DOI: 10.

5965/ 223811711512016024

Sulfur and nitrogen effects on industrial quality and grain yield of wheat

Efeitos de enxofre e nitrogênio na qualidade industrial e no rendimento de grãos de trigo

Tiago Olivoto1, Ivan Ricardo Carvalho2*, Maicon Nardino2, Mauricio Ferrari1, Alan Junior de
Pelegrin1, Diego Nicolau Follmann1, Luiz Carlos Gutkoski3 e Velci Queiróz de Souza1

Recebido em 11/10/2015 / Aceito em 09/12/2015.

ABSTRACT RESUMO

The consumer market’s demand and requirement for A demanda e a exigência do mercado consumidor por
wheat grains which present a satisfactory industrial grãos de trigo que apresentem qualidade industrial
quality have driven the demand for enhanced satisfatória têm estimulado a tecnificação do cultivo,
cropping systems, especially related to nutritional principalmente no que diz respeito à questão
aspects. In this context, the purpose of this research nutricional. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho
was to evaluate how the sulfur supplementation and foi avaliar os efeitos da suplementação de enxofre e
the usage of nitrogen (N) affect the baking quality and do parcelamento do nitrogênio (N) na qualidade de
the yield of the wheat grain cultivar TBIO Itaipu®. panificação e no rendimento dos grãos de trigo da
A randomized block experimental design in factorial cultivar TBIO Itaipu®. Utilizou-se o delineamento de
arrangement, with two sulfur managements (with blocos casualizados organizados em esquema fatorial,
and without) and four split nitrogen managements sendo dois manejos de enxofre (com e sem) e quatro
(I: 100% of N in the double ring; II: 30% of N in manejos de nitrogênio (I: 100% de N no duplo anel;
the tillering period + 40% of N in the double ring + II: 30% de N no afilhamento + 40% de N no duplo
30% of N in the ear development; III: 50% of N in anel + 30% de N no espigamento; III: 50% de N no
the tillering period + 50% of N in the double ring; afilhamento + 50% de N no duplo anel; IV: 50% de N
IV: 50% of N in the double ring + 50% of N in the no duplo anel + 50% de N no espigamento), dispostos
ear development period), arranged in four repetitions. em quatro repetições. Nossos resultados mostraram
Our results showed that the sulfur supplementation que a suplementação de enxofre aumentou o teor de
increased the gluten content, which has been positively glúten, o qual esteve positivamente correlacionado
correlated with the strength and extensibility of the com a extensibilidade e a força de glúten da massa
bread dough. This had a positive influence on the na presença do mesmo, influenciando positivamente
technological parameters of the flour used for baking. os parâmetros tecnológicos da farinha destinada
The splitnitrogen fertilizer application (in double à panificação. Os manejos nitrogenados com
ring, tillering, and ear development) increased the parcelamento (no afilhamento, no duplo anel e no
wheat grain yield due to the greater number of tillers espigamento) aumentaram o rendimento de grãos em
per plant and also of the wheat ears per square meter. razão do maior número de afilhos por planta e maior
número de espigas por metro quadrado.
KEYWORDS: Triticum aestivum L, alveography,
gluten, installment, tillering. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Triticum aestivum L.,
afilhamento, alveografia, glúten, parcelamento.

1
Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Frederico Westphalen, RS, Brasil.
2
Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brasil.
3
Universidade de Passo Fundo, Passo Fundo, RS, Brasil.
*
Autor para correspondência <[email protected]>.

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 Olivoto et al.

