Detection, Chromosomal Location and Evaluation of the Functional Value of a Novel High Mr Glutenin Subunit Found in Swedish Wheats

A high M_r glutenin subunit, which has not been described previously, was found in several Swedish wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) breeding lines. The electrophoretic mobility (sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) of this band was close to the mobility of the subunit that has been referred to as band 21 encoded on chromosome 1B. Reciprocal crosses between wheat materials with and without this band have shown that the synthesis of this subunit is controlled by the locus on chromosome 1A. The new band, called 21^*, is thus allelic to bands 1 and 2^*. The relevance of the novel-subunit to breadmaking quality was investigated by partial-least-square regression analysis. Using this method, the relationship between the electrophoretic patterns of high M_r glutenin subunits and the specific Zeleny volume was determined. The novel glutenin subunit was found in cultivars with a high specific Zeleny volume. Further investigations are needed before it is possible to determined the influence of the new glutenin subunit on baking quality.