Relationship between free glutathione content and quality assessment parameters of wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.)

Freshly milled flour samples from ten cultivars of bread wheat were analysed for free reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidised glutathione (GSSG) by an enzymic method. Dough rheological properties for each flour were assessed by standard Brabender techniques. Flour quality differences were also measured by Pelshenke fermentation and Zeleny sedimentation techniques. Reduced glutathione levels were negatively correlated with oxidised glutathione levels, Farinogram mixing tolerance, Extensogram resistance, Pelshenke time and Zeleny volume. The ratios of oxidised to reduced glutathione (GSSG: GSH) were positively correlated with all dough and flour quality parameters, except Extensogram extensibility. It is concluded that there are differences in the endogenous contents of reduced and oxidised glutathione between flour samples from ten cultivars of wheat. These differences may contribute significantly to variations in the quality assessment parameters established between cultivars in this study.