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.