Wheat storage proteins: glutenin DNA diversity in wild emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccoids, in Israel and Turkey. 3. Environmental correlates and allozymic associations.

The diversity of high-molecular-weight (HMW) and low-molecular-weight (LMW) glutenin subunits in the tetraploid wild progenitor of wheat, Triticum dicoccoides, was studied at the DNA level by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The DNA diversity of HMW and LMW glutenins was shown to be correlated to environmental physical and biotic factors (climate, soil and pathogen resistance) and to allozyme variation. We conclude that glutenin DNA diversity is nonrandomly distributed and could be more optimally sampled in nature for future breeding programmes to improve bread quality.