometric detection. The modified procedure is reliable and allows the handling of large numbers of flour samples at a low cost, and could therefore be useful for assessing large numbers of wheat breeding lines. Using this method, grain samples taken from 19 bread wheat cultivars and breeding lines grown in both glasshouse and the field were analysed for grain fructan content. In addition, grain samples of 29 international wheat landraces and 14 new wheat breeding lines from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) were surveyed for their fructan contents. There was significant genotypic variation among these materials, with grain fructan content ranging from 0.7 to 2.9% of grain dry weight. There was no evidence of strong genotype-by-environment interaction; the fructan contents of field-grown grain samples were positively correlated (r = 0.83) with those of glasshouse-grown samples of the same cultivars. It should therefore be possible to investigate the genetic control of variation for this trait using the simplified HPLC method and to select effectively for increased grain fructan content in wheat breeding.     

Relative amounts of tissues in mature wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain and their carbohydrate and phenolic acid composition

Hand dissection of mature grains from two common wheats (Triticum aestivum L., cv. Caphorn and cv. Crousty) were performed to quantitatively assess their tissue composition and to obtain homogeneous samples of embryonic axis, scutellum, starchy endosperm, aleurone layer, hyaline layer, outer pericarp and a composite layer made up of testa+hyaline layer+inner pericarp. Polymeric neutral sugar and phenolic acid contents of the samples were determined and used to identify specific composition patterns in each tissue irrespective of the cultivar. The scutellum and embryonic axis showed the lowest amount of carbohydrates with similar relative amounts of arabinose and xylose (Ara+Xyl), but the scutellum differed from the embryonic axis in its high phenolic acid, in particular ferulate dehydrodimer, content. The peripheral layers of the grains were mainly composed of cell wall polysaccharides, chiefly arabinoxylans but with differing structures. The hyaline layer was mostly composed of arabinoxylan with extremely low Ara/Xyl ratio (0.1), with high amounts of ferulic acid monomers and hence very weakly crosslinked. The aleurone layer differed from the outer pericarp by its much lower Ara/Xyl ratio and lower amounts of ferulic acid dimers and trimers. High proportions of ether-linked phenolic acids (released by alkali at 170 °C) were detected specifically in the seed coat and tissues in the crease region. The possible application of biochemical markers found in the various tissues to monitor wheat grain fractionation processes is discussed.     

Effects of fungicide treatment,N-fertilisation and harvest date on arabinoxylan,endoxylanase activity and endoxylanase inhibitor levels in wheat kernels

Fungicide treatment had a significant impact on endoxylanase activity and XIP levels, but did not affect arabinoxylan (AX) and TAXI levels. The different response of TAXI and XIP type inhibitors to fungicide treatment is interesting. N-fertilisation did not affect AX levels, but significantly increased TAXI and XIP type inhibitor levels. Wheat-associated microbial endoxylanase activity levels were also affected by nitrogen supply, but levels of the endogenous enzyme did not change, except when sprouting occurred. The weather conditions before harvest had no influence on total AX (TOT-AX) and inhibitor levels, but had a large impact on both microbial and endogenous endoxylanase activity and water extractable AX (WE-AX) levels. Under most conditions, endoxylanase activity levels were related to those of α-amylases, liquefaction numbers (LN) and specific weights. WE-AX levels were often weakly but significantly correlated with endoxylanase activity levels, indicating that it is possible that part of the WE-AX in wheat originates from AX degradation by endoxylanases in the field. These results clearly indicate that agronomic circumstances significantly affect the levels of AX, endoxylanases and their inhibitors in wheat, and consequently could affect wheat quality.     

硬质小麦籽粒阿拉伯木聚糖含量的遗传变异研究

为了更好地理解环境和基因型对小麦阿拉伯木聚糖含量的影响,为小麦品质改良提供科学依据,采用比色法测定了美国西部51个硬质小麦品种的阿拉伯木聚糖组分含量,这些小麦品种包括冬小麦和春小麦,分别被种植在3个不同的地点.结果表明,参试冬小麦品种水溶性和总阿拉伯木聚糖含量的变异范围分别为0.39%～0.81%和3.09%～4.04%,春小麦品种这两种木聚糖含量范围分别为0.48%～0.92%和3.94%～4.70%.小麦籽粒阿拉伯木聚糖含量的变异同时受品种、环境及其互作效应的显著影响,环境效应太于品种效应.小麦品种间阿拉伯木聚糖含量的变异主要表现在水溶性组分上.就不同组分而言,基因型对水溶性阿拉伯木聚糖组分的影响相对较大,环境则分别对冬小麦水不溶性、春小麦水溶性阿拉伯木聚糖组分有较大的影响.品种间和环境间阿拉伯木聚糖含量的变异,冬小麦大于春小麦;水溶性阿拉伯木聚糖含量的遗传型方差春小麦大于冬小麦.冬、春小麦的水溶性阿拉伯木聚糖含量的广义遗传力均大于95%,通过遗传育种的方法改良小麦阿拉伯木聚糖含量是可行的.冬小麦与春小麦阿拉伯木聚糖含量的平均值之间无明显差异.     

