LAUSR

Proximate composition was determined in 19 wheat cultivars from the Canary Islands in order to establish differences between them and contribute to their characterization. All parameters analysed showed significant differences between cultivars; and also many parameters were affected by the species and subspecies of wheat. Triticum aestivum had higher mean moisture, protein, and fibre and lower mean starch, sucrose, and amylose concentrations than Triticum turgidum. Low starch content and high fibre content could be due to the transformation of starch into resistant starch during desiccation process. An important contribution of complex carbohydrates, including fibre as well as protein and phenolic compounds, was observed for the consumption of wheat.