Adaptive potential of winter bread wheat varieties according to grain quality in the Middle Volga region

The current study was carried out on the experimental plots of the Samarsky Research Institute of Agriculture in 2014–2020 in order to estimate the adaptive potential of the approved winter wheat varieties of the Samarsky RIA according to grain quality under varying weather conditions. Mass fraction of protein and gluten in grain, gluten quality, falling number were established according to GOST. The adaptive potential for all grain quality traits was evaluated according to A.A. Rossiell, J. Hamblin (1981), the factor of phenotypic stability of traits was determined according to D. Lewis (1954), the coefficient of traits’ variability was estimated according to B.A. Dospekhov (1979) in Microsoft Office Excel. Over the years the average mass fraction of protein in grain of the studied varieties was 15.7% (the variety ‘Malakhit’), 15.6% (‘Svetoch’,) 15.3% (‘Bezenchukskaya 380’), 14.1% (‘Biryuza’), 14.4% (‘Bazis’), 15,5% (‘Viyuga’) with 5.9; 5.4; 11.6; 6.7; 14.5; 10.9% of variability respectively. There have been identified the winter bread wheat varieties ‘Malakhit’, ‘Svetoch’, ‘Biryuza’ and ‘Viyuga’ with high phenotypic stability of the trait ‘mass fraction of protein in grain’ (SF = 1.2). The average (in 2014-2020) mass fraction of crude gluten in grain was 33.6% (‘Malakhit’), 33.2% (‘Svetoch’), 32.8% (‘Bezenchukskaya 380’), 30.5% (‘Biryuza’), 30.6% (‘Bazis’), 34.2% (‘Viyuga’) with 7.8; 8.6; 17.4; 15.2; 17.1; 15.0% of variability respectively. The phenotypic stability of the trait ‘mass fraction of crude gluten in grain’ of the varieties ‘Malakhit’ and ‘Svetoch’ was high (SF = 1.2 and 1.3, respectively). There have been identified the varieties ‘Malakhit’, ‘Svetoch’, ‘Bezenchukskaya 380’, ‘Biryuza’, ‘Bazis’, ‘Viyuga’ with high phenotypic stability of the trait ‘gluten quality’ (SF = 1.2; 1.3; 1.2; 1.1; 1.2; 1.2 respectively). The average (in 2014-2020) value of the trait ‘falling number’ of the varieties was 232c (‘Malakhit’), 240c (‘Svetoch’), 258c (‘Bezenchukskaya 380’), 349c (‘Biryuza’), 223c (‘Bazis’), 347c (‘Viyuga’) with 34.7; 42.6; 11.2; 21.6; 43.3, 24.8% of variability respectively. There have been identified phenotypically stable varieties according to the trait ‘falling number’, namely ‘Bezenchukskaya 380’ (SF = 1.3), ‘Viyuga’ (SF = 1.9). According to the maximum expressivity and phenotypic stability of the traits ‘grain quality’, ‘mass fraction of protein and gluten in grain’, ‘falling number’ there have been identified the winter bread wheat varieties ‘Bezenchukskaya 380’, ‘Biryuza’ and ‘Viyuga’.

Germinated Chickpea and Lupin as Promising Ingredients for Breadmaking—Rheological Features

Improving the alpha-amylase activity of wheat flour represents an opportunity to valorize wheat grains of low baking quality. In this sense, germinated legumes can be used to increase enzymatic activity, giving superior final product characteristics at the same time. The aim of this study was to underline the effects of chickpea (CGF) and lupin germinated flours (LGF) added simultaneously to white wheat flour on the rheological behavior of dough and to evaluate an optimal product microstructure. For this purpose, the falling number, dough rheological properties during mixing, 3D-deformation and fermentation, and the visco-elastic behavior were evaluated, the effects of factors (CGF and LGF levels) and their optimization have been studied by applying a full factorial design and response surface methodology (RSM). The LGF sample had a composition of 39.4% protein, 10.3% moisture, 6.9% fat, and 3.4% ash, whereas the CGF presented 21.1 % protein, 9.4% moisture, 5.2% fat, and 3.6% ash. The results showed that CGF and LGF determined the decrease of the falling number, dough water absorption, tolerance to kneading, dough consistency at 250 and 450 s, extensibility, the maximum height of the gas release curve, volume of gas retained by the dough at the end of the test, total volume of CO2 production, visco-elastic moduli, and gelatinization temperatures. On the other hand, dough elasticity and alveograph curve ratio increased proportionally to the increase of CGF and LGF addition levels. The optimal combination considering the rheological properties of dough was found to be 8.57% CGF, 5.31% LGF, and 86.12% wheat flour, with enhanced alpha-amylase activity being obtained compared to the control. These results provide valuable information on the possibility of using germinated legumes such as chickpeas and lupin in breadmaking to enhance wheat flour technological properties (besides traditionally used barley malt flour).

