African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (4), pp. 346-349, April 2005          
ISSN 1684–5315 © 2005 Academic Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Toward a molecular evaluation of grain quality using glutenin subunits in Triticum carthlicum

Ardashir Kharabian Masouleh

Agronomy & Plant breeding Dept., Faculty of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Lakan Road.Pol-E-Taleshan, Rasht, Iran. Email: kharabian@yahoo.com. Tel: 0098 131 223 85 54. Website: http://www.Azad.ac.ir.

Accepted 05 February, 2005

The grain quality of tetraploid wheat, Triticum carthlicum was analyzed by examining seed storage glutenin (HMW) markers at Glu-A1, Glu-B1 and Glu-D1 loci by SDS-PAGE method, as well as confirmation by Zeleny and Farinograph tests. 15 populations were collected from Iran, some areas of the Middle East and the North of Africa with this assumption that this species has originated from the Middle East region. A high rate of electrophoretic polymorphism and a close relationship between molecular markers, protein content and quality were detected at the studied loci. Presence of 5+10 bands indicate high protein content and excellent quality, while the null band shows low protein and bakery quality. Populations were classified into four groups from excellent (4^th Class) to low (1^st Class) in the quality status. A total value of classes (TVC) for each country was calculated by adding up values of each country as a main index for quality comparisons. Iranian populations of T. carthlicum showed the highest value of quality (TVC= 9) between all populations. All of the Egyptian, Syrian and Iraqi accessions were classified in the second rank (TVC= 6) and the Turkish samples the lowest (TVC= 3). This study suggests that the glutenin (HMW) markers can still be used as a powerful and reliable tool for identification and prediction of important traits like grain quality.

Key words: Alleles, glutenin, markers, SDS-PAGE, variation, wheat.