ABSTRACT
Genetic improvement of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the South Central zone of Chile. III. Protein content, production and sedimentation volume of winter, alternative and spring wheats.

Mario Mellado Z.1
 

Four field experiments with ten winter and alternative varieties (group 1) and four experiments with eleven spring wheat varieties (group 2), were carried out to assess grain protein percentage, grain production and sedimentation volume. The tested genotypes were developed at the Quilamapu Wheat Breeding Program, Institute of Agricultural Research, INIA. Lilifen was the first breed variety improved in group 1, and Mexifen in group 2; as such both were used as references. The experiments were carried out in Andisoil soils at the Santa Rosa Experimental Field, Chillán, Chile, from 1995 to 1998. The mean protein percentage of varieties of groups 1 and 2 were 9.6 and 10.8%, respectively. The average protein production in group 1 was 894.6 kg ha-1, while in group 2 was 968.4 kg ha-1. The average sedimentation values were 3.4 mL in group 1 and 4.3 mL in group 2. With regard to varieties, results showed that breeding work carried out between 1968 and 1993 was more successful at improving protein content rather than quality.

Keywords: wheat quality, grain protein, sedimentation SDS.
1 Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, Centro Regional de Investigación Quilamapu. Casilla 426, Chillán, Chile. E-mail:mmellado@inia.cl.