Y-type gene specific markers for enhanced discrimination of high-molecular weight glutenin alleles at the Glu-B1 locus in hexaploid wheat

A number of primers were designed which target DNA sequence variation of the coding and /or promoter regions of wheat HMW glutenin y-type genes located at the Glu-B1 locus. This allowed the development of a set of PCR-based markers for specific HMW glutenin genes encoding By-subunits for which no markers were previously available. Markers were validated using test cultivars containing specific Glu-B1 alleles confirmed by SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC analysis. Among the specific markers developed, primer pair ZSBy8F5/R5 was specific for the By8 gene, which exists in Glu-B1b (Bx7+By8) and Glu-B1u (Bx7*+By8) alleles. This marker allows discrimination of alleles containing By8 and By8* that are usually difficult to distinguish using SDS-PAGE. Since the over-expressed Glu-B1 allele (Glu-Bl al.) contains the By8* subunit, it is possible to use this marker in breeding programs for selecting for the over-expression of subunit Bx7 in crosses that segregate between normal Bx7 and over-expressed Bx7 subunits. This marker also represents an alternative for distinguishing two common Glu-B1 alleles: Glu-B1i (Bx17+By18) and Glu-B1b (Bx7+By8). Two primer pairs ZSBy9aF1/R3 and ZSBy9F7/R6 both gave characteristic banding patterns for Glu-B1c (Bx7+By9) and can therefore be used to discriminate By9 - containing alleles from non - By9 alleles. Primer pair ZSBy9F2/R2 produced amplicons with a diagnostic banding pattern for allele Glu-B1f (Bx13+By16) and also permitted the discrimination of Glu-B1h (Bx14+By15) and Glu-B1e (Bx20) that have opposing genetic effects on wheat quality and are difficult to discriminate by SDS-PAGE.