One of the main tasks of agriculture - rapid and sustainable increase in grain production is noted, and the importance of wheat as the main raw material for the baking industry in Russia is presented. The dynamics of indicators of wheat acreage in farms of all categories in Russia is given, and the correlation of indicators of acreage, yield and gross wheat harvest in Russia in 2008-2018 is presented. It describes the production of wheat in the Penza region, shows the structure of sown areas of grain and leguminous crops in farms of all categories of the Penza region, the largest area is occupied by wheat-64.2%. The gross harvest and yield of wheat in the Penza region in 2018 is presented. The forecast of development of the region’s economy in the field of grain processing is given, it is noted that a large-scale investment project is being developed for the construction of a new wheat processing plant in the Penza region.

Grain quality of winter bread wheat is an urgent issue in Russia and in the world. The traits and properties of grain that characterize the quality are formed in the field under the effect of weather and climatic conditions. The current study was carried out in 2017–2019. The objects of the study were 12 varieties and 3 promising lines of winter bread wheat of the Competitive Variety Testing. The variety ‘Ermak’ was used as a standard variety. The purpose of the study was to carry out a comparative estimation of grain quality of the varieties and promising lines of winter bread wheat, to identify the variation of traits over the years and to determine the effect of growing conditions on the formation of grain quality. There has been established that the studied varieties and lines formed nature weight from 799 g/l (the variety ‘Aksiniya’) to 830 g/l (‘Yubiley Dona’) and corresponded to the 1-st quality class. There have been identified the varieties ‘Etyud’ (62%; Cv = 6.6%), ‘Ermak’ (62%; Cv = 7.0%) and the line ‘1005/14’ (68%; Cv = 8.1%) with a combination of high values of the general hardness and insignificant variation of the trait over the years. There has been determined that the variety ‘Nakhodka’ (14.11%; Cv = 3.6%) and the line ‘1261/13’ (14.10%; Cv = 6.1%) were characterized by the maximum protein percentage and low values of the coefficient of variation. There has been established that the varieties ‘Aksiniya’ (4.5 points; 7.9%) and ‘Tanais’ (4.0 points; 2.5%) combined a high baking value with the stability of the trait. When estimating the effect of the factors “genotype”, “year of study” and their correlation on the characteristics of grain quality, there has been found that general hardness (52.59%), mass fraction of grain protein (58.31%), dough deformation (57, 78%), valorimetric value (46.01%), volume of bread (41.77%) and general baking assessment (51.24%) were largely dependent on genotype. The growing conditions had an effect on the formation of the quantity and quality of gluten and the P/l ratio.

Improving the quality of wheat grain is an important task of agricultural production. In recent years, the production of strong and valuable wheat, necessary for the production of high-quality baking flour, has decreased. In this regard, the study of the quality of grain varieties of winter wheat in specific soil and climatic conditions of the Rostov region is becoming topical. Therefore, the purpose of our research was to study the main indicators of grain quality of varieties of soft winter wheat (protein and gluten content, flour strength, bread size from 100 g of flour) in ecological variety trials to select the best under conditions of the Rostov region. The studies were carried out on the trial fields of the Laboratory of selection and seed production of winter soft wheat of intensive type of the State Scientific Establishment "Agricultural research center "Donskoy" (Rostov region) in 2014-2016. Seventy-five varieties were studied in the course of the research. Planting dates was optimal for implementation of agricultural and agro-technical measures. The planter Wintersteiger Plotseed S. was used for the sowing. Seed were placed on the depth of 4-6 cm after preceding black fallow. Accounting field area was 10 m2, with double replication. Seeding rate was 4.5 million seeds per hectare. Grain quality was assessed according to the methods of the national standards of the Russian Federation (GOSTs). Such grain quality indicators as gluten content (according to GOST R 54478-2011), protein mass fraction (as required by GOST 108460-91), baking properties of flour (in a laboratory using the remix method) were determined. The article discusses the main indicators of the quality of grain and flour of winter soft wheat varieties in ecological variety testing and compares them. Analysis of the main indicators of the quality of varieties in trials showed that in the south of the Rostov region in 2014-2016 flour strength and gluten content were the most variable indicators. In terms of protein content (more 14.5%), 8.0% of the studied varieties were in full compliance with strong wheat standards; by the gluten content (more 28%) - 7.0%; by the flour strength (more 280 e.a.) - 9.0%. Five varieties of winter soft wheat, namely 'Aksinya', 'Tanais', 'Asket', 'Nakhodka', 'Yumpa' (Russia) having a complex of economically valuable traits are of greater interest for practical breeding in terms of improving grain quality. | Повышение качества зерна пшеницы было и остается основным приоритетом селекции этой культуры. В последние годы снизилось производство сильной и ценной пшеницы, необходимой для выработки высококачественной хлебопекарной муки. Актуально исследование качество зерна сортов озимой пшеницы в конкретных почвенно-климатических условиях. Цель исследований - изучение по основным показателям качества зерна (содержание в зерне белка и клейковины, сила муки, объёмный выход хлеба из 100 г муки) сортов озимой мягкой пшеницы в экологическом сортоиспытании для выделения лучших в условиях Ростовской обл. Работу выполняли в 2014-2016 гг. на 75 сортах. Посев осуществляли в оптимальные сроки сеялкой "Wintersteiger Plotseed S" на глубину 4-6 см по предшественнику черный пар. Учетная площадь делянки - 10 м2, повторность - двукратная. Норма высева - 4,5 млн всхожих семян на гектар. Качество зерна оценивали в соответствии с методиками национальных стандартов Российской Федерации. Определяли показатели качества зерна по следующим показателям: содержание клейковины - по ГОСТ Р 54478-2011; массовую долю белка - по ГОСТ 108460-91; хлебопекарные свойства муки озимой пшеницы - с помощью лабораторной выпечки с использованием ремикс-метода. Рассматривали основные показатели качества зерна и муки сортов озимой мягкой пшеницы в экологическом сортоиспытании и проводили их сравнение. В условиях юга Ростовской области за период исследования наиболее вариабельным показателем качества оказалась сила муки и содержание клейковины. Стандартам на сильную пшеницу соответствовало: по содержанию белка (больше 14,5%) 8,0% изученных сортов, 7,0% - по содержанию клейковины в зерне (больше 28%) и 9,0% сортов - по силе муки (больше 280 е.а.). Больший интерес для практической селекции в селекционных программах на улучшение качества зерна представляют 5 сортов, обладающих комплексом хозяйственно ценных признаков: Аксинья, Танаис, Аскет, Находка, Юмпа (Россия).