Variation in endosperm protein composition and technological quality properties in durum wheat

Durum wheat quality is controlled by endosperm protein content and composition. Electrophoretic, protein content and SDS sedimentation analyses were carried out on a large collection of accessions of durum wheat from Turkey, and compared with Italian cultivars. A number of patterns were detected, resulting from the combination of different alleles at genomes A and B, and new allelic variants were identified. Genotypes with the same allele at Gli-B1 showed inconsistencies in the comparison of low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS), suggesting caution in considering γ-gliadins as genetic markers for pasta quality. Variation in protein content and SDS sedimentation values was wider in the Turkish material than in the Italian cultivars, the values of which were in line with cultivars from Australia, Canada, France, and the USA. A substantial amount of the variation in gluten properties was explained in terms of protein composition, with LMW-GS making the largest contribution. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analyses were carried out on two biotypes of the Italian cultivar Lira that differ at the Gli-B1/Glu-B3 loci (Lira 42 has γ-42, LMW-1, and poor quality; whereas Lira 45 has γ-45, LMW-2, and good quality). The results indicated that differences in quality may be due to: 1) the absolute amount of LMW glutenins which was greater in LMW-2; 2) the relative predominance of LMW-s type and LMW-m type subunits in Lira 45 glutenins which act as polymer chain extenders; and 3) the higher proportion of the α-type and γ-type glutenin subunits, in Lira 42 glutenins, which have an additional (nine) cysteine residue in the N-terminal region and act as glutenin chain terminators. The conclusion reached was that breeding for quality should consider selection for LMW-GS and against α-type and γ-type glutenin subunits. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Relationships between different prolamin proteins and some quality properties in durum wheat

The objective of this paper was to study the differences between some prolamin variants coded at the loci Glu-3/Gli-1, Glu-1 and Gli-A2 and their relative roles in durum-wheat quality. F₃ lines from four durum wheat crosses (‘Abadia’בMexicali’. ‘Oscar’בArdente’, ‘Oscar × Mexicali’ and ‘Alaga’בC. of Balazote’) were analysed for gliadin and glutenin composition by electrophoresis. Whole-grain-derived samples were analysed for SDS sedimentation (SDSS) value, mixing properties, and contents of protein and vitreousness. The glutenin patterns LMW-2. LMW-2^? and LMW-2 (CB) at Glu-B3/Gli-B1 were associated with better gluten quality than were LMW-1 and LMW-2*. The glutenin subunits LMW4 and LMW3 + 15 at Glu-A3/Gli-A1 and HMW-1 showed better mixing properties than LMW7 + 12, LMW5 and the null phenotype. respectively. The HMW glutenin subunits 20 + 8 at Glu-B1 showed a negative association with gluten quality, but the rest of the HMW glutenin subunits and α-gliadins did not show any influence on gluten quality. Correlations between the results of the SDSS test and the mixograph were highly significant, but no correlation was found between these results and protein and vitreousness contents. The results are discussed in relation to the development of durum wheat varieties with improved qualities.     

Relationship between common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) gluten proteins and dough rheological properties

This paper reports the correlation between the rheological properties of bread wheat dough and the types and quantities of endosperm proteins in 28 common wheat cultivars. Different methods were used to analyse the allelic composition of these cultivars and the relative quantities of the different proteins contributing to the gluten structure. Neither dough strength (W) nor tenacity/extensibility (P/L) correlated with allelic composition. Different wheats with the same allelic composition (i.e., with respect to glutenins) showed different rheological properties. The glutenins were the most influential components of W and P/L, especially the high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunits and in particular the type x form. These proteins seem to increase W and are the main constituents of the gluten network. The gliadins and low molecular weight (LMW) glutenin subunits appear to act as a “solvent”, and thus modify the rheological properties of the dough by either interfering with the polymerisation of the HMW glutenin subunits, or by altering the relative amounts of the different types of glutenin available. Thus, the protein subunits coded for by the alleles Glu-B1x7 and Glu-D1x5 stabilised the gluten network, whereas those coded for by Glu-B1x17 and Glu-D1x2 had the opposite effect. Dough properties therefore appear to depend on the glutenin/gliadins balance, and on the ratio of the type x and type y HMW proteins. The influence of external factors seems to depend on the allelic composition of each cultivar.     

