Subsoiling Combined with Film Mulch Reduces Post-anthesis Proline Accumulation and Improves Water Storage and Grain Quality in Dryland Wheat Crop

This study aimed to investigate the effects of fallow tillage in fallow period combined with sowing methods in growth period on water storage post-anthesis proline accumulation and grain quality of dryland wheat. The field study was conducted at Wenxi experimental site of Shanxi Agricultural University. Tillage treatments included deep tillage (DT), subsoiling (SS) and sowing methods included drilling (DS), furrowing (FS) and film mulch (FM). Soil water storage, post-anthesis proline content, glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamic acid dehydrogenase (GDH) activities grain protein content and wheat processing quality under different combinations of tillage and sowing treatments were determined. Soil water storage at the depth of 0-300 cm was improved by tillage in fallow period. Compared with other treatments combination of SS and FM significantly improved soil water storage and decreased proline content in flag leaf and grain. This combination also significantly increased GS activity and decreased GDH activity after anthesis. Additionally, grain protein content and processing quality including sedimentation value and wet/dry gluten contents were improved. Correlation analysis indicated that there were significant correlations between proline content and the activities of GS and GDH in grains between protein content and the activity of GS in flag leaves, as well as between protein content and sedimentation value and gluten content. Combination of SS with FM is the best integrated cultivation techniques in dryland wheat crop in terms of reducing post-anthesis proline accumulation and improving water storage and grain quality. (C) 2017 Friends Science Publishers