Influence of extreme environmental changes on grain quality of winter common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

I. Stoeva, D. Atanasova, P. Chamurliyski, N. Tsenov

Abstract: Situation and purpose: A field experiment was carried out under the conditions of north-eastern Bulgaria to establish the effect of the long and severe drought in 2007 on common wheat grain quality. For this purpose, grain quality-determining parameters formed during the two contrasting years were compared. Methods: Under the field conditions of a competitive varietal trial the most important indices which characterize grain quality were analyzed. The comparison was based on the data of the indices during year 2006 which was very favorable for formation of high quality grain. The grain quality, expressed through its specific parameters, of dozens of promising lines was analyzed in detail and compared to model cultivars. The actual change of the quality indices was followed in direct relation to the genetic nature of the investigated genotypes. Key results: Under long drought, grain quality changed in various ways specific for each quality index. Test weight increased while protein content and sedimentation did not change significantly. All other characters were affected negatively. Conclusions: Under drought, the indices related to dough strength and bread making quality - dough resistance, valorimetric value and loaf volume - suffered highest negative effect. When grain quality changed, the lower the genetic potential for quality of a given variety, the less its indices varied. This explains the high variation in the quality of the strong wheat varieties under changeable year conditions.

Keywords: drought; extreme environments; grain quality; wheat

Date published: 2019-02-20