DO CULTIVAR, SEASON AND LOCATION OF GROWTH AFFECT WHEAT-STARCH PASTING

The relative contributions of cultivar, year and location to variation in wheat starch pasting properties were determined by pasting 44 undried prime starches, in the absence of amylases, at 3 concentrations using the Minipaster. The pasting parameter chosen for discrimination and the starch concentration used determined which factors appeared to determine variation. Various pasting ratios, intersection points and concentration response expressions were found no more useful in discriminating starches than were the simple pasting parameters usually measured. Overall, analyses of variance showed that cultivar was most important in determining variation in wheat starch pasting properties and that year and location equally affected variation to a smaller degree. Differences due to year and location could be ascribed to unusual stresses on the growing wheat crop.