Effect of genotype-environment interaction on some important quality parameters of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) BREAD-MAKING QUALITY, correlation, FLOUR AND DOUGH QUALITY, genotype x environment, wheat N. Tsenov1*, T. Gubatov1, I. Yanchev2 1Department of Wheat Breeding and Technology, Agronom Breeding Company, 9300 Dobrich, Bulgaria 2Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Agronomy, Agricultural University, 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria (Manuscript received 15 January 2023; accepted for publication 16 May 2023) Abstract. In ecological field experiment involving common wheat varieties, several quality parameters were analyzed, which express different aspects of grain quality. Objective of the study was to establish in detail the main relations about the influence of the conditions (location and year) and their interaction with the genotype on each of the parameters, separately. The accepted hypothesis was that the growing conditions have a different strength and direction of effect on each parameter, which should ultimately be reflected in a unique way on the performance of each variety of the studied group. In four locations, which represent a sample of the main grain-producing regions of the country, twenty-four varieties of common winter wheat were investigated. Five indexes of grain quality were analyzed as follows: Sedimentation index (Zeleny); Deformation energy (W); P/L alveograph configuration ratio (P/L); Swelling index (G); Dough stability time (Dstab). All possible aspects of the interaction of genotype (GEN), environment (ENV) as well as the interaction between them (GEN*ENV) were investigated. Statistical approaches and methods that are specialized for this purpose were used. Each of the three main factors – “location”, “year” and “genotype” influenced the variation of the group of varieties through the changes of the conditions, independently and in combination with each other. In this combination of effects expressed as (GEN*ENV) the most essential role was the “location”. The established significant interaction caused an adequate (linear) and inadequate (non-linear) change of the varieties, relative to those of the conditions. For the majority of parameters, this change was mostly linear (PC1=70%), with the exception of the P/L (alveograph configuration ratio), where both effects had parity (PC1≈PC2-4). The environments in the locations during individual seasons had high degree of repeatability (H2=0.75 – 0.94), which allows a high degree of prediction of the values of each single parameter. All parameters were affected to varying degrees by the studied factors and the interaction between them. The influence of the conditions was relatively the strongest on the Dough stability time index (Dstab), and the Swelling index (G) was most closely related to the genetic predisposition of the variety. The effects of the interaction of the genotype with the environments (GEN*ENV) made up about 20-30% of the total variation of three of the parameters, for Deformation energy index (W) the effect reached 40%, and for the Dough stability time index (Dstab) it was only about 13%. The environments during the seasons were the cause of a dynamic change of the correlations between the yield and some of the parameters, in some of the locations studied. Probably, this was directly dependent on the specific combination between the levels of extraction and the level of a given parameter.

Field wheat data collected at three locations at two times of sowing both in season and post harvest. Weather data collected at each site, genotypes are available for all materials as are pedigrees. Wheat phenotype traits, genotype based on 90K SNP Chip and site environmental data collected at Narrabri, Merredin and Horsham at 2 different time of sowing (TOS1 and TOS2) from 2016 to 2020. Phenotypic traits included Days to Heading (DTH) measured in days Days to Maturity (DTM) measured in days Yield as t/ha Protein measured as a percentage Plant Height in cm Test weight in kg/hL Screenings in percentage Thousand Kernel Weight in grams Experimental design was an RCB with two replications arranged in a regular grid for each time of sowing. Different numbers of lines and traits were tested at each site and year and details can be found in individual data sets files. Average maximum and minimum temperature and rainfall for all years were accessed from the Narrabri Airport (4.5 km SSE of experimental site) permanent weather station and climatic data extracted from the Bureau of Meteorology (http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/) online database. Weather data for 2016-2020 was collected via a portable weather station located on-farm within 500 m of the experimental sites. Long-term average maximum and minimum temperature and rainfall for the experimental site was collected from the Bureau of Meteorology Climate data online facility (http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/data/).

The market for domestic wheat ramen has been steadily growing, but it is still away from consumers' popular taste. However, growth of the domestic wheat ramen market is needed for a stable demand for domestic wheat. This study analyzes consumer preference on domestic wheat ramen using the conjoint analysis. The results show that 'price' is the most important factor among various properties of domestic wheat ramen, followed by ‘packaging type’, ‘noodle type’, and 'brand'. The average willingness-to-pay for domestic wheat ramen by respondents was 1,146 won when compared to the current price, 1,000 won, for generic ramen.

