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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 59(5)

Genetic variation for quality traits in synthetic wheat germplasm

Daryl Mares A B and Kolumbina Mrva A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: daryl.mares@adelaide.edu.au

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 59(5) 406-412 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR07224
Submitted: 14 June 2007  Accepted: 29 November 2007   Published: 12 May 2008

Abstract

Synthetic hexaploid wheats offer breeders ready access to potentially novel genetic variation associated with the D genome of Aegilops tauschii. In order to assess the application of this germplasm to wheat quality improvement, collections of primary and derived synthetic hexaploid wheat lines were surveyed for traits that determine colour and colour stability in Asian noodles and the frequency of a genetic defect know as late maturity α-amylase (LMA). The range of variation was then compared with bread wheat and durum wheat cultivar collections. Primary synthetics contained substantial genetic variation for quality traits associated with colour and colour stability of Asian noodles including near-zero extremes for polyphenol oxidase and lipoxygenase. These extremes represent a significant advantage compared with current bread wheat cultivars and are similar to the best durum wheats. While alternative strategies for reducing polyphenol oxidase and lipoxygenase are available, the synthetics nevertheless provide a useful resource for wheat breeders attempting to develop improved wheat cultivars for the Asian noodle market. Unfortunately, however, most primary synthetics were prone to late maturity α-amylase and mature grain contained unacceptably high levels of α-amylase. Elimination of this genetic defect, or selection within breeding populations for low or non-LMA, is both time consuming and labour intensive and presents a significant obstacle to exploitation of variation for other traits. As proof of concept, near-zero polyphenol oxidase (PPO) lines, free from LMA, were recovered from backcross populations involving a high LMA primary synthetic.

Additional keywords: flavonoid content, lipoxygenase, polyphenol oxidase, late maturity α-amylase.


Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the support of the Grains Research and Development Corporation.


References


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