High-throughput analysis of high-molecular weight glutenin subunits in 665 wheat genotypes using an optimized...

Gluten protein composition determines the rheological characteristics of wheat dough and is influenced by variable alleles with distinct effects on processing properties. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), we determined the high-molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) composition of 665 wheat genotypes employed in breeding programs in South Korea. We identified 22 HMW-GS alleles, including 3 corresponding to the Glu-A1 locus, 14 to Glu-B1, and 5 to Glu-D1. The Glu-1 quality score, which is an important criterion for high-quality wheat development, was found to be 10 for 105/665 (15.79%) of the studied genotypes, and included the following combinations of HMW-GS: 2*, 7 + 8, 5 + 10; 2*, 17 + 18, 5 + 10; 1, 7 + 8, 5 + 10; and 1, 17 + 18, 5 + 10. To select wheat lines with the 1Bx7 overexpression (1Bx7^OE) subunit, which is known to have a positive effect on wheat quality, we used a combination of MALDI-TOF-MS and published genotyping markers and identified 6 lines carrying 1Bx7^OE out of the 217 showing a molecular weight of 83,400 Da, consistent with 1Bx7_G2 and 1Bx7^OE. This study demonstrates that the MALDI-TOF-MS method is fast, accurate, reliable, and effective in analyzing large numbers of wheat germplasms or breeding lines in a high-throughput manner.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-020-02637-z.