Wheat Grain Protein Content Research Articles

Effect of Production Technology Intensity on the Grain Yield, Protein Content and Amino Acid Profile in Common and Durum Wheat Grain

Products derived from wheat grains are an important source of protein in the daily diet of people in many parts of the world. The biological value of protein is determined by its amino acid composition and the proportions of the individual amino acids. Synthesis of these compounds in wheat grains is influenced by genetic factors, as well as habitat conditions and the agrotechnology applied in cultivation. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of production technology (integrated, intensive) on the grain yield and the content amino acid profile of protein in common and durum wheat grain. Field research was conducted at the Experimental Station IUNG-PIB in Osiny (Poland) in two growing seasons. It was found that grain yield significantly depended on the weather conditions in the years of harvesting and genotype, but did not depend on the production technology. On the other hand, the protein content and their amino acid composition depended significantly on the production technology and genotype. A significantly higher content of protein substances was found in durum wheat grain. Increasing the intensity of production technology had a positive effect on the total protein content and the content of individual amino acids, both exogenous and endogenous. The amino acid limiting the biological value of protein contained in grains of both wheat species was lysine, and the deficiency of this amino acid was significantly lower in grain protein from intensive than integrated cultivation technology.

Comparative assessment of the winter grain crops’ feeding value by the content of arabinoxylans

ABSTRACT The main difference in fodder qualities of winter rye, triticale and wheat grains is the content of anti-nutritive substances: water-soluble pentosans and, accordingly, the viscosity of the aqueous extract of grain. Lack of scientific information about the content of antinutrients in the grain of winter cereal crops determines the relevance of the research; and the possibility to develop ways of using it and volumes of production for fodder purposes determines study’s innovativeness. The paper was set out to make a comparative assessment of the winter rye, winter triticale and winter wheat grain quality. On average for three years, the protein content of winter wheat grain was 11.5%, winter triticale – 10.0% and winter rye – 8.5%. In terms of starch content, winter wheat grain differs significantly from winter rye grain (by 0.9 percentage points more); winter triticale (by 0.8 percentage points more). On average, over three years, phosphorus in winter rye grain was 0.02 percentage points less than in wheat grain and 0.03 percentage points less than in triticale grain. Winter triticale and wheat grains hardly vary in the content of arabinoxylans and the viscosity of the aqueous extract. The results can be used in fodder production and animal husbandry.

Yield and grain quality parameters in domestic and foreign varieties of soft winter wheat

Topicality. One of the main indicators that determine the commercial value of wheat grain, its baking and technological properties is the mass fraction of protein. The results of scientific research and agricultural production practices show that over the past 80–90 years in the southern regions of Ukraine, the protein content of winter wheat grain has decreased from 17–18 % to 10–12 %, and in unfavourable weather conditions, the amount of protein in grain can even decrease to 8.0–9.5 %. Improving the wheat grain quality is one of the challenges facing Ukraine today. Ukraine has a high position in the global grain market: its share in wheat exports averages 5 %. Purpose. To estimate the yield and biochemical parameters of grain quality of soft winter wheat at the current stage. Methods. Field trials were conducted according to the B. A. Dospekhov’s methodology of field experience. Agricultural technology of winter wheat cultivation is generally accepted for the Steppe zone of Ukraine. Accounting the yield was carried out according to the methodology of state variety testing the agricultural crops. The protein content in the grain was determined by infrared spectrometry and the Kjeldahl method. The level of protein sedimentation was determined by the SDS 30 method. Results. When comparing the obtained data on yield in the collection, it was found that modern domestic and foreign varieties (I, II, III group) in the optimal conditions of growing season had an average yield of 103–107 % higher than varieties of early stages of breeding. The soft winter wheat varieties developed by the Plant Breeding and Genetics Institute – National Center for Seeds and Cultivar Investigation are the leaders in terms of yield. Foreign varieties are not sufficiently adapted to local weather conditions, which significantly affects the realisation of yield potential. As a result of the negative correlation between yield and grain quality, with each stage of breeding, including in modern varieties, grain protein content decreases by 0.5–1.5 % along with yield growth. In terms of sedimentation level, the varieties of the Plant Breeding and Genetics Institute – National Center for Seeds and Cultivar Investigation prevail over the varieties of the early stages of breeding. The group of varieties of Ukrainian breeding has a great diversity in terms of sedimentation level. Foreign varieties have rather low sedimentation rates. The realisation of the genetic potential of grain yield and quality of the studied varieties depended on weather conditions and doses of mineral fertilisers. Conclusions. Given the negative correlation between yield and grain quality, the significant success of breeding in increasing the yield of Ukrainian and foreign varieties was accompanied by decreasing protein content at each stage of breeding by 0.5–1.5 %. Compared to the varieties of the early stages of breeding, the SDS-30 sedimentation index was the highest only in the varieties of Plant Breeding and Genetics Institute – National Center for Seeds and Cultivar Investigation, while domestic varieties of other research institutions were slightly inferior to the varieties of the early stages of breeding. The group of foreign varieties had the lowest sedimentation index. In addition to the genetic factor, such factors as weather conditions and rates of mineral nutrition have a great influence on the formation of grain yield and quality. Key words: wheat yield, wheat adaptability, grain protein content, sedimentation, fertilizers, biochemical parameters

