Quality (End-Use) Improvement in Wheat

Abstract

Abstract Wheat provides nutrients and the raw materials for industrialized food production. Recent global economic trends and increases in urban population growth have led to an increased demand for wheat-based convenience foods (fast, ready-to-eat, frozen foods, etc.) and for new wheat-based products. These factors have resulted in a greater emphasis than ever on the end-use quality of wheat. This paper reviews grain compositional aspects influencing the processing and quality attributes of the main foods produced with wheat, as well as the breeding strategies and methodologies used to achieve germplasm with desirable end-use quality. Common wheat (Triticum aestivum) is used in bread (leavened, flat, and steamed), noodles, biscuits, and cakes. Durum wheat (T. turgidum L. var. durum) is used globally in alimentary pasta and regional foods (flat breads, couscous, and burghoul) in North Africa and West Asia. Grain characteristics (grain hardness, protein content/quality, enzymatic activity, etc.) play a moderate to important role in the processing and end-use quality of wheat-based products. Among these, gluten strength and extensibility, which are determined by glutenin (HMW and LMW) and gliadin composition, are two of the main factors that determine quality. The complex and generally additive nature of inheritance of most quality traits has led to the development of several indirect tests used in early and advanced generations to increase the frequency of high yielding lines with desirable quality attributes. Additionally, characterization of HMW and LMW glutenins and gliadins allows breeders to combine protein content and quality more effectively. The use of molecular-marker-assisted selection and genetic transformation is expected to accelerate the tailoring of new wheat varieties to meet specific end-use quality requirements. Accumulating desirable quality genes will help reduce genotype X environment effects on quality-presently among the major challenges confronting breeders.