INTRODUCTION in wheat crops due to stimulating tiller emergence

and for actuating in the determination of the amount
The intensification of research in this field has of grains per spike and the grain weight, which are
generated breakthroughs in processes concerning the yield primary components of crops (NARDINO et
yield of wheat grain production in Brazil, and has al. 2013). Nitrogen remobilization from the plant
allowed the development of genotypes with different vegetative structure to the grains is approximately
technological qualities (SCHEUER et al. 2011). The 80% of the total nutrient content in the grains, while
wheat grain´s quality can be defined as the result of the remainder is provided by post-anthesis absorption
the influence that each genotype undergoes in the crop (SUPRAYOGI et al. 2011). The importance of a
environment such as the effect of the soil conditions, good availability of nitrogen in later stages such as
climate, wild plants, pest and disease incidence, in ear development is also because the ear spikelets
crop management, harvesting operations, drying, are farthest from the base and have shorter nutrient
storage, milling and the industrial usage of the flour accumulation periods, which may compromise the
(GUTKOSKI & JACOBSEN NETO 2002). density thereof (ANDERSSON et al. 2004).
Proteins present in the wheat grains can Recent studies have revealed that the application
basically be divided into two groups: those that form of nitrogen as an isolated factor causes changes to the
gluten (prolamin), and non-gluten (albumins and partitioning of grain proteins, causing a reduction
globulins) (HERNÁNDEZ-ESPINOSA et al. 2015). in the proportion of LMW glutenin subunits and an
The chemical composition and structural proprieties increase in the gliadin content, with no effect on the
of the storage proteins in the wheat grains are directly HMW glutenin subunits (CHOPE et al. 2014). Thus,
related to the quality of the wheat flour (XU et al. to form proteins with a higher proportion of HMW
2007).The main storage proteins represent around 80% glutenin subunits, while aiming to increase gluten
of the total proteins present in the wheat grain. These strength, the balance between the nitrogen/sulfur
substances are the gliadins and glutenins, which are available to plants is essential; because this balance
classified as low molecular weight glutenin subunits controls the accumulation time of storage proteins,
(LMW) and high molecular weight glutenin subunits especially HMW glutenin subunits (DAI et al. 2015).
(HMW). They consist of a heterogeneous mixture of There is little literature based on research into
polymers stabilized by disulfide bonds arising from the effect that interactions between nitrogen x sulfur
the sulfur amino acid cysteine links (BRANLARD et can have on wheat crops, thus, the aim of this study
al. 2001, MORAES et al. 2011). was to evaluate how the split nitrogen applications at
Gliadins and glutenins, when hydrated and different growth stages on the sulfur supplementation
subject to mechanical stresses caused by mixing influences the morphological characteristics, yield
and kneading, form gluten, that binds to the starch components, and the grains quality of the TBIO
granules retaining carbon dioxide produced during Itaipu® genotype.
the fermentation process, making the bread volume
increase (GUTKOSKI & JACOBSEN NETO 2002). MATERIAL AND METHODS
Elasticity and extensibility are characteristics inherent
to gluten and are conferred by the binding of sulfur The experiment was conducted during the year
amino acids such as cysteine, which comprise the high of 2013 in the municipality of Cacique Doble - RS,
molecular weight glutenin (SUN et al. 2014). Thus, it at latitude coordinates 27o42’43”S and Longitude
is expected that the wheat grains well-nourished with 51o42’43” W, with Altitude 700 meters (m) above
sulfur present protein patterns which produce flour sea level. The soil of the area is classified as red clay
with physical, chemical, rheological and nutritional Latossol (EMBRAPA, 2006), which showed after
characteristics appropriate to make bread. chemical analysis from 0 to 0.15 m of depth, the
Alongside the technological quality, an increase results: pH (CaCl2) = 6.1; MO = 35 g kg-1; P = 28
in grain yield is sought by using specialized nutritional mg dm3; K = 192 mg dm3; S = 21 mg dm3; Ca+2 =
management, highlighting the usage of nitrogen, 5.7 Cmolc dm3; Mg = 3.4 Cmolc dm3; H + Al = 5.9
nutrient determining the production potential and Cmolc dm3; Al+3 = 0,0; CTC = 15.5; V% = 76. The
protein content of the grain (PINNOW et al. 2013). climate on site is characterized by Köppen CFA as
Nitrogen is a substance that plays an essential role humid subtropical, with rainfall well distributed

Revista de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Lages, v.15, n.1, 2016 25

 Olivoto et al.