Late-season nitrogen application increases grain protein concentration and is neutral for yield in wheat. A global meta-analysis

Late-season nitrogen (N) application has been proposed to boost grain yield and grain protein concentration (GPC) in cereals; however, its effects on bread and durum wheat have been inconsistent in field experiments. We performed a meta-analysis to (i) assess the effect of N applications to wheat after flag leaf visible (GS 37) on grain yield and GPC; and to assess the variation in these responses with (ii) N fertiliser management, (iii) environmental factors, and (iv) physiological traits. We searched ‘ Agronomy Journal ’, ‘ Crop Science ’, ‘ European Journal of Agronomy ’, and ‘ Field Crops Research ’ for articles published between 1980 and 2021 that allowed for a direct comparison of wheat yield and GPC between N application after GS 37 to an otherwise equally managed crop that received basal N fertilisation. We also collected other traits such as stover biomass and N uptake at plant maturity, and dough rheological properties, when available. The search resulted in 38 articles that, in addition to one unpublished trial from our group, evaluated 542 pairwise comparisons in 127 environments. Across studies, grain yield ranged from 1.15 to 10.63 Mg ha −1 and showed a negative relation with GPC, which ranged from 65 to 189 g kg −1 . Late-season N fertilisation was consistently neutral for grain yield (I 2 , proportion of the overall variance due to variation in real effects rather than chance, 26.2 %) and increased GPC with a pooled estimate of 3.96 %. The response of GPC was heterogeneous (I 2 = 84 %), suggesting the need for exploration of potential moderators of the response. Meta-regression suggested that increasing the proportion of late N relative to the total available N positively associated to increases in GPC, and the residuals of this analysis suggested that later applications increased GPC response, with no effect of N fertiliser source or placement. Environments with low temperature, high photothermal quotient, and long duration of the critical period associated with greater GPC response to late-season N applications. The relative response of GPC to late fertilisation correlated with the relative response of both stover N uptake and nitrogen concentration in stover at maturity, but not with stover biomass at maturity. Alveogram index and dough extensibility increased when late-season N increased GPC. Enhancing GPC through late N applications should consider associations between management, environmental, and physiological factors. Future research should focus on forecasting GPC response to late N, based on GPC response drivers identified in the current research. • Meta-analysis highlighted physiological drivers of wheat response to late N • Grain yield was unaffected by late N across a broad range of environments • Late N increased protein by 3.96% and its effects were heterogeneous • Protein increased linearly with the proportion of late N and with later applications • Higher protein response to late N associated to favourable growing conditions

Quality of Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as Influenced by Different Nutrient Management Approaches under Northern Transitional Zone of Karnataka

The field experiments were conducted at the Research Farm of AICW&BIP, Main Agricultural Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad during rabi 2020-21 and 2021-22 and was laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with 15 treatments replicated thrice to evaluate the performance of wheat quality to various nutrient management approaches. The pooled data onto two years indicated that application of 275:40.33:135.2 kg of N:P2O5:K2O ha-1 for yield target of 55 q ha-1 under SSNM practices significantly increased the protein content (13.43 %), wet gluten (34.7 %), dry gluten (11.9 %), gluten index (81.6 %), sedimentation value (46.3 ml) and yellow pigment (5.93 ppm) in wheat grain and it was found on par with yield targets at 50 and 45 q ha-1 under SSNM.

