The Effect of Species and Cultivation Year on Phenolic Acids Content in Ancient Wheat

During the last decade older (ancient) wheat species, such as spelt (Triticum spelta L.), emmer (Triticum dicoccon Schrank), and einkorn (Triticum monococcum L.) have been recognised as an interesting option to increase the biodiversity of cultivated cereals. The aim of this study was to compare polyphenols content in the ancient species of cereals (including six accessions of spelt, four of emmer, and one of einkorn) cultivated in the three-year controlled plot experiment under organic management. It has been found that the content of almost all free and bound phenolic acids was significantly higher in einkorn than in emmer and spelt wheat species. Moreover, the concentrations of ferulic, p-coumaric, and caffeic acids in einkorn and emmer was higher in dry and very warm cultivation years. It is concluded that ancient wheat species, especially einkorn, could be an important source of phenolic acids in the human diet.