Miller Magazine Issue: 117 September 2019

17 NEWS MILLER / SEPTEMBER 2019 results of laboratory tests performed on collected samples by means of entomological, mycological, phytohelminthological, virological and herbological expertises allow us to assess the phytosanitary state of wheat harvest as satisfactory. Entomological examination revealed the pres- ence of typical for Ukraine species in usual amounts without exceeding the threshold of harm- fulness. As to fungal nature agents, the most com- mon for all regions are Alternaria alternata Fr. and Cladosporium herbarum (Pers) Link. Herbological assessment of the fields revealed usual species of wild plants associated wheat weeds. The most common are: Convolvulus arvensis L., Polygonum convolvulus L., Setaria glauca L.P.B., Delphinium consolida L., Aegilops cylindrica Host. Below information is targeted to give some in- sights on milling wheat characteristics of new crop 2019 in comparison with the crop of 2018 year. At the beginning of this season, we see average test weight a bit lower than in the previous season and a higher quantity of shriveled grains that could be caused by high temperatures and scarcity of rainfalls during ripening period especially in south regions of Ukraine. This situation is expected to im- prove towards the middle of the season due to the grains coming from north regions of Ukraine. It is worth to mention higher quantity of bug-rid- den grains. We assume that such situation could also be caused by weather conditions as at the beginning of summer there was a strong heat in Ukraine without precipitation with temperatures up to 35° C and higher. Such climate condition provoked reproduction and increased activity of insect pests. In combination with usage of some seeding material not resistant to Eurygaster`s, we see the increased quantity of insect dam- aged wheat, including bug-ridden grains. Regarding baking qualities of milling wheat, we expect to see a broader variance (in between Min. and Max.) in terms of W in comparison to the pre- vious season. Currently, we see some particular parcels of wheat with quite good protein content and other quality parameters at decent level, but with very low W (around 100). Still, bug-ridden grains may be below 2% on these parcels. We assume, the situation is caused by the com- bination of several factors, two of them already been mentioned above. First, quality of protein is quite sensitive to the influence of weather conditions (i.e. high tempera- ture and lack of humidity) that provoke the disruption of bonds be- tween mole- cules of the proteins. With high level of protein and gluten content, the quality of gluten is poor and dough is weak. Among other influencing factors are increased quantity of insects (incl. Eurygaster) together with the usage of seeding material not resistant to Eu- rygaster`s ferments and poor quality of the soil due to the lack of proper fertilizer application schemes (to save money due to difficult financial conditions). At the same time, during post-harvesting period of about three months, under condition of environ- ment temperature decrease and proper storage conditions, it cannot be excluded that bonds be- tween molecules of the protein may strengthen, that could result in higher W findings. We will test few samples of wheat with low W (representing the very beginning of the season) in one-month period in order to check if W parameter became higher or left at the same level. Below you can find our statistical data of rheolog-