Analyzing a Saturation Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization on Baking Volume and Grain Protein Concentration in Wheat

Some wheat cultivars show a linear relationship between grain protein concentration (GPC) and baking volume, but others display a saturation curve. Such a saturation curve could be general, but in some cultivars it might only appear at GPC > 17%. However, such GPC is mostly not achieved in the field. Pot experiments with high nitrogen application reliably result in GPC > 17%. In a pot experiment with a high (N1) and an excessive N level (N2) and four cultivars (Akteur, Arnold, Discus and Hystar), the change in grain protein composition and the relationship between different protein fractions and baking volume at GPC > 17% was investigated. GPC ranged from 17 to 24% and mean nitrogen content per grain from 1.2 to 1.8 mg. The N2 treatment increased GPC and mean nitrogen content per grain in the Akteur and Discus cultivar, but not in Arnold and Hystar. N2 increased concentration of gliadin by 10 to 34% and glutenin macropolymer (GMP) in all cultivars by 12 to 73%. Glutenin concentration was increased by N2 in Akteur and Discus (19 to 36%), but was decreased by N2 in the Arnold and Hystar cultivar. Baking volume was moderately increased by N2 in all cultivars by 6 to 9% and correlated significantly with most glutenin fractions in the Akteur and Discus cultivar, with GMP in Arnold and with HMW-GS to LMW-GS ratio in Hystar. Thus, specific effects on grain protein by N2 were responsible for the increased baking volume in each cultivar. However, as gliadin and its sub-fractions hardly correlated with baking volume, a positive effect of increasing gliadin proteins on baking quality was not obvious.

Effect of Commercial Microbial Preparations Containing Paenibacillus azotofixans, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis on the Yield and Photosynthesis of Winter Wheat and the Nitrogen and Phosphorus Content in the Soil

The present state of knowledge and biotechnological advances have allowed the potential of microorganisms to be used effectively in crop cultivation. A field study on the use of commercial bacterial preparations in the cultivation of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) was carried out in the years 2017–2019 at the Educational and Experimental Station in Tomaszkowo (53°71′ N, 20°43′ E), Poland. This study analysed the effect of commercial microbial preparations containing Paenibacillus azotofixans, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis, applied during the winter wheat growing season, on the grain yield, protein content, leaf greenness index (SPAD), the course of photosynthesis and the N-NO3, N-NH4 and P contents in the soil. The highest grain yield was noted following the application of mineral fertilisation and the three microbial preparations in combination (Paenibacillus azotofixans, Bacillus megaterium and Bacillus subtilis), as well as NPK with Paenibacillus azotofixans, in relation to mineral fertilisation alone (by 19.6% and 18.4%, respectively). The microbial preparations had a significant effect on the leaf greenness index (SPAD) at both test dates. No interaction was recorded between the years of study and the preparations applied on the SPAD values. The highest leaf photosynthetic index at both observation dates was noted for the application of NPK + P. azotofixans, as well as for NPK and all the preparations combined (P. azotofixans, B. megaterium, B. subtilis). The highest N-NO3, N-NH4 and P contents in the soil were obtained using NPK and all microbial preparations combined. Strong correlations were found between the SPAD index and the photosynthetic index value and the protein content in wheat grains and between the N-NO3, N-NH4 and P contents in the soil and the wheat grain yield.

