Comparative Evaluation of Starch and Protein Characteristics in Ancient Wheat Species

Abstract

Driven by increasing consumer demand for nutrient‐dense and more sustainable food options, ancient wheat species present a promising opportunity due to their environmental adaptability and perceived health benefits. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the starch and protein characteristics of ancient wheat species, einkorn, emmer, and spelt, in comparison to common hexaploid wheat, providing insights into their functionality for potential food applications. Thermal behavior revealed that spelt exhibited the highest thermal stability with high transition temperatures. At the same time, emmer required less energy for gelatinization. Amylose% and amylopectin% showed no significant differences among these wheat species. Protein composition analysis indicated significant variations, mainly in gliadin and glutenin fractions, among common wheat and ancient wheat species. The SDS unextractable glutenin levels were significantly lower in ancient wheat compared to common wheat, suggesting that processing modifications may be required to optimize the use of ancient wheat in bakery applications. Specific physicochemical properties and functional characteristics of ancient grains need further studies and improvements to make such grains functional in bakery applications. The study evaluates the starch and proteins of ancient grains, which demonstrate significant differences compared to hexaploid bread wheat.