The influence of abiotic factors on forming grain quality of bread winter wheat in the conditions of the Donetsk region

Abstract

Purpose. To establish the dependence of grain quality formation of bread winter wheat on the effect of abiotic factors in the conditions of the Donetsk region. Methods. It was field research supplemented by analytical studies, measurements, calculations and observations in accordance with common methods and methodological recommendations in crop production. The research was carried out on experimental plots in field crop rotation of the State Enterprise “Experimental farm “Zaboishchyk” of the DSAES NAAS”. The years of the research were different by agroclimatic conditions during grain formation and filling: 2014 was wet, 2015 was dry, and 2016 was the optimal for the annual rainfall. Results. Weather conditions had the greatest impact on test weight (79.8 %) and 1000 kernel weight (61.8 %). The most of 17 winter wheat varieties studied formed the maximum 1000 kernel weight under increased rainfall and humidity during period of grain filling. The highest 1000 kernel weight (44.6 g) has been recorded in the variety Ihrysta. This index was the most stable in the varieties Yuzovska and Ihrysta (coefficient of variation 2.9 and 2.1, respectively). The degree of influence of variety characteristics on gluten indices (both quantity and quality) was 72.0 % and 67.9 %, respectively. Grain protein content almost similarly depends on the conditions of the year, and on the characteristics of the variety. Under high moisture protein content decreased, but variation of this index was insignificant. The varieties tested were quite stable in protein content and gluten quality. The minimum variability on test weight, gluten content and 1000 kernel weight was in the variety Ihrysta, whereas on protein content in the variety Yuzovska. To evaluate several indices simultaneously it is advisable to use one typical dimensionless scale with binary conversion of response 1 and 0 (meets or does not meet the normative requirements). This makes it possible to determine the abiotic conditions of growing when grain of given variety meets the requirements of regulatory documents established. So, the grain of the varieties Ihrysta and Peremoha corresponded to normative requirements (the value of complex quality index is 1) regardless of agroclimatic growing conditions, and grain of the variety Yuzovska did only under optimal and wet growing conditions. Conclusions. It has been established that gluten indices (quantity and quality) essentially depended on the variety. Weather conditions had the greatest impact on test weight and 1000 kernel weight. The dependence of the grain protein content is almost the same both on the year conditions and on the variety characteristics. The transition to the using complex quality index allows determining under what abiotic conditions the grain of given variety meets normative requirements.