throughout the year. The rainfall accumulated during double ring + 50% of N in the ear development period.
the experiment was 780 mm (Figure 1). The definition of stages for conducting the nitrogen
The experimental design was a randomized application was made by monitoring the crop with in
block arrangement in a factorial design, with two situ observations of random plants, with the following
sulfur treatments (with and without) and four criteria. The nitrogen applications during tillering
different nitrogen managements (I, II, III and IV), were done in growth stage (GS) GS11 in the range
arranged in four replicates. The application of sulfur determined by (ZADOKS et al. 1974). In the double
in the experimental units was based on 70 kg ha-1 of ring, the nitrogen was applied in the appearance of the
elemental sulfur, which is 95% sulfur concentrated. very first spikelet primordia of the apical meristem.
Each plot consisted of 17 lines 7 m long, with 0.17 m During the ear development period, nitrogen was
spacing among rows. The cultivar used for this study applied when about 25% of ears were externalized
was the TBIO Itaipu®. This cultivar is well accepted GS52 to GS53. The nitrogen application dates can be
by producers in all wheat-growing regions of the Rio seen in Figure 1. The control of weeds, insect pests
Grande do Sul state. Presents mean values of gluten and diseases were accomplished preventively. The
strength of 261 x 10-4 J, stability time 14.1 min and plot’s useful area considered for determining the yield
thousand grain weight 35 g (BIOTRIGO 2011). and later rheological analysis was established in the
Seeds were sown on tillage system previously central lines totaling 4 m2. In order to determine the
desiccated corn stover, using the density of 350 seeds morphological characters and yield components ten
per m2 and base fertilization with 300 kg ha-1 of N-P-K plants per plot were randomly collected outside the
05-20-20 for all experimental units. This fertilization plot useful area.
was to achieve a grain yield potential of 4.200 kg ha-1. The evaluated traits were: number of tillers per
The application rate of nitrogen (N) was based on a plant (NTP): data gather by counting the amount of
135 kg ha-1 dose of the nutrient (100%), distributed tillers per plant during the ear development period,
according to the following management: I: 100% of N results in units.
in the double ring; II: 30% of N in the tillering period Number of ears per square meter (ESM):
+ 40% of N in the double ring + 30% of N in the ear determined by counting the number of ears contained
development; III: 50% of N in the tillering period + in a m2 of each experimental unit, results in units.
50% of N in the double ring; IV: 50% of N in the Number of grains per ear (NGE): all grains in

100
Accumulated rainfall: 780 mm
90

80

70

60
Rainfall (mm)

50

40

30

3
20
1 2
10

0
01/07 08/07 15/07 22/07 29/07 05/08 12/08 19/08 26/08 02/09 09/09 16/09 23/09 30/09 07/10 14/10 21/10 28/10 04/11 11/11 18/11 25/11
Crop cycle

Figure 1 - Precipitation observed during the crop cycle in the experimental area. The arrows indicate the
days of seeding and reaping. The numbers 1, 2 and 3 indicate the day of application of nitrogen
managements at tillering, double ring and ear emergence, respectively.

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 Olivoto et al.