The performance of the mineral fertilizer Ammophos (200 kg/ha) and the bacterial, organic-mineral, microelement-containing fertilizers Bonacraft P20S10 and Bonacraft P24 (100-150 kg/ha) on wheat crop are presented. Under the influence of bacterial fertilizers, microbiological processes were significantly activated in the rhizosphere of wheat - the amount of assimilable nitrogen increased by 1.2-1.5 times, the amount of P2O5 by 1.8-3.4 times, and the amount of K2O by 1.2-1.7 times; wheat harvest increased 1.1-1.2 times. The action of bacterial fertilizers increased the amount of humus by 0.08-0.72%, Compared with Ammophos (200 kg/ha), they are much cheaper and do not require application in the rates as Ammophos. This new biotechnology, the use and introduction of bacterial fertilizers will contribute to the sustainable development of agriculture, increasing crop productivity and soil fertility. Tab. 5, Fig. 2, Ref. 23.

The Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict significantly affected wheat production and its export from Ukraine, mainly during the war outbreak. Since both countries rank among the major global wheat producers, the warfare disrupted wheat supplies, hastily pushing the prices. Based on the analysed data, we carried out research using multilayer perceptron networks. The findings suggest the biggest price increase between February and March 2022, witnessing wheat prices at about 1 400 USD per t. We predict a decline to the pre-war values until the end of 2025, estimating its rates between 600 USD and 800 USD per t. This price slump may involve signing an agreement on unblocking Ukrainian seaports, which would restore wheat exports. Yet, our survey is confined to historical data, which do not suggest any dramatic event that would alarmingly sway wheat prices.

The Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict significantly affected wheat production and its export from Ukraine, mainly during the war outbreak. Since both countries rank among the major global wheat producers, the warfare disrupted wheat supplies, hastily pushing the prices. Based on the analysed data, we carried out research using multilayer perceptron networks. The findings suggest the biggest price increase between February and March 2022, witnessing wheat prices at about 1 400 USD per t. We predict a decline to the pre-war values until the end of 2025, estimating its rates between 600 USD and 800 USD per t. This price slump may involve signing an agreement on unblocking Ukrainian seaports, which would restore wheat exports. Yet, our survey is confined to historical data, which do not suggest any dramatic event that would alarmingly sway wheat prices.

Endo-β-1, 4-xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8) is a key enzyme in the degradation of Arabinoxylan (AX). AX and its degradation products are the key substances that affect the viscosity, turbidity, filtration speed, alcohol, foam performance, and health care function of wheat beer. A wheat malt-derived endo-β-1, 4-xylanase was isolated and purified by our group in the previous stage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the wheat malt-derived endo-β-1, 4-xylanase addition on the quality and composition of AX in hopped wort and wheat beer. The results showed that the content and the average degree of polymerization (avDP) of water-soluble arabinoxylan (WEAX) in hopped wort and wheat beer decreased with the increase of the addition level of the wheat malt-derived endo-β-1,4-xylanase. When the addition of wheat malt-derived endo-β-1,4-xylanase was 2.5 times of the activity of endo-β-1,4-xylanase in raw malt, the degradation rate of WEAX in hopped wort was the maximum (33.71%), and the avDP of WEAX was the minimum (29.74) at the addition level of the endo-β-1,4-xylanase was 2 times. The viscosity and turbidity of hopped wort and wheat beer decreased continuously with the increase of the addition level of the endo-β-1,4-xylanase, while the foam stability of wheat beer increased continuously. Wheat malt-derived endo-β-1,4-xylanase could decrease the content of 1320-6200 Da polysaccharide in wheat beer, but increase the content of<1320 Da polysaccharide.

The increasing use of nanofertilizers in modern agriculture and their impact on crop yield and pest management require further research. In this study, the effects of nano-Fe, -Zn, and -Cu (which are synthesized based on nanochelating technology), and urea (N) fertilizers on the antioxidant activities of wheat plants (cv. Chamran), and the wheat green aphid <i>Schizaphis graminum</i> (Rondani) are investigated. The authors observed the highest levels of phenolics in non-infested nano-Zn-treated plants (26% higher compared with control). The highest H₂O₂ levels are in the infested and non-infested nano-Zn-treated and infested nano-Fe-treated plants (in infested nano-Zn and nano-Fe treated plants, 18% and non-infested nano-Zn-treated plants, 28% higher compared with control). The highest peroxidase (POX) activity is observed in the infested and non-infested N-treated and non-infested water-treated plants (almost 14%, 37%, and 46% higher than control, respectively). The lowest activity is in the infested plants’ nano-Zn and -Fe treatments (almost 7 and 5 folds lower compared to the control, respectively). The highest and lowest catalase (CAT) activity are in the infested N-treated plants (almost 42% higher than control) and water-treated plants, respectively. The infested nano-Zn, -Fe, -Cu and Hoagland-treated plants showed the highest superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Regarding the antioxidant enzyme activities of <i>S. graminum</i>, the highest POX activity is in the nano-Cu treatment (more than two folds higher compared with control); the highest CAT and SOD activities are in the nano-Cu and -Zn treatments. It can be concluded that the application of nanofertilizers caused increasing effects on the wheat plant’s antioxidant system and its resistance to <i>S. graminum</i>.