Allelic variation and genetic diversity of high molecular weight glutenin subunit in Chinese endemic wheats (Triticum aestivum L.)

The high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) compositions of 66 Chinese endemic wheats were determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Ten alleles at the Glu-1 loci were detected in 50 Tibetan weedrace wheat accessions which in combination resulted in seven different HMW-GS patterns. Four HMW-GS patterns were observed among 10 Yunnan hulled wheat accessions, and two patterns in six Xingjiang rice wheat accessions. Two novel alleles (Bx7** + By8, Bx7 + By8**) and two rare alleles (Dx2 + 1Dy12*, Dx2 + null) were found in Tibetan weedrace accessions, with one of the latter (Dx2 + Dy12*) also being found in Yunnan hulled wheat. The mean indices of genetic variation at the Glu-1 loci in Yunnan hulled wheat, Tibetan weedrace wheat and Xingjiang rice wheat were 0.2232, 0.1655 and 0.0926, respectively, showing that Yunnan hulled wheat and Tibetan weedrace wheat had higher genetic variation than Xingjiang rice wheat.