Protein quantification and enzyme activity estimation of Pakistani wheat landraces.

Wheat is a major food grain in Pakistan having a prominent role in agriculture as well as the economic status of the country. In the current study, seeds of 99 wheat landraces were characterized for the quantification of seed storage proteins (Albumins, Globulin, Gliadins, and Glutenin), enzyme activities of antioxidant enzymes i.e. Ascorbate peroxidase (APX), Catalase (CAT), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Peroxidase (POD), one hydrolytic enzyme Protease (PROT) and non-enzymatic antioxidant enzyme Ascorbic acid (AsA). The landraces were categorized into low, medium, and high based on protein concentration and enzymes activities/content. The majority of the landraces were placed in the medium category. However, for the AsA parameter majority of the landraces were placed in the low category. The highest concentration of total extracted protein (184.88±0.7 mg/g. wt.), globulins (21.35±0.43 mg/g. wt.) and glutenin (20±0.04 mg/g. wt.) as well as the high activity of SOD (303±16.80 Units/g. wt.), and Ascorbic acid (533±36.1 Units/g. wt.) was identified in the wheat landrace "11757" collected from district Panjgur (Balochistan). The wheat landrace "11760", collected from district Kech (Balochistan), contained the highest albumins concentration (65.42±0.02 mg/g. wt.) and highest activity for CAT (589.5±61.20 Units/g. wt.). The highest activity of POD (32341± 91.3) and PROT was observed in seeds of the wheat landrace "11618" collected from the Gilgit Baltistan region of Pakistan. The principal component analysis showed that the great variations existed for the tested parameters among the wheat landraces. The landraces with a high concentration of seed storage proteins and antioxidant enzyme activities can be used for breeding purposes to improve the nutrimental quality of wheat cultivars.