Wheat baking quality, besides being affected by genotype, is also influenced by environmental factors, such as climate conditions during crop development in the field. This work aimed to verify the influence of climate variables and soil water deficit and excess on the following quality parameters: test weight (TW), 1,000 kernel weight (KW), experimental milling of flour (MIL), gluten strength (W), P/L relation (P/L), dodecyl sulphate microssedimentation test (SDS), and falling number (FN). Data obtained with Embrapa 16 wheat, in the 1990-1998 period in seven locations from Rio Grande do Sul State and four locations from Santa Catarina State were used. The statistical analysis used was the analysis of principal components. It was verified that: a) the sum of rainfall, the relative humidity of the air and the water excess influenced negatively TW, KW, FN, P/L and the grain yield. W, MIL, and SDS were both positively and negatively affect by these variables, depending on the period studied; b) minimum temperature influenced positively W, MIL, and SDS. For the other variables, when there was influence of minimum temperature, it was negative; c) the average temperature was negatively associated with TW, KW, FN, and grain yield, and positively with MIL and W. For P/L and SDS, the average temperature affected was either positive or negative; d) the maximum temperature was negatively correlated with grain yield and positively with MIL, W, SDS, and P/L presented positive and negative correlation periods with the maximum temperature; and e) the global solar radiation influenced positively all the studied characteristics, except for SDS.
rainfall; temperature; global solar radiation; gluten strength; sedimentation; falling number; wheat; quality