Puroindoline genotype,starch granule size distribution and milling quality of wheat

Genetically-diverse wheat samples from the Australian Winter Cereals Collection propagated in two environments were sequenced to identify puroindoline genotypes then the relationships between flour yield, genotype, starch granule size distribution and starch-bound puroindoline protein content were investigated. The Pina-D1a, Pinb-D1b genotype resulted in a higher average flour yield than either the Pina-D1b, Pinb-D1a or the Pina-D1a, Pinb-D1a but the ranges of flour yields for the three genotypes showed considerable overlap. For both hard wheat genotypes (Pina-D1a, Pinb-D1b or Pina-D1b, Pinb-D1a), a higher proportion of type A to type C starch granules was associated with higher flour yield and this relationship accounted for between 31% and 33% of the variation in flour yield. This result is consistent with previously reported findings for soft wheat. For the Pina-D1a, Pinb-D1b genotype, increased flour yield was also associated with a decrease in starch granule-bound puroindoline protein, which accounted for 31–35% of the variation in flour yield across the two environments. The combined effect of starch granule type and associated puroindoline content accounted for 68% of the variation in flour yield within the Pina-D1a, Pinb-D1b genotype.     

小麦膳食纤维含量研究及优异资源筛选

为了解小麦膳食纤维含量的变异特点及分布规律,选用不同种植区的79份和175份小麦品种(系)分别研究了小麦总膳食纤维含量和总阿拉伯木聚糖、水溶性阿拉伯木聚糖、非水溶性阿拉伯木聚糖含量及其关系。结果表明,79份参试材料膳食纤维含量的变异系数为10.2%,175份参试材料的总阿拉伯木聚糖、水溶性阿拉伯木聚糖和非水溶性阿拉伯木聚糖含量的变异系数分别为12.06%、26.88%和14.62%;品种对4个目标指标均有极显著影响(P<0.01);麦区对总膳食纤维和水溶性阿拉伯木聚糖含量影响不显著,对总阿拉伯木聚糖和非水溶性阿拉伯木聚糖含量影响显著(P<0.05)。相关分析表明,非水溶性阿拉伯木聚糖含量与总膳食纤维含量、总阿拉伯木聚糖含量分别呈显著、极显著正相关,与水溶性阿拉伯木聚糖含量呈极显著负相关。筛选出9个高膳食纤维含量的小麦优质资源,推荐毕2008-1和丰德存1号(膳食纤维含量高于12.0%,面团稳定时间高于20 min)作为小麦品质育种的优良亲本材料。     

小麦光周期基因在我国不同麦区中的组成分布

为明确光周期基因在我国小麦品种中的组成分布特点,利用已有的特异性分子标记对我国977份小麦品种的光周期基因Ppd-A1、Ppd-B1和Ppd-D1进行检测,分析比较不同麦区中光周期基因的组成分布特点。结果表明,在Ppd-A1位点有5份材料无PCR扩增条带(0.5%),其余972份材料都为光周期敏感型Ppd-A1b(99.5%);在Ppd-B1位点仅青春37为光周期不敏感型Ppd-B1a(0.1%),有3份材料无PCR扩增条带(0.3%),其余973份材料为光周期敏感型Ppd-B1b(99.6%);在Ppd-D1位点有789份材料为光周期不敏感型Ppd-D1a(80.8%),其余188份材料为光周期敏感型Ppd-D1b(19.2%)。在东北春麦区、新疆冬春兼播麦区、青藏春冬兼播麦区等高纬度麦区,小麦品种多携带光周期敏感型基因Ppd D1b;在北部冬麦区、黄淮冬麦区、长江中下游冬麦区,不敏感型Ppd-D1a基因分布频率较高;Ppd-D1a基因分布频率总体呈现以黄淮冬麦区为最高,向其他方向麦区呈现下降的趋势。在Ppd-A1位点和Ppd-B1位点发现的无PCR扩增条带的新等位变异,丰富了小麦育种种质资源的多样性,为选育适应不同环境条件的品种奠定了材料基础,是进一步研究的重要材料。