The Response of Wheat with Different Allele Statuses of the Gpc-B1 Gene under Zinc Deficiency

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of zinc (Zn) deficiency on the growth and grain yield of wheat with different allele statuses of the Gpc-B1 gene. For this research, common wild emmer wheat (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides (Koern. ex Asch. &Graebn.) Schweinf.), bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. Festivalnaya), and two intogressive lines were used. T. dicoccoides and introgressive line 15-7-1 carry a functional allele of the Gpc-B1 gene, while the T. aestivum cv. Festivalnaya and introgressive line 15-7-2 carry the non-functional Gpc-B1 allele. Zn deficiency did not affect the shoot height or fresh weight of any of the studied plants. The only exception was T. dicoccoides, where a small decrease in shoot height was registered. Additionally, under Zn deficiency T. dicoccoides had an increase in flag leaf area, spike length, and dry weight, as well as in grain number and grain yield per spike. The other variants did not experience changes in the above-described parameters under Zn deficiency. Under Zn deficiency, the Zn concentration in the grains was higher in the plants with a functional allele of the Gpc-B1 gene compared to the plants with a non-functional allele. These results show that wheat with a functional allele of the Gpc-B1 gene growing under Zn deficiency is capable of grain production with a sufficient Zn concentration without a decrease in yield.

Technological properties of grain and flour in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes carrying two loci that determine the endosperm structure

Background.The end-use of the bread wheat grain depends on the endosperm properties determined by the alleles of the Pinaand Pinbgenes at the Halocus on chromosome 5D. The mealy (soft) endosperm is generated by the biosynthesis of puroindolines – complete proteins encoded by these genes. When milled, such grain breaks down into small starch granules covered with proteins. Mutations that disrupt the synthesis or structure of puroindolines determine the hardness and vitreousness of the grain. Earlier, we discovered a new locus for grain softness, Ha-Sp, introgressed from the diploid species Aegilops speltoidesTausch, which also determines the formation of the soft endosperm structure. By combining two active loci in one genotype, we produced a supersoft grain line (SSL). The aim of the present work was to verify the interaction of the two loci Haand HaSpin other wheat genotypes and evaluate the technological properties of grain and flour in comparison with the existing SSL line.Materials and methods.The F3–F8 hybrids from crosses of the soft-grain spring cultivars ‘Golubka’ and ‘Lutescens 62’, carriers of the Halocus, with the introgressive line 84/98w, carrier of the Ha-Splocus, were used in the work. Grain from three field seasons was studied according to milling parameters and physical properties of flour and dough.Results.At the early stages of selection (F3:4), the families with milling parameters typical of bread wheat were identified, as well as supersoft-grain families with a small flour particle size (9–10 μm) and low endosperm vitreousness (29–49%). Targeted selection made it possible to obtain lines similar to the SSL line in terms of milling performance and flour strength.Conclusion.For the first time, a set of supersoft-grain lines with special properties of grain and flour was obtained on the genetic basis of three spring cultivars. They may be in demand for a wide range of end-uses, including both food and nonfood production purposes.