Multiple divergent selection on viscosity of a water extract of winter rye

Abstract

Results of ten cycles of divergent selection on water extract viscosity (WEV) based on varieties of winter rye Al’fa and Moskovskaya 12 are presented. Efficiency of selection depended both on genotype of a variety and direction of selection. Selection in a plus-direction was more effective than in a minus-direction. After ten cycles of selection, the potential of WEV increased in high viscosity populations by 3.3–6.0 times, while it decreased by 2.6–3.5 times in low viscosity populations. The asymmetry of the response was detected during the first cycle of the selection and it remained in all subsequent cycles. The high viscosity populations were more yielding (by 23.8%) than low viscosity populations and had the best baking qualities of grain. Their superiority manifested the most strongly by grain unit (by 7.9%), weight of 1000 grains (by 23.4%), falling number (by 90 s), amylogram height (by 5.4 times), and gelatinization temperature of starch (by 3.2°С). From low viscosity populations, strongly blurring bread with large pores and sticky and restive crumb was produced. Prospects of selection of baking and fodder varieties of a winter rye based on selection of genotypes with high and low WEV are discussed.