What is wheat, what family it belongs to - full description

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of wheat for humans - flour, cereals, pasta and confectionery products, butter, and alcoholic beverages are made from it. The plant is used for forage purposes, used in medicine. It is one of the most widely grown crops and the staple of the population in many countries, and grain is the most important international commodity.

What is wheat

Wheat is a genus of herbaceous plants of the Cereals (Bluegrass) family, the leading grain crop in most countries of the world. The genus includes about 20 species. Type species - Wheat soft, or summer, is of high practical importance along with durum wheat.

The cultivated species is of eastern origin, the most likely area being southeastern Turkey. It is grown on all continents, except for the north and south poles. Winter and spring varieties are cultivated.

Characteristics of wheat

Almost all plants of this genus are annuals, but in 1937 the first perennials were bred varieties... They were obtained by hybridization spring soft wheat and creeping wheatgrass.

Annual

Herbaceous monocotyledonous plants with a height of 30 cm to 1.5 m with erect stems. The stem inside can be full (straw) or full. Leaves are flat, linear, depending on the species and variety - glabrous or hairy, 3 to 20 mm wide, simple. Sheaths are split with lanceolate ears. The root system is always fibrous.

Inflorescence - spike, straight, linear, ovate or oblong, always complex... The length of the spike is from 3 to 16 cm. Spikelets are single, located on the axis in two longitudinal rows 9-16 mm long, with 2-5 closely spaced flowers. The spikelet axis has very short hairs, without articulations between short lower segments and long upper ones.

The flowers have spikelet scales and bracts. The lower scales are 7-20 mm long, ovoid or oblong, smooth, rough or with hairs, do not have a keel, at the top they turn into a tooth or spine. The average length is 10-15 mm. The upper scales are shorter than the lower ones, with short ciliate along the edges. The flower has three stamens with anthers 2-4 mm long. The fruit is a caryopsis 0.5-1 cm long, thick, oval or oblong, with a deep groove.

Perennial

A bushy plant with a fibrous root system. The bush is upright, up to 1 m high. The stem is strong, not lying, up to 35 stems are formed on one plant. Leaves are wide, up to 2 cm, flat, linear, with pronounced pubescence on the upper side.

The spike when ripe is white, spinous. Awns are white, serrated. The average spike length is 10 cm. One spike has an average of 6-18 spikelets with 5-7 flowers in each. Spikelet scales are bare.

Perennial forms of wheat behave like spring and winter crops - when sown they are hatched in the fall of the same year, and when sowed in autumn they become typical winter crops. The growing season is 105 days, in the second year of life - 80-90 days.

Chemical composition and calorie content

The main supply of plant nutrients is found in fruits - caryopses, for which the plant is cultivated. There are 305 kcal per 100 g of wheat grain.

BZHU content:

• proteins - 11.8 g;
• fats - 2.2 g;
• carbohydrates - 59.5 g;
• dietary fiber - 10.8 g;
• water - 14 g.

Per 100 g of grain, the following amount of micro and macro elements is accounted for:

• silicon - 48 mg;
• manganese - 3.76 mg;
• selenium - 29 mcg;
• copper - 470 mcg;
• cobalt - 5.4 mcg;
• molybdenum - 23.6 mcg;
• zinc - 2.79 mg;
• phosphorus - 370 mg;
• iron - 5.4 mg;
• potassium - 337 mg;
• magnesium - 108 mg.

Vitamin content:

• PP - 7.8 mg;
• E - 3 mg;
• B1 - 0.44 mg;
• B2 - 0.15 mg;
• B5 - 0.85 mg;
• B6 - 0.378 mg.

Wheat grain

A caryopsis is a hard fruit of wheat, directly the grain itself, obtained from a fertilized ovary. It is a simple dry fruit, one-seeded, non-opening. Consists of a root, cotyledon and bud. The shell of the grain contains minerals and fiber, the endosperm (the inner content of the grain) contains proteins and carbohydrates, and the germ contains minerals, vitamins, saturated fats and proteins.

How wheat is pollinated

For the most part, all varieties of culture are self-pollinated, do not need the help of insects or wind. Pollination occurs when pollen from the anthers enters the stigma of the pistil. In windy weather, cross-pollination can occur, but this often leads to cross-breeding, which is generally undesirable.

Wheat properties

Wheat food is rich in carbohydrates, as a result of which it saturates and provides the body with energy for a long time. It improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, softening the action of hydrochloric acid and enveloping the walls of the stomach, normalizes metabolism. Dietary fiber has a massage effect on the intestinal wall. Pectin in the composition of wheat grains has absorbing properties, removing harmful and ballast substances from the body.

How wheat is used by humans

Wheat is widely used as food, feed and industrial crops... In animal husbandry, not only grain is used, but also green mass, straw and haylage obtained from plant stems.

The culture is widely used for medical purposes. Starch is obtained from grains, which is used in powders, ointments, starch bandages. Immunomodulators are obtained from wheat germ.

Reference. The germ extract has anti-burn properties, accelerates the healing of wound surfaces. In cosmetology, their oil is used as anti-aging agents.

The ears are used in floristry in the formation of bouquets and compositions. Toys and decorations are weaved from the stems.

The main direction of wheat is food. Wheat is obtained from grains flourwidely used in cooking and confectionery. The outer shell of the grain is processed to obtain bran. Semolina, bulgur, and couscous are also made from grain. In the alcoholic beverage industry, wheat is the basis of alcohol, some types of vodka, beer and whiskey.

Reference. In the manufacture of pasta, durum flour is often used, bread and confectionery products are baked from soft flour. In durum wheat, starch particles are harder and finer, it contains more gluten. And in soft wheat the particles are looser and larger, the baked goods from it turn out to be lush and quickly stale.

In industry, the adhesive properties of the culture are used in the production of drywall, plywood.

Interesting facts about wheat

The centuries-old history of this cereal culture is rich in various legends and facts:

• Wheat is one of the first plants cultivated by man.
• Sprouted wheat grains are popular and are eaten by supporters of a healthy lifestyle.
• In ancient religions, wheat was considered a symbol of wealth.
• Vincent Van Gon often depicted wheat fields in his canvases.
• In Christianity, the Promised Land is the land of wheat.
• "Zlachnoe place" - earlier this was the name of drinking establishments, since alcoholic drinks were made from wheat.

Conclusion

Wheat is an important agricultural crop with more than just culinary value. Its derivatives are used in a wide variety of areas - animal husbandry, medicine, pharmaceuticals, industry. Hundreds of varieties and hybrids of wheat are cultivated around the world for various needs. Every year breeders bring out new crops with unique characteristics. yield and resistance to adverse factors.