Salt elicitation to enhance phytochemicals in durum wheat seedlings.

BACKGROUND: Salt has been identified as an elicitor that can increase the accumulation of phytochemicals in seedlings during the germination process. However, the salinity level required to maximize the yield of phytochemicals, particularly phenolic compounds, needs further investigation for several plant species. To address this issue, we imposed increasing levels of salinity (NaCl solutions) on the sprouting substrate of Triticum durum (var. Platone) grains, at concentrations of 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, and 300 mM (0_S, 50_S, 100_S, 150_S, 200_S, 250_S, and 300_S, respectively). RESULTS: The highest NaCl doses (250_S and 300_S) significantly impacted germination performance and were excluded from further analysis. The seedlings harvested at 8 days after sowing exhibited different growth stages depending on the salinity level: wheatgrass for 0_S, early wheatgrass for 50_S, intermediate between sprout and wheatgrass for 100_S, sprout for 150_S, and very early sprout for 200_S. Furthermore, salinity induced the concentration of phenolic compounds (PhCs) in the seedlings' tissues (i.e., both roots and shoots) in a salinity-dependent manner. The highest values were observed at 200_S, with an increase of 187% of the total investigated PhCs in comparison with 0_S, averaged over shoots and roots. In particular, in 200_S, the accumulation of phenolic acids was up to fourfold higher in roots, and that of flavonoids was up to twofold higher in shoots. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the use of 200 mM NaCl applied to the sprouting substrate is excessive for producing edible sprouts but may be suitable for phytochemical extraction purposes. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Bran and Grain Grinding Level Affect the Tensile Characteristics of Bioplastics Derived from Wholegrain Wheat Flours.

The mechanical performance of thermoplastic bulk samples obtained by plasticizing wheat flours differing in grain hardness, alveographic parameters, absence or presence of bran, and grinding level was assessed. Grains of four bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars (Altamira, Aubusson, Blasco, and Bologna) were milled with the aim of producing single-cultivar refined flour (R), or wholegrain flour with fine (F) or coarse (C) grinding. The flours were plasticized, injection molded and tested for tensile properties. The results confirmed that the presence of bran increased the strength (σ) and reduced the elongation at break (ε) of thermoplastics obtained from the flours of each cultivar. The grinding level had an effect, since σ was higher and ε was lower in F than in C samples. SEM analysis of samples revealed that the bran and its texture affected the exposure of starch granules to plasticizer. Composting experiments also revealed that the formulations are able to disintegrate within 21 days with a mass loss rate higher in plastics from F than C flours, while germination tests carried out with cress seeds indicated that it takes two months before the compost loses its phytotoxic effects. Overall, the refining and bran particle size of wheat flours, besides their gluten composition and baking properties, represent novel choice factors to be considered when tailoring the manufacturing of plastic materials for selected requirements and uses.

Effect of Sprouting on the Phenolic Compounds, Glucosinolates, and Antioxidant Activity of Five Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz Cultivars.

Sprouts are increasingly present in the human diet, being tasty and healthy foods high in antioxidant compounds. Although there is a body of literature on the sprouting of many plant species, Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz has not yet been studied for this purpose. This study aimed to characterize the main bioactive compounds and antioxidant potential of seeds and sprouts of five different Camelina cultivars (ALBA, CO46, CCE43, JOELLE, and VERA). In particular, the contents of phenolic compounds (PCs), phenolic acids (PAs), and glucosinolates (GLSs) were investigated. PCs, PAs, GLSs, and the antioxidant activity of seeds differed among cultivars and were greatly increased by sprouting. A PCA analysis underlined both the effect of the cultivar (PC2) and the germination (PC1) on the nutritional properties of Camelina. The best nutritional properties of seeds were observed for ALBA and CCE43, while the best nutritional properties of sprouts were recorded for CCE43 and JOELLE, since the latter cultivar showed a greater enhancement in phytochemical content and antioxidant activity with sprouting. Finally, a UHPLC-UV procedure for the analysis of GLSs in Camelina was developed and validated. The performance criteria of the proposed method demonstrated that it is useful for the analysis of GLSs in Camelina.

Effect of Different Light Wavelengths on Zymoseptoria tritici Development and Leaf Colonization in Bread Wheat.

The wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici can respond to light by modulating its gene expression. Because several virulence-related genes are differentially expressed in response to light, different wavelengths could have a crucial role in the Z. tritici-wheat interaction. To explore this opportunity, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of blue (470 nm), red (627 nm), blue-red, and white light on the in vitro and in planta development of Z. tritici. The morphology (mycelium appearance, color) and phenotypic (mycelium growth) characteristics of a Z. tritici strain were evaluated after 14 days under the different light conditions in two independent experiments. In addition, bread wheat plants were artificially inoculated with Z. tritici and grown for 35 days under the same light treatments. The disease incidence, severity, and fungal DNA were analyzed in a single experiment. Statistical differences were determined by using an ANOVA. The obtained results showed that the different light wavelengths induced specific morphological changes in mycelial growth. The blue light significantly reduced colony growth, while the dark and red light favored fungal development (p < 0.05). The light quality also influenced host colonization, whereby the white and red light had stimulating and repressing effects, respectively (p < 0.05). This precursory study demonstrated the influence of light on Z. tritici colonization in bread wheat.

Effect of Wheat Crop Nitrogen Fertilization Schedule on the Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Sprouts and Wheatgrass Obtained from Offspring Grains.

This work was aimed at investigating the effects of rate and timing of nitrogen fertilization applied to a maternal wheat crop on phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of edible sprouts and wheatgrass obtained from offspring grains. We hypothesized that imbalance in N nutrition experienced by the mother plants translates into transgenerational responses on seedlings obtained from the offspring seeds. To this purpose, we sprouted grains of two bread wheat cultivars (Bologna and Bora) grown in the field under four N fertilization schedules: constantly well N fed with a total of 300 kg N ha-1; N fed only very early, i.e., one month after sowing, with 60 kg N ha-1; N fed only late, i.e., at initial shoot elongation, with 120 kg N ha-1; and unfertilized control. We measured percent germination, seedling growth, vegetation indices (by reflectance spectroscopy), the phytochemical content (total phenols, phenolic acids, carotenoids, chlorophylls), and the antioxidant activity (by gold nanoparticles photometric assay) of extracts in sprout and wheatgrass obtained from the harvested seeds. Our main finding is that grains obtained from crops subjected to late N deficiency produced wheatgrass with much higher phenolic content (as compared to the other N treatments), and this was observed in both cultivars. Thus, we conclude that late N deficiency is a stressing condition which elicits the production of phenols. This may help counterbalance the loss of income related to lower grain yield in crops subjected to such an imbalance in N nutrition.

Infection timing affects Fusarium poae colonization of bread wheat spikes and mycotoxin accumulation in the grain.

BACKGROUND: Fusarium poae is one of the most common Fusarium head blight (FHB) causal agents in wheat. This species can biosynthesize a wide range of mycotoxins, in particular nivalenol (NIV). In FHB epidemiology, infection timing is important for disease occurrence, kernel development, symptom appearance and mycotoxin accumulation in grain. The present study explored, both in a controlled environment and in a 2-year field plot experiment in Central Italy, the influence of five infection timings (from beginning of flowering to medium milk growth stage) on F. poae colonization and mycotoxin accumulation in bread wheat spikes (spring cv. A416 and winter cv. Ambrogio). RESULTS: Both climate chamber and field experiments showed that early infection timings (from beginning of flowering to full flowering) especially favoured F. poae colonization and accumulation of its mycotoxins (particularly NIV) in grain. By contrast, later infection timings (watery ripe and medium milk) reduced F. poae development and mycotoxin levels. The time window of host susceptibility in the field was shorter than that observed under controlled conditions. Symptom expression in kernels also differed among infection timings. In general, F. poae biomass was higher in the chaff than in the grain. CONCLUSION: These results enhance knowledge of a common member of the FHB complex worldwide, and could be useful in forecasting the risk of F. poae infection and mycotoxin contamination. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

In Vitro Oxidative Stress Threatening Maize Pollen Germination and Cytosolic Ca2+ Can Be Mitigated by Extracts of Emmer Wheatgrass Biofortified with Selenium.