Effects of Nitrogen Application Strategy on Nitrogen Enzyme Activities and Protein Content in Spring Wheat Grain

The aim of this study was to determine the regulatory effect of different nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rates on the grain N metabolism enzymes and protein content of drip-irrigated spring wheat under the climatic conditions in Xinjiang, China. A split plot experiment was conducted with strong gluten wheat Xinchun 38 (XC 38) and medium gluten wheat Xinchun 49 (XC 49) as experimental materials. We set up seven nitrogen treatments, in amounts of 300 (Nck), 285 (N5), 270 (N10), 255 (N15), 240 (N20), 225 (N25) and 0 (N0) kg hm−2. The effects of N application rate on nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamate-pyruvate aminotransferase (GPT), protein content, protein composition, and yield of wheat grain were studied. The results showed that NR, GS, GPT, protein content, albumin, globulin, glutenin, gliadin, and yield first increased and then decreased with the decrease in N application. Furthermore, different responses to different applications between different wheat varieties was also observed. The indexes of XC 38 reached the maximum in the N15 treatment, and the yield increased 2.99~81.45%. XC 49 showed the best indicators under the N25 treatment and the yield increased 0.37~71.29%. Under the same N level, all indicators of XC 38 were better than XC 49. Correlation analysis showed that the yield and protein yield were significantly positively correlated with NR, GS, and GPT. The interaction of N fertilizer and variety had significant effects on NR, GS, GPT, protein content, components, and yield. These results show that the protein content and yield of wheat grain can be improved by reasonably adjusting the N fertilizer application strategy.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ЭЛЕМЕНТОВ ТЕХНОЛОГИИ НА УРОЖАЙНОСТЬ И КАЧЕСТВО ЗЕРНА ЯРОВОЙ ПШЕНИЦЫ НА ЧЕРНОЗЕМНЫХ ПОЧВАХ ПРЕДВОЛЖЬЯ РЕСПУБЛИКИ ТАТАРСТАН

The article presents the results of two-year experiments (2020-2021) conducted in the conditions of Volga region of the Republic of Tatarstan. The effect of mineral fertilizers on the content of the mass fraction of gluten and protein in wheat grain was studied. The productivity and grain quality of several wheat varieties included in the State Register for the 7th region were compared when using fertilizers at a dose of N10-14P24-26K16-37 and chemical plant protection products. It was found that from the application of fertilizers and the use of the plant protection unit, an increase in grain yield for the studied varieties was obtained from 0.32-0.92 t/ha compared with the control. The field experiment was conducted in LLC Avangard of Buinsky district of the Republic of Tatarstan. The soil is leached chernozem and has the following agrochemical characteristics: humus content – 7.0-8.5%, mobile forms of phosphorus – 182-255 mg/kg, potassium – 159-193 mg/ kg and salt pH – 5.5-5.8.
 Agrochemical analyses of soils were performed in Federal State Budgetary Institution “Tatarskiy” by generally accepted methods: GOST 26213-91 (humus content), GOST 26484-85 (pHsol.), GOST 26207-91 (mobile forms of phosphorus and potassium).
 Meteorological conditions in 2020 were characterized by sufficient soil moisture and a moderate temperature regime during the growing season of spring wheat (GTK-1.28) and had a positive impact on the value of the future harvest.
 Meteorological indicators for the growing season of the research object in 2021 were extremely unfavorable for the formation of the crop. May and June were acutely arid, GTC-0.27. The precipitation in July (57% of the norm) did not have a significant impact on the formation of the spring wheat crop. From the application of fertilizers and the use of plant protection products, an increase in grain yield for the studied varieties from 0.32 to 0.92 t/ha was obtained compared to the variant without fertilizers and plant protection products. Improving the nutritional conditions of plants by applying mineral fertilizers led to an increase in the protein content of spring wheat grains and the protein content was 0.6 ... 0.8 higher, depending on the varietal characteristics of spring wheat, than on an unfertilized background. Under the conditions of chernozem soils of the Pre-Volga zone of the Republic of Tatarstan, the best results over the years of research were obtained in variants where the application of mineral fertilizers was combined with the use of plant protection products of such spring wheat varieties as Yoldyz, Burlak and Ekada 109. In the same variants, the highest protein content was noted in grain. The use of chemical protection against the background of mineral fertilizers in the varieties Yoldyz, Burlak, Ekada109 contributed to a significant increase in the gross collection of protein per unit area.