Assessment of the Starch-Amylolytic Complex of Rye Flours by Traditional Methods and Modern One

The properties of the starch-amylolytic complex of commercial low-extract rye flour were determined based on the traditional method, such as falling number and amylograph test as well as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The starch, pentosans and protein had a significant effect on the thermal properties of the tested rye flours. Based on the falling number, it was revealed that rye flours were characterized by medium and low alpha-amylase activity. The falling number and amylograph test are not sufficient methods to determine the suitability of currently produced rye flours for bread making. The gelatinization process of the rye flour starch could be evaluated by the DSC test, which, together with the falling number and amylograph test, may allow a better way to evaluate the usefulness of rye flours for bread making. Many significant correlations between parameters determined by DSC endotherm and quality parameters of rye bread, such as volume and crumb hardness, were reported. Breads made from flour with higher enthalpy in DSC were characterized by higher volume and softer crumb.

Rheological Approaches of Wheat Flour Dough Enriched with Germinated Soybean and Lentil

Germination is a convenient technique that could be used to enhance the nutritional profile of legumes. Furthermore, consumers’ increasing demand for diversification of bakery products represents an opportunity to use such germinated flours in wheat-based products. Thus, this study aimed to underline the effects of soybean germinated flour (SGF) and lentil germinated flour (LGF) on the rheological behavior of dough during different processing stages and to optimize the addition level. For this purpose, flour falling number, dough properties during mixing, extension, fermentation, and dynamic rheological characteristics were evaluated. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used for the optimization of SGF and LGF addition levels in wheat flour, optimal and control samples microstructures being also investigated through epifluorescence light microscopy (EFLM). The results revealed that increased SGF and LGF addition levels led to curve configuration ratio, visco-elastic moduli, and maximum gelatinization temperature rises, while the falling number, water absorption, dough extensibility, and baking strength decreased. The interaction between SGF and LGF significantly influenced (p < 0.05) the falling number, dough consistency after 450 s, baking strength, curve configuration ratio, viscous modulus, and maximum gelatinization temperature. The optimal sample was found to contain 5.60% SGF and 3.62% LGF added in wheat flour, with a significantly lower falling number, water absorption, tolerance to kneading, dough consistency, extensibility, and initial gelatinization temperature being observed, while dough tenacity, the maximum height of gaseous production, total CO2 volume production, the volume of the gas retained in the dough at the end of the test, visco-elastic moduli and maximum gelatinization temperatures were higher compared to the control. These results underlined the effects of SGF and LGF on wheat dough rheological properties and could be helpful for novel bakery products development.

Influence of Spring Wheat Growing Conditions on Alpha-Amylase Activity in Grain

The meteorological conditions in which organogenesis stages take place and hydrothermal regime can determine the phenotypic manifestation of quantitative signs, such as, for example, the activity of alpha-amylase. The purpose of our work was to determine what factors (temperature, precipitation, heterothermal coefficient) affect the enzyme activity, at what time of the vegetation, and in what way this influence is evident. The analysis of weather conditions and falling number (FN) for the period from 2011 to 2020 was carried out. Analysis of the FN value over 10 years showed that it can vary from 90 s to 429 s, and at that, the nature of its change is the same, regardless of whether we are considering one variety or the average value for a group of varieties. The correlation coefficient between the FN of a group of varieties and individual FN is 0.94-0.98. Generally, during the vegetation season, the alpha-amylase activity was influenced to a greater extent by the amount of precipitation than by temperature. This dependence is negative - an increase in precipitation leads to a decrease in the FN, and, consequently, to an increase in the enzyme activity. However, it was found that in different phases of ontogeny the influence of temperature and precipitation can be diametrically opposite.

