Mineral contents and antioxidant activities of Karakılçık durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.) genotypes

The importance of antioxidants and minerals in food has increased with the growing awareness of consumers in recent years. Türkiye is rich in genetic diversity for wheat as it is located at the intersection of three floristic regions and is part of the Fertile Crescent. In this study, the antioxidant activity of Karakılçık durum wheat (Triticum turgidum subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.) populations from 12 different regions of Türkiye was determined using the DPPH method. In addition, the contents of mineral nutrients (Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn) were determined in an ICP-OES device with milled wheat. Karakılçık genotypes were sowed in a field using an augmented trial design consisting of five rows and six blocks, with each block containing five control varieties. The result of the study was that the landrace Karakılçık genotypes exhibited antioxidant activity varying between 14.7-40.2 μmol TE g-1. The Ca contents of landrace Karakılçık genotypes varied between 13.0-249.9 ppm, Cu contents 0.6-22.7 ppm, Fe contents 28.7-93.9 ppm, Mg contents 583.7-1194.0 ppm, Mn contents 31.4-87.7 ppm, and Zn contents 22.3-68.5 ppm. The results of the study reveal that Karakılçık landrace genotypes have large differences in antioxidant and mineral content, that these differences have the potential to be used in wheat breeding programs, and that wheat flour obtained from Karakılçık landrace genotypes is important.