Protein Quality of Some Local Wheat Varieties

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of some local wheat varieties produced from breeding practice as conducted by the Agriculture Research Center in Libya. A survey has been done for some of these locally produced varieties which are cultivated in different regions in Libya. The study included four different Morocco varieties which were imported from Morocco to be planted in Libya. There was a synchronization of this study with another study conducted by the Agriculture Research Center that included local and Moroccan varieties which were exposed to the same conditions of soil , irrigation and fertilization for the season 95-1996. Representative samples of these varieties were subjected to analyses including the quality of protein as well as the quality of gluten. All local varieties and Moroccan varieties were of high milling quality. There was a variation in gluten quality among the varieties which was graded to either average or weak. The first group included the Moroccan varieties: Buhoth 110, Buhoth 204, Buhoth 304, Buhoth 302, Buhoth 202, Buhoth 112, Sedi Masri, Ashafe, and Almoktar. The second group included Buhoth 208, Buhoth108, Buhoth 306, Buhoth 308, Buhoth 206, and Buhoth 210, Sebha. All studied varieties were low in protein quality as compared with standard protein and the two limiting amino acids: lyseine and threonin. The lysine content in some local varities was higher than average as follows: Buhoth 308, Buhoth 110, Buhoth 302, Buhoth 306, Buhoth 112, Almoktar, Buhoth 210, Buhoth 206, Alshafe, and Buhoth 304, respectively. The lysine content in the rest wheat varieties was less than average as follows: Buhoth 108, Buhoth 204, Buhoth 208, Sedi Masri, Sebha, and Buhoth 202, respectively.