In this work, we studied the effects of in vitro oxidative stress applied by H2O2 to maize pollen germination and cytosolic Ca2+, taken as an experimental model to test the biological activity of extracts of emmer (Triticum turgidum L. spp. dicoccum (Schrank ex Shubler) Thell.) wheatgrass obtained from grains sprouted with distilled water, or salinity (50 mM) or selenium (45 mg L-1 of Na2SeO3). Wheatgrass extracts were obtained in two ways: by direct extraction in methanol, which represented the free phenolic fraction of extracts (Ef), and by residual content after alkaline digestion, which made it possible to obtain extracts with the bound fraction (Eb). Comparative tests on maize pollen were carried out by differently combining H2O2 and either wheatgrass extracts or pure phenolic acids (4-HO benzoic, caffeic, p-coumaric and salicylic). The cytosolic Ca2+ of maize pollen was influenced by either H2O2 or pure phenolic acids or Ef, but not by Eb. The negative effect of H2O2 on maize pollen germination and cytosolic Ca2+ was mitigated by Ef and, slightly, by Eb. The extent of the biological response of Ef depended on the sprouting conditions (i.e., distilled water, salinity or selenium). The extracts of Se-biofortified wheatgrass were the most effective in counteracting the oxidative stress.

Dietary Freeze-Dried Flaxseed and Alfalfa Sprouts as Additional Ingredients to Improve the Bioactive Compounds and Reduce the Cholesterol Content of Hen Eggs.

Eggs are a complete food with high-quality proteins; a 2:1 ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acid (SFA); and a good amount of minerals, as well as vitamins or antioxidant compounds. Seeds or mature plants were usually added to the feed to improve egg quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of alfalfa and flax freeze-dried sprouts supplementation in diets of laying hens on egg oxidative status and key bioactive compounds. Thirty Sassò hens were fed with three different diets: standard, standard + 3% freeze-dried alfalfa sprouts, or flaxseed sprouts. Ten pools of 10 egg yolks per group were collected at 0, 4, and 8 weeks and analyzed. Supplementation with sprouts enriched the phytosterols, phytoestrogens, tocols, carotenes, vitamin D, and n-3 fatty acid contents in the eggs. Cholesterol content was lower in both sprout-supplemented groups, and a decrease in its oxidative products was also observed. It was found that a 3% freeze-dried sprouts supplementation of approximately 56 days improves the egg quality. Further studies are necessary to verify higher supplementing doses and the applicability of this strategy in the commercial egg production chain.

Transgenerational Effects of Salt Stress Imposed to Rapeseed (Brassica napus var. oleifera Del.) Plants Involve Greater Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity in the Edible Sprouts Obtained from Offspring Seeds.

Previous research has demonstrated that rapeseed sprouts obtained under salinity demonstrate greater phenolic content and antioxidant activity compared to those sprouted with distilled water. This work aimed to test the hypothesis that these effects of salinity may persist into the next generation, so that offspring seeds of plants grown under salt stress may give edible sprouts with increased phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Plants of one rapeseed cultivar were grown in pots with 0, 100 and 200 mM NaCl, isolated from each other at flowering to prevent cross-pollination. Offspring seeds harvested from each salinity treatment were then sprouted with distilled water. We performed the extraction of free and bound phenolic fractions of sprouts and, in each fraction (methanolic extract), we determined the total polyphenols (P), flavonoids, (F), and tannins (T) with Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, the phenolic acids (PAs) by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatographs (UHPLC) analysis, and the antioxidant activity with three tests (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-hydrate, DPPH; ferric reducing antioxidant power, FRAP; 2,2'-azino-bis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid] diammonium salt, ABTS). Individual seed weight was slightly decreased by salinity, whereas germination performance was improved, with a lower mean germination time for salted treatments. No significant differences were observed among treatments for P, F and T, except for bound P, while, in most cases, single PAs (as free, bound and total fractions) and antioxidant activity were significantly increased in salted treatments. Our results open new perspectives for the elicitation of secondary metabolites in the offspring seeds by growing parental plants under stressing conditions, imposed on purpose or naturally occurring.

Biocomposites Based on Plasticized Wheat Flours: Effect of Bran Content on Thermomechanical Behavior.

