Dietary fiber in triticale grain: Variation in content, composition, and molecular weight distribution of extractable components

Triticale, a man made cereal is mainly used in animal feed but also in food and as a renewable crop for energy. In this study, eight triticale cultivars and reference rye and wheat were grown at two locations in Sweden (Svalöv and Kölbäck). The harvested grains were characterized for dietary fiber (DF) content, molecular weight distribution of extractable DF components, and some general quality parameters (bulk density, thousand kernel weight, and content of crude protein, crude fat, starch, maltose, sucrose, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber). Total DF content (13–16%) was affected by both location and cultivar. Arabinoxylan (average 6.8%), fructan (average 2.3%), cellulose (average 2.1%), Klason lignin (average 1.6%), and β-glucan (average 0.7%) were main components of DF. Cultivars grown at Kölbäck contained extractable arabinoxylan with significantly lower weight-average and number-average molecular weights, probably due to rainy weather and sprouting in the ears. The Calcofluor average molecular weight of extractable β-glucan was highly reduced at this site. About 80% of the fructan had a low degree of polymerization (3–9). Our results show that modern triticale grain has a DF profile and molecular weight distribution of extractable DF components that are much more similar to wheat than rye.

► Dietary fiber profile is an important consideration for triticale feed value.
► We characterized dietary fiber profile of triticale grown at Svalöv and Kölbäck.
► Significant location and genotype effects on dietary fiber parameters were observed.
► Kölbäck had mostly higher contents and degraded molecular weight distribution.
► When comparing, triticale dietary fiber profile was more similar to wheat than rye.