each plant were counted, and then this number was importance of nutrient split for better utilization by
divided by the number of ears present in the plant, plants.
results in units. The analysis of joint variance showed a
Grain yield (GY): grain mass in the plot useful significant interaction (p≤0.05) between the use of
area of each experimental unit was corrected to 13% sulfur and nitrogen managements in different rates
moisture, and subsequently adjusted for grain mass for the characters of tenacity (P), extensibility (L),
per hectare, resulting in kg ha-1. P/L rate - compared tenacity / extensibility, gluten
Total protein (TPR): determined from the total general strength (W) and number of grains per ear
nitrogen content obtained using the micro-Kjeldahl (NGE). The absence of significant interactions was
method as procedure Nº 46-12 of the AACC (1999a). noticed for the following characters: number of tillers
Gluten Content (GLC): determined by a per plant (NTP), number of ear per square meter
Glutomatic (Model 2200, Perten Instruments, (ESM), grain yield (GY), total protein (TPR) and
USA) machine according to AACC Method 38-12A gluten content (GLC).
paragraph (AACC 1999b), using ten gram sample Regarding the number of tillers per plant (NTP),
with humidity adjusted to 14%. the use of sulfur did not reveal significant effects when
Alveographic analysis: performed on an tested on genotype TBIO Itaipu®. It is evident that
alveograph (NG template, Chopin, France) following the increase in the amount of tillers was related to the
the AACC Method Nº 54-30 (AACC 1999c). The increased availability of nitrogen to plants provided
analysis provided information on the toughness (P) by managements II and III, which provided 30% and
expressed in mm, the extensibility (L) expressed in 50% of nitrogen, respectively, in tillering (Table 1).
mm, and gluten strength (W) expressed in 10-4 J. This behavior is the result of physiological stimulus
The collected data were submitted to caused by N presence, instigating the emergence
analysis of variance by F test at 5% (p≤0.05) error of tillers already differentiated, and improving the
probability. Characteristics that showed significant phonological synchrony between the tiller and the
interaction between the use of sulfur versus the main stem of the plant. This hypothesis can be
nitrogen managements were deconstructed and confirmed due genotypes with low tillering potential
analyzed against simple effects.Characteristics with that do not differ from those with the greatest potential,
no significant interaction were compared to the with regard to the initial tillers in the lateral buds
main effects by Tukey test at 5% probability of error (ALVES et al. 2005) in which nitrogen deficiencies
for each factor separately. To express significant in the tillering period may have caused an absence of
associations between the characters and evidence, synchronicity in the emergence of tillers (ALZUETA
if directions and magnitudes were maintained, a et al. 2012).
Pearson linear correlation was conducted for each In addition, those tillers would present
sulfur management. All statistical procedures were low chances of survival, even with a nitrogen
performed using the Genes software (CRUZ 2013). supplementation in more advanced stages of
development (VALÉRIO et al. 2009). The presence
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS of a larger number of tillers is a plant strategy of
adaptation to different growing conditions and
The accumulated rainfall during the crop contributes significantly to the increase of grain yield,
cycle was 780 mm (Figure 1). After the application even under stressful conditions such as the loss of leaf
of nitrogen in tillering, cumulative precipitation was area (SOUZA et al. 2013).
41 mm, distributed in three days, which may have No significant differences for the number
benefited the incorporation of nitrogen in soil. From of ears per square meter (ESM) for the different
the application of nitrogen in the double ring until sulfur treatments were noticed (Table 1). In regard
the last application (ear development), 402 mm of to nitrogen treatments, higher magnitudes were
precipitation was observed (Figure 1), which may shown in managements II and III, the same behavior
reduce the availability of nitrogen due to leaching, was evidenced for NTP, which indicates a positive
especially if the nitrogen was applied at once. Data association between the characteristics. Studies by
from high precipitation observed, according to the ZAGONEL et al. (2002) showed a significant increase
historical average for the region, reinforcing the in grain yield due to the higher number of ears per

Revista de Ciências Agroveterinárias, Lages, v.15, n.1, 2016 27

 Olivoto et al.

Table 1 - The number of tillers (NT), number of ears per square meter (ESM), grain yield (GY), total protein
(TPR) and gluten content (GLC) in different sulfur and nitrogen managements.
Sulfur Management NTP ESM GY TPR (%) GLC (%)
With 5.00 a 676.50 a 5997.30 a 12.24 a 29.35 a
Without 4.67 a 648.69 a 5884.00 a 12.45 a 28.11 b
Nitrogen management
I 3.54 b 566.00 b 5393.00 b 12.29 a 28.83 a
II 5.44 a 745.00 a 6280.00 a 12.18 a 28.82 a
III 5.94 a 738.00 a 6358.00 a 12.50 a 27.63 a
IV 4.44 b 600.00 b 5730.00 b 12.40 a 29.60 a
CV (%) 14.33 10.06 6.13 4.39 4.99
Main followed by the same lower case letter in the column do not differ statistically by Tukey’s test at 5%
error probability.

