Hierarchical classification of allelic variation of gliadins in durum wheat

Sixty durum wheat genotypes were analysed for protein (gliadin) polymorphism to find out the existing genetic diversity, and to assess its utility for improvement in grain yield along with quality traits. Six different Gli-B₁ alleles were found in land races, rust resistance sources and old released varieties, while two in recently released and advance lines. Most of the recently released varieties and advance lines showed γ-45/Gli-1 alleles, which is the best type for pasta making quality, remaining showed γ-42/Gli-1 allele, which are not good for pasta making. It is advisable to select for γ-45/Gli-1 as a bio-chemical marker in the future breeding programmes. The rust resistance sources do not possess γ-45/Gli-1 alleles, so these lines can be used as donors to introduce disease resistance in the good quality recently released varieties, which are containing γ-45/Gli-1 alleles. From hierarchical analysis, it was found that landraces, released varieties and rust resistance sources are genetically distinct. The presence of new γ-gliadin patterns are interesting in rust resistance sources and need to be investigated for their role in pasta making as well as overall technological quality of durum wheat.