IDENTIFICATION OF CANADIAN AND AMERICAN WHEAT CULTIVARS BY SDS GRADIENT PAGE ANALYSIS OF GLIADIN AND GLUTENIN SUBUNITS

Abstract

Sodium dodecyl sulphate gradient polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDSGPAGE) was used to resolve gliadin and high- and low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits from 19 registered Canadian spring wheat cultivars eligible for Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS) and Canada Prairie Spring (CPS) wheat grades and eight nonregistered spring wheat cultivars from the U.S.A. Reproducible molecular weight estimates were obtained for wheat proteins of apparent molecular weights ranging from 34 238 to 136 174 (avg. CV = 0.72%). Eight different patterns of HMW glutenin subunits consisting of 7–11 protein bands were observed for the 27 cultivars and their biotypes. SDSGPAGE was able to discriminate among the majority of cultivars with all non-registered cultivars and their biotypes distinguishable from registered cultivars. Separation of glutenin subunits along with gliadins provided additional protein bands which assisted in the discrimination of cultivars.Key words: SDS gradient PAGE, wheat cultivar identification, gliadin, glutenin subunits