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Physicochemical changes and enzymatic activity of pre-harvest sprouting wheat

ABSTRACT

During harvest, wheat is exposed to damage from rain, which may lead to changes in quality and loss of commercial value. The aim of this study was to characterize the changes in different varieties of wheat from the south of Brazil, damaged by rain as detected with the falling number method. Thirteen samples were evaluated for hectoliter weight, thousand-seed weight, protein, reducing sugars, soluble nitrogen, free amino nitrogen and enzyme activity (α and β-amylase, β-glucanase and protease). Changes in the gliadin fraction were evaluated by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. The variables, reducing sugars, soluble nitrogen, free amino nitrogen, the activity of α-amylase, β- glucanase and protease all showed significant correlation with the falling number test. As the falling number values were reduced, the gliadins displayed changes to the 40 and 30 KDa bands, which become more intense.

Key words:
Triticum aestivum ; Falling number; Rain damage; SDS PAGE

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