In the present work, the effect of different bran content on the overall thermomechanical behavior of plasticized wheat flours (thermoplastic wheat flour; TPWF) was investigated. Refined flour (F0) with negligible bran fiber content, F1 flour (whole grain flour, 20% wt. bran), F3 (50% wt. bran) and F2 (F1:F3, 50:50) film samples were realized by extrusion process. The effect of TPWF blending with two different biopolymers (polycaprolactone and poly butyrate adipate terephthalate), combined with the presence of citric acid as compatibilizer was also considered. Results from FESEM analysis and tensile characterization demonstrated that PCL was able to reach improved compatibility with the plasticized flour fraction at intermediate bran content (F2 based formulation) when 25% wt. of biopolymeric phase was added. Additionally, it was proved that improvements can be achieved in both thermal and mechanical performance when higher shear rate (120 rpm) and low temperature profiles (Tset2 = 130-135-140 °C) are selected. Disintegrability of the TPWF basic formulations in compositing conditions within 21 days was also confirmed; at the same time, an absence of any phytotoxic event of compost itself was registered. The obtained results confirmed the suitability of these materials, realized by adding different bran contents, to mechanically compete with bioplastics obtained by using purified starches.

Blue:Red LED Light Proportion Affects Vegetative Parameters, Pigment Content, and Oxidative Status of Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum) Wheatgrass.

This work aimed to study the effect of some light spectra on the growth, oxidative state, and stress of einkorn wheatgrass (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum). To this end, six light treatments, having the same total incident photon flux density (PFD) of 200 µmol m-2 s-1, were applied to einkorn and compared: only blue light; only red; three blue:red combinations, at different proportions of total PFD (75:25%, 50:50%, and 25:75%, respectively); and a wide spectrum, taken as a control treatment, composed of blue (18% of PFD), red (18%), and intermediate wavelengths (64%). Light treatments affected the contents of pigments (chlorophylls and carotenes), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and malondialdehyde (MDA). These results revealed the changes in the oxidative status of wheatgrass, in response to the different light treatments. However, the dichromatic light with blue ≥50% of the total PFD appeared to be the best combination, guarantying good wheatgrass yield, increasing pigment content, and reducing H2O2 and MDA when compared to the other light treatments. Our findings also contribute to explaining the available literature on the effect of these kinds of light on the increase in phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity in einkorn wheatgrass.

Current Knowledge on Selenium Biofortification to Improve the Nutraceutical Profile of Food: A Comprehensive Review.

Selenium (Se) is an important micronutrient for living organisms, since it is involved in several physiological and metabolic processes. Se intake in humans is often low and very seldom excessive, and its bioavailability depends also on its chemical form, with organic Se as the most available after ingestion. The main dietary source of Se for humans is represented by plants, since many species are able to metabolize and accumulate organic Se in edible parts to be consumed directly (leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, and sprouts) or after processing (oil, wine, etc.). Countless studies have recently investigated the Se biofortification of plants to produce Se-enriched foods and elicit the production of secondary metabolites, which may benefit human health when incorporated into the diet. Moreover, feeding animals Se-rich diets may provide Se-enriched meat. This work reviews the most recent literature on the nutraceutical profile of Se-enriched foods from plant and animal sources.

Taste quality traits and volatile profiles of sprouts and wheatgrass from hulled and non-hulled Triticum species.

Wheat sprouts and wheatgrass represent a sort of fresh vegetable for the ready-to-eat market and are acknowledged for their bioactive compounds content. Besides nutritional properties, sensory quality is a crucial issue for consumers' satisfaction. This work reports several sensory traits of sprouts and wheatgrass from five genotypes of Triticum species. Sprouts showed higher soluble solids content (SSC) and SSC/TA (titratable acidity) ratio than wheatgrass. The prevalent volatile compounds of both sprouts and wheatgrass were 1-penten-3-ol, 1-penten-3-one, E-2-hexenal, and 1-octen-3-ol, responsible for green, solvent, earthy, and mushroom odors. Differences among samples were affected more by the growing stage than by the genotype. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Results indicate sprouts and wheatgrass have a strong flavor, which might not be acceptable to consumers. This suggests the addition of sprouts to vegetable-based products, such as salads, in order to enhance the taste complexity while providing valuable phytochemicals. Similarly, the strong flavor of wheatgrass, which is mainly used alone to make juices, could be mitigated by mixing it with other vegetable products or by using it as a garnishment. Overall, the observed sensory traits and volatile compounds represent a tool for a tailored choice of the sprout stage and genotype depending on the desired food specialty (e.g., salad, course garnishment, juice).

Sprouted Grains: A Comprehensive Review.

