Variability of the of macro- and microelements content in the grain of durum wheat under conditions of the southern forest-steppe of Western Siberia

Durum wheat is an indispensable raw material for the pasta, cereals, and pastry industries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the lack of vitamins and minerals in daily diet, especially Fe and Zn, the so-called “hidden hungerˮ, affects more than 3 billion people worldwide. On the experimental field of Omsk SAU, in order to assess the content of macro- and microelements in durum wheat grain and identify sources with an increased mineral value grain, in 2021-2022 a study of 20 spring durum wheat samples from the CNGQ (Collection Nursery of Grain Quality) was performed. These samples were presented from of six breeding institutions in Russia and Kazakhstan, which are members of the international KASIB program. The studied varieties and lines of durum wheat, obtained in different breeding institutions in Russia and Kazakhstan, were distinguished by a wide range of variation in thousand kernel weight and yield - 32.1-46.6 g and 322-689 g/m2, correspondingly. Depending on the ripeness group, the yield of early maturity varieties was 454 g/m2, medium maturity - 479 g/m2, and late maturity - 524 g/m2. The results of the research revealed a significant variability in the content of macroelements in grain depending on genotypic differences between varieties: Ca - 491-834 mg/kg, K - 3644-5160 mg/kg, and Mg - 1156-1429 mg/kg. The grain of the studied varieties and lines of durum wheat was characterized by a high content of Ca, K, and Mg macroelements, but an insufficient content of Zn (37.6 mg/kg), Cu (3.10 mg/kg), and Mn (31.0 mg/kg). A positive weak correlation between the yield and K content in the grain (r = 0.21-0.32) was noticed, with other elements the yield had negative correlation. This makes it difficult to select for improving the ionomic profile of the grain and maintaining a high yield simultaneously. Recommended in breeding for quality for the exquisite composition of the varieties Zhemchuzhina Sibiri (Omsk ASC), Gordeiforme 2441 (Karabalykskaya ARS), Bezenchukskaya 139, Line 248-245-2020 (Samara ARI), Tselinnaya (Orenburg ARI), and Leukurum 1005 (Altay FASCAB), which characterized by increased content of 3-4 minerals and yield of 424-523 g/m2.