BACKGROUND: Waxy wheat, a new kind of genetically back-crossed wheat, was applied to make whole bread in this study. Dough properties and bread quality of the whole waxy wheat flour, which was milled from 100% whole grains containing bran and germ, were determined. RESULTS: Whole waxy wheat had lower protein and lipid contents but higher dietary fiber content than whole regular wheat flour. Pasting temperature and viscosity of the whole waxy wheat flour were significantly lower than those of the whole regular wheat. However, the white wheat flour milled from wheat grains with 48% recovery had significantly higher peak viscosity than the whole waxy wheat. Bread made from the whole waxy wheat flour was significantly softer than that from the whole regular wheat flour during storage. However, bread made from whole waxy wheat had significantly lower specific volume than that from the white waxy flour because of the high amount of dietary fiber. Addition of cellulase increased paste viscosity, lowered dough mixing properties and reduced the firmness of the bread. The addition of pentosanase also increased paste viscosity, lowered dough mixing properties, improved loaf volume of bread but increased the firmness of breadcrumbs, while the addition of a-amylase only increased final viscosity of flour and did not affect dough properties and bread qualities of whole waxy wheat flour. CONCLUSION: As a result, waxy wheat shows superior properties for making whole breads. Additional enzymes are also necessary to improve bread quality and nutritive values of whole waxy bread. (C) 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.