In the last decade, there has been an increase in the use of sprouted grains in human diet and a parallel increase in the scientific literature dealing with their nutritional traits and phytochemical contents. This review examines the physiological and biochemical changes during the germination process, and the effects on final sprout composition in terms of macro- and micro-nutrients and bioactive compounds. The main factors affecting sprout composition are taken into consideration: genotype, environmental conditions experimented by the mother plant, germination conditions. In particular, the review deepens the recent knowledge on the possible elicitation factors useful for increasing the phytochemical contents. Microbiological risks and post-harvest technologies are also evaluated, and a brief summary is given of some important in vivo studies matching with the use of grain sprouts in the diet. All the species belonging to Poaceae (Gramineae) family as well as pseudocereals species are included.

Combining roller crimpers and flaming for the termination of cover crops in herbicide-free no-till cropping systems.

The termination of cover crops in conventional no-till systems is mostly conducted mechanically in combination with herbicides. Combining flaming and roller crimpers could be a viable solution to avoid using herbicides for cover crop termination in farming systems where herbicides are banned, or at least to reduce their use in an integrated management approach. This research tested the effects of flaming used in combination with three different types of roller crimpers to terminate a fall-sown cover crop mixture of winter pea and barley. The cover crop termination rate was visually assessed in terms of percentage of green cover provided by cover crop plants at different intervals from the termination date, and estimated using a log-logistic non-linear regression model with four parameters. Machine performance data are also reported. The results show that, irrespective of the roller type, flaming significantly boosted the effect of the roller crimpers. In fact, an economic threshold for cover crop suppression of 85% was reached only when the rollers were used in combination with flaming. Nevertheless, none of the methods were able to reach the 100% of cover crop suppression. In some case, the combined use of flaming and roller crimpers allowed reaching the 90% of cover crop devitalisation, which happened six weeks after the termination date. More importantly, the use of flaming in combination with rollers shortened the time needed to achieve the estimated levels of devitalisation, compared with the rollers used alone. We conclude that flaming is an effective tool to increase the effectiveness of roller crimpers. Nevertheless, further research is needed to identify solutions to overcome the barrier of the high operational costs of flaming, which is constraining its wider adoption by farmers. Future studies could focus, for instance, on the development of a new prototype of combined machine for crimping and flaming the cover crops simultaneously, which could potentially reduce the operational costs.

Effect of heat- and freeze-drying treatments on phytochemical content and fatty acid profile of alfalfa and flax sprouts.

BACKGROUND: Fresh sprouts are healthy foods, low in fats and high in phytochemicals, but have a short shelf-life, hence the need for processing methods that preserve their nutritional value. This work was aimed at evaluating the effect of heat-drying (HD) and freeze-drying (FD) on the phytochemical and fatty acid profiles of alfalfa and flax sprouts, as compared to fresh material. RESULTS: Both FD and HD reduced the phytochemical contents compared to fresh sprouts. FD better preserved phytoestrogens, phytosterols and total tocols compared to HD. However, phytoestrogen and tocol content remained quite high also in HD. The fatty acid profile was affected only by sprouts species, with higher amounts of α-linolenic acid in flax and linoleic acid in alfalfa sprouts. CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrates that drying does not severely compromise the nutritional value of sprouts and provides a valid support for the choice of the drying method depending on the compound to be preserved, and taking into consideration the different cost of the methods. In addition, sprout powder is easy to handle and, due to its low volume, does not imply a decrease of feed consumption and energy intake, which is relevant in its use as a supplement in human and animal feeding. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Gluconeogenesis and nitrogen metabolism in maize.

Two pathways can be used by gluconeogenesis in plants: one employs phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and the other pyruvate orthophosphate dikinase (PPDK). The occurrence-location of these enzymes was determined in developing kernels of maize. PPDK was much more abundant than PEPCK in extracts of whole kernels. However, their location within the kernel was different. PPDK was particularly abundant in the peripheral endosperm (in which alanine is abundant), whereas PEPCK was localised in the pedicel and basal endosperm transfer cells (where asparagine is metabolised). The abundance of these enzymes was also determined in maize roots where there was a massive increase in abundance of PEPCK and a small increase in abundance of PPDK when they were fed ammonium; PEPCK was located in the pericycle and various cell types associated with the vasculature. On the other hand, there was a large increase in abundance of PPDK in roots subjected to anoxia (which induces an accumulation of alanine), whereas the abundance of PEPCK was decreased. These results show: firstly, that gluconeogenesis can potentially occur in many different tissues of maize. Secondly, within one organ PPDK can be abundant in some tissues and PEPCK in others. Thirdly, the abundance of PPDK and PEPCK is often associated with the metabolism of certain nitrogenous compounds and can be dramatically altered by factors related to nitrogen metabolism. In maize roots and developing kernels PPDK was associated with alanine metabolism. By contrast, the presence of PEPCK in maize roots and kernels was associated with either ammonium or asparagine metabolism. We propose that gluconeogenesis is often a component of a widespread mechanism that is used in coordinating the import/mobilisation of nitrogenous compounds with their utilisation. Further, potentially component of this mechanism may have provided building blocks that were used in the evolution of processes such as C4 photosynthesis, Crassulacean acid metabolism, stomatal metabolism and the biochemical pH stat.

