WheatWheat

Created byCreated by Daniela Danciu Daniela Danciu

With support of With support of

Polgar IoanaPolgar Ioana

Gesica VisovanGesica Visovan

Emese OroszEmese Orosz

Class XI AClass XI A

WheatWheat ( (TriticumTriticum spp.) is a spp.) is a grass, originally from the , originally from the Fertile Crescent region of the region of the Near East, but now , but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced most-produced cereal after after maize (784 million tons) (784 million tons) and and rice (651 million tons). Globally, wheat is the (651 million tons). Globally, wheat is the leading source of vegetable protein in human food, leading source of vegetable protein in human food, having a higher protein content than either maize having a higher protein content than either maize (corn) or rice, the other major cereals. (corn) or rice, the other major cereals.

In terms of total production tonnages used for food, In terms of total production tonnages used for food, it is currently second to rice as the main human it is currently second to rice as the main human food crop, and ahead of maize, after allowing for food crop, and ahead of maize, after allowing for maize's more extensive use in animal feeds maize's more extensive use in animal feeds

Wheat is planted to a limited extent as a Wheat is planted to a limited extent as a forage crop for livestock, and its straw can be used as a for livestock, and its straw can be used as a construction material for roofing construction material for roofing thatch. The . The whole grain can be milled to leave just the can be milled to leave just the endosperm for white flour. The products of this are for white flour. The products of this are bran and and germ. The whole grain is a concentrated . The whole grain is a concentrated source of source of vitamins, , minerals, and , and protein, while the , while the refined grain is mostly refined grain is mostly starch. . Wheat is one of the first cereals known to have Wheat is one of the first cereals known to have been domesticated, and wheat's ability to self-been domesticated, and wheat's ability to self-pollinate greatly facilitated the selection of many pollinate greatly facilitated the selection of many distinct domesticated varieties. The archaeological distinct domesticated varieties. The archaeological record suggests that this first occurred in the record suggests that this first occurred in the regions known as the regions known as the Fertile Crescent, and the , and the Nile Delta

Raw wheat can be ground into Raw wheat can be ground into flour or - using hard or - using hard durum wheat only, can be ground into durum wheat only, can be ground into semolina; ; germinated and dried creating germinated and dried creating malt; crushed or cut ; crushed or cut into cracked wheat; parboiled (or steamed), dried, into cracked wheat; parboiled (or steamed), dried, crushed and de-branned into crushed and de-branned into bulgur also known as also known as groats. If the raw wheat is broken into parts at the . If the raw wheat is broken into parts at the mill, as is usually done, the outer husk or mill, as is usually done, the outer husk or bran can can be used several ways. Wheat is a major ingredient be used several ways. Wheat is a major ingredient in such foods as bread, porridge, crackers, biscuits, in such foods as bread, porridge, crackers, biscuits, Muesli, , pancakes, pies, pastries, cakes, cookies, , pies, pastries, cakes, cookies, muffins, rolls, doughnuts, gravy, muffins, rolls, doughnuts, gravy, boza (a (a fermented beverage), and ), and breakfast cereals (e.g., (e.g., Wheatena, , Cream of Wheat, , Shredded Wheat, and , and Wheaties). ).

Wheat normally needs between 110 and 130 days Wheat normally needs between 110 and 130 days between planting and harvest, depending upon between planting and harvest, depending upon climate, seed type, and soil conditions (winter climate, seed type, and soil conditions (winter wheat lies dormant during a winter freeze). Optimal wheat lies dormant during a winter freeze). Optimal crop management requires that the farmer have a crop management requires that the farmer have a detailed understanding of each stage of detailed understanding of each stage of development in the growing plants. In particular, development in the growing plants. In particular, spring spring fertilizers, , herbicides, , fungicides, , growth regulators are typically applied only at are typically applied only at specific stages of plant development. For example, specific stages of plant development. For example, it is currently recommended that the second it is currently recommended that the second application of nitrogen is best done when the ear application of nitrogen is best done when the ear (not visible at this stage) is about 1 cm in size (Z31 (not visible at this stage) is about 1 cm in size (Z31 on on Zadoks scale) )

There are many wheat diseases, mainly caused by There are many wheat diseases, mainly caused by fungi, , bacteria, and , and viruses..[56] Plant breeding to to develop new disease-resistant varieties, and sound develop new disease-resistant varieties, and sound crop management practices are important for crop management practices are important for preventing disease. Fungicides, used to prevent preventing disease. Fungicides, used to prevent the significant crop losses from fungal disease, can the significant crop losses from fungal disease, can be a significant variable cost in wheat production. be a significant variable cost in wheat production. Estimates of the amount of wheat production lost Estimates of the amount of wheat production lost owing to plant diseases vary between 10–25% in owing to plant diseases vary between 10–25% in Missouri. A wide range of organisms infect wheat, Missouri. A wide range of organisms infect wheat, of which the most important are viruses and fungi. of which the most important are viruses and fungi.

Wheat is used as a food plant by the Wheat is used as a food plant by the larvae of of some some Lepidoptera ( (butterfly and and moth) species ) species including The Flame, Rustic Shoulder-knot, including The Flame, Rustic Shoulder-knot, Setaceous Hebrew Character and Turnip MothSetaceous Hebrew Character and Turnip Moth

Early in the season, birds and rodents can also Early in the season, birds and rodents can also cause significant damage to a crop by digging up cause significant damage to a crop by digging up and eating newly planted seeds or young plants. and eating newly planted seeds or young plants. They can also damage the crop late in the season They can also damage the crop late in the season by eating the grain from the mature spike. Recent by eating the grain from the mature spike. Recent post-harvest losses in cereals amount to billions of post-harvest losses in cereals amount to billions of dollars per year in the USA alone, and damage to dollars per year in the USA alone, and damage to wheat by various borers, beetles and weevils is no wheat by various borers, beetles and weevils is no exception. Rodents can also cause major losses exception. Rodents can also cause major losses during storage, and in major grain growing regions, during storage, and in major grain growing regions, field mice numbers can sometimes build up field mice numbers can sometimes build up explosively to plague proportions because of the explosively to plague proportions because of the ready availability of food.ready availability of food.

To reduce the amount of wheat lost to post-To reduce the amount of wheat lost to post-harvest pests, Agricultural Research Service harvest pests, Agricultural Research Service scientists have developed an “insect-o-scientists have developed an “insect-o-graph,” which can detect insects in wheat graph,” which can detect insects in wheat that are not visible to the naked eye. The that are not visible to the naked eye. The device uses electrical signals to detect the device uses electrical signals to detect the insects as the wheat is being milled. The new insects as the wheat is being milled. The new technology is so precise that it can detect 5-technology is so precise that it can detect 5-10 infested seeds out of 300,000 good ones. 10 infested seeds out of 300,000 good ones. Tracking insect infestations in stored grain is Tracking insect infestations in stored grain is critical for food safety as well as for the critical for food safety as well as for the marketing value of the crop. marketing value of the crop.