Microbial Consortium Inoculum with Rock Minerals Increased Wheat Grain Yield, Nitrogen-Use Efficiency, and Protein Yield Due to Larger Root Growth and Architecture

Polymer-coated rock mineral fertiliser (RMF) has the potential to increase wheat growth and yield; however, its effect on grain protein concentration (GPC) and nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) remains unclear. Therefore, we examined the efficacy of slow-release RMF combined with microbial consortium inoculant (MI) compared with inorganic fertiliser (IF) with or without the MI to explore their effects on wheat growth, NUE, GPC, grain protein yield and grain yield. The glasshouse experiment was conducted with three factors (fertiliser type (control, RMF and IF), fertiliser rate (0, 23 and 46 mg N kg−1 soil), and MI (with or without)) replicated four times and harvested twice (anthesis and maturity). The treatments were arranged in a randomised complete block design. NUE was higher in plants treated with RMF plus MI compared to IF (with or without MI), likely due to extensive root system, higher shoot N content (at anthesis and maturity) and grain N content in plants treated with RMF plus MI than IF. The application of RMF enhanced grain yield and GPC compared with IF. The grain yield increased due to more grains in RMF-treated than IF-treated plants. The RMF application increased N content in shoots at anthesis and maturity and grain N content, which increased GPC compared to IF-treated plants. RMF in combination with MI can be viewed as a practical approach to assist RMF in supplying nutrients to improve NUE, grain yield and GPC in wheat.

Consensus genomic regions associated with grain protein content in hexaploid and tetraploid wheat.

A meta-analysis of QTLs associated with grain protein content (GPC) was conducted in hexaploid and tetraploid wheat to identify robust and stable meta-QTLs (MQTLs). For this purpose, as many as 459 GPC-related QTLs retrieved from 48 linkage-based QTL mapping studies were projected onto the newly developed wheat consensus map. The analysis resulted in the prediction of 57 MQTLs and 7 QTL hotspots located on all wheat chromosomes (except chromosomes 1D and 4D) and the average confidence interval reduced 2.71-fold in the MQTLs and QTL hotspots compared to the initial QTLs. The physical regions occupied by the MQTLs ranged from 140 bp to 224.02 Mb with an average of 15.2 Mb, whereas the physical regions occupied by QTL hotspots ranged from 1.81 Mb to 36.03 Mb with a mean of 8.82 Mb. Nineteen MQTLs and two QTL hotspots were also found to be co-localized with 45 significant SNPs identified in 16 previously published genome-wide association studies in wheat. Candidate gene (CG) investigation within some selected MQTLs led to the identification of 705 gene models which also included 96 high-confidence CGs showing significant expressions in different grain-related tissues and having probable roles in GPC regulation. These significantly expressed CGs mainly involved the genes/gene families encoding for the following proteins: aminotransferases, early nodulin 93, glutamine synthetases, invertase/pectin methylesterase inhibitors, protein BIG GRAIN 1-like, cytochrome P450, glycosyl transferases, hexokinases, small GTPases, UDP-glucuronosyl/UDP-glucosyltransferases, and EamA, SANT/Myb, GNAT, thioredoxin, phytocyanin, and homeobox domains containing proteins. Further, eight genes including GPC-B1, Glu-B1-1b, Glu-1By9, TaBiP1, GSr, TaNAC019-A, TaNAC019-D, and bZIP-TF SPA already known to be associated with GPC were also detected within some of the MQTL regions confirming the efficacy of MQTLs predicted during the current study.

Zinc glycerolate (Glyzinc): A novel foliar fertilizer for zinc biofortification and cadmium reduction in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Sustainable strategies are essential for zinc (Zn) biofortification and cadmium (Cd) reduction in staple food crops. Herein, we evaluated the phytotoxicity of Glyzinc under foliar and root application (FA&RA) in a lab-scale experiment, and then investigated its Zn efficiency and Cd reduction through foliar application on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) under field conditions. Compared to RA, FA of Glyzinc exhibited no adverse effect on wheat growth and oxidative stresses at all doses. In field conditions, FA of Glyzinc remarkably increased Zn (28.7 %), S (10.4 %), Cu (17.3 %) and crude protein (9.1 %) content in wheat grain at 100 mg/L without damaging wheat yield. Furthermore, FA of Glyzinc significantly reduced the grain phytic acid (PA) (23.7 %) and Cd level (19.5 %), as well as PA to Zn molar ratio (32.3 %). Overall, our results indicate that Glyzinc has great potential as a high-efficiency foliar fertilizer for Zn biofortification and safe crop production in nano-enabled agriculture.

