Genetic variability at the Glu-1 loci in old and modern wheats (triticum aestivum L.) cultivated in Slovakia

The high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) composition at the Glu-1 complex loci, in 23 old original wheat genotypes cultivated in Slovakia several decades ago and 32 modern Slovak and Czech wheat cultivars growed in Slovakia at present were studied by SDS-PAGE. Some of the HMW-GS – subunit pairs 3+12, 17+18, and subunit 20, present in old “historical” wheats were missing in modern cultivars utilized in Slovakia nowadays. There were observed 15 different HMW-GS encoded by 11 alleles or allelic pairs in old genotypes. Lower number of different HMW-GS and competent alleles were observed in a set of modern wheat cultivars – 11 different HMW glutenin subunits encoded by 8 alleles or allelic pairs. The same number of different HMW-GS patterns was revealed in both sets of wheats. From the point of view of genetic variability, it could be concluded that long-term effort of breeders and decreasing of cultivation of landraces and old cultivars are associated with the loss of several HMW-GS alleles and decreasing of genetic variability of wheats. Molecular characterization can reveal broad allelic variability of old wheat genotypes and landraces. Their maintenance in genetic resource collections can prevent losses of these interesting genes.