Polymer conformation: genetic and environmental factors associated with this characteristic of glutenin in wheat grain

Abstract Using asymmetric flow field flow fractionation, the polymer mass (Mw), gyration radius (Rw) and the polydispersity index (PI) of glutenin polymers (GPs) have been previously studied. Here, using the same multi-location trials (4 years, 11 locations and 192 cultivars), the factors associated with the conformation (Conf) of the polymers were reported. Conf, which is the slope of Log (Rw) = f [Log (Mw)], varied between 0.285 and 0.740. Conf had low broad-sense heritability (H 2 = 16.8) and was significantly influenced by temperature occurring over the last month of grain filling. Higher temperatures were found to increase Rw and the compactness and sphericity of GPs. The HMW-GS and LMW-GS alleles had a significant influence on the Conf value. Assuming a Gaussian distribution for Mw, the number of polymers present in wheat grain was computed for different kernel weights and protein concentrations: it exceeded 10 12 GPs per grain. Using atomic force microscopy and cryo-microscopy, photos of GPs were revealed for the first time. Under high temperatures, GPs became larger, less reticulated, more spherical and consequently less prone to rapid hydrolysis. Some orientations aimed at reducing the possible impact of the numerous GPs for people suffering from non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) were proposed.