White Wheat Grain Quality Changes with Genotype, Nitrogen Fertilization, and Water Stress

Abstract

Th e production of hard white winter (HWW) wheats (Triticum aestivum L.) with acceptable protein content and quality over diff erent environments requires the correct combination of genotypes and management practices. Th e objectives of this study were to evaluate moisture defi cit and N management on grain protein and quality of seven HWW and two soft white winter (SWW) genotypes, and to identify genotypes and traits that minimize grain quality variability. Plots were irrigated during grain fi ll to replace from 100 to <30% of estimated evapotranspiration (ET). Biomass of three genotypes across the irrigation levels was used as an integrated estimation of plant water stress at late grain fi ll. Biomass reductions under water stress tended to be higher if plots received high N fertilization. Water stress reduced grain yield, test weight, and kernel weight and diameter. Reducing irrigation increased average grain protein content from 116.4 to 128.3 g kg -1 . Nitrogen treatment did not aff ect grain yield. Additional N increased grain protein content and hardness for all genotypes. Reductions in test weight, and grain weight and diameter were observed under high N fertilization. High N fertilization would increase the numbers of kernels and extend the grain-fi ll period, which result in greater water and heat stress. Th e SWW genotypes had greater reductions in test weight than HWW genotypes with increasing water stress. Among HWW genotypes, late maturing genotypes had larger reductions in test weight than early genotypes. In regions where late season water stress is common, early maturing genotypes are more likely to produce consistent grain quality.

Impact of Dual‐Purpose Management on Wheat Grain Yield

“…Grazing increased grain volume weight approximately 1% in our experiments. Grain volume weight can be influenced by the amount of assimilates available per grain during the grain‐fill period (Saint Pierre et al, 2008). Khalil et al (2002) reported one to four fewer kernels per spike in dual‐purpose systems as compared to grain‐only systems.…”

EFFECT OF INORGANIC NITROGEN SOURCES WITH FOLIAR APPLICATION OF ZN AND B ON WHEAT (Triticum aestivum L.) CULTIVATED IN ALLUVIAL SOIL

“…It is well documented that, N fertilization increased wheat biomass (Golik et al 2005), yield (Fallahi et al 2008) and protein content (Saint Pierre et al 2008). In fact, nitrogen is a constitutive component of chlorophyll and proteins affecting thus photosynthesis process (Tranavičienė et al 2007).…”

Understanding the Interactions between Biomass, Grain Production and Grain Protein Content in High and Low Protein Wheat Genotypes under Controlled Environments

“…Increasing GPC is positively correlated with grain hardness in both hard and soft wheats [3][4][5]. Changes in kernel hardness can affect milling, downstream processing and consequently end products [6]. Due to the negative correlation between grain weight and GPC [7][8][9], grain weight increase may reduce the end-use quality of hard wheats [1,10].…”