Impact of genetic and environmental factors on einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum L. subsp. monococcum) polysaccharides

To evaluate the effect of genotype, year and location on 1000 kernel weight, falling number, alpha- and beta-amylase activity, pasting properties, beta-glucan, fructan, total starch, amylose, resistant starch and dietary fibre contents of wholemeal flour, four einkorns and one control bread wheat were cropped in Italy for two years in four different locations. Year and genotype exerted major effects on most traits, while location was not important. All einkorns showed greater fructan (on average, 1.90 vs 1.29 g/100 g dm, respectively) and lower beta-glucan (0.48 vs 0.84), total starch (59.6 vs 67.9), resistant starch (2.56 vs 5.52) and dietary fibre (16.7 vs 21.5) content than the bread wheat control. The significant variation for fructan content among the four Triticum monococcum genotypes assessed indicates the possibility of breeding einkorn lines with high prebiotic activity. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.