ARS | Publication request: THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON STARCH SIZE DISTRIBUTION IN DEVELOPING HARD RED WINTER WHEAT

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: June 5, 2006
Publication Date: September 17, 2006
Citation: Wilson, J.D., Kaufman, R.C., Park, S. 2006. The environmental impact on starch size distribution in developing hard red winter wheat [abstract]. AACC International Meeting. Poster Paper No. 267.

Technical Abstract: Starch constitutes the greatest weight portion of the wheat endosperm (65-75%) and contributes its own unique functional qualities such as texture, volume, consistency, aesthetics, moisture, and shelf stability to various baked products. Particle size has long been recognized as an important variable in the efficiency of a range of processes including predicting rheology and flow behavior. While genetics is the dominant determinant in caryopsis development the environment also has a critical role in quality variability. The objective of this work is to study starch size distribution in identical varieties of developing hard red winter wheat grown in the same location over at least 5 consecutive years and correlate differences to various environmental factors. The samples were collected from the Kansas State University Agronomy field plots in Manhattan, KS. The heads were tagged as to flowering dates and samples were collected starting at 7 days-after-flowering (DAF) and regularly sampled until harvest. The starch was isolated, then freeze-dried and starch size distribution was analyzed on a laser diffraction particle size analyzer. Trends were observed within varieties between starch size distribution and temperature as well as total precipitation in 10, 17, 28 DAF and just prior to harvest. These trends included total volume fluctuations and shifts in peak diameters of 10-20% of the A-type granules. Studying starch size distribution during development of the wheat caryopsis may provide needed insight into critical environmental growth phases.