Compositions of high molecular weight glutenin subunits of wheat cultivars in Guizhou province

The compositions of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) of 50 wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars which have been popularized in Guizhou province during recent 50 years were analyzed by SDS-PAGE. The quality score at Glu-1 was calculated for each cultivar using the quality rating system described by Payne et al (1987). The results showed that the HMW-GS compositions of 50 cultivars were abundant, and 12 subunit patterns and 16 subunit combinations were detected in these cultivars. The mean quality score in 50 cultivars was 6.9, ranging from 5 to 10. The mean quality score in 28 cultivars which had been bred in Guizhou province was 6.3, ranging from 5 to 8, which was lower than that of whole Chinese-grown wheat cultivars. The frequency of 5+10 subunit among them was 17.9%, while the mean quality score in 22 introduced cultivars was 7.7, ranging from 5 to 10, the frequency of 5+10 subunit in introduced cultivars was 42.9%. Moreover, 14 cultivars carried 5+10 high-quality subunits, 7 cultivars carried 2~* subunit and 2 cultivars carried 17+18 subunits were screened for application in the quality breeding program. The strategy and method of the quality breeding in Guizhou was also discussed in the paper.