Search Results (5)

The need to diversify food products on the market, the interest of producer-farmers and food processors in nutritionally healthy raw materials, and especially the demand among consumers for new, high-quality product assortments have led to the introduction of ancient wheat species into cultivation. Ancient plant species are often grown using environmentally friendly agricultural technologies. The aim of the study was to compare the technological parameters, rheological properties of dough, and baking indicators of grains (and the flour milled from them) from ancient wheat species T. sphaerococcum and T. persicum with common wheat. These were cultivated using both traditional ploughing and simplified shallow tillage systems. The wheat grain was obtained from field experiments located in three certified organic farms in Poland. In the plant material samples, physical, technological and rheological parameters were determined. The grain, flour, baked bread, and the colour of grain and flour were characterised. It was found that the tested cultivation systems did not have a significant effect on the analysed traits (except for dough parameters: dough stability time, dough softening, and bread weight after removal from the oven and 24 h after baking where shallow tillage turned out to be more advantageous). In turn, the wheat species significantly influenced the tested traits. This factor was found to determine relatively high (higher than common wheat) values of protein complex and water absorption characteristics in ancient wheat flour (T. persicum: TPC/TPCF—156/150 g·kg⁻¹, WG/WGF—39.4/34.5%, WA—62.9%; T. sphaerococcum: TPC/TPCF—145/142 g·kg⁻¹, WG/WGF—38.5/33.3%, WA—58.2%). The obtained results for the technological and rheological properties of the grain and flour indicate that ancient wheat species, particularly T. persicum, can be a potential raw material for the production of healthy food, including bread baking. Full article

The possibility of using reduced tillage in organic farming is poorly recognized. The study aimed to assess the impact of the tillage method (shallow tillage and plowing) on soil biochemical activity, pest pressure, and grain yield of Triticum sphaerococcum, T. persicum, and T. aestivum ssp. vulgare, grown in organic farming systems. For this purpose, field experiments were conducted at three certified organic farms located in different regions of Poland. Enzyme activity was influenced to a greater extent by local soil and weather conditions compared to wheat species and the tillage method. Insect pests (Oulema spp.) slightly damaged the leaves of wheat, and the reduced tillage did not increase the damage. Under site conditions favorable for the development of diseases significantly fewer disease symptoms were observed in shallow tillage compared to plowing (powdery mildew by 9.6–46.1%; stripe rust by 15.5–89%; Septoria head blotch by 0–84.4%; Fusarium head blotch by 0–47.4%, Fusarium foot rot by 0–100%). T. aestivum was characterized by the highest yield and the yield stability in various locations and tillage methods. Ancient wheat species (T. sphaerococcum and T. persicum) had a higher yield in shallow tillage compared to plowing tillage (by 64% and 30%, respectively) only under effective weed control. Full article

The need for foods with high nutritional value has led to the rediscovery of ancient wheat species Triticum sphaerococcum and T. persicum as raw materials with valuable consumption properties, but their reintroduction requires assessment of their productivity under different agricultural practices. The field experiments were carried out for three years (2018–2020) to test the hypothesis that the sowing density of T. sphaerococcum and T. persicum (400, 500 and 600 no m⁻²) will affect their agronomic traits, yield and occurrence of diseases, but the response will depend on the hydrothermal conditions of the growing seasons. In this study, a significant correlation of the grain yield with the amount of precipitation in tillering, and from booting to the beginning of fruit development was demonstrated. The sowing density of T. sphaerococcum had an impact on the grain yield only under moderate drought stress during the growing season (2019), when the highest yield was obtained at a sowing density of 600 m⁻². In 2019, the most favorable sowing density was also the highest for T. persicum. In the year with the lowest amount of rainfall during the growing season (2018), the yield of T. persicum was the highest in the lowest sowing density. At the shooting stage, a greater intensity of powdery mildew was observed on T. persicum, especially with higher sowing densities. Increasing the sowing density also increased the occurrence of root rot symptoms in both wheat species in the year that favored the occurrence of this disease (2018). It can be concluded that in the integrated low-input cultivation of T. sphaerococcum and T. persicum, it is justified to use a sowing density of 600 pcs. m⁻², in an agroclimatic zone with moderate droughts during the growing season. Full article

Crop management should be determined to reintroduce ancient wheat. This study aimed to determine: i. the response of the yield of ancient wheat on sowing density; ii. the impact of sowing density on plant health, weed infestation and pest occurrence. Field experiments were carried out in Poland, on three organic farms. The factors were: (1) wheat species: Persian wheat (Triticum persicum Vav.) and Indian dwarf wheat (T. sphaerococcum Perc.), (2) sowing density (400, 500, and 600 grains m⁻²). Increasing the sowing density of T. sphaerococcum from 400 to 600 grains m⁻² increases the grain yield and reduces the pest pressure (Oulema spp. and Aphididae). Sowing densities did not affect the severity of powdery mildew at stem elongation as well as root rot and eyespot at the development of fruit. At the highest sowing density, the leaf area with tan spot symptoms was the highest. The eyespot symptoms occurred more frequently and the damaged plant surface caused by Oulema spp. was larger on T. sphaerococcum. Persian wheat turned out to be more susceptible to weed infestation. Indian dwarf wheat and Persian wheat are useful for organic farming, and the sowing density should be 500 or 600 grains m⁻² and 400 grains m⁻², respectively. Full article

The aim of the study was to assess the content of total organic carbon (TOC), macronutrients (P, K, and Mg), and glomalin (easily extractable glomalin-related soil protein (EEGRSP)) in soil, micronutrients (Zn and Cu) in soil and wheat, and the number of insects on plots in an organic (OF) and a conventional farming (CF) system, all against the background of alkaline phosphatase (AlP) and acid phosphatase (AcP) activity. The experimental design included two spring wheat species, Triticum sphaerococcum Percival and Triticum persicum Vavilov, and three sowing densities (grains m⁻²): 400, 500, 600. Statistical analysis (ANOVA, η² effect size) showed significant variation in parameters under the influence of experimental factors. In the duration of the field experiment, TOC content in soil had decreased by 61% compared to the content before starting the experiment. The contents of P, K, and Mg and activity of AlP and AcP were higher in soil under T. sphaerococcum. With a sowing density of 600 grains m⁻² under OF and CF, the significantly lowest macronutrient content and the highest AlP and AcP activity were found. The parameters tested (TOC, EEGRSP, P, K, Mg, TZn, TCu, AZn, CU in plant, AlP, AcP) were higher under the CF than under the OF system. The experimental factors (spring wheat species and number of germinating grains) were demonstrated to influence the content of the forms of both microelements in soil and plants. In CF, more content in the amount of Zn and Cu was found than in OF. But the content they had did not exceed the standards set for arable soils. Both wheat species had a significant impact on the concentration of glomalin in the soil from the fields cultivated in the OF system. In CF, a significant difference was caused by sowing density and by interaction between wheat species and sowing density. Insects preferred plants grown in the OF system compared to CF. Regardless of cultivation system, the number of insects was greater on the plots of T. sphaerococcum than on plots of T. persicum. There were more insects at higher sowing densities in plants grown in the OF system only. Full article