square meter, however, the increase in the number of only the observable increase in total protein content
ears caused a reduction in the number of spikelets per and high grain specific mass, when it was present at
ears and in the weight of a thousand grains. This fact reproductive stage.
may be related to the high competition from plants for In analyzing the total protein (TPR), no
nutrients, especially nitrogen, which even with higher differences were observed for the application of sulfur
doses applied at tillering is unable to meet the great and nitrogen treatments (Table 1). This result may
demand of this nutrient required in the grain filling be related to the fact that the protein concentration
period. Thus, splitting doses of nitrogen in different is affected mainly by nitrogen dosage available to
rates during the ear development period can bring plants (ZÖRB et al. 2010). Because the importance
benefits to cultivations because of the efficiency of in evaluating the protein of wheat grains is not only
plant use. quantitative but also qualitative, even though the
The positive effect of nitrogen management is protein content is not changed, proteins related to
evidenced when assessing grain yield (GY). It can gluten configuration can suffer significant changes
be observed (Table 1), that sulfur treatments did not and observe larger amounts of proteins that form
influence the GY. On the other hand, for the nitrogen gluten (gliadin and glutenin) with increased doses of
treatments there was an increase in grain yield for sulfur (ZÖRB et al. 2010).
those which nitrogen was provided in tillering (II The information above is confirmed when
and III). Among these managements, there was no evaluating the behavior of gluten content (GLC) in
significant difference. The increase in GY compared different nutritional managements. It is observed that
to the managements which did not provide nitrogen in the application of sulfur positively influenced the
tillering was approximately 13.5%. There has been a magnitude of the variable. In the nitrogen treatments,
tendency for plants with more tillers to provide larger no differences were observed (Table 1). Gluten is the
numbers of ears per unit area and higher yield. This main element responsible for the formation of the
fact is related to the increase in the number of grains dough because it provides the viscoelastic character
per unit area which is a yield component essential to needed (PINNOW et al. 2013). The observed results
the culture. Recent studies reinforce the hypothesis are in agreement with SAEED et al. (2011) who
that the wheat grain yield benefits from nitrogen observed the higher gluten content (28.35%) when
applications at the beginning of tillering. STEFEN et the sulfur was associated with higher fertilization
al. (2014), assessing the installment nitrogen and plant nitrogen. In this context, the importance of a balance
growth retardant concluded that the nitrogen applied of these nutrients is highlighted in the conformation
both in full tillering, as installments, at tillering and of the proteins, where a deficiency of sulfur or excess
reproductive stage, did not affect in grain yield, nitrogen can cause a reduction in the glutenin fraction

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 Olivoto et al.

of the proteins, damaging the balance of glutenin/ it is directly related to a larger volume of bread.
gliadin mass and reducing their quality (ZÖRB et By observing their behavior in different nitrogen
al. 2010). This fact is related to the especially high treatments in the presence of sulfur (Table 3), it is
molecular weight of glutenin, because it depends on evident that its magnitude was influenced only in the
the presence of sulfur amino acids such as cysteine for management III with the lowest extensibility. When
its formation (SUN et al. 2014). evaluating the magnitudes in the absence of sulfur it
By observing the number of grains per ear (NGE) is observed that the greater extensibility in nitrogen
in different nitrogen treatments and in the presence was reached in management II, however it is not
of sulfur (Table 2), there is a greater magnitude statistically indistinguishable from the management I
in management I, however it does not statistically and IV. The application of sulfur positively influenced
differ from management III. In the absence of sulfur, dough extensibility although there was statistical
the behavior of managements toward N performed difference only for nitrogen management I, which
differently. In the management I, the highest average showed higher extensibility rates in the presence
is evident although not statistically differentiated of sulfur. Protein concentrations as well as its
from management II and IV. The application of sulfur configuration are critical factors for obtaining flour
influenced the character behavior only in nitrogen quality. Yet, the physiological basis for improving
management III. The biggest NGE was observed the rheological qualities of flour remains unexplored.
in management I, likely due to the increase in the At the physiological level, the formation of storage
number of spikelets per ear and number of grains per proteins in wheat grains involves the absorption of
spikelet. However the dynamics of translocation and nitrogen and sulfur by root mechanisms and influences
distribution of photo-assimilated compounds in the ear the development of plant structure and subsequently
were impaired because of the morphological changes, remobilization of grains for protein synthesis and
such as a predominance during formation, filling of protein configuration. These steps may be strongly
the grains, and nutrient accumulation in the basal influenced by the genotype characteristics and its
and central spikelets, differences within the spikelet interaction with the crop environment (TRIBOÏ et al.
were also observed where the second flower from 2003).
the base received a priority in assimilating nutrients As the inherent extensibility in gluten is a
(ANDERSSON et al. 2004). Thus, the greater the characteristic conferred by the intramolecular and
number of spikelets and grains per spikelet, the greater intermolecular bonds of glutenins, resulting from the
the chances of forming photo-assimilates gradients disulfide bonds and formed by the sulfur amino acid
and nutrients inside the ear, which directly influences cysteine (RAKSZEGI et al. 2005), it was shown that
grain filling. From research observed by SILVA et al. the greatest extensibility ratios were obtained when the
(2005) it was concluded that the mass of a thousand nitrogenous managements provided a good nutrient
grains, which is considered the characteristic of availability in the vegetative phase (management I, II
the greatest potential for the selection of superior and IV) in the presence of sulfur.It is shown in Table
genotypes, showed a negative genetic correlation 3 that the relationship between tenacity/extensibility
with the number of grains per ear. (P/L) was influenced by nitrogen treatments. In the
Regarding toughness of the wheat flour presence of sulfur, the treatments of nitrogen which
(P), it was verified that this was not influenced by provided a significant amount of nitrogen to plants
nitrogen treatments in the presence of sulfur (Table in the double ring or ear development stages (I, II
3). When crop managements were analyzed in the and IV), had the lowest ratios P/L, staying within
absence of sulfur, it is noted that the management the limits accepted for manufacturing bread (1.20).
nitrogen II yielded the smallest magnitude of P. The Nitrogen management III had the highest P/L ratio,
application of sulfur provided a reduction in their leaving the tenacious flour. For bread, the ideal P/L
magnitudes for managements I and III. These results ratio is between 0.60 and 1.20. For cakes and cookies,
presuppose the importance of the sulfur associated P/L ratios lower than 0.59. As for pasta, P/L ratio
with the availability of nitrogen in the role of protein greater than 1.21 is accepted.
configuration, providing a more extensible flour. This may be related to the reduced availability
The extensibility (L) is characterized as a of nitrogen in the reproductive stage of development,
dough extensibility without it dough ruptures, so affecting the balance of nitrogen/sulfur and the

