Protein, calcium, and iron content of wild and cultivated species ofEchinochloa

Abstract

Two species of Echinochloa millets and their direct wild ancestor species were analyzed for proximate composition, and amino acid, calcium, and iron content. Additionally, lactate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) was performed to separate and resolve prolamin polypeptide present in the wild and domesticated species. The protein, calcium, and iron content of the four species were comparable to or greater than in other major cereals. Calcium was higher in each of the wild species than their domesticated counterpart. Essential amino acid values for the three species analyzed were generally higher than the FAO/WHO standards, except for lysine. Densitometric analysis of lactate PAGE gels revealed that the domesticated species contained prolamin, polypeptides that were either absent or present in smaller amounts in the wild species. The results indicate a wide variation in the content of examined nutrients and suggest that there is opportunity for improvement in the nutritional value of the Echinochloa millets via selective crossbreeding of wild and domesticated species.