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed the regulatory mechanism of sulfur application in grain yield and protein content in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Sulfur fertilizers play an important role in increasing the yield and improving the dough quality of bread wheat, but their regulatory mechanism remains unclear. In this study, 0 kg·ha−1 (S0) and 60 kg·ha−1 (S60) of sulfur were applied on the anthesis date; subsequently, immature wheat grains at 8, 13, and 18 days post-anthesis (DPA) were subjected to integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to investigate the changes in the gene/metabolite activity in a typical strong-gluten wheat, Gaoyou2018 (GY2018). Our data show that the S60 treatment could significantly increase the grain yield and grain protein content by 13.2 and 3.6%, respectively. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that 10,694 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were induced by S60 from 8 to 18 DPA when compared with their corresponding no-sulfur controls, and most DEGs were mainly involved in lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism pathways. Ninety-seven MYB transcription factors (TFs) were identified as responsive to the S60 treatment; of these, 66 showed significantly differential expression at 13 DPA, and MYB118 might participate in the process of sulfur metabolism by regulating glucosinolate synthesis. In total, 542 significantly enriched differentially expressed (DE) metabolites (DEMs) were identified following the S60 treatment, which mainly included secondary metabolites, carbohydrates, and amino acids. Several metabolites (e.g., glutathione, sucrose, GDP-alpha-D-glucose, and amino acids) exhibited altered abundances following the S60 treatment. The combination of transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses highlighted the important role of amino acid metabolism (especially cysteine, methionine, and glutathione metabolism) and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways after S60 application. Our results provide valuable information enhancing our understanding of the molecular mechanism of the response to sulfur and provide useful clues for grain protein quality formation and yield improvement in bread wheat.

Increasing the Grain Yield and Grain Protein Content of Common Wheat (Triticum aestivum) by Introducing Missense Mutations in the Q Gene.

Grain yield (GY) and grain protein content (GPC) are important traits for wheat breeding and production; however, they are usually negatively correlated. The Q gene is the most important domestication gene in cultivated wheat because it influences many traits, including GY and GPC. Allelic variations in the Q gene may positively affect both GY and GPC. Accordingly, we characterized two new Q alleles (Qs1 and Qc1-N8) obtained through ethyl methanesulfonate-induced mutagenesis. Compared with the wild-type Q allele, Qs1 contains a missense mutation in the sequence encoding the first AP2 domain, whereas Qc1-N8 has two missense mutations: one in the sequence encoding the second AP2 domain and the other in the microRNA172-binding site. The Qs1 allele did not significantly affect GPC or other processing quality parameters, but it adversely affected GY by decreasing the thousand kernel weight and grain number per spike. In contrast, Qc1-N8 positively affected GPC and GY by increasing the thousand kernel weight and grain number per spike. Thus, we generated novel germplasm relevant for wheat breeding. A specific molecular marker was developed to facilitate the use of the Qc1-N8 allele in breeding. Furthermore, our findings provide useful new information for enhancing cereal crops via non-transgenic approaches.

Crop Yield and Nutrient Efficiency under Organic Manure Substitution Fertilizer in a Double Cropping System: A 6-Year Field Experiment on an Anthrosol

