De Santis Michele Andrea, Soccio Mario, Laus Maura Nicoletta, Flagella Zina
Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE), University of Foggia, 71122 Foggia, Italy.
Plants (Basel). 2021 Nov 26;10(12):2599. doi: 10.3390/plants10122599.
Durum wheat is a staple crop for the Mediterranean diet because of its adaptability to environmental pressure and for its large use in cereal-based food products, such as pasta and bread, as a source of calories and proteins. Durum wheat whole grains are also highly valued for their peculiar amount of dietary fiber and minerals, as well as bioactive compounds of particular interest for their putative health-beneficial properties, including polyphenols, carotenoids, tocopherols, tocotrienols, and phytosterols. In Mediterranean environments, durum wheat is mostly grown under rainfed conditions, where the crop often experiences environmental stresses, especially water deficit and soil salinity that may induce a hyperosmotic stress. In particular, changes in C and N accumulation due to these abiotic conditions, during grain filling, can influence starch and storage protein amount and composition in durum wheat caryopsis, thus influencing yield and quality traits. Recent advancements regarding the influence of water deficit and salinity stress on durum wheat are critically discussed. In particular, a focus on stress-induced changes in (a) grain protein content and composition in relation to technological and health quality; (b) starch and dietary fiber accumulation and composition; (c) phytochemical composition; (d) health-related grain micronutrient accumulation, such as Fe and Zn.
硬粒小麦是地中海饮食的主要作物，因为它能适应环境压力，并且大量用于谷类食品，如意大利面和面包，作为热量和蛋白质的来源。硬粒小麦全谷物还因其特殊含量的膳食纤维、矿物质以及具有潜在健康益处的生物活性化合物而备受重视，这些生物活性化合物包括多酚、类胡萝卜素、生育酚、生育三烯酚和植物甾醇。在地中海环境中，硬粒小麦大多在雨养条件下种植，这种作物经常面临环境压力，尤其是水分亏缺和土壤盐分，这可能会引发高渗胁迫。特别是，在籽粒灌浆期间，由于这些非生物条件导致的碳和氮积累变化，会影响硬粒小麦颖果中淀粉和贮藏蛋白的含量及组成，从而影响产量和品质性状。本文对水分亏缺和盐分胁迫对硬粒小麦影响的最新进展进行了批判性讨论。特别是，重点关注胁迫诱导的以下方面的变化：(a) 与工艺和健康品质相关的籽粒蛋白质含量和组成；(b) 淀粉和膳食纤维的积累及组成；(c) 植物化学成分；(d) 与健康相关的籽粒微量营养素积累，如铁和锌。
