Natalija Velić

A survey of total β-glucan content in Croatian barley varieties

Although β-glucans in cereals are desirable as healthy diet components, high levels of β-glucans in malting barley are unacceptable because they can cause unsatisfactory degradation of cell walls during malting. The aim of this study was to investigate the β-glucan content in twelve Croatian and two German barley varieties at three representative locations in Eastern Croatia over three consecutive seasons (2012–2014). Total β-glucan content in barley samples was determined using enzymatic method. Most of the investigated barley varieties had total β-glucan content lower or significantly lower than 4%. Furthermore, a distinct and clear genotype influence was noticed. No significant difference was found between years, but between locations Osijek and Tovarnik.

A survey of Fusarium graminearum and deoxynivalenol contamination of malt barley from the crop year 2004 in eastern Croatia

Fusarium graminearum and deoxynivalenol contamination of malt barley were investigated at several locations in eastern Croatia. The mean number of infected grains ranged from 1.05 - 36.13% and the mean mycotoxin content for the three locations were 0.07, 0.08 and 2.19 ppm, respectively.

Evaluation of Quercetin Content, Colour and Selected Physico-Chemical Quality Parameters of Croatian Blackberry Wines

Abstract Blackberry wine, the most widespread Croatian fruit wine, is produced by yeast fermentation of raw blackberry juice or must. Even though the production and intake of blackberry wine in Croatia has been increasing for years, the available data on the overall quality and blackberry wine composition is still scarce. The objective of this work was to evaluate the quercetin content, colour and selected physico-chemical quality parameters of 15 Croatian blackberry wine samples, divided into two groups denominated as CWB and OWB regarding the blackberries’ cultivation type (conventional and organic). The quercetin content ranged from 0.81 to 21.67 mg/L (average: 6.16 mg/L, median 3.96 mg/L) and was consistent with some published studies. Compared to CBW group, quercetin content of OBW samples seemed to be more balanced and slightly higher (OBW median: 3.99 mg/L, CWB median: 1.80 mg/L). The presence of cyanidin and pelargonidin (as aglycons) was detected in very low concentrations in four and seven samples, respectively. Determination of the colour revealed that the most important component contributing to colour intensity was yellow (51 %), followed by red (40 %). The chemical quality parameters were in accordance with the available published results on blackberry and grape wines and were as follows: relative density 1.0017–1.0660 g/mL, concentration of reducing sugars 13.5–177.6 g/L, alcoholic strength 9.37–14.78% vol, pH 3.11–3.56, total acidity 6.7–18.1 g/L, ash 1.59–4.11 g/L, alkalinity of ash 1.54–3.79 g/L, total nitrogen 65.50–361.15 mg/L, and total phosphorus 32.03–118.53 mg/L. No significant overall differences were noticed between the conventional and organic group of samples.

Blackberry wines mineral and heavy metal content determination after dry ashing: multivariate data analysis as a tool for fruit wine quality control

Abstract This study brings out the data on the content of 21 mineral and heavy metal in 15 blackberry wines made of conventionally and organically grown blackberries. The objective of this study was to classify the blackberry wine samples based on their mineral composition and the applied cultivation method of the starting raw material by using chemometric analysis. The metal content of Croatian blackberry wine samples was determined by AAS after dry ashing. The comparison between an organic and conventional group of investigated blackberry wines showed statistically significant difference in concentrations of Si and Li, where the organic group contained higher concentrations of these compounds. According to multivariate data analysis, the model based on the original metal content data set finally included seven original variables (K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ba, Cd and Cr) and gave a satisfactory separation of two applied cultivation methods of the starting raw material.