Genetic Diversity and Physicochemical Characteristics of Different Wheat Species (Triticum aestivum L., Triticum monococcum L., Triticum spelta L.) Cultivated in Romania

Abstract

Thirty-one varieties of wheat cultivated in Romania were analyzed regarding the genetic diversity and physicochemical properties, including the following determinations: moisture, ash, protein, wet gluten, lipid, starch content, falling number and damaged starch, considering the particularity of each species, its biological status and origin. The physicochemical data showed that the wheat samples presented large variability. The physicochemical properties of wheat flour were assessed by multivariable data analysis, using principal component analysis (PCA). All wheat samples clustered together according to their physicochemical data showed an association between all wheat species. The protein and ash contents were more related to the ancient wheat species, while the amounts of starch and damaged starch were associated with the modern ones. Positive correlations were obtained between protein and wet gluten content and between lipid and ash content. ISSR markers were used to analyze and compare genetic diversity among selected wheat cultivars. The obtained data were analyzed using NTSYSpc software considering the coefficients of similarity (Jaccard) and dissimilarity (Neighbor joining). The Jaccard coefficients varied from 0.53 to 1, reflecting the high genetic diversity characteristic of all wheat varieties.

Physicochemical Characteristics and Microstructure of Ancient and Common Wheat Grains Cultivated in Romania

“…These correlations are predictable, since ancient species have higher amounts of protein, gluten, lipid and ash content compared to modern species. Similar data have also been reported [20,29]. The high significant correlation (p < 0.05) between protein and gluten is explainable as gluten represents 75-85% of the total amount of wheat protein content [46].…”

“…The PCA graph shows, along the PC1 and PC2 axes, a close association between the chemical characteristics of gluten and protein content (r = 0.994), lipid and ash content (r = 0.952) and starch and carbohydrate content (r = 0.927), for which high positive significant correlations (p < 0.05) were obtained. Similar positive correlations between these chemical characteristics have also been reported by others [20,[29][30][31]. All the wheat grain species are closely associated on the PCA graph.…”

“…Additionally, the PC2 axes clearly distinguish the ancient species, einkorn being placed on the bottom right and spelt placed on the upper right part of the PCA graph. A close association between different wheat species has also been reported by others [20,29]. Additionally, the second principal component PC2 shows a close association between ancient wheat flour species and their chemical characteristics of ash, lipids, gluten, proteins, Mn, Zn, K, Cu and Ca, and between modern wheat flours and their physicochemical characteristics of carbohydrates, starch, moisture, hectolitric weight, thousand-kernel mass, Fe, Na and Mg.…”

Expert-Based Assessment of the Potential of Agroforestry Systems in Plain Regions across Bihor County, Western Romania

“…Common wheat plays an important role in human nutrition worldwide [123,124], being the second or the third largest crop in the last two decades [125]. Thanks to its geographical location, climate and soils, Romania is cultivating wheat on approximately one quarter of its arable land [126], being one of the most important wheat producers in the European Union [127] after countries with higher areas (i.e., France, Germany and Poland) [128]. In Bihor County, the area cultivated with common wheat accounted for more than 83,000 hectares in 2022 [64].…”

Plants, Lichens, Fungi and Algae Ingredients for Nutrition and Health

“…Romania is recognized as one of the most important producers of wheat in Europe and the world. Golea et al [2] investigated the genetic varieties by employing Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) markers of 31 wheat samples cultivated in Romania, from various sources, and maintained in the active collection of the "Mihai Cristea" Suceava Plant Genetic Resources Bank. The physical, chemical, and genetic diversity properties of the various wheat varieties grown in Romania exhibited significant variations between ancient and modern wheat species in terms of ash, protein, wet gluten, lipid, and starch contents, as well as their falling number and damaged starch values.…”