Application of the alveograph device for the development of requirements for the quality of flour for the production of a wafer sheet

Due to the constantly growing demand for flour confectionery and culinary products, it became necessary to develop specialized requirements for the quality of wheat flour as a raw material. To date, there are no such requirements in our country, and for the production of these products, bakery flour obtained according to the traditional wheat grind scheme was used, the quality of which had to be leveled depending on the range of confectionery products. One way to solve this problem is to differentiate the properties of wheat flour according to its intended purpose and their rationing. The purpose of the study is to develop quality requirements for Russian wheat flour for the production of wafer sheets according to objectively and reliably determined indicators of the dough rheological properties using an alveograph device to create, in the future, a system for classifying wheat flour by its intended purpose. Flour quality assessment was carried out using domestic devices and laboratory equipment (MOK system, Falling-number value, etc.); the dough rheological properties were evaluated by an alveograph device (company Chopin, France), wafer sheets were baked and evaluated using methods previously developed by the authors. The analysis of the interdependence of standardized quality indicators, as well as newly developed ones, was conducted to identify indicators that differentiate the quality of wheat flour by its intended purpose, i.e. by finished products. For this, methods of mathematical statistics were applied.

Estimation features of winter bread wheat quality by the method of sedimentation analysis

It is known that the breeding process is in a great need for fast methods, working on minimal weights of experimental material and revealing the qualitative potential of the varieties. For this purpose, in order to get rid of unpromising numbers, the laboratory assessments widely use a sedimentation analysis, this type of analysis being the main one at the primary stages of breeding and when estimating winter wheat in the pre-harvesting period. The purpose of the current study was to identify the most valuable genotypes in seed plots by sedimentation analysis to optimize the breeding process of winter bread wheat for grain quality. The sedimentation index was estimated by the method using a 2% surfactant (SAS) solution of the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 9.4% lactic acid. Gluten content and its quality, volumetric bread yield and falling number were assessed according to generally accepted methods. For the most accurate interpretation of the study results there has been used a one-way analysis of variance. The range of variation of the sedimentation index in the seed plot of CVT was 35–57 ml (2017); 50–83 ml (2018); 56–84 ml (2019); in KP-1 it was 44–95 ml (there were analyzed 945 samples); in KP-2 it was 50–94 ml (there were analyzed 100 samples). Inthe studied seed plot of CVT, which was laid fallow, 25 of 36 variety samples were very strong in quality; 7 ones were strong; 4 ones were medium; there were not identified any satisfactory and weak samples. As for the seed plot KP-2, 88 of 100 were very strong, 11 ones were strong and only one sample was average in quality. In the seed plot KP-1 480 of 945 were very strong (51%); 440 samples were strong (46%), and only 3% (25 pieces) were average in quality; there were not identified any satisfactory and weak samples.

Effects of Dry Sourdough on Bread-Making Quality and Acrylamide Content

The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of reducing the acrylamide content of bread samples obtained from wheat flour with a high extraction rate by adding a dry sourdough (SD) into the bread recipe. According to the data obtained, compared to the control sample the acrylamide content was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) by more than 50% for the bread samples in which low levels of SD of 1–3% were added to wheat flour. More so, due to the fact that SD affects bread quality, its technological effects on bread making have been investigated. The dough’s rheological properties (mixing and pasting using Mixolab, extension using Alveograph, fermentation using Rheofermentometer), falling number value, and bread quality parameters (loaf volume, porosity, elasticity, color, textural and sensory qualities) have been investigated. In general, SD addition caused a weakening effect on wheat flour dough, an increase in the total volume of CO2 produced during fermentation and a decrease in the falling number value. On bread quality, SD addition improved bread physical characteristics, darkened the bread crumb and crust, decreased the textural parameters (firmness, gumminess, cohesiveness and resilience) and improved the bread sensory characteristics for the samples with the addition of 1–2% SDto wheat flour.

Performance Analysis and Quality Evaluation of Wheat Storage in Horizontal Silo Bags

Wheat still suffers from the problem of traditional storage methods, limited storage capacity, and a high percentage of losses in terms of quantity and quality. Hermetic silo bags are economical and alternative technique to the traditional storage methods. Ten horizontal plastic silos with the capacity of 200 tons/silo were tested and evaluated for eight months of wheat storage. The evaluations included grain bulk temperature, CO2 concentration, fungal and microbial count, insect count, grain moisture content, 1000-grain weight, falling number, and protein content. The results showed that the stored wheat quality was maintained without any significant difference during the storage period in terms of 1000-grain weight, grain moisture content, and falling number, while there were slight changes in protein content and kernel hardness with a decrease of 5.5% and 4.6% at the end of the storage period. There were no statistically significant differences at the sampling location along the length of the storage silos, which confirms the homogeneity of the internal conditions of the examined silo. The grain bulk temperature inside the silos was always lower than the surrounding ambient air temperature. The higher concentration of carbon dioxide inside the silos during the storage period led to a decrease in fungal and microbial count and the presence of dead insects at the end of the storage period.