Improvement in end-use quality of spring wheat varieties grown in different eras

Evaluation of wheat cultivars from different eras allows scientists to determine changes in agronomic and end-use quality characteristics associated with grain yield and end-use quality improvement over time. Forty-four spring wheat cultivars introduced or released since 1933 were evaluated for quality improvement using canonical variant analysis. It was observed that there was a considerable improvement in protein content from 1933 to 1964 whereas the genetic potential for straight grade flour protein from 11.34% in 1933–1964 to 12.13% in 1991–1996. Crude protein increased by 6.95% from 1933 to 1996. Ash content and flour yield declined by 9.55% and 5.51%, respectively. Total chapati scores of modern cultivars were 8.97% higher than those of cultivars grown earlier. The average spread ratio and overall cookie scores increased almost 5.53% and 4.44%, respectively from 1933 to 1996. It was also observed that overall cookie scores were highest during the period 1981–1990. The average dry gluten and total chapati scores of varieties grown since 1991 were approximately 10.20% and 74.72% respectively, which were 4.72% and 8.97% higher than those of cultivars grown since 1933. Average spread ratio and overall cookie scores increased almost 5.53% and 4.44% from 1933 to 1996, respectively. The era (1991–1996) containing the modern varieties showed a substantial improvement in lysine content than the era containing the oldest wheat varieties. Similarly amino acid score was also found to be 4.26% higher than the varieties released during the period 1933–1964.