Effects of high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit alleles on common wheat flour quality

To elucidate the effects of different glutenin subunit alleles on the parameters of wheat flour quality, we analyzed the dough and gluten properties using a doubled-haploid population derived from a cross between two wheat cultivars differing in the glutenin subunit loci except for Glu-D3, namely Grandin (Glu-A1b, Glu-B1c, Glu-D1d, Glu-A3f, Glu-B3h and Glu-D3a) and Kitamiharu 57 (Glu-A1a, Glu-B1i, Glu-D1a, Glu-A3c, Glu-B3b and Glu-D3a). Based on the analysis of the DH lines, no significant differences in the flour protein content were detected among the glutenin alleles. However, the Glu-D1 and Glu-B3 alleles exerted significant effects on the dough and gluten properties. The DH lines with the Glu-D1d or Glu-B3b alleles showed a significantly higher gluten index, determined using the glutomatic system and longer dough development time determined using a mixograph. The Glu-D1d and Glu-B3b alleles additively increased the dough and gluten strength. The DH lines with the Glu-A1a allele also showed a significantly higher gluten index and longer dough development time than those with the Glu-A1b allele, though to a lesser extent. These results indicated that the Glu-B3b allele exerted similar effects on the dough and gluten strength as the Glu-D1d allele. Since the DH lines harboring the Glu-D1d and Glu-B3b alleles showed excessive values for the strength of dough and gluten, it was suggested that both the Glu-1 and Glu-3 allelic composition should be considered to improve the wheat flour quality.