Evaluation of genetic variations at glutenin loci in Korean wheat landraces using allele-specific DNA markers

Abstract

The allelic variations at glutenin loci could significantly affect the bread baking quality, and specific glutenin alleles might be closely associated with greater gluten strength, which, in turn, is related to superior bread baking quality. In this study, allelic variations at Glu-1, Glu-A3 and Glu-B3 loci were evaluated in 222 Korean wheat landraces using gene-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) markers. Ten alleles were identified at Glu-1 loci. Glu-A1c, Glu-B1b, and Glu-D1a or Glu-D1f alleles were predominantly found at the respective loci and their frequencies were 86.5, 87.8 and 96.9 %, respectively. Seven Korean wheat landraces carried the Glu-D1d allele, and only one Korean wheat landrace (IT173162) achieved 10 points for the Glu-1 score. Fifteen alleles were identified at Glu-A3 and Glu-B3 loci; Glu-A3c and Glu-B3d or Glu-B3i alleles were commonly found at the respective loci and their frequencies were 77.0, 33.3 and 37.8 %, respectively. Glu-B3 alleles exhibited the highest genetic diversity than other alleles, while Glu-B1 and Glu-A1 alleles exhibited the lowest genetic diversity than other alleles. Twenty Korean wheat landraces had the Glu-A3d and Glu-B3b, Glu-B3d, Glu-B3f, Glu-B3g or Glu-B3i alleles, which were correlated with superior bread baking quality. Among these wheat lines, two (IT59787 and IT236544) carried the Glu-D1d allele.