Evaluation of winter wheat varieties based on grain quality indicators in northern Ukraine

The study was devoted to assessing the impact of hydrothermal conditions on the formation of grain quality indicators of winter wheat varieties in northern Ukraine. The relevance of the work was determined by the intensification of climatic fluctuations, which leads to a decrease in the stability of yield and grain quality, as well as the need to select varieties capable of combining high productivity and proper baking quality. The aim of the study was to identify the impact of temperature and moisture on the quality indicators of winter wheat varieties of different origins and to determine the genotypes most adapted to the conditions of the region. The study was conducted over two growing seasons (2023-2025) on eight varieties of winter wheat of Ukrainian and foreign selection. The evaluation was carried out according to the main quality indicators: weight of 1,000 grains, protein content, gluten content, vitreousness and grain nature. It was found that weather conditions significantly affected grain quality indicators. In the dry conditions of 2023/2024, grain with a higher protein content (up to 11.4%) and gluten content (up to 22.0%) was formed, while in the wetter conditions of 2024/2025, higher yields (up to 7.7 t/ha) were achieved, but the protein content decreased. The highest quality indicators were observed for the varieties ‘Vezha Myronivska’ and ‘MIP Vyshyvanka’, and the highest productivity was observed for ‘MIP Valenciia’ and ‘Tobak’. Correlation analysis shows an inverse relationship between yield and grain quality indicators, which is exacerbated by moisture deficiency, while high direct correlations between protein, gluten and vitreousness indicate their interdependence and the possibility of balancing quantity and quality under optimal water conditions. The practical significance of the results obtained lies in the identification of varieties capable of producing stable grain quality under different weather conditions, which can be used to improve the varietal composition of winter wheat in Ukraine and optimise agricultural technologies in the context of climate change