The influence of the ‘greenhouse effect’ on wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) grain lipids

There have been few studies conducted with the objective of investigating comprehensively the ‘greenhouse effect’ on wheat growth using field-grown crops and even less on the effects on the lipid composition of harvested grains. Therefore, the aim of this study was to define any changes in wheat grain acyl lipids which could result from alterations in environmental growth conditions predicted to mimic the ‘greenhouse effect’. Quantitative changes were recorded for both the non-starch and starch lipids. When supplied with low concentrations of nitrogen fertilizer, plants showed increased amounts of total grain lipids when grown under an elevated (700μ∥−1) carbon dioxide atmosphere. Increasing the ambient temperature by 4°C, however, reduced the total lipid content of grains. Wheat plants treated with high concentrations of nitrogen fertilizer accumulated less lipid compared to low nitrogen controls. Qualitative changes were also observed in the proportions of non-starch and starch lipid classes. However, changes in total acyl composition were limited to starch grain acyl lipids, as a result of changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide, growth temperature and nitrogen fertilizer application. The alterations in wheat lipids observed are likely to affect the properties of the flour produced from the grains.