Abstract
This study was undertaken to determine the plant characteristics related to deterioration of the quality of grain and flour of wheat caused by rainfall during the ripening period. The rainfall during the ripening period caused damage to the grains in appearance, 1000–grain weight and bulk density and damage to flour in falling number and color. ‘Norin 61’ exposed to rainfall during the ripening period retained a relatively high quality in flour color and falling number than ‘Chikugoizumi’, ‘Iwainodaichi’ and ‘Saikai 185’, even though ‘Norin 61’ was lodged down severely by rainfall. Because the grain of ‘Norin 61’ was completely wrapped in by its lemma and palea, the water content of the grain was less increased by the rainfall than other varieties, resulting in less deterioration of grain and flour quality. The flour of ‘Norin 61’ also retained a higher quality than the other varieties for 24 hours after mixing with water.
