Abstract
In recent decades, organic farming based on natural means and methods of production is gaining more and more popularity. It is due to the growing awareness of the society regarding the harmfulness of chemicals used in intensive agriculture, which influences the growing interest of both producers and consumers in organic food. Searching for plant cultivars performing best under organic management in terms of crop quality is one of the important research topics of the recent years. The aim of the present study was therefore to compare 8 oat and 17 barley cultivars grown in identical organic production conditions in terms of polyphenols and carotenoids contents and the mycotoxins contamination in grains. The analyses of bioactive compounds were performed using HPLC and the mycotoxins occurrence using LC-MS/MS methods. Among the barley cultivars studied, the grains of SU Lolek, Rubaszek and Podarek accumulated the highest content of polyphenols. Grain of Soldo cultivar was richest in carotenoids, but at the same time most of the mycotoxins identified within the study were found in the grains of this cultivar. In the case of oat, the highest content of polyphenols was found in the grain of Harnaś, Nawigator and Arden cultivars, while Pascal and Amant grain was richest in carotenoids. Among all the oat cultivars tested, only Amant grain was free from the studied mycotoxins. These findings are important for producers as well as consumers, who search for quality organic foods.
Highlights
Both barley and oat are valuable resources in several countries and belong to the commonly cultivated crops worldwide, ranking fourth and seventh among cereal grains
The HPLC method allowed for the separation, identification and quantitation of six phenolic acids in the analyzed samples: gallic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, sinapic acid and t-cinnamic acid
Our research showed some significant differences between 17 barley and 8 oat cultivars produced under organic management system in the phenolic and carotenoid compounds content and mycotoxins contamination in grains
Summary
Both barley and oat are valuable resources in several countries and belong to the commonly cultivated crops worldwide, ranking fourth and seventh among cereal grains. According to FAO statistics, among the cereal crops grown in Europe, wheat production is on the top, followed by barley, with oat in fourth place. The use of barley and oat for human nutrition is important, since both are a source of starch, proteins, lipids, dietary fiber, B vitamins and phytochemicals with antioxidant activities, such as polyphenols, vitamin E and carotenoids [2,3,4]. Oat and barley are consumed in lower quantities compared to rice or wheat, but they are rich sources of fiber, minerals, vitamins and other bioactive compounds, which may provide health benefits, such as a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes or cancers [2]
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