Czech J. Genet. Plant Breed., 2006, 42(3):95-102 | DOI: 10.17221/3648-CJGPB

The Potential of Common Cereals to form Retrograded Resistant Starch

Daniela Mikulíková¹, Michaela Benková¹, Ján Kraic^{1, 2}

¹ Research Institute of Plant Production, Piešťany, Slovak Republic

² University of SS. Cyril and Methodius, Trnava, Slovak Republic

Resistant starch (RS) has been recognised as a functional fibre with many health-promoting effects. RS exists in four forms - RS₁, RS₂, RS₃, and RS₄. The RS₃ type is generated by amylose retrogradation typically resulting from food processing procedures. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the potential ability of six agriculturally important cereals to generate type RS₃ resistant starch after retrogradation of their amylose. In comparison with all tested cereals, the statistically significant highest level of RS₃ (5.28% ± 0.68) was detected in triticale, mainly in the Pinokio, Presto, Tricolor, and Kendo cultivars. Significant highly content was also found in rye (4.93% ± 0.73), especially in Selgo, Esprit, Dankowskie Nowe, and Apart cultivars, in comparison with wheat, spring and winter barley, tritordeum and oat. There were unsignificant differences between triticale and rye in RS₃ levels. Wheat contained less RS₃ (3.87% ± 0.55) in comparison to triticale and rye. The best wheats with this trait were the Athlet, Boka, Trane, Versailles, and Torysa cultivars. The content of RS₃ in barley was not high (2.35% ± 0.45 in winter barley, 2.51% ± 0.25 in spring barley), similar to tritordeum (2.26% ± 0.36). The RS₃ content in high amylose barley mutant Glacier was two-fold higher than in other tested barley cultivars (P < 0.01). Only minimal level of RS₃ can be generated from oat seed starch (0.41% ± 0.09). These results indicate that plant species as well as crop cultivar screening are important for the identification of suitable natural sources of resistant starch. Concerning the production of functional foods, it is important to recognize that valuable bread cereals such as wheat and rye are superior sources of this type of dietary fibre and are highly beneficial to the human health. However, it is advisable to continue for other years in these annual results and localities too.

Keywords: resistant starch; wheat; barley; rye; triticale; tritordeum; oat

Published: September 30, 2006  Show citation