Yielding ability, yield stability, and quality of exotic durum wheat germplasm in Sicily

A set of 20 accessions of durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L., durum group), which mostly included exotic landraces from various Mediterranean countries, and four Italian improved varieties were evaluated for grain yield in five environments and for quality traits in two environments of Sicily. Glutenin composition was also assessed electro-phoretically on six seeds per entry. The cultivars differed (P ≤ 0.01) for yield, protein content and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS-sed) sedimentation volume, in the presence of significant (P ≥ 0.001) genotype-environment interaction effects. These effects were large for yield and moderately large for protein content relative to genotype main effects following estimation of variance components. Most exotic cultivars yielded comparably with, and some of them showed greater stability than, the best yielding Italian variety 'Simeto. Some exotic cultivars combined outstanding yield, protein content and SDS-sedimentation values and represent therefore extremely valuable germplasm sources to broaden the local genetic base. The glutenin composition LMW-2 and HMW 7 + 8 was positively associated with gluten quality. Six entries showed heterogeneous electrophoretic patterns, suggesting the presence of different genotypes within the cultivar.     

The genotypic and phenotypic interaction of wheat and rye storage proteins in primary triticale

The creation of new triticale germplasm from its wheat and rye progenitors is an important source of potentially beneficial alleles. This research focused on the inheritance of glutenin and secalin alleles in triticale and their interaction in the hybrid offspring in terms of both subunit expression and gluten strength. Multiple crosses between five durum lines and two inbred rye lines were performed to create a set of 23 fertile amphidiploid lines. The SDS-PAGE banding patterns of the denatured HMW glutenins, LMW glutenins, HMW secalins and 75k γ-secalins (termed secaloglutenin) were compared to their exact parental plants, and their SDS-sedimentation was evaluated. Secaloglutenin subunits were simply inherited and expressed in all primary triticales. The few observed variations in banding patterns were accounted for within measured heterogeneity of the exact rye parental plants, for which the secalin alleles were thoroughly described. However, the possibility remains that mixed protein oligomers were formed between polymeric and monomeric storage proteins at the ultrastructure level. Furthermore, significant differences in the gluten strength of primaries derived from different durum parents were observed. This research suggests triticale of high gluten strength can be obtained by selection of parents with favourable glutenin alleles.     

The high and low molecular weight glutenin subunit polymorphism of Algerian durum wheat landraces and old cultivars

The high molecular weight (HMW) and B‐zone low molecular weight (B‐LMW) glutenin subunit composition of 45 Algerian durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) landraces and old cultivars were examined by sodium‐dodecyl‐sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE). Nine accessions were heterogeneous and presented two or three genotypes. All together, 33 glutenin patterns were detected, including 12 for HMW and 15 for B‐LMW glutenin subunits. Twenty‐four different alleles were identified for the five glutenin loci studied, Glu‐A1 (3), Glu‐B1 (6), Glu‐A3 (8), Glu‐B3 (5) and Glu‐B2 (2). Five new alleles were found, three at Glu‐A3 and two at Glu‐B3. At the Glu‐1 loci, the Glu‐A1c‐Glu‐B1e allelic composition was predominant (31%). For the B‐LMW glutenins, the most common allelic composition was Glu‐A3a‐Glu‐B3a‐Glu‐B2a (36%). The collection analysed shows a high percentage of glutenin alleles and allele combinations related to high gluten strength, together with some others that have not been tested so far. This information could be useful to select local varieties with improved quality and also as a source of genes to develop new lines when breeding for quality.     

Seed storage protein composition of Hellenic bread wheat cultivars

The allelic diversity in seed storage proteins of 25 bread wheat cultivars grown in Hellas was investigated. In total, 15–20 seeds per cultivar were used for the determination of the alleles present at the loci coding for high‐molecular‐weight glutenin subunits and gliadins. For this purpose, acid polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for gliadins and SDS‐electrophoresis for glutenins were employed. Analysis of the electrophoretic patterns revealed that intravarietal selections obtained from the cultivar ‘Nestos’, together with the cultivar ‘Eurydice’ which was selected from the cultivar ‘Nestos’, were identical to their original cultivar and to the cultivar ‘Dodoni’. The cultivars ‘Penios’, ‘Siette Cerros E’, ‘Gorgona’ and ‘Louros’, although recorded to differ in descent, were found to be identical at all the loci examined. Finally, it was revealed that four of the Hellenic cultivars carry the wheat‐rye 1BL/1RS translocation. These data could be beneficial for a better understanding of the existing differences in quality and stress‐resistance between the cultivars examined.     

