This study was conducted to evaluate the germination rate, chemical composition, and in vitro digestibility of sprouted barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) sprouts depending on cultivar and growth duration. Four cultivars Keunalbori1ho, Saekeumkang, Arijinheuk, and Jokyoung were tested under hydroponic and nutrient solution conditions. The germination rate was significantly higher under hydroponic conditions compared to nutrient solution treatment. Sprouts were harvested at 0, 4, 6, and 8 days for subsequent analysis. Chemical compositions, such as dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), and crude ash (CA), were analyzed following AOAC (2005) protocols, while neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents were determined according to the method of Van Soest et al. (1991). In vitro digestibility was assessed by incubating ground samples with rumen buffer in DaisyII incubators for 48 h. At day 6 of growth, Keunalbori1ho showed the highest NDF and ADF concentrations (48.6% and 26.2%), reflecting its high structural fiber and the lowest digestibility (IVDMD 52.2%, IVNDFD 37.2%). However, it maintained consistent nutritional characteristics across all growth stages, suggesting potential as a stable forage source. In contrast, Saekeumkang exhibited the highest IVNDFD (59.1%) along with relatively low NDF (30.5%) and ADF (16.7%) values (p<0.05), indicating superior digestibility likely attributed to a simpler cell wall structure and higher NFC availability. Notably, digestibility sharply declined by day 8, implying that the optimal harvest window lies around day 6. Therefore, this study suggests that the cultivars Keunalbori1ho and Saekeumkang possess complementary strengths in terms of chemical composition and digestibility, underscoring the importance of optimizing cultivar selection and harvest timing to enhance the potential of cereal sprouts as high quality forage.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a significant cereal crop from the Gramineae family, serves as a vital source of protein, essential minerals, B-group vitamins, and dietary fiber. However, its productivity is often hindered by issues such as poor seed germination, which can adversely affect yield and crop quality. This study investigated the effects of different silicon concentrations and priming durations on wheat germination and seedling growth. Analysis of variance revealed that silicon treatment significantly influenced key parameters of germination and growth, including germination percentage (GP), germination index (GI), vigor index (VI), radicle length (RL), plumule length (PL), and seedling dry weight (SDW). Priming with silicon at a concentration of 1 mM resulted in notable improvements, increasing GP, GI, VI, RL, and PL by 10.6%, 65.5%, 29.4%, 18.6%, and 28.6%, respectively, after 6 hours of priming. Certain germination traits demonstrated strong positive correlations, particularly GP and GI (r = 0.96) and VI and RL (r = 0.94), after 4 hours of priming. These improvements in seed germination and seedling development may result from enhanced water uptake, stimulated cell division, and increased hydrolytic enzyme activity, which facilitate the mobilization of seed reserves and accelerate the growth of embryonic tissues.

This study aimed to compare effects of cultivation areas (upland and reclaimed land) and harvest time on contents of bioactive components and antioxidant activities of wheat sprouts. Contents of Ca and K were higher in upland, while content of Mg was higher in reclaimed land. Mineral content decreased after winter, regardless of the harvest time. Total dietary fiber increased by 24.3% in reclaimed land and improved by 45.2% after winter, with Ariginheuk showing the highest fiber content (34.41 ± 0.53 g/100 g). Total polyphenols increased by 48.6% in reclaimed, but decreased by 26.7% after winter. Similarly, flavonoids increased by 87.8% in reclaimed land but declined after winter. Content of octacosanol, a key bioactive compound, was 33.2% higher (7.75 ± 0.09 mg/g) in Ariginheuk grown in reclaimed land and decreased after winter. Antioxidant activities measured by ABTS and DPPH assays increased by 51.4% and 82.4%, respectively, in reclaimed land, with pre-winter harvests showing higher scavenging abilities. Overall, reclaimed land generally showed higher contents of bioactive components, with contents of pre-winter harvests being more beneficial. These findings highlight significant differences in wheat sprouts' physiological activities based on cultivation area and harvest time, suggesting that reclaimed land and pre-winter harvesting might offer advantages.

This study aimed to broaden the utilization of rice flour by incorporating it into white bread. The rice flour used was derived from the "Baromi 2 (B2)" soft rice variety developed by the Rural Development Administration. Wheat flour in white bread was substitution with B2 at levels of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100%. The physicochemical properties of the resulting products were evaluated. As B2 substitution levels increased, fermentation expansion and product volume decreased. However, no significant differences from the control group were observed substitution levels up to 20%. Increasing B2 levels also reduced the crust’s Browning Index (BI), whereas products with appropriate B2 substitution exhibited reduced staling rates. These findings suggest that B2 has the potential to be used as a wheat flour substitute at levels up to 20% in baked goods. This study also reaffirms B2’s suitability as an alternative to wheat flour, suggesting that incorporating various baking enzymes and gluten substitutes will improve the quality of rice-based bread products in future applications.

During the cultivation of wheat sprouts, antioxidant activity was measured during each cultivation period. Wheat sprouts from the cultivation period showing the highest antioxidant activity were added at different concentrations to make wheat sprout sulgidduk. Their physicochemical properties then were measured. As a result, when wheat sprouts were cultivated to about 14 cm, contents of ascorbic acid and polyphenol compounds were the highest. Their ABTS radical scavenging activities also showed high values. Thus, wheat sprouts grown about 14 cm were added at a concentration of 0 to 7% to prepare wheat sprout sulgidduk. The lightness (L) of the control was the highest. Redness (a) and yellowness (b) of wheat sprout sulgidduk increased as the amount of wheat sprout added increased. Contents of ascorbic acid and polyphenol compounds and ABTS radical scavenging activities of wheat sprout sulgidduk added with the highest wheat sprout content were significantly higher than those of others. Regarding the texture, the addition of wheat sprout resulted in slightly higher hardness, gumminess, and chewiness than the control. However, springiness and cohesiveness were not significantly different between treatment groups.