A research project entitled “Wheat with enhanced resistant starch: A nutraceutical approach to better health” worth INR 46.08 Lakhs has been awarded to the team of scientists from the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, and the School of Agricultural Biotechnology.
The project will focus on seeking the ‘nutrient claim’ from ‘Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)’ for commercialization of PBWRS1 for diabetic and obese people. The PAU developed PBW RS 1 is a premium wheat variety having nutraceutical value wing to enhanced resistant starch levels in the grain, leading to low glycemic index. Characterization, utilization, commercialization and popularization of advance wheat lines having high resistant starch (HRS) in different backgrounds, followed by evaluation of selected HRS lines processing traits for their potential use in chapati, biscuit and bread making will be done.
Dr Achla Sharma, Principal Wheat Breeder and Principal Investigator of the project, said, “In view of the enhanced consumer awareness and the advent of new era diseases like obesity and diabetes, the HRS wheat will be a boon to the society,”
The project team consists of Drs VS Sohu, GS Mavi, Puja Srivastava, Lenika Kashyap and Satinder Singh from the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics. Drs Parveen Chhuneja and Satinder Kaur are the team members from the School of Agricultural Biotechnology.
Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, Vice Chancellor, PAU, congratulated the scientists and wished them success in all their future endeavor’s.
“The commercial availability of the HRS in staple food is expected to be very beneficial to all the financial classes of the society struggling with diabetes and obesity,” observed Dr AS Dhatt, Director Research, PAU, while lauding the team of scientists.
Read more: https://www.pau.edu/index.php?_act=manageEvent&DO=viewEventDetail&dataE=datae&intID=8568
