Genetic analysis of water extractable arabinoxylans in bread wheat endosperm

Two mapping populations were used for the analysis of the water-extractable arabinoxylans. One originated from a cross between the hexaploid cultivars 'Courtot' and 'Chinese Spring' and the other from a cross between an amphiploid (Synthetic) and cv 'Opata'. Arabinose (Ara), and xylose (Xyl) contents were quantified for the 91 and 76 lines obtained from the two crosses, respectively. Relative viscosity (eta(rel)) Of the wheat flour aqueous extract was evaluated by capillary viscometry. Both crosses gave similar correlation coefficients between sugar contents and relative viscosity. There were strong positive relationships between arabinose, xylose and arabinoxylan contents. The relative viscosity was strongly and positively related to the arabinoxylan content and strongly and negatively related to the Ara/Xyl ratio (arabinose content to xylose content). For one of the two crosses two measurements of relative viscosity were generated from 2 years of consecutive harvesting. As a strong correlation was observed between these two measurements, an important genotypic effect can be deduced for the relative viscosity of water-extractable arabinoxylans. QTL (quantitative trait locus) research did not reveal any chromosomal segments that were strongly implicated in variations in sugar content. However, a QTL was found for relative viscosity values and the Ara/Xyl ratio on the long arm of the IB chromosome for the two crosses considered. This QTL explained 32-37% of the variations in relative viscosity and 35-42% of the variations in the Ara/Xyl ratio. Genes located at this QTL controlled relative viscosity through modifying the Ara/Xyl ratio. Variations in the Ara/Xyl ratio were supposedly related to differences in the molecular structure of water-extractable arabinoxylans. Minor QTLs were also obtained for relative viscosity and Ara/Xyl ratio, but the chromosomes concerned were different for the two populations evaluated.