Recombination within the Gli-B1 Locus in Durum Wheat

Recombination within the closely linked genes encoding for omega and gamma gliadins at the complex Gli-B1 locus present on the short arm of chromosome 1B was detected in a durum-wheat line (Triticum durum) from Iran. This recombinant differs from a previous one the authors detected in the durum-wheat cultivar ‘Berillo’ since it shows the gamma gliadin component 45 associated with a triplet of omega components usually found linked with the allelic gamma gliadin 42. Analysis of low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits, encoded by genes at the complex Glu-B3 locus associated with the Gli-B1 locus, showed the presence of the protein type designated LMW-1 which is peculiar to durum-wheat cultivars possessing the gamma gliadin 42.     

谷蛋白和醇溶蛋白的电泳分析及小麦品种鉴定

应用不同浓度梯度的聚丙烯酰胺凝胺SDS电泳比较分析了18个小麦品种的、用不同提取方法制备的醇溶蛋白和谷蛋白.结果表明,经1M脲素提取掉多数醇溶蛋白、清蛋白及其它醇溶成分后的小麦样品,用加有2%SDS和5%β—巯基乙醇的裂解缓冲液提取的高分子量谷蛋白和醇溶蛋白,在8—12%梯度的SDS胶中显示出良好的分辨率和极大的多态性,适于小麦品种鉴定.用裂鲜缓冲液直接提取半粒小麦的全蛋白可用于逐粒品种鉴别.     

Relationship between electrophoretic pattern of storage proteins and gluten strength in durum wheat landraces from Turkey

A collection of 180 Triticum durum lines from Turkey and 22 Italian cultivars were investigated by electrophoretic techniques and evaluated for grain parameters such as protein content and sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS)-sedimentation test. A total of 14 different patterns were observed for high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenin subunits resulting from the combination of three alleles from the A genome and seven from the B genome. Three new allelic variants, one at Glu-A1 and two at Glu-B1, were found. Five different alleles were detected at the Glu-B1 locus. Genotypes with the same allelic variant at Gli-B1 showed inconsistency of composition in B group of low-molecular-weight (LMW) glutenin subunits. A total of 11 different B-subunit patterns were identified in the material analysed. A substantial proportion (78%) of the variation in gluten properties could be explained in terms of protein composition, with the LMW glutenin subunits making the largest contribution (54%). Results indicate that, in addition to Glu-B3 encoded proteins, variation at other loci coding for some intermediate and fastest B subunits might also influence rheological properties.     

Breeding durum wheat for pasta quality in Canada

Canada was the largest durum wheat (Triticum turgidum var durum) producer in 1994, and in recent years supplied over 70% of world export trade in durum. Breeding for pasta quality is, therefore, a primary objective in Canadian durum breeding programs. Control of cultivar registration and stringent grading standards ensure that durum of consistent high quality is produced for domestic and export markets. The objectives of breeding programs include: improvement of traits related to production concerns, such as grain yield, disease resistance and sprouting resistance, and those related to end-use quality, such as protein concentration and quality; milling quality factors, such as semolina yield; colour of the wheat, semolina and pasta; and cooking quality. Selection and testing for quality begins at very early generations and becomes more stringent for advanced inbred lines. Selection is practised at the F₁ or F₂, where appropriate, using monoclonal antibodies to identify desirable gamma gliadins (γ-45 ) or low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW 2) that have been shown to be related to end-use quality. Grain from early generation yield trials, starting at F₄, is screened for protein concentration and pigment content by Near Infrared reflectance, and for gluten strength by sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) sedimentation and micro-mixograph. Promising lines entered into multi-location yield trials are screened with more time-consuming procedures to fully assess suitability for pasta processing. These tests include semolina yield, ash and colour, and predictions of gluten strength such as mixograph and alveograph, and cooking quality. Candidate cultivars with quality equal to or better than the mean of the check cultivars can be proposed for registration after three years in the Durum Cooperative Test. It takes approximately 10 years from performing a cross to registrating a new cultivar. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effect of Salinity Stress on Growth and Nutrient Composition of Three Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) Cultivars