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 Olivoto et al.

Table 2 - The results for interaction between application of sulfur and nitrogen managements for the number of
grains per ear (NGE), the cultivar TBIO Itaipu®.
NGE
Nitrogen management
With sulfur Without sulfur
I 49.25 a A 43.25 a A
II 33.75 b A 36.25 ab A
III 40.25 ab A 30.00 b B
IV 35.25 b A 35.75 ab A
CV (%) 11.27
Main followed by the same lower case letter in the column and upper case letter in the line, do not differ
statistically by Tukey’s test at 5% error probability.

Table 3 - The results for interactions between sulfur and nitrogen managements for the characters of tenacity
(P), extensibility (L), ratio tenacity/extensibility (P/L), and gluten strength (W) of the flour from the
grains cultivar TBIO Itaipu®.
Nitrogen P (mm) L (mm)
Management With sulfur Without sulfur With sulfur Without sulfur
I 91.50 a B 103.50 a A 93.25 a A 79.00 ab B
II 96.75 a A 94.00 b A 85.25 a A 85.75 a A
III 93.50 a B 101.75 a A 71.50 b A 74.25 b A
IV 96.75 a A 100.00 a A 86.75 a A 77.50 ab A
CV (%) 2.55 4.81
Nitrogen P/L W (x 10-4 J)
Management With sulfur Without sulfur With sulfur Without sulfur
I 0.98 b B 1.31 a A 261.25 a A 269.75 a A
II 1.13 b A 1.09 b A 263.75 a A 256.75 a A
III 1.31 a A 1.37 a A 223.50 b B 253.25 a A
IV 1.11 b A 1.29 a A 262.75 a A 256.75 a A
CV (%) 6.20 4.08
Main followed by the same lower case letter in the column and upper case letter in the line, do not differ
statistically by Tukey’s Test at 5% error probability.
conformation of proteins. In assessing the behavior of where the fractions of glutenin, and especially those
the variable in the absence of sulfur, it is observed that of a high molecular weight, are closely related to the
the only nitrogen management that is differentiated, availability of these nutrients (TRAD et al. 2014).
characterized by a lower P/L ratio, as was management The interest of gluten in the baking process is
II. The sulfur supplementation provided a reduction in basically connected to the physico-chemical ability
P/L ratio of the mass, especially when associated with of the proteins that make them up to form a network
nitrogen managements which were provided nitrogen giving extensibility and consistency to the dough
in earlier stages. The results reinforce the importance (SCHOFIELD 1983). It is observed that the gluten
of an ideal balance between nitrogen and sulfur to strength (W) is influenced very little by nitrogen
the formation and configuration of gluten polymers, treatments and the supplementation of sulfur. In the

