Wheat (wheat) - Wheat

Japanese: コムギ(小麦) - コムギ

A biennial grass of the grass family native to Western Asia. It has been cultivated since ancient times as the most important food crop in various parts of the world. Cultivated wheat has been discovered in Neolithic agricultural ruins in Western Asia. Currently, it is widely cultivated between 30° and 60° north and 27° and 40° south latitudes, and the main production areas are southern Russia, the Danube River basin, the Mediterranean coast, Central Europe, North America, the Pampas region of South America, northwest India, northern China, and southern Australia, but the harvest season varies from place to place. Wheat consists of several species, including ordinary wheat (bread wheat) and macaroni (durum) wheat, but ordinary wheat accounts for 80% of the cultivated area in the world, and all Japanese wheat belongs to this species. There are many varieties. The Mexican variety that achieved the Green Revolution is famous as a high-yielding variety. Wheat Norin 10, which was developed in Japan, was used to breed this Mexican variety. There are also autumn wheat (also called winter wheat), which is sown in autumn and harvested in early summer, and spring wheat, which is sown in spring. The stalk is about 1m tall and branches at the base in a bundle. The ear is at the top of the stem and has about 20 spikelets arranged alternately. Each spikelet has 2-4 seeds. Hard flour is obtained from the hard kernels, which are rich in protein, and is used in bread making. Soft flour, which is low in protein, is used to make confectionery and noodles. It is also used as an ingredient in soy sauce and miso, and the bran is used as animal feed. As an international commodity, wheat is as important as sugar and coffee, and major exporting countries include the United States, Canada, Argentina, and Australia, while major importing countries include Europe, the Middle East, Japan, and China. Adjusting supply and demand for wheat and stabilizing prices are important issues in terms of global food supply, and market stability has been achieved through the International Grain Agreement.
→Related topics Dryland agriculture | Wheat | Lincoln (USA)

Source : Heibonsha Encyclopedia About MyPedia Information

Japanese:

西アジア原産のイネ科の一〜二年草。世界各地で最も主要な食用作物として古くから栽培されてきた。西アジアでは新石器時代の農耕遺跡から栽培コムギが発見されている。現在，北緯30°〜60°，南緯27°〜40°の間で多く栽培され，主産地は南ロシア，ドナウ川流域，地中海沿岸，中欧，北米，南米パンパス地方，北西インド，華北，オーストラリア南部などであるが，収穫期は各地で異なる。　コムギは，フツウコムギ（パンコムギ），マカロニ（デュラム）コムギなど数種からなるが，フツウコムギが世界の栽培面積の80％を占め，日本のコムギもすべてこれに属する。品種も多い。緑の革命を達成したメキシコ品種は多収品種として有名。このメキシコ品種の育種には日本で育成されたコムギ農林10号が利用された。また秋に播種し初夏に収穫する秋まきコムギ（冬コムギとも）と春に播種する春コムギとがある。茎は高さ1m内外，根もとで多く分岐して束生する。穂は茎頂につき，20内外の小穂を互生。小穂には２〜４の種子がつく。　タンパク質に富んだ硬質粒からは硬質粉が得られ，製パンに用いられる。タンパク質の少ない軟質粉は菓子，めん類等の製造に用いられる。しょうゆ，みその原料としても用いられ，また，ふすまは飼料とする。国際商品としては砂糖・コーヒーと並ぶ重要なもので，主要輸出国は米国・カナダ・アルゼンチン・オーストラリアなど，主要輸入国はヨーロッパ・中近東諸国・日本・中国など。小麦の需給調節と価格安定は世界の食糧供給の面から重要な課題で，国際穀物協定によって市場の安定が図られた。
→関連項目乾燥地農業｜麦｜リンカン（アメリカ）

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