Abstract
The effect of photoperiod durations (16 h light:8 h dark vs 22 h light:2 h dark) and different doses (0.5x and 1x) of Murashige and Skoog medium on the yield and antioxidant characteristics of wheatgrass from hard, medium-hard and soft wheat varieties were analyzed. The average wheatgrass height and wheatgrass yield increased in MS media both under normal photoperiod as well as in water under prolonged photoperiod. An increase in total phenolic content (TPC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of wheatgrass in different strengths of MS media under normal photoperiod was observed. Whereas, increase in protein content, chlorophyll (Chl) a, Chl b, total Chl, average TPC, DPPH inhibition and FRAP values were observed for wheatgrass of different varieties grown in water under prolonged photoperiod. The accumulation of polypeptides (PPs) of 92 kDa, 33 kDa, 23 kDa, 14 kDa, 12 kDa, and 10 kDa for wheatgrass shoot powder of different varieties was affected by strength of MS media and duration of photoperiod. On the contrary, wheatgrass juice powder showed major changes in the accumulation of PPs 33 kDa and 23 kDa PPs under varied strength of MS media and prolonged photoperiod.