The falling number for soft wheat reflects alpha-amylase activity and is a definitive criterion for establishing grain grade. The indicator measures the time in seconds required for a stirrer to fall through a water-flour suspension, correlating with the degree of starch degradation by enzymes.
In the reference
388
varieties
crop Bread wheat,
where this is mentioned in the description.
According to GOST 9353-2016, the minimum permissible falling number values for soft wheat are 200 seconds for classes 1 and 2, 150 seconds for class 3, and 80 seconds for class 4. The range from 250 to 350 seconds is considered optimal for baking purposes.
Low falling number values are caused by high alpha-amylase activity, often resulting from pre-harvest sprouting due to high humidity or adverse weather conditions during maturation. This leads to starch degradation, making the bread crumb sticky and dense, whereas excessively high values may indicate low enzymatic activity and insufficient gas production.
General information about the subject — on the page
Falling number.
Varieties of Bread wheat mentioned in the description
Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.