Elżbieta Suchowilska

Concentrations of Some Metabolites Produced by Fungi of the Genus Fusarium and Selected Elements in Spring Spelt Grain

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the content of selected elements and metabolites produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium in spelt (Triticum spelta L.) grain and husks and common wheat (T. aestivum L.) grain. Concentrations of trichothecenes, a volatile metabolite trichodiene (TRICH), as well as ergosterol (ERG) and adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) (a total microbial biomass indicator), were assessed. Toxin concentrations in spelt grain and husks harvested in 2003 and 2004 were comparable. Average deoxynivalenol concentrations reached 450 and 523 μg/kg in grain and 2,162 and 855 μg/kg in husks, respectively. Spelt grain, in comparison with common wheat grain, contained significantly higher concentrations of P, S, Mg, Zn, and Cu and a lower concentration of Al, whereas the concentrations of Ca, Fe, and Pb were significantly higher in the husks than in the grain of this cereal. A comparison of concentrations of Fusarium spp. metabolites in the grain of spelt and common wheat showed that the to...

Intraspecific Polymorphisms of Cytogenetic Markers Mapped on Chromosomes of Triticum polonicum L.

Triticum genus encloses several tetraploid species that are used as genetic stocks for expanding the genetic variability of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Although the T. aestivum (2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD) and T. durum (2n = 4x = 28, AABB) karyotypes were well examined by chromosome staining, Giemsa C-banding and FISH markers, other tetraploids are still poorly characterized. Here, we established and compared the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) patterns on chromosomes of 20 accessions of T. polonicum species using different repetitive sequences from BAC library of wheat ‘Chinese Spring’. The chromosome patterns of Polish wheat were compared to tetraploid (2n = 4x = 28, AABB) Triticum species: T. durum, T. diccocon and T. turanicum, as well. A combination of pTa-86, pTa-535 and pTa-713 probes was the most informative among 6 DNA probes tested. Probe pTa-k374, which is similar to 28S rDNA sequence enabled to distinguish signal size and location differences, as well as rDNA loci elimination. Furthermore, pTa-465 and pTa-k566 probes are helpful for the detection of similar organized chromosomes. The polymorphisms of signals distribution were observed in 2A, 2B, 3B, 5B, 6A and 7B chromosomes. Telomeric region of the short arm of 6B chromosome was the most polymorphic. Our work is novel and contributes to the understanding of T. polonicum genome organization which is essential to develop successful advanced breeding strategies for wheat. Collection and characterization of this germplasm can contribute to the wheat biodiversity safeguard.

A comparison of contents of group A and B trichothecenes and microbial counts in different cereal species

Concentrations of trichothecenes and the amounts of microbial biomass were compared in grain of bread wheat, durum wheat, triticale, rye, oat and barley. Grain samples came from lines regionalised in Poland grown under identical climatic and agricultural conditions in 2007. Among the six analysed cereals, the highest mean concentration of toxic metabolites of 151.89 µg/kg was found for grain of Triticum durum, whereas the lowest was for barley grain (25.56 µg/kg). The highest contamination with microscopic fungi was recorded in case of barley and rice grain (mean concentrations of ergosterol were 12.53 mg/kg and 11.24 mg/kg, respectively). In case of the analysed cereals, the total microbial biomass expressed in the amount of ATP turned out to be the highest (4.7 × 105 relative light units [RLU]) for rye and oat (3.2 × 105 RLU). The results of the applied classical discrimination analysis indicate a significant diversification of species in terms of all the 11 analysed metabolites.

Fourier transform infrared - attenuated total reflection for wheat grain**

Fourier transform infrared - attenuated total reflection for wheat grain Mid-infrared regions of the spectrum of grain of four Triticum species were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared - attenuated total reflection. Significant variations were noted in the absorbance of all studied taxa over four wavenumber ranges. The principal component analysis supported strong discrimination of the four examined species. The percentage of variation explained by the first two principal component analyses reached 95.04%, including principal components 1-72.16% and 2-22.88%. The applied method supports quick identification of the grains of various hulled species of wheat and it is a useful tool for evaluating the seeds and food products obtained from those cereal species.

Discrimination Between the Grain of Spelt and Common Wheat Hybrids and their Parental Forms Using Fourier Transform Infrared–Attenuated Total Reflection

The grain of five spring spelt lines, three common wheat cultivars, and their hybrids were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared–attenuated total reflection spectroscopy. Variations in the log(absorbance) values in the range of 900–1200 cm−1 (carbohydrates), 1520–1550 cm−1 (amides II), 1637–1655 cm−1 (amides I), and 2850–2955 cm−1 (lipids) indicated that hybrids were more similar to common wheat than to spelt. Significant differences between common wheat and spelt were reported in the above wavenumber range. No such differences were noted between common wheat × spelt and spelt × common wheat hybrid groups. A classical discriminant analysis indicated that hybrids were more similar to common wheat than to spelt. Fourier transform infrared–attenuated total reflection emerges as a highly suitable tool for the identification of spelt grains intended for human consumption or further processing.

