Seed protein and isozyme variations in Triticum tauschii (Aegilops squarrosa).

Sixty Triticum tauschii (Aegilops squarrosa, 2n=2x=14, DD) accessions were evaluated for the variability of high-molecular-weight (HMW) glutenins, gliadins and isozymes of seed esterase, β-amylase and glucose-phosphate isomerase. Wide variability was observed for HMW-glutenins and gliadins. The implications of unique HMW-glutenin alleles for quality parameters are discussed. Isozyme evaluations indicated more variability for the Est-D (t) 5 locus as compared to the Est-D5 of bread-wheat. The polymorphism for β-Amy-D (t) 1 was less than that of β-Amy-D1. Similar to the bread-wheat situation, Gpi-D (t) 1 showed no polymorphism. The variability observed with the traits evaluated can be readily observed in T. turgidum x T. tauschii synthetic hexaploids (2n=6x=42, AABBDD) suggesting that T. tauschii accessions may be a rich source for enhancing the genetic variability of T. aestivum cultivars.