Protein and lysine content, grain yield, and other technological traits in durum wheat under Mediterranean conditions

A major problem for durum wheat production in the Mediterranean region is yield fluctuation. This fluctuation is a result of year-to-year variation in precipitation and heat stress during grain growth, which is typical of the Mediterranean climate. Both yield stability and good quality are needed in adapted durum wheat ideotypes. Ten durum wheat cultivars differing in drought resistance were grown during 1998, under both rainfed and irrigated conditions, at three sites in southern Spain. The main traits studied were protein and lysine content, grain yield, test weight, SDS sedimentation, semolina color, and grain vitreousness. Results show a high influence of site on all traits. Only test weight (TW), SDS sedimentation, grain vitreousness, and protein per kernel appeared to be determined also by cultivar effect. Vitreousness was positively correlated with TW (r = 0.48**) and semolina color (r = 0.46**). An inverse relationship was found between grain yield and protein content. Regression of cultivar mean values of protein content and grain yield showed a negative correlation (r = -0.72***), probably due to dilution of protein by non-nitrogen compounds and reduced starch accumulation in the grain under drought conditions. Lysine content was negatively associated with protein content (r = -0.86***), indicating the difficulty of a simultaneous breeding for both characteristics.