Muhammad Naeem Safdar, Khalid Naseem, Muhammad Amjad, Amer Mumtaz and Saeeda Raza*
ABSTRACT
Two hundred and seventy wheat grain samples were collected from nine different regions of Punjab and analyzed for physicochemical characteristics during 2006 to 2008. The quality parameters studied were test weight, 1000 kernel weight, foreign matter (non-edible and edible), broken/shrunken grains, damaged grains, moisture, ash, protein (N x 5.7), wet and dry gluten, falling number, and minerals (copper, manganese, iron, zinc). It was observed that wheat samples varied considerably within each region and also between regions. Attock region samples had highest test weight (80.50 kg hl -1), protein (11.80 %) and lowest nonedible foreign matter (0.45%) and broken/shrunken grains (0.88 %). Highest wet and dry gluten (27.44 % and 9.29 %) while other damaged grains were observed lowest (0.47 %) in Lahore region samples. Test weight was positively correlated with kernel weight (0.66) and negatively with protein (-0.83) and gluten content (-0.75). Gluten content had a positive correlation (0.97) with protein content. The comparison of studied quality parameters with Pakistan standard specifications revealed good quality wheat.
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