Relations of thiamine content in Saskatchewan wheat to protein content, variety, and soil zone.

Abstract

The thiamine content (by a short method) and the protein content of 754 samples of the 1946 wheat crop and 458 samples of the 1947 wheat crop were determined. In 1946 four varieties were tested m each of the four soil zones, while in 1947 three varieties were tested on the Brown and Dark Brown soils and four on the Black and Black-Gray Transition soils. A highly significant positive correlation between thiamine and protein content was found for the two crops. No significant differences between thiamine values of the Thatcher 1946 and 1947 crop were found. Similarly, an analysis of variance for thiamine content of Redman in the Black and Black-Gray Transition soil zones and Rescue in the Brown and Dark Brown soil zones, for the two crop years showed no significant difference. Of the four varieties, Thatcher, Rescue, Pelissier, and Stewart grown in the Brown and Dark Brown soil zones, Stewart was significantly higher in thiamine content. The greatest range in thiamine content was 2.73 μgm. per gm. for Thatcher in the Black-Gray Transition soil zone (mean 4.01 μgm. per gm.) to 9.57 μgm. per gm. for Stewart in the Brown soil zone (mean 6.18 μgm. per gm.). A highly significant difference was found for varieties grown in different zones for both years. The values decreased as the soil changed from brown to dark brown, to black and degraded black, and finally to gray.