A novel Puroindoline b-2 variant present in Chinese winter wheat cultivar Yunong 202

The recently identified Puroindoline b-2 (Pinb-2) variants on the homoeologous group 7 chromosomes in bread wheat are Puroindoline-like genes that account for minor grain texture modulation and display activity against bacteria and phytopathogenic fungi. In this study, the coding sequence of the Pinb-2 gene in the Chinese winter wheat cultivar Yunong 202 (Triticum aestivum L.) was amplified with the universal primer, and the obtained 452-bp fragment was cloned and 36 plasmids encompassing the targeted fragment were sequenced from two strands. Results indicated that Yunong 202 possessed Pinb-2v1, Pinb-2v2, Pinb-2v3b and Pinb-2v4 alleles. A new Puroindoline-2 variant was discovered in Yunong 202 as well and was designated as Pinb-2v6. Full alignment showed that Pinb-2v6 possessed 74.0%, 95.4%, 94.7%, 92.3%, 98.7% and 98.0% identity at the DNA level with Pinb-D1a, Pinb-2v1, Pinb-2v2, Pinb-2v3a, Pinb-2v4 and Pinb-2v5 alleles, respectively. This study may provide useful information for further understanding the molecular and genetics basis of grain texture and for illustrating gene duplication events in wheat.