Evaluation of Amino Acid Content and Composition in Spelt Wheat Varieties

Abstract

Ten varieties of winter spelt wheat Triticum spelta L. (Ostro, Altgold, KR 489-11-15, Oberkulmer, Ostroschwarzer, Lueg, H9227, H9228, Rouquin, Hercule) and winter common wheat Triticum aestivum L. variety Samara were cultivated in Ceske Budějovice under the low input conditions during years 1996-1998. A mixed crop was cultivated in the preceding year and no nitrogen fertilisation was applied after the foregoing crop harvest. Chemical composition was analysed in the wheat and spelt grains - content of total nitrogenous compounds was determined using Kjeldahl method and amino acid contents were determined using an analyser AAA-339. Mean content of nitrogenous compounds in spelt grains was for about 0.5 % higher than in common wheat grain and this difference was not statistically significant. Old Swiss varieties Ostro (12.52 %) and Oberkulmer (12.60 %), and also new breeding material KR 489-11-15 (13.72 %) had a little higher content of nitrogenous compounds. KR 489-11-15 had also higher content of lysine (4.21 g/kg). There was found the positive correlation between nitrogenous compounds and lysine contents. Within essential amino acids, there were observed significantly increased contents of lysine and threonine among varieties KR 489-11-15, Oberkulmer and Rouquin. From the viewpoint of nutritional value (content of essential amino acids), it would be suitable to focus on the new breeding material KR 489-11-15.