Effects of Sulfur Fertilizer Application Methods on Grain Protein Content During Filling Stage of Winter Wheat

[ Objective] The experiment aimed to provide a theoretical base of optimal cultivation management for the high yield and good quality and high efficiency of winter wheat. [ Method] The effects of two sulfur fertilizer application methods on dynamic changes of grain protein content and glutenin content of Yumai 49 and Yumai 66 during wheat grain filling stage were studied under the field conditions. [Result] Both the grain protein and glutenin content of two cultivars were increased by sulfur fertilizer, particularly, the effects on Yumai 49 were more significant.[ Conclusion] The grain content and glutenin content of different wheat cultivars could be increased by taking different sulfur fertilizer application methods.

Effects of sulfur fertilization and short-term high temperature on wheat grain production and wheat flour proteins

The content of wheat flour proteins affects the quality of wheat flour. Sulfur nutrition in wheat can change the protein content of the flour. The inconsistency and instability of wheat grain quality during grain filling under high temperature stress(HTS) are a major challenge to the production of high-quality wheat. The effects of sulfur fertilization and HTS on wheat flour protein and its components are unknown. In this study, treatments varying two factors: sulfur fertilization and exposure to short-term HTS, at 20 days postanthesis, were applied to two wheat cultivars with differing gluten types. Plants of a stronggluten wheat(Gaoyou 2018) and a medium-gluten wheat(Zhongmai 8) were grown in pots in Beijing in 2015–2017. HTS significantly increased the contents of total protein, albumin,gliadin, glutenin, Cys, and Met in wheat kernels, but reduced grain yield, grain weight,protein yield, globulin content, and total starch accumulation. The HTS-induced increase in total protein amount was closely associated with nitrate reductase(NR) and glutamine synthetase(GS) activities in flag leaves. Sulfur fertilization increased grain and protein yields; grain weight; total protein, albumin, gliadin, glutenin, and globulin contents; protein yield; total starch; Cys, Met; and NR and GS activities. HTS and sulfur fertilization had larger effects on the strong-than on the medium-gluten cultivar. Sulfur fertilization also alleviated the negative effects of HTS on grain yield, protein yield, and starch content.Thus, growing wheat with additional soil sulfur can improve the quality of the flour.