Rapid screening of selected European winter wheat varieties and segregating populations for the Glu-D1d allele using PCR

Forty-two winter wheat varieties and 193 F₂ and BC₁F₂ seeds were screened for Glu-D1d allele encoding the HMW glutenin subunits 5 + 10 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The segregating populations originated from crosses involving wheat parents with good and poor bread-making quality. A clear PCR product of 450 bp, representing 1Dx5 of the Glu-D1d allele was identified in 24 varieties and 111 hybrid seeds. Four different Glu-D1 alleles: a (2 + 12), b (3 + 12), c (4 + 12) and d (5 + 10) were detected using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Only genotypes possessing Glu-D1d gave a positive PCR signal, hexaploid triticale and 4 × wheat lacking Glu-D1 locus gave a negative signal. The efficiency of PCR selection for bread-making quality in early generations using half seed is discussed.