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Free sterols from hexaploid and tetraploid free-threshing wheats (Triticum aestivum L. and T. durum Desf.) and from their respective hulled wheats (T. spelta L. and T. dicoccon Schrank) were analysed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. The qualitative analysis of sterols showed a similar pattern either between hexaploid (T. aestivum, T. spelta) and tetraploid (T. durum, T. dicoccon) wheats or between free-threshing (T. aestivum, T. durum) and hulled (T. spelta, T. dicoccon) wheats. However, quantitative differences were found between tetraploid and hexaploid wheats, in that free sterol amounts in tetraploid wheats were 40% higher than in hexaploid ones. The mass spectra of the sterols were classified into four groups, taking into account the structural features of rings A and B. Typical mass spectral fragmentations of the four classes, and additional evidence related to the side chain of each molecule, were investigated together with their chromatographic behaviour, allowing identification of all the detected sterols.

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Fatty acid steryl esters (FASE) in whole meal of 14 genotypes of tetraploid wheats (Triticum dicocconand T. durum) and 17 genotypes of hexaploid wheats (T. spelta and T. aestivum) were analyzed using different chromatographic strategies. By both GC-FID and HPLC-ELSD, tetraploid wheats are lacking two major peaks. The amounts of FASE, calculated on the basis of the GC-FID analysis, were double in hexaploid species as compared to tetraploids (40 and 20 mg/100 g db, respectively). HPLC with ESI-MS detection enabled the identification of FASE by the characteristic fragmentations and ion-adducts of each molecule. The distribution of steryl residues was not different between the wheat species: the main class of steryl derivatives found was the beta-sitosteryl derivatives, followed by campesteryl derivatives with small amounts of stigmasteryl esters. The esterified fatty acids explain the difference between the hexaploid and tetraploid wheats. In particular, small amounts of campesteryl and beta-sitosteryl, while no trace of stigmasteryl palmitates, were found in T. durum or its hulled ancestor T. dicoccon. Steryl oleates were not detectable in T. aestivum or its hulled ancestor T. spelta, which is consistent with the filogenesis of tetraploid and hexaploid species. Both chromatographic techniques (GC and HPLC) showed that FASE are useful to discriminate between hexaploid and tetraploid wheats from both qualitative and quantitative points of view.