Novel allelic variants encoded at the Glu-D3 locus in bread wheat

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcs.2008.10.011
• Publication Date: 2008-12-07T10:34:17Z
• Authors: M.-J. Appelbee; G.T. Mekuria; V. Nagasandra; J.P. Bonneau; H.A. Eagles; R.F. Eastwood; D.E. Mather
• Keywords: Glutenin

Abstract Low-molecular weight glutenin subunits (LWM-GS) are important components of wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) gluten, with important effects on end-use quality. The LMW-GS are encoded at Glu-3 loci ( Glu-A3 , Glu-B3 and Glu-D3 , on the short arms of chromosomes 1A, 1B and 1D), each of which exhibits extensive allelic variation. Each locus encodes numerous LMW-GS, some of which have similar electrophoretic mobilities, making it difficult to distinguish among Glu-3 loci. Alleles of the Glu-D3 locus of bread wheat are considered the most problematic to assign. To date, six Glu-D3 alleles, designated a , b , c , d , e and f , have been reported. We report five previously undescribed alleles ( g , h , i , j and k ), and describe a method for characterizing them using a combination of SDS-PAGE and multiplexed PCR-based DNA markers. This method could be used for accurate identification of Glu-D3 alleles, permitting the estimation of the effects of these alleles on end-use quality and the selection of desirable alleles and allelic combinations in wheat breeding.