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 Olivoto et al.

presence of sulfur, nitrogen management that differed the nutrient, the magnitude of the correlation was
from the others, with lower gluten strength, was not significant. The results that were found can be
treatment III (Table 3). In the absence of sulfur, no explained by the uneven distribution of nutrients
significant differences existed between the nitrogen in the ears when they increase the number of
treatments. The lowest gluten strength presented in grains (ANDERSSON et al. 2004). In this case, the
nitrogen treatment III, in the presence of sulfur, can deficiency of sulfur and nitrogen can unbalance the
be related to the dynamic balance of these nutrients in P/L ratio of the bread dough by making it tougher.
the plant. The application of nitrogen done at tillering The L had a negative relationship with the NT (-0.95)
and in double ring may have resulted in lowering the in the presence of sulfur. In the absence of sulfur
amount of calcium available to the plant at the time of no significance was observed. A similar behavior
post-anthesis absorption of nutrients for the formation was observed for the P/L ratio of the bread dough
of proteins. Hence, the combination of satisfactory but presenting different directions. It was observed
levels of sulfur show a better response when nitrogen that the P/L ratio correlated positively with the NT
is present in adequate amounts, the subunits of high (0.96) and negatively with L (-0.99) in the presence of
molecular weight glutenin increase evenly across sulfur. In the absence of this nutrient, the correlation
grains (HE et al. 2013). between P/L and L (-0.98) kept the same direction and
The Pearson linear correlation analysis was magnitude.
performed on each sulfur management shown in Table The results show that increased extensibility,
4 and support some results obtained in this work. A which occurred in the sulfur treatment, generated a P/L
high relationship (0.98) was found between the ESM reduction in 99% of cases and caused the extensibility
and GY characters, both in the presence and absence to go below 1.20, which is the bakery limit index. The
of sulfur. The results obtained are in accordance positive effect of the sulfur application was witnessed
VESOHOSKI et al. (2011), which observed a similar by evaluating the relationship between the characters
relationship. GLC and L (0.96) and GLU with W (0.97) in the
A P had a negative relationship with the NGE presence of this nutrient. When the same relationship
(-0.97) in the presence of sulfur. In the absence of is observed in the absence of sulfur, the sense is

Table 4 - Pearson linear correlations to five yield characters and six technological characters of the
wheat cultivar TBIO Itaipu® obtained in the presence of sulfur (upper diagonal) and in the
absence of sulfur (below diagonal).
NGE NTP ESM GY P L W P/L GLC TPR
NGE - -0.50 -0.70 -0.77 -0.97* 0.32 -0.11 -0.44 0.10 -0.40
NTP -0.83 - 0.72 0.79 0.27 -0.95* -0.76 0.96* -0.83 0.46
ESM -0.84 0.89 - 0.98** 0.57 -0.46 -0.14 0.52 -0.21 -0.08
GY -0.93 0.87 0.98* - 0.63 -0.56 -0.21 0.62 -0.31 0.08
P 0.20 -0.66 -0.31 -0.21 - -0.09 0.34 0.22 0.12 0.32
L 0.39 0.18 -0.11 -0.28 -0.81 - 0.90 -0.99** 0.96* -0.64
W 0.95* -0.89 -0.75 -0.82 0.46 0.15 - -0.84 0.97* -0.53
P/L -0.20 -0.35 -0.01 0.13 0.92 -0.98* 0.06 - -0.93 0.67
GLC -0.01 -0.17 -0.50 -0.37 -0.10 -0.07 -0.20 -0.02 - -0.68
TPR 0.62 -0.48 -0.18 -0.30 0.39 0.11 0.78 0.08 -0.76 -
** And * Significant to 1 and 5% probability of error respectively by T’s test | N = 16.
NGE: number of grains per ear; NT: number of tillers; ESM: ears per square meter; GY: grain yield; P:
Tenacity; L: extensibility; W: gluten strength; P/L: ratio tenacity / extensibility; GLC: gluten content and
TPR: total protein content.

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 Olivoto et al.

reversal with no significant magnitude. The positive (AACC). 1999b. Approved methods of analysis. 11th Ed.
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