The combination of organic manure and inorganic fertilizer plays a role in increasing crop yield and nutrient efficiency, but such effectiveness varies with crop, soil, management, and climate. Here, a 6-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of substituting organic manure with inorganic fertilizer on crop yield, grain protein content, and nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency under a winter wheat-summer maize cropping system on Anthrosol. Five treatments were included: recommended nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) fertilizers (NPK), 75% NPK + 25% organic manure (M), 50% NPK + 50% M, 25% NPK + 75% M, and 100% M, respectively. Wheat, maize, and annual yield were 1643–8438 kg ha−1, 4847–11,104 kg ha−1, and 10,007–17,496 kg ha−1. Organic manure treatments produced the same crop yield as NPK treatment except for 100% M. Grain protein content of wheat and maize was 7.9–15.1% and 5.6–12.6%. Organic manure treatments yielded significantly lower wheat grain protein content but had no significant effect on maize grain protein content relative to NPK treatment. Nitrogen uptake efficiency and nitrogen use efficiency at the cropping system level were 0.67–1.16 and 35.7–60.5 kg kg−1. Phosphorus uptake efficiency and phosphorus use efficiency were 0.28–0.75 and 167–531 kg kg−1. Compared with NPK treatment, 50% M, 75% M, and 100% M improved nitrogen use efficiency but decreased nitrogen uptake efficiency and phosphorus efficiencies. Annual N and P budgets were −1.3–79.1 kg ha−1 a−1 and 25.6–100.1 kg ha−1a−1, and both increased with the increase in organic manure input. Based on crop yield, grain protein content, nitrogen, and phosphorus efficiency and their budget, substitution of 25% inorganic fertilizer with organic manure is the rational combination under the winter wheat–summer maize system on an Anthrosol.

Performance of soft winter wheat under the effect of growth regulators

Purpose. To study soft winter wheat's productivity formation under the growth regulators' effect.
 Methods. Laboratory, mathematical and statistical, physical and chemical.
 Results. The article presents research results of the formation of yield, protein, and gluten content in grain under the effect of plant growth regulators. On average, for three research years, pre-sowing seed treatment with Sizam Nano chemical provided an increase in grain yield to 7.20 t/ha or more by 0.84 t/ha compared to areas where seeds were not treated (6.36 t/ha). Single spraying of winter wheat plants with Grainactive-C growth regulator helped to increase the grain yield by 0.61 t/ha compared to the control. Double spraying of winter wheat plants with Grainactive-C growth regulator provided 0.73 t/ha of grain, which was10% higher compared to areas without treatment. The greatest impact on the protein content in winter wheat grain was the use of Grainactive-C chemical in tillering and shooting stages, which provides the formation of this indicator 13.4% and 11% higher, compared to areas without treatment. This indicator was least affected by pre-sowing seed treatment with Sizam Nano growth regulator and single plant spraying in the tillering stage with Grainactive-C chemical, as the protein content was 12.6%, which was 4% higher compared to the option without treatments. The gluten content in winter wheat grain increased from 23.6% in the control to 26.1% in the variant where Grainactive-C growth regulator was used in tillering and shooting stages. Pre-sowing seed treatment with Sizam Nano increased the gluten content to 24.5% (4%), and spraying with "Grainactive-C" growth regulator to 24.8% (5%). In terms of protein and gluten content, wheat grain grown without the use of chemical treatment in the experiment corresponds to the third class. The use of Sizam Nano and Grainactive-C provides a grain yield that corresponds to the second class. The application of such a pre-sowing treatment scenario provides an increase in grain yield by 1.07 t/ha, which belongs to the first class.
 Conclusions. The grain yield of soft winter wheat varies over the type and method of growth regulator application. Grain yield is most affected by pre-sowing seed treatment with Sizam Nano and double plant spraying with Grainactive-C growth regulator.

Genetics of the Inverse Relationship between Grain Yield and Grain Protein Content in Common Wheat.

Grain protein content (GPC) is one of the most important criteria to determine the quality of common wheat (Triticum aestivum). One of the major obstacles for bread wheat production is the negative correlation between GPC and grain yield (GY). Previous studies demonstrated that the deviation from this inverse relationship is highly heritable. However, little is known about the genetics controlling these deviations in common wheat. To fill this gap, we performed quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for GY, GPC, and four derived GY-GPC indices using an eight-way multiparent advanced generation intercross population comprising 394 lines. Interval mapping was conducted using phenotypic data from up to nine environments and genotypic data from a 20k single-nucleotide polymorphism array. The four indices were highly heritable (0.76–0.88) and showed distinct correlations to GY and GPC. Interval mapping revealed that GY, GPC, and GY-GPC indices were controlled by 6, 12, and 12 unique QTL, of which each explained only a small amount of phenotypic variance (R2 ≤ 10%). Ten of the 12 index QTL were independent of loci affecting GY and GPC. QTL regions harboured several candidate genes, including Rht-1, WAPO-A1, TaTEF-7A, and NRT2.6-7A. The study confirmed the usefulness of indices to mitigate the inverse GY-GPC relationship in breeding, though the selection method should reflect their polygenic inheritance.