Selenium Biofortification in Rice ( Oryza sativa L.) Sprouting: Effects on Se Yield and Nutritional Traits with Focus on Phenolic Acid Profile.

The contents of total Se and of inorganic and organic Se species, as well as the contents of proteins, chlorophylls, carotenoids, and phenolic acids, were measured in 10-day old sprouts of rice ( Oryza sativa L.) obtained with increasing levels (15, 45, 135, and 405 mg Se L-1) of sodium selenite and sodium selenate and with distilled water as control. Increasing Se levels increased organic and inorganic Se contents of sprouts, as well as the content of phenolic acids, especially in their soluble conjugated forms. Moderate levels of sodium selenite (i.e., not higher that 45 mg L-1) appeared the best compromise to obtain high Se and phenolic acid yields together with high proportion of organic Se while limiting residual Se in the germination substrate waste. Se biofortification of rice sprouts appears a feasible and efficient way to promote Se and phenolic acid intake in human diet, with well-known health benefits.

Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity in Raw and Denatured Aqueous Extracts from Sprouts and Wheatgrass of Einkorn and Emmer Obtained under Salinity.

Total phenolic content (TPC), reducing power (RP), superoxide radical scavenging (RS), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) production inhibition were measured in raw and denatured aqueous extracts from sprouts and wheatgrass of einkorn and emmer obtained at increasing salinity. Grains were incubated and kept at 0, 25, 50, and 100 mM NaCl until either sprout or wheatgrass stage. Additionally, a recovery treatment was included, in which sprouts obtained at 100 mM NaCl were then transferred at 0 mM NaCl until wheatgrass stage. All parameters (TPC, RP, RS, and TBARS production inhibition) increased with sprouting and were highest in wheatgrass. Salinity increased all parameters, but the effect varied with NaCl concentration, genotype, developmental stage, and plant material processing (raw or denatured). Overall, given the delay and limitation of growth at high NaCl concentration, the best compromise appears to be the application of a moderate salinity (25 to 50 mM NaCl). In denatured extracts, TPC, RP, and RS slightly decreased, and TBARS was not affected, which means that antioxidant activity was mainly related to compounds other than enzymes and peptides, and thus it can be assumed to remain after digestion. Thus, supplementing the human diet with einkorn or emmer sprouts and wheatgrass can actually benefit health.

Effect of Genotype on the Sprouting of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Seeds as a Source of Phenolic Compounds from Juice Industry by-Products.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruits are used mainly by the juice industry, for which seeds are a by-product to be disposed of, though they could potentially be a source of bioactive compounds. In this work, germination (total germination percentage, G; mean germination time, MGT; time to reach 80% of germination, TG80; seedling shoot length, fresh weight and dry matter), and nutritional value (total phenolics, TP; total flavonoids, TF; total non-tannins, TNT; antioxidant activities) of pomegranate seeds and sprouts were determined on four commercial pomegranate cultivars (Akko, Dente di Cavallo, Mollar de Elche and Wonderful). Seeds were removed from ripe fruits and incubated in plastic trays containing sterile cotton wetted with distilled water. Sprout shoots were harvested when they reached the complete cotyledon expansion, i.e., the ready-to-eat stage. Akko showed the best germination performance (G = 98%; MGT = 14 days after sowing, DAS; TG80 = 16 DAS), followed by Mollar de Elche. Sprouting dramatically increased TP, TF, TNT and antioxidant activity in all genotypes, with the highest values recorded in Mollar de Elche and Dente di Cavallo. Overall, based on germination performance, Akko and Mollar de Elche would be the best cultivars for sprouting. Sprouting pomegranate seeds appears to be a suitable way of utilizing by-products of the juice industry to obtain bioactive compounds.