A computer-assisted examination of the storage protein genetic variation in 841 accessions of Triticum dicoccoides

Triticum turgidum L. var. dicoccoides (wild emmer) is an important genetic resource for increasing the protein content of common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Many studies have shown that the presence or absence of bands in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide (SDS-PAGE) electrophoregrams of wheat storage proteins to be of a purely genetic character. A total protein extraction and SDS-PAGE technique was used to estimate the storage protein genetic variability among 841 accessions of wild emmer collected from various ecological regions in the Middle East. In addition, a computer data bank was developed, recording the onedimension electrophoregram bands for each accession by molecular weight (MW) and relative Coomassie Blue staining intensity as determined from densitometer scans. Analyses of this information are being used to identify specific accessions for further study by two dimension electrofocusing-electrophoresis and breeding and genetic analyses. The computer-assisted analyses indicated that the greatest genetic variability occurs for proteins in the high MW region (above 70,000 MW) followed by those in the medium range (70,000 to 33,300 MW). Comparatively little variability was revealed for protein subunits of below 33,300 MW.