Total phenolic content and antioxidative potential of Serbian old wheat local landraces and locally adapted varieties

Abstract

Content of total phenolics and antioxidative potential were determined in 33 local landraces and old locally adapted varieties grown in Serbia in 2021/2022, among them 3 varieties are modern. Wholemeal flour was analyzed. Total phenolics were determined according to spectrophotometric assay. Antioxidative potential was measured as DPPH radical scavenging activity and the results expressed as ICso values. The lower the ICso value, the more potent is the extract at scavenging DPPH and this implies a higher antioxidant activity. Total phenolics in 18 old locally adapted varieties and 12 local landraces were in the range of 351-963 pg GAE/g of flour, while average value of total phenolics in 3 modern varieties was 390 + 7.3 pg GAE/g of flour and was lower than in majority of all local landraces and varieties. Only one third of 30 old local varieties and landraces showed lower ICso values (150-230 mg/mL) than modern varieties (232-280 mg/mL). Average ICso value for 30 tested wheat samples was 286 = 104 mg/mL. Correlation of -0.616 was obtained for total phenolic content and scavenging activity expressed as ICso. Yield and thousand kernel weights for old local varieties and landraces were 5.5-8.1 t/ha and 270-480 g, respectively. Measurements significant in assessing the yield and quality of a wheat such as thousand kernel weight in correlation with the antioxidative potential can be an important consideration in selecting and improving crop varieties, according to the literature data, however this parameter was not measured in this study.