Gluten — Durum Wheat

For durum wheat, gluten quality is the determining trait ensuring the formation of high-quality dough for pasta production. In contrast to bread-baking standards, the critical indicator here is the gluten index, which should be 70–90% for high-quality product manufacturing; values below 65% are considered insufficient. The quantity of wet gluten often exceeds 28–30%, but it is secondary to the structural state of the protein complex.

Technological evaluation requires a specific washing procedure that accounts for the rheological properties of the grain. Agronomic factors, such as nitrogen nutrition, significantly influence protein accumulation, while infestation by the Sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps) leads to enzymatic protein degradation. This causes gluten breakdown, rendering it weak or crumbly, which depreciates the raw material for the pasta industry regardless of the total protein content.