The Response of Selected Triticum spp. Genotypes with Different Ploidy Levels to Head Blight Caused by Fusarium culmorum (W.G.Smith) Sacc.

Several cultivars and pure lines of Triticum monococcum, T. dicoccon, T. polonicum, T. spelta and T. aestivum were inoculated with Fusarium culmorum, the causal agent of Fusarium head blight in wheat. During the three-year study, the infection decreased the values of the analyzed yield components: spike weight (by 5.6% to 15.8%), number of kernels per spike (by 2.8% to 11.8%) and one kernel weight (by 8.4% to 10.7%). T. spelta was characterized by the weakest average response to infection. The grain from inoculated spikes contained significantly higher concentrations of deoxynivalenol (DON) and its 3-β-d-glucoside (D3G) than control grain. The D3G/DON ratio ranged from 11.4% to 21.4% in control grain and from 8.1% to 11.6% in inoculated grain. The lowest levels of mycotoxins were found in spelt, and the highest in T. polonicum lines and Kamut. PCA revealed that the grain of T. polonicum was characterized by an entirely different mycotoxin profile. The weakest response to F. culmorum infections was noted in T. spelta, and the strongest response in T. polonicum breeding lines and Kamut.

Antifungal activity of methanol extracts from spikes of Triticum spelta and Triticum aestivum genotypes differing in their response to Fusarium culmorum inoculation

The total concentrations of free phenolic compounds and peroxidase were determined in spikes (collected at the flowering stage) of some spelt and common wheat cultivars differing in their response to F. culmorum infection. The antifungal activity of methanol extracts obtained from spikes was also evaluated. The tested genotypes differed significantly in their response to inoculation. The most resistant were Torka and Zebra among common wheat cultivars, and Weisser Grannenspelz among spelt cultivars. The average content of free phenolic compounds in spikes of spelt and common wheat was 1246.56 μg g−1 and 1236.58 μg g−1, respectively. The cultivars whose spikes contained the largest amounts of phenols showed the weakest response to F. culmorum infection. No significant differences were observed with regard to peroxidase content, which was 5.22 U g−1 in common wheat spikes and 5.14 U g−1 in spelt spikes. Methanol extracts from spikes of all wheat cultivars contained antifungal substances. The extracts from spelt spikes inhibited the growth of F. culmorum on PDA to a lesser degree than the extracts from common wheat spikes. This corresponds to the results of field trials, in which T. spelta generally exhibited a stronger response to F. culmorum infection than common wheat. The high correlation (r = 0.816) between mycelium growth inhibition on the medium and F. culmorum infection indicates that an evaluation of the antifungal activity of extracts from spikes may be used for the selection of breeding materials directed towards increased resistance to Fusarium head blight.

Quality Parameters and Rheological Dough Properties of 15 Spelt (Triticum spelta L.) Varieties Cultivated Today

Spelt grain has high nutritional value, but the rheological properties of dough made from spelt flour remain insufficiently investigated. Most studies have focused on comparing various breeding lines and accessions of spelt with selected conventional varieties. The aim of this study was to analyze the rheological properties of dough made from the flour of 14 winter and one spring spelt varieties cultivated today compared with two reference varieties of common wheat. The analyses were performed by the Mixolab test. In comparison with common wheat, spelt varieties were characterized by significantly lower values of the gluten index (16–42 versus 87%), Zeleny index (23–28 versus 46 cm3), and kernel vitreousness (5–35 versus 51%). Doughs produced from spelt and common wheat flour differed significantly it their rheological properties. Mixolab profiles demonstrated significant variations in the values of the retrogradation index (2–8), amylase index (1–8), water absorption index (0–6), and gluten+ index (1–7) ...

Morpho-anatomical traits of two lowest internodes related to lodging resistance in selected genotypes of Triticum

Abstract The cross-sections of first and second internodes were analyzed under a light and fluorescence microscopes in six varieties of Triticum spelta, two varieties of T. polonicum, and one variety of T. aestivum. The morphometric parameters of stem cross-sections were measured. The analyzed wheats were characterized by significant differences in traits associated with lodging resistance ie: internode diameter, lumen diameter, stem wall thickness, mechanical layer thickness, area of transverse section, and area of lumen for the first and second internode and between the internodes. In all varieties, the values of internode diameter, lumen diameter, area of transverse section and area of lumen were higher for the second internode than for the first internode, whereas the reverse was reported for stem wall thickness and mechanical layer thickness The results of the principal component analysis and section modulus values revealed similarities between spring spelt Wirtas and Rubinas and between common wheat Kontesa and winter spelt Poeme and Epanis. The number of large vascular bundles varied across the studied varieties. The average number of vascular bundles in common wheat Kontesa was significantly higher than in spring spelt Rubinas and Wirtas and significantly lower than in Polish wheat Pol-3 and winter spelt Epanis and Poeme.