RESUMEN
This study applied various chromatographic methods to assess the chemical composition of five selected perennial and annual wheat seed varieties cultivated in Kazakhstan. Gas Chromatography (GC) analysis revealed distinct fatty acid profiles, with perennial, soft, and durum annual wheat seeds displaying varying levels of saturated fatty acids (SFA), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (SFA: 10.538 - 19.676%, MUFA: 17.124 - 23.131%, PUFA: 58.649 - 66.938%). HPLC analysis uncovered significant differences in the content of total non-essential amino acids (TNEA) and essential amino acids (TEA). Among the analysed varieties, "Sova" had the highest TNEA content (4464.70 mg/g) with aspartic acid as the predominant amino acid (4146.35 mg/g), while "704" displayed the highest TEA content (579.95 mg/g) with tyrosine as the dominant amino acid (219.98 mg/g). These findings highlight the potential of Kazakh wheat varieties as rich sources of essential nutrients and hold promise for improving public health.
RESUMEN
The transition from annual to perennial growth habits can contribute to increased sustainability and diversification of staple cropping systems like those based on annual wheat. Amphiploids between Triticum aestivum and Thinopyrum spp. can present a wheat-like morphology and post sexual cycle regrowth. The complex and unpredictable nature of the chromosomal rearrangements typical of inter-generic hybrids can hamper progress in the development of this new crop. By using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we described the genomic constitution of three perennial wheat breeding lines that regrew and completed a second year of production in field conditions in Washington state (USA). Two breeding lines presented stable, 56-chromosome partial amphiploids; however, their chromosome composition differed significantly. The third breeding line presented an unstable karyotype with a chromosome number ranging from 53 to 58 across eight individuals. The agronomic performance of the perennial breeding lines was evaluated for two growing seasons from 2020 to 2022. The grain yields of the perennial lines were lower than the grain production of the annual wheat control line in the first season. The perennial lines displayed vigorous regrowth after the initial harvest; however, worsening environmental conditions in the second season of growth hampered subsequent growth and grain yield. This information facilitates the breeding work necessary to improve key traits by grouping agronomically valuable individuals according to their genomic constitution.
RESUMEN
Perennial wheat is considered to be a practical way to increase the flexibility and profitability of sustainable agricultural system, as it can be either a forage grass or a grain crop. Four perennial wheat lines SX12-480, SX12-787, SX12-1150, and SX12-1269 were developed from a series of interspecific crosses between common wheat (Triticum aestivum, 2n = 42) or durum wheat (T. turgidum var. durum, 2n = 28) and the intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium, 2n = 42). These lines were characterized by the vigorous regrowth for at least 3 years. The one- and 2-year-old plants had higher grain yield potential than the 3-year-old perennial plants. The decline of grain yield was associated with plant age-related effects on yield components. The perennial wheat lines were all resistant to both Heterodera avenae and H. filipjevi, the two distinct cereal cyst nematode species that occur in China, except that line SX12-787 exhibited moderate resistance only to H. avenae. The dual-purpose perennial wheat lines were evaluated for quality values of both defoliated grass and harvested grains in the form of amino acid profile, mineral concentration, and contents of protein and fiber. Difference in the quality profile was observed between the perennial lines. These perennial lines had an overall improved quality levels over those of the perennial wheat control Montana-2 (T. turgidum × Th. intermedium) and the annual wheat cultivar Jinchun 9. The amplification profiles of the molecular markers provided molecular evidence for the introgression of alien chromatin. Genomic in situ hybridization detected 16, 14, 14, and 12 Th. intermedium chromosomes in lines SX12-480 (2n = 48), SX12-787 (2n = 56), SX12-1150 (2n = 56), and SX12-1269 (2n = 54), respectively, in addition to either 32 or the complete set of wheat chromosomes. The four perennial wheat-Th. intermedium lines described here provide valuable sources of perennial wheat for the dual-purpose application of both grain and forage.