Genetic polymorphisms at Gli-Dt gliadin loci in Aegilops tauschii as revealed by acid polyacrylamide gel and capillary electrophoresis

Gliadin variation at Gli‐D^t1 and Gli‐D^t2 loci in 198 Aegilops tauschii accessions was studied by acid polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (A‐PAGE) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). High genetic polymorphisms were found at both gliadin coding loci, revealing a total of 184 and 169 gliadin variants at the Gli‐D^t1 and Gli‐D^t2 loci, respectively. In particular, 12 gliadin blocks encoded by different alleles were apparently expressed and readily identified in six synthetic hexaploids produced by hybridization between Triticum durum and Ae. tauschii accessions. Compared with Ae. tauschii ssp. eusquarrosa, the gliadin profile of the D genome in Ae. tauschii ssp. strangulata more resembles that of T. aestivum, supporting the view that the subspecies strangulata is the most likely progenitor of bread wheat. Capillary electrophoresis analysis showed that the method is capable of separating and characterizing gliadins with speed, in high resolution using small sample amounts, and is well‐suited to detect protein alleles and to identify desirable genotypes in wheat quality improvement.