Soil salinity is a major limitation to legume production in many areas of the world. The salinity sensitivity of soybean was studied to determine the effect of salinity on seed germination, shoot and root dry weights, and leaf mineral contents. Three soybean cultivars, Lee, Coquitt, and Clark 63, were planted in soils of different salinity levels. The electrical conductivity (EC) of the soils used in this experiment was 0.5 dS m^?1. The soil salinity treatments were 0.5, 2.5 4.5, 6.5 and 8.5 dS m^?1. Saline drainage water from a drainage canal with an EC of 15 dS m^?1 was used to treat the soil samples in order to obtain the desired salinity levels. Germination percentages were recorded 10 days after planting. Shoot and root dry weights of 45‐day‐old plants were measured. Nutrient concentrations for Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Cl^? were determined. Germination percentages were significantly reduced with increasing salinity levels. The cultivar Lee was less affected by salinity stress than Coquitt and Clark 63. At 8.5 dS m^?1 a significant reduction in plant height was found in all three cultivars. However, Lee plants were taller than plants of the other two cultivars. Salinity stress induced a significant increase in leaf sodium (Na⁺) and chloride (Cl^?) in all cultivars. However, the cultivar Lee maintained lower Na⁺ and Cl⁺ concentrations, a higher potassium (K⁺) concentration and a higher K⁺/Na⁺ ratio at higher salinity levels than Coquitt and Clark 63. Saline stress reduced the accumulation of K⁺, calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) in the leaves of the cultivars studied. This study suggests that Lee is the most tolerant cultivar, and that there is a relationship between the salt tolerance of the cultivar and macronutrient accumulation in the leaves.     

Unique gliadin patterns in Chinese winter wheat cultivars

Cultivated Chinese wheat germplasm has been a valuable genetic resource in international plant breeding. Patterns of gliadin among cultivated Chinese accessions are unknown, despite the proven value and potential novelty. The objective of this work was to analyse the diversity within improved Chinese wheat germplasm. The electrophoretic banding patterns of gliadin in winter wheat cultivars and advanced lines were determined by acid-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. For 148 leading commercial cultivars and promising advanced lines used in this study, 48 patterns were identified, 29 corresponding to ω -gliadin, nine to γ -gliadin, five to β -gliadin and five to α -gliadin. The most frequent patterns were A6 in ω ; B in γ ; B in β and A in the region of α . A total of 116 band types appeared in the 148 samples: 94 accessions had unique gliadin types, and 22 gliadin, types while not unique, were found in 54 accessions. The gliadin patterns of Chinese wheat cultivars and lines greatly differed from the patterns of wheat lines from other countries. Three patterns, E, J, H, M, N and O in the ω -zone had not been reported previously. Three wheat zones of China, the Northern Winter Wheat Region, the Yellow and Huai Valley River valleys Winter Wheat Region and the Southwestern Winter Wheat Region, showed different frequencies in their gliadin patterns. This information can be used to monitor genetic diversity with Chinese wheat germplasm.     

Stability of esterases and total proteins during seed storage of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and their use for cultivar discrimination

Polymorphisms in electrophoretic patterns obtained by isoelectric focusing (IEF) were examined to evaluate their suitability for cultivar identification in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). It was possible to discriminate 64 (94%) of 68 cultivars by combining results from esterase and total protein analysis. Discrimination was based on quantitative differences (relative band intensity) rather than on qualitative differences (presence or absence of bands). Esterase patterns from different recent (fresh to seven years old) seed lots of the same perennial ryegrass cultivars were very stable. Occasionally, minor differences in band intensity were observed between recent and old (up to 30 years old) seed lots of a cultivar. Storage of meal samples up to two years at −20 ^°C had no effect on the total protein patterns. No correlation was found between esterase patterns and ploidy level, cultivar type (pasture or turf), heading date or breeding company. Esterase patterns appeared to be unsuitable markers for the selection of reference cultivars for distinctiveness, uniformity, and stability (DUS) testing, because no correlation was found between cultivars on the basis of esterase banding patterns and morphological characteristics. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Relationship between Quality, Colour of Glume and Gliadin Electrophoregrams in Durum Wheat

Gliadin electrophoregrams, protein content and SDS-sedimentation values from the modified SDS-sedimentation test were obtained from six Greek cultivars of Triticum durum and 98 biotypes (78 with white glumes, 20 with red glumes). Our results provide wheat breeders with the tool TO predict the cooking quality of durum wheat from early generation breeding lines, since we were able to correlate the colour of the glume with the presence or absence of gliadin bands 42/45. All red glume biotypes lacked gliadin band 45 and possessed gliadin band 42. Furthermore, their SDS sedimentation values were around 27 (weak gluten), indicating poor cooking quality. Yet, the electrophoregrams of the gliadin proteins allowed an identification of the wheat cultivars examined, since for each cultivars the pattern was different. No correlation was found between the colour of the glume and the amount of total gram protein.     

