MYCOFLORA OF WINTER WHEAT SEEDS AND ITS INFLUENCE ON GRAIN QUALITY INDICATORS
Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of the study was to determine the species composition of the causal agents involved in enzymo-mycotic depletion in bread winter wheat material and to clarify the features of their development under contrasting hydrothermal conditions, as well as to establish the relationship between fungal colonization and the main technological traits of the harvested produce. Particular attention was paid to the identification of the most common micromycetes, laboratory germination assessment, comparison of technological traits in years differing in moisture supply, and evaluation of the correlation between the phytopathological condition of the harvested material and its technological performance.
Methods. The research was carried out during the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 growing seasons in the southern part of Chernihiv region, within Pryluky district. Eight cultivars were included in the experiment: Nosivochka, MIP Vyshyvanka, Vezha Myronivska, MIP Valensiia, Emerik, Meskal, Yuliia, and Tobak. Hydrothermal conditions during plant development and kernel formation were characterized using Meteoblue weather data. Phytopathological assessment was performed in laboratory conditions using a biological method according to generally accepted procedures and DSTU 4138-2002, followed by microscopic identification of the isolated cultures. Laboratory germination, frequency of fungal occurrence, moisture content, 1000-kernel weight, gluten content, vitreousness, and protein content were determined. Statistical processing was performed in Microsoft Excel with calculation of means, standard deviations, coefficients of variation, correlation coefficients, and significance testing at p < 0.05.
Results. It was established that in 2025 precipitation occurred in every ten-day period from heading to full ripeness, whereas no rainfall was recorded in July 2024. The wetter conditions of 2025 promoted the development of black ear symptoms and more intensive fungal colonization. The following fungi were isolated and identified from the studied material: Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Fusarium avenaceum, Nigrospora oryzae, Penicillium expansum, and Epicoccum nigrum. The highest frequency of occurrence was recorded for Alternaria alternata (46.6–58.6 %), with the highest values in Yuliia and Nosivochka. The highest incidence of Fusarium avenaceum was observed in Emerik (12.0 %). Under the more favorable moisture supply in 2025, 1000-kernel weight was higher than in 2024 (48.0 vs 46.8 g), but the major technological traits decreased: mean gluten content declined from 20.6 to 16.7 %, vitreousness from 48.0 to 36.0 %, and protein content from 10.9 to 10.3 %. As a result of the correlation analysis, it was established that seed-borne fungal infection significantly affects the formation of grain quality indicators in winter wheat, in particular, the development of Alternaria alternata is characterized by a very strong positive correlation with grain moisture and strong negative correlations with gluten content and vitreousness, whereas other pathogens exhibit predominantly moderate or weak effects.
Conclusions. The hydrothermal conditions of the studied years substantially affected both the intensity of micromycete development and the formation of technological traits. Wetter conditions in 2025 favored black ear development, prolonged maturation, and enhanced fungal colonization, which was accompanied by lower gluten, protein, and vitreousness values. Drier conditions in 2024 were more favorable for better technological performance, although 1000-kernel weight was lower. The obtained results confirm the importance of integrated cultivar assessment that simultaneously considers weather conditions, phytopathological status, and the strength of correlations between fungal colonization and economically valuable traits.
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