Novel rock mineral fertiliser application with microbial consortium inoculant enhances growth, yield and grain protein content of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in sandy soil

ABSTRACT Grain yield and protein concentration are critical traits determining wheat economic value and are dependent on nitrogen (N) supply and crop N status. However, application of N fertilisers is costly and has a large environmental footprint. We assessed the effect of slow-release rock mineral fertiliser (RMF) with or without microbial consortium inoculant (MI) on growth, grain yield and protein content of winter wheat grown in a low-fertility soil. The experiment was set up with three factors [RMF rates (0, 10 and 20 mg N kg−1 soil), MI (with and without) and two wheat genotypes] replicated four times and harvested twice (anthesis and maturity). The addition of MI increased root biomass at anthesis, but there was no effect at maturity. The shoot and grain nutrient content and protein yield were highest in plants treated with 20 mg N kg−1 soil. The plants treated with MI resulted in lower grain protein concentration than without MI. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonisation was higher in treatment with than without MI. The application of RMF at 20 mg N kg−1 soil produced higher plant growth, nutrient content, grain and protein yield compared to control in nutrient-poor sandy soil.

Long term effect of STCR-based targeted yield application of fertilizers on productivity, profitability and nutrient uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in an acid Alfisol

The present investigation was conducted during therabi season of 2017-18 at the research farm of CSK HPKV, Palampur (Himachal Pradesh). The effect of target yield based fertilizer application on productivity, profitability, and nutrient uptake by wheat were evaluated in a randomized block design with eight treatments. The results revealed that the continuous cropping for 10 years along with STCR based fertilizer application in target yield 35 q ha-1 + 5 t FYM ha-1 recorded the highest grain yield (34.9 q ha-1 ) followed by target 35 q ha-1 (31.6 q ha-1 ).The highest protein content (12.6 %) and protein yield (441.4 Kg ha-1 ) of wheat grains were observed with target yield of 35 q ha-1 + 5 t FYM ha-1 . Further, the maximum net profit of Rs.61401 ha-1 with a B: C ratio of 3.29 was obtained under target yield 35 q ha-1 . A significant increase in N, P, and K uptake by wheat grain and straw was observed in STCR based target yield plots as compared to soil test based, general recommended dose, farmers’ practice, and control. The available N, P, and K content in post-harvest soil were reduced in the control over their initial values. The higher values of available N (305 kg ha-1 ), P (70 Kg ha-1 ) and K (290 kg ha-1 ) were recorded with target yield of 35 q ha-1 + 5 t FYM ha-1 .

Long term effect of STCR-based targeted yield application of fertilizers on productivity, profitability and nutrient uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in an acid Alfisol

The present investigation was conducted during therabi season of 2017-18 at the research farm of CSK HPKV, Palampur (Himachal Pradesh). The effect of target yield based fertilizer application on productivity, profitability, and nutrient uptake by wheat were evaluated in a randomized block design with eight treatments. The results revealed that the continuous cropping for 10 years along with STCR based fertilizer application in target yield 35 q ha-1 + 5 t FYM ha-1 recorded the highest grain yield (34.9 q ha-1) followed by target 35 q ha-1 (31.6 q ha-1).The highest protein content (12.6 %) and protein yield (441.4 Kg ha-1) of wheat grains were observed with target yield of 35 q ha-1 + 5 t FYM ha-1. Further, the maximum net profit of Rs.61401 ha-1 with a B: C ratio of 3.29 was obtained under target yield 35 q ha-1. A significant increase in N, P, and K uptake by wheat grain and straw was observed in STCR based target yield plots as compared to soil test based, general recommended dose, farmers’ practice, and control. The available N, P, and K content in post-harvest soil were reduced in the control over their initial values. The higher values of available N (305 kg ha-1), P (70 Kg ha-1) and K (290 kg ha-1) were recorded with target yield of 35 q ha-1 + 5 t FYM ha-1.