PCR-based assay for detecting IB-genes for low molecular weight glutenin subunits related to gluten quality properties in durum wheat

A PCR assay has been developed for selecting low molecular weight (LMW) glutenin genes, located on chromosome 1B, and related to durum wheat quality characteristics. Most durum wheat lines possessing good technological properties can be identified on the basis of the presence of specific 1B LMW glutenin components that have been designated LMW-2 glutenin subunits. On the basis of nucleotide sequences corresponding to LMW glutenin genes, a series of specific oligonucleotide primers were prepared and used in PCR analysis. A pair of these primers gave a single amplification product which can distinguish between durum wheat lines possessing LMW-2 glutenin subunits and lines possessing other 1B-LMW allelic variants. Because the proposed PCR analysis can be carried out using part of the endosperm of a single seed, it represents a helpful approach for speeding up the selection of genotypes possessing LMW-2 glutenin subunits. This part of primers could also be very useful in genome mapping analysis and for testing the purity of wheat flour stock.     

Complexity of the Gli-A3 locus in bread wheat

Two bread wheat cultivars, ‘Ariana 8’ and ‘Cajeme 71’, and 129 F₂, grains from the cross between them were analysed for gliadin composition. Two monodimensional (A-PAGE and SDS-PAGE) and two different two-dimensional (SDS-PAGE x SDS-PAGE and A-PAGE x SDS-PAGE) electrophoretic methods were used. Parents differed at the Gli-Al locus, detected by A-PAGE. The SDS-PAGE of the aqueous ethanol extractable protein under nonreduced conditions showed two bands of ‘Ariana 8’ and one of ‘Cajeme 71’, encoded by genes located 22 cM from the Gli-Al locus, and therefore, located at the Gli-A3 locus. This locus has been considered to contain genes coding for ω-gliadins alone. The two-dimensional maps of the parents showed that one band from ‘Ariana 8’ was an ω-gliadin, but the other two bands, one from each parent, were γ-gliadins. Results obtained indicated that GH-A3, like Gli-Al, is a complex locus coding for both ω-and γ-gliadins.     

Relationship Between High Molecular Weight Glutenin Subunit Composition and Gluten Quality in Ethiopian-grown Bread and Durum Wheat Cultivars and Lines

The high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) composition of 42 Ethiopian-grown bread wheat and 31 durum wheat cultivars and lines were examined using SDS-PAGE. Low variability in HMW-GS composition was present in both classes of wheat. A total of 10 variants with 14 different HMW patterns and seven variants with six different patterns were identified in bread and durum wheat, respectively, reflecting the limited ability of HMW-GS for cultivar identification. The most predominant alleles were 2*, 7 + 9 and 5 + 10 in bread wheat and nul and 7 + 8 in durum wheat. The Glu-1 quality scores for bread wheat ranged from 6 to 10, with an average value of 8.7. The variation in HMW-GS significantly correlated with and accounted for 44 % of the total variation in gluten quality, measured by the sodium dodecyl sulphate sedimentation test. In durum wheat, HMW-GS variation at Glu-B1 explained about 25 % of the variation in gluten quality. The high frequency of the 7 + 8 alleles among the landraces and the significant contribution of Glu-B1 alleles to the total variation in gluten quality indicate the potential benefit of Ethiopian tetraploid landraces in the development of lines suitable for both bread and pasta production.     

Allozymes as aids to Canadian barley cultivar identification

Summary Different combinations of three heat stable -amylase patterns, nine esterase and three acid phosphatase electrophoretic patterns may complement the use of kernel and plant morphological characters for cultivar variety identification. Owing to the rather narrow genetic base of Canadian barley breeding programs not every cultivar has a distinct combination of electrophoretic patterns. However, in some cases closely related cultivars may be differentiated in this way. In some cultivars isozyme polymorphism is a varietal characteristic and may be used for identification purposes.     

Gli-B3/Glu-B2 encoded prolamins do not affect selected quality properties in the durum wheat cross 'Abadía'×'Mexicali 75'

A study was made of the effects of the Gli-B3/Glu-B2 encoded prolamins on durum-wheat quality. Twenty-six F₃ lines from the durum wheat cross ‘Abadia’בMexicali 75’ were analysed electrophoretically for prolamin composition and for the following quality parameters: SDS sedimentation value, mixing properties, and percentage grain protein and percentage vitreous kernels. The results showed that the presence or absence of the Gli-B3/Glu-B2 encoded prolamins did not result in any significant difference in the quality characteristics of the F₃ lines; however, as expected, the LMW glutenins encoded at Glu-B3 showed large differences and are therefore the major prolamins influencing durum wheat gluten quality.