Heat stress in relation to protein redox status and quality traits of durum wheat

In this study elevated temperature effects on protein quality parameters and in particular on protein sulfhydryl-disulfide contents were assessed. Four Italian durum wheat cultivars which differed for the qualitative trait changes produced by heat stress were employed. During grain filling two different thermal regimes were imposed on the plants grown in a typical area of durum wheat cultivation (Southern Italy). Results confirmed significant effects of high temperatures on the quality of products in the durum wheat chain and indicated that elevated temperatures determined changes on protein redox status, particularly evident on S-S bond content. For most of the examined traits significant cultivar x treatment interactions were also evidenced

Effect of cultivar and nitrogen fertilizer on agronomic and quality traits of durum wheat under organic management

Quantitative performance as well as product quality traits among a group of durum wheat cultivars developed and selected in different eras from 1915 to 2003 were examined in an south Italian growing region under organic management. Experiments were conducted over four years. Fertilization treatments included the application of 80 kg organic nitrogen (N) fertilizer and fertilization by only the N residue from leguminous pre-crop. Genetic, agronomic and environmental effects for the investigated traits and significant interactions between factors were found. Application of organic N fertilizer increased grain yield and protein concentration, the mean increase compared to the treatment without applied fertilizer was 14.8% and 12.0%, respectively. Moreover, a significant improvement of gluten quality was observed for higher N availability. Significant cultivar by treatment interactions were observed for all quality traits. Cultivars significantly differed in grain yield and semolina protein content; mean values ranged from 2.54 to 3.50 t/ha and from 10.83 to 11.91% d.m., respectively. Modern cultivars showed the highest values. Although, significant cultivar by environment interactions were detected for agronomic and quality traits, cultivars with a stable high performance in regard to grain yield and semolina protein could have been identified. These results evidenced different adaptability of “old” and “modern” cultivars to organic production and identified only one of the “modern” cultivars as suitable to use organic nutrients in order to achieve high grain yield and quality

The long-term effects of conventional and organic cropping systems,tillage managements and weather conditions on yield and grainquality of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) in the Mediterraneanenvironment of Central Italy

Cropping system, tillage management and weather conditions can greatly affect durum wheat (Triticumdurum Desf.) determining its grain yield and quality. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effectsof cropping system (conventional vs. organic), tillage management (plowed at a depth of 30 cm vs.subsoiled at a depth of 20 cm), and the interaction between cropping system and weather conditionson yield and grain quality of durum wheat. The study was part of a long-term experiment carriedout in a rainfed Mediterranean environment of Central Italy where a 3-year crop rotation (durumwheat–tomato–chickpea) was compared in organic and conventional cropping systems. The study periodlasted from 2005 to 2011. The combined effect of cropping system and weather conditions determinedstrong differences in durum grain yield and quality parameters. The durum grain yield was on average15% lower in organic compared to conventional, although the yield gap between the cropping systemsvaried from −5 to −32% across the years. The air temperature influenced the grain yield more in organicthan in conventional, while high rainfall during the grain filling stage produced a higher grain yield inconventional than organic due to a different weed infestation. A severe water stress period starting fromstem elongation determined a poor grain yield and low protein concentration, while high temperaturesand water stress throughout the grain filling period resulted in a poor yield, yet high protein content inboth cropping systems. Conventional wheat generally showed a higher level of vitreousness and glutenquality, while protein and gluten content were higher in conventional compared to organic when a regular rainfall distribution occurred throughout the wheat reproductive period. These results are probablydue to a lower nitrogen supply in organic compared to conventional wheat. Yield and grain quality ofdurum wheat under different tillage managements such as plowed and subsoiled soil were comparable.Considering subsoiling as an important mode of conservation tillage, the results highlight that it is advis-able to use a subsoiler for durum wheat production. Weed control and nitrogen supply appear to be themain factors, which hinder yield production and grain quality especially when an excess of rainfall andlow temperatures occur throughout the crop reproductive period in organic durum wheat production

How do conventional and organic management affect the healthy potential of durum wheat grain and semolina pasta traits?

The effect of cropping system (conventional vs. organic) and soil tillage (conventional vs. reduced tillage) on the health potential of durum wheat grain as well as on semolina and pasta quality traits was investigated in a long-term field experiment. Total antioxidant capacity, total arabinoxylans, alkylresorcinols, yellow pigments and total phenolics, which were assessed in kernels, revealed differences between the two cultivation systems only in 2011, whereas in the 2010 rainy season, cropping management did not influence these compounds. Proteins and W index were higher in the conventional system, except for the exceptionally rainy years. In contrast, the quality of cooked spaghetti was comparable in both management systems. Soil tillage differently affected bioactive compounds but had no impact on semolina and pasta quality. Overall, climatic conditions was the major factor affecting the quality of durum wheat. Our results indicate that an organic system does not represent a constraint to obtaining durum wheat grain with healthy potential relative to conventional wheat