Exploring Wheat Biodiversity for Sustainable Development: Biochemical and Protein Profiling of Forty Genotypes Grown in Arid Ecosystems

Abstract

Purpose: Employing eco-friendly approaches to improve wheat resilience to stresses and grain quality is a critical act for promoting agricultural sustainability and shrinking global food security challenges, such as climate change. In this respect, conducting a biochemical characterization for wheat landraces is a significant step toward developing new cultivars having high grain quality and nutritional value. Methods: This study explores the biochemical diversity of 40 Egyptian wheat landraces (G1-G40) cultivated in Sohag Governorate, Egypt as a model for arid regions, over two consecutive agricultural seasons (2021/2022 and 2022/2023). Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy quantified grain chemical composition, including carbohydrate, starch, protein, and mineral contents, while SDS-PAGE protein profiling revealed significant polymorphisms, underscoring the genetic diversity among landraces. Chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids concentrations were assessed through standard spectrophotometric methods, offering insights into the antioxidant potential of the grains. Results: G1 (for protein %), G5 (for moisture %), G12 (for ash % and fiber %), G14 (for carbohydrates % and starch %) and G28 (for lipid %) recorded the maximum values. According to the analysis of seed storage proteins, the total number of bands that detected for each genotype ranged from 8 to 19, indicating varying levels of genetic diversity among the genotypes. Notably, genotypes G9 and G10 exhibit a high similarity coefficient of 0.923, suggesting comparable molecular features in their seed storage proteins. Highly similar genotypes, such as G1, G2, and G3, clustered at the highest similarity levels, reflecting nearly identical seed storage protein profiles. Distinct genotypes, such as G9 and G3, which branch off earlier in the dendrogram, underscore significant differences in their seed storage protein profiles. Conclusion: The observed biochemical variability highlights the available potential of Egyptian wheat landraces for breeding programs aimed at improving nutritional quality, stress resilience, and industrial suitability. These findings offer critical insights for biodiversity conservation and developing climate-smart wheat cultivars optimized for modern agricultural demands.