Nutritional Evaluation of Rice and Wheat Cultivars

In order to improve cultivars through selection or breeding the nutrient composition of sixteen cultivars of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and eighteen cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum) was determined. The soluble sugar, starch, protein and fat content in freshly harvested grains of rice varied from 0.5–1.73, 66.50–82.33, 5.65–12.05 and 0.30–1.13%, respectively. The corresponding values for wheat varied from 1.55–3.11, 63.75–81.75, 6.50–14.56 and 0.53–1.86%. Rice and wheat grains provide 1287–1642 and 1360–1620 kj of energy per 100 g fresh weight, respectively. Moreover, the composition of macrominerals and microminerals in both the cereals has been reported. Following principal component analysis (PCA), the rice cultivar 14 (BN-20) and wheat cultivar 10 (K-210) were found to be promising for developing improved lines.