Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #167203
Title: CHARACTERIZATION OF THE END- USE QUALITY OF SOFT WHEAT CULTIVARS FROM THE EASTERN AND WESTERN U.S. GERM PLASM `POOLS'

Author
item Morris, Craig
item Garland-Campbell, Kimberly
item KING, G - WASHINGTON STATE UNIV

Submitted to: Plant Genetic Resources
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/17/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Morris, C.F., Campbell, K.G., King, G.E. 2004. Characterization of the end- use quality of soft wheat cultivars from the eastern and western u.s. germ plasm `pools'. Plant Genetic Resources. 2(1):59-69.

Interpretive Summary: Soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) improvement could be enhanced by the identification of germplasm with superior end-use quality traits. Due to the geographic and historical separation of eastern and western U.S. soft wheat germ plasm 'pools,' genetic differences in end-use quality may exist among cultivars arising from these two pools. To identify such differences, 30 U.S. soft wheat cultivars were evaluated in "head-to-head" trials over three years in Washington state. Cultivars were classified as: eastern soft red winter (SRW), eastern soft white winter (ESWW), western soft white (WSWW), and western Club. These four soft wheat cultivar Classifications clearly differed systematically for some of the quality traits examined. The Club wheat cultivar group had the highest flour yield and flour ash. The Club group also had the lowest mixograph dough water absorption. Milling score (which incorporates break flour yield) was highest for Club and ESWW. Eastern soft red and white wheat cultivar groups had lower flour ash and alkaline water retention capacity (AWRC) compared to the western Club and soft white wheats; ESWW had the lowest AWRC of any Classification. Cookie diameter was greatest for the ESWW group, followed by the SRW and Club groups (which were not significantly different), and then by the WSWW group. Individual cultivars with exceptional quality traits were also identified. These results indicate that the four U.S. soft wheat germ plasm pools differ, and they may be valuable genetic resources for "inter-pool" wheat improvement.

Technical Abstract: Soft wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) improvement could be enhanced by the identification of germplasm with superior end-use quality traits. Due to the geographic and historical separation of eastern and western U.S. soft wheat germ plasm 'pools,' genetic differences in end-use quality may exist among cultivars arising from these two pools. To identify such differences, 30 U.S. soft wheat cultivars were evaluated in "head-to-head" trials over three years in Washington state. Cultivars were classified as: eastern soft red winter (SRW), eastern soft white winter (ESWW), western soft white (WSWW), and western Club. These four soft wheat cultivar Classifications clearly differed systematically for some of the quality traits examined. The Club wheat cultivar group had the highest flour yield and flour ash. The Club group also had the lowest mixograph dough water absorption. Milling score (which incorporates break flour yield) was highest for Club and ESWW. Eastern soft red and white wheat cultivar groups had lower flour ash and alkaline water retention capacity (AWRC) compared to the western Club and soft white wheats; ESWW had the lowest AWRC of any Classification. Cookie diameter was greatest for the ESWW group, followed by the SRW and Club groups (which were not significantly different), and then by the WSWW group. Individual cultivars with exceptional quality traits were also identified. These results indicate that the four U.S. soft wheat germ plasm pools differ, and they may be valuable genetic resources for "inter-pool" wheat improvement.