COMPARATIVE NUTRITIONAL PROFILING OF TRITICUM SPHAEROCOCCUM AND TRITICUM AESTIVUM UNDER IRRIGATED AND DROUGHT CONDITIONS
Andhale GR, Kulwal Pl, Professor of Agricultural Botany and Cotton Breeder, MPKV, Rahuri-41722, Maharashtra, India, Gaikwad K.B
PLANT ARCHIVES
Abstract
Triticum aestivum L. (bread wheat) is the most extensively cultivated wheat species worldwide; however, growing concerns regarding nutritional quality have renewed interest in traditional and ancient wheat species such as Triticum sphaerococcum Percival. T. sphaerococcum, an ancient hexaploid wheat predominantly distributed in the Indian subcontinent, has been reported to possess higher grain protein content and improved nutrient density compared to modern bread wheat cultivars. The present study aims to comparatively evaluate the nutritional composition of T. sphaerococcum and T. aestivum, with special emphasis on proximate composition and key nutritional attributes. Elucidating the nutritional advantages of T. sphaerococcum may facilitate its utilization in food diversification, nutritio