Twelve pigmented wheat genotypes, one tritordeum, and one common wheat were grown in three field experiments under varying nitrogen (N) fertilization rates to investigate the contributions of genotype, environment, and fertilization on the levels of phenolic acids, anthocyanins, carotenoids and antioxidant capacity of the grains. Soluble phenolic acids increased significantly (+16%) in the environment with high soil N content, while bound phenolic acids and anthocyanins decreased (-16 and -57%). N fertilization affected the agronomic and qualitative traits but had limited effects on some bioactive compounds (bound phenolic acids and anthocyanins). The greatest differences appeared among the color groups and within the same color types, with the black group showing the most anthocyanins and phenolic acids (34.4 and 1207 mg·kg-1) and the highest antioxidant capacity. Some of the cultivars could be promising for the development of innovative supply chains and the production of functional foods, as they showed good yield and quality performances, and good antioxidant features.
Keywords: Triticum aestivum; anthocyanins; antioxidant capacity; carotenoids; nitrogen; phenolic acids; pigmented cereals; technological quality; × Tritordeum martinii.