Irrigation effects on quality characteristics of durum wheat

Water stress can affect the quality characteristics of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). The responses of three cultivars of durum wheat to four irrigation regimes [no irrigation or irrigation applied at three growth stages (sowing, jointing, and anthesis)] were evaluated at Ankara, Turkey, from 1993 to 1995. Thousand-kernel weight and test weight increased with irrigation at all three stages, whereas irrigation at sowing and jointing resulted in high pigmentation and protein values. When irrigation was applied at sowing and jointing, but not at anthesis, with water stress occurring only at grain filling, the quality of the grain was positively affected. Key words: Wheat, durum, stress, water quality, grain, irrigation