Polymorphism of Low Mr Glutenin Subunits in Triticum tauschii

A collection of 173 Triticum tauschii accessions was analysed to evaluate the variability of low molecular weight (M_r) glutenin subunits. These proteins were analysed by one-step one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and were divided into B-, C- and D-subunits in accordance with their electrophoretic mobility. Extensive polymorphism, both in the number and electrophoretic mobility, was detected in lowM_r glutenin subunits present in T. tauschii. Thirty different patterns for B-subunits and forty-three for C-subunits were identified, some of which were with identical electrophoretic mobility than those observed in hexaploid wheat. Glutenin subunits with the same electrophoretic mobilities of low M_r D-glutenin subunits as well as subunits encoded at the Glu-D4 and Glu-D5 loci, were also detected in accessions of T. tauschii. These results provide new basic knowledge regarding the genetics variability of the low M_r glutenin subunits, as well as their potential to create novel germplasm for the improvement of wheat quality in breeding programs.