Influence of Anthesis Irrigation on Yield, Functional Quality and Antioxidant Properties of Durum Wheat

Year 2025, Volume: 30 Issue: 2, 310 - 327, 28.12.2025

Ali Yiğit

https://doi.org/10.17557/tjfc.1769533

Abstract

Soil moisture has become increasingly crucial for sustaining winter crop yield potential under induced water scarcity resulted climate change. Durum wheat has strategic importance in Mediterranean agriculture, serving as both a staple food crop and a key economic commodity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplemental irrigation in anthesis on yield performance, grain quality, technological traits, and health-related characteristics of durum wheat. A field experiment was conducted under irrigated and rainfed conditions with different growth habit durum wheat varieties during two growing seasons (2019/2020 and 2020/2021). Yield and its components, rheological and technological parameters, grain quality traits, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity were assessed. Supplemental irrigation significantly enhanced grain yield, particularly under dry seasonal conditions, but slightly reduced technological quality, rheological properties, and antioxidant capacity. In contrast, rainfed conditions ensured the expression of desirable grain quality traits relevant to health, nutrition, and pasta end-use quality. Significant correlations were observed, with grain yield negatively associated with protein content (r = –0.41**) and antioxidant activity (r = –0.49***), while protein content exhibited strong positive correlations with gluten index (r = 0.34**), fiber content (r = 0.70**), and antioxidant activity (r = 0.30*). These findings highlight the trade-off between yield and quality under contrasting water regimes. Overall, the results demonstrate that durum wheat exhibits high production potential in Mediterranean environments, with rainfed conditions enhancing quality attributes, thereby providing valuable insights for future breeding and agronomic strategies aimed at balancing yield stability with nutritional and technological quality.

Keywords

Antioxidant , Durum wheat , Gluten , Grain color , Irrigation , Protein

Thanks

I would like to thank the Directorates of Field Crops Central Agricultural Research Institute, Ankara and Aegean Agricultural Research Institute, Izmir and their staff for their assistance in providing seed materials. I am grateful to Dr. Nermin Yaraşır (Manisa Celal Bayar University) for her technical assistance with field and laboratory observations. And also, I would like to express my gratitude to directorate and staff of Aydın Adnan Menderes University Agricultural Biotechnology and Food Safety Application and Research Center (ADU-TARBIYOMER) for their support in conducting detailed quality analysis.

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