Identifying high-performance soft wheat varieties in the ON zone

The aim of the present study is to characterize the agronomic and baking properties of soft wheat germplasm under irrigation, in order to help improve and increase soft wheat production in Mali. Field and laboratory experiments were carried out respectively in plots at the Kogoni Agronomic Research Sub-Station and at the Grands Moulins du Mali Bakery Quality Analysis Laboratory in Koulikoro, with the aim of proposing two or three best soft wheat varieties to growers and industrialists. The experimental set-up in the field was a Fisher block with three repetitions for agronomic characterization. For bakery characterization, the CHOPIN alveograph was used to determine dough characteristics. The Infraneo was used to analyze parameters such as moisture, protein content, ash content, gluten, damaged starch and Zeleny, while the Perten test was used to determine enzyme activity. The germplasm used consisted of 8 soft wheat varieties.