Exploring diverse wheat germplasm for novel alleles in HMW-GS for bread quality improvement.

Wheat is one of the most important cereals used worldwide in the form of a range of products. Crop landraces have been an immense source of diversity for the breeders. In the present study, 517 Indian wheat landraces have been observed for the difference in bread making quality by assessing allelic behaviour of high molecular weight-glutenin subunits (HMW-GS). A total of 33 Glu-1 alleles (3 at Glu-A1, 15 at Glu-B1 and 15 at Glu-D1) were detected in wheat landraces. Allelic frequency of HMW-GS allelic band pattern null, 17 + 18, 2 + 12 (24.75%) was found to be the highest. Allelic frequency of HMW-GS allele null (68.27%) at Glu-A1, 17 + 18 (49.14%) at Glu-B1, and 2 + 12 (72.81%) at Glu-D1 was found to be the highest Five Novel alleles were identified at Glu-D1 locus, 12*, 12.1, 12.1*, 12.2 and 12.3. As Glu-D1 has highest quality contribution as compared to Glu-A1 and Glu-B1, reporting novel alleles at Glu-D1 represents that genetic variability available for selection is increased and it will provide tools for breeders to further improve dough properties and bread making quality.