THIAMINE AND RIBOFLAVIN CONTENT OF WHEAT, BARLEY AND OATS GROWN IN DIFFERENT SOIL ZONES IN ALBERTA

Abstract

A study was made of the thiamine and riboflavin content of Marquis wheat, Newal barley, and Victory oats grown in Alberta in the years 1944 and 1945 under widely different conditions of soil and climate. The mean thiamine content of Victory oats, 5.6 ± 1.5 μgm. per gm., was found to be significantly higher than that of Marquis wheat, 4.4 ± 1.2, or of Newal barley, 4.6 ± 1.0 μgm. per gm. A positive correlation between protein and thiamine content was demonstrated m wheat and oats but not in barley. In all three grains the mean thiamine content of samples grown in the brown soil zone was significantly higher than that of samples grown in the gray soil zone. The mean values obtained for riboflavin were 1.34 ± 0.23, 1.25 ± 0.25, and 1.27 ± 0.18 μgm. per gm. in wheat, barley, and oats, respectively. No significant correlation between protein and riboflavin was found in any of the three cereals. The mean riboflavin content of samples of wheat, barley, and oats grown on gray soils was slightly lower than that of samples grown on black or brown soils.