xAgrotriticum spp.: Quality properties of a potential perennial cereal candidate for sustainable agriculture

Perennial crop species have gained greater importance with regard to agricultural sustainability because of the ecological concerns related to annual crops. This study aimed to determine some of the primary quality traits of <i>xAgrotriticum</i> grains, a potential perennial wheat genotype, in comparison to the annual bread wheat variety Fineway. The antioxidant activity of <i>xAgrotriticum</i> was 2.79-, 1.38-, and 2.35-fold higher than that of bread wheat according to the 2,2-diphenyl-1picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CURPAC) methods, respectively. The free, bound, and total phenolic contents in <i>xAgrotriticum</i> were 1.34-, 1.59-, and 1.54-fold higher than those in bread wheat. The protein content (19.58 %) of <i>xAgrotriticum</i> was 1.48-fold higher than that of bread wheat. Essential amino acids constituted 28.65 % of the total amino acids in <i>xAgrotriticum</i> and 30.38 % in Fineway. Interestingly, methionine and tryptophan were present in <i>xAgrotriticum</i> although both were below the detection limits in wheat. However, compared with wheat, the arginine content of <i>xAgrotriticum</i> was 18-fold higher with glycine and tyrosine both 8-fold more abundant. <i>xAgrotriticum</i> has significantly richer iron, zinc, and copper contents; 1.31-, 1.74-, and 2.02-fold, respectively, than wheat. <i>xAgrotriticum</i> may offer potential for direct use as a foodstuff or raw material due to its nutritional elements, in addition to its potential as a genitor in hybridisation programs to improve the nutritional values of annual wheat and its prenniality which is considered one of the primary necessities for more sustainable agriculture.