Three non-food cultivars of winter wheat (Biscay, Clarus, Rapsodia) were grown at four locations in the Czech Republic with different agro-ecological conditions in the years [2005][2006][2007][2008] and two levels of nitrogen fertilization -90 and 120 kg N/ha were used. The influence of growing conditions (year, location, cultivation technology) on grain yield, starch content, protein, gluten, share of amylose in starch, falling number and amylographic characteristics. All qualitative indicators were significantly affected by the weather. Wheat grown in the areas 500 m a.s.l. had lower grain yield of 2.8 t/ha (8.4 t/ha), higher starch content of 2.1% (69.0%) and lower content of proteins by 1.8% (10.2%) in grain than wheat grown in the fertile conditions (below 300 m a.s.l.). The cv. Biscay had the highest starch content of 68%; the proportion of amylose in the starch was in the range 22-27%. The content of proteins was negatively correlated with starch content (r = -0.89). The level of damage of starch α-amylase was most affected by wet weather during ripening -falling number was 62 s, with a very low amylographic gelatinization maximum (30-155 Brabender units) and a low gelatinization temperature at the maximum (67-74°C). The respective values recorded in dry conditions were ca 300 s, AU 600 and 90°C. Most damaged starch was recorded in the cv. Clarus.
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241Plant Soil Environ. Vol. 61, 2015, No. 6: 241-246 doi: 10.17221/13/2015-PSE also cultivars with high enzyme activity (ethanol production) or with a high gluten content and good gluten washability (the Martin process for washing out the starch from wheat dough with tap water while it passes through a tumbling cylindrical agitator) (Day et al. 2006). Climatic conditions and the course of the weather affect starch content in wheat grain as well. Higher starch content in wheat was recorded in crops grown in cooler regions at higher altitudes (Petr et al. 2001). In contrast, dry weather conditions caused a decrease in yield and a higher proportion of crude protein in the grain (Erekul and Köhn 2006). Cox et al. (1985) reported that low-input cultivation technology significantly affects grain yield, protein and starch content. High doses of nitrogen increased crude protein content, and reduced the starch content in the grain (Vnuk and Ložek 1995). Studies focused on the effect of nitrogen fertilization showed a high positive correlation between gluten and protein content in flour (Szentpétery et al. 1992). Increasing nitrogen fertilization also increased the proportion of water-insoluble proteins, which enhanced the gluten washability (Kelfkens and Hamer 1991).As it is possible to grow non-food cultivars with a high starch content in areas unsuitable for food wheat, the aim of the investigation was to compare starch production in selected non-food wheat cultivars in relation to the intensity of cultivation technology and the agro-ecological conditions in the growing regions.
MATERIAL AND METHODSPlant material and localities. Three winter wheat...