Parameters of Grain Quality in Winter Common Wheat and the Effect of Hereditary Factors Associated with the Endosperm Carbohydrate Complex

Abstract: Grain quality parameters of winter common wheat under the influence of ha/Ha (hard vs. Soft) genes, determining grain hardness vs. grain softness, as well as genotypes for the Wx-A1, Wx-B1, and Wx-D1 genes, responsible for either amylose or amylopectin type of endosperm starch, were examined. The influence of environmental conditions on the formation of these parameters in different wheat genotypes during grain ripening was demonstrated. It was demonstrated that the grain softness in comparison with the grain hardness and amylopectin form led to a considerable decrease in water absorption capacity (Absorption) of the grain. The environment affects variation of this trait in amylose genotypes, but does not affect absorption in amylopectin forms. Differences in grain hardness affected the gluten parameter, but showed no response to the environmental influence. Genotypes differing in Wx genes had no hereditary effect on this parameter. The influence of environment factors on the formation of this parameter was revealed. In the years favorable for the wheat grain ripening, the values of viscosity and retrogradation indices were considerably lower in amylopectin forms compared to amylose ones. In the conditions of increased humidity during this period, the differences between these groups of genotypes are smoothed out, and very low viscosity and retrogradation index values are observed. Unlike environmental factors, the differences in grain hardness had no effect on these grain quality parameters. The amylase index in amylopectin forms was stable over the years and did not vary in this group of genotypes and also did not differ from that in amylose genotypes. The response of this index to environmental conditions in the groups of amylose-type cultivars was observed. In the years with the weather conditions favorable for wheat ripening, the viscosity index can be used for identification of amylopectin genotypes.