Development of an allele-specific marker for Glu-B3 alleles in common wheat and establishment of a multiplex PCR assay

Low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) have significant effects on the processing quality of enduse products of common wheat. It is more efficient to discriminate LMW-GSalleles with PCR-based molecular markers than with SDS-PAGE. In the present study, we developed an allele-specific PCR marker, designated Glu-B3abefg, which can be used to discriminate protein alleles Glu-B3a, b,e,f, and g simultaneously. Based on ten previously developed allele-specific STS markers, three multiplex PCRs, viz. Glu-B3c + Glu-B3d, Glu-B3b + Glu-B3g, and Glu-B3h + Glu-B3i, were established. Six Glu-B3 alleles (b, c, d, g, h, and i) could be discriminated using the three multiplex PCRs. Results of tests on 158 wheat varieties and lines using Glu-B3abefg and the three multiplex PCRs were consistent with those using the ten STS markers separately. The new allele-specific marker and three multiplex PCRs represent an efficient way to undertake marker-assisted selection of Glu-B3 alleles.