Grain quality of winter wheat cultivars as affected by nitrogen and fungicide applications

Nitrogen (N) and fungicide applications are important management inputs in winter wheat (Triticum aestivurn L.) production systems for temperate climates of Europe, but cultivars may differ in their grain quality responses to these cultural practices. Field experiments were conducted during three years to evaluate the quality responses of six cultivars to fungicide application compared to untreated plots at high and low N fertilization rates. Most cultivars did not achieve the minimum breadmaking standards at low N fertilization rate because of low protein content, Zeleny sedimentation, and wet gluten. All cultivars significantly increased these quality traits with high N rate by an average of 21% for grain protein, 58% for Zeleny sedimentation, and 40% for wet gluten. Significant cultivar x N interactions existed for all grain quality traits, but were mainly associated with the differences in the magnitude of responses and less to the ranks. Some cultivars tended to decrease gluten index with high N fertilization rate. Five cultivars consistently achieved greater falling number with high N rate, but these cultivar-specific responses to N fertilization were of much lesser magnitude than those across years. Fungicide application had no effect on grain protein, Zeleny sedimentation, wet gluten, and gluten index in all six cultivars tested, whereas one cultivar consistently reduced falling number after fungicide use. Only hectolitre weights improved following fungicide application. High N fertilization resulted in cultivar-specific increases in protein content, Zeleny sedimentation, wet gluten, and falling number; whereas fungicide application showed no effect on grain quality except improved hectolitre weights.