甘肃小麦HMW—麦谷蛋白亚基遗传变异分析

对61份冬、春小麦品种的HMW—麦谷蛋白亚基分析,共检测到14种亚基和22种亚基组合,13份材料具有5 10亚基,2份具有2*亚基,2份具有14 15亚基,5份具有17 18亚基,5 10亚基在春小麦中出现的频率较冬小麦中高;品种HMW—麦谷蛋白亚基品质得分在4—12分之间,春小麦平均得分7．6,冬小麦平均得分6．6。结果表明：品种间GLu—1位点遗传变异差异大,亚基种类丰富,但优质亚基分布频率较低,品质评分较低,主要原因是其亲本含有优质亚基的比率太低。可见,丰富优质资源,提高小麦5 10亚基的分布频率是今后小麦品质育种的方向。     

陕南鄂西丘陵麦区小麦HMW-GS组成和LMW-GS等位基因变异

采用SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳和STS标记方法分别对陕南鄂西丘陵麦区小麦品种(系)中的高分子量谷蛋白亚基(HMW-GS)组成和低分子量谷蛋白亚基(LMW-GS)Glu-A3与Glu-B3位点的等位基因进行了检测,并通过STS特异性标记对SDS-PAGE凝胶电泳检测的HMW-GS部分结果进行了验证。结果表明:(1)陕南麦区64份小麦材料中共检测到9种HMW-GS类型,其中Glu-A1位点含有Null、1共2种等位变异,频率分别为53.12%和46.88%;Glu-B1位点有7+8、7+9、14+15和17+18共4个等位变异,频率分别为26.56%、48.44%、21.88%和3.13%;Glu-D1位点有2+12、5+10和4+12共3种等位变异,频率为71.88%、15.63%和12.49%;而且17种不同亚基组合中以"1,7+9,2+12"与"Null,7+9,2+12"为主。(2)64份小麦材料中检测到11种LMW-GS类型,其中Glu-A3位点存在Glu-A3a、Glu-A3c和Glu-A3d共3种等位变异,分布频率为10.94%、62.50%和26.56%;GluB3位点有Glu-B3a、Glu-B3b、Glu-B3d、Glu-B3e、Glu-B3f、Glu-B3g、Glu-B3i和Glu-B3j共8种等位变异,分布频率分别为6.25%、4.69%、29.69%、1.56%、3.13%、18.75%、4.69%、31.25%。(3)2个特异性STS标记对SDSPAGE凝胶电泳检测到的HMW-GS部分组成结果验证表明,STS标记可以有效克服SDS-PAGE方法检测小麦HMW-GS中的7与7*、8与8*以及2与2*亚基的误读问题,为小麦品质育种与食品加工提供理论支持。     

不同硬度类型小麦高分子量谷蛋白亚基组成及遗传多样性分析

为了在小麦品质育种中充分利用品种资源,以引进的57份小麦品种(系)为试验材料,采用SDS-PAGE和单籽粒硬度仪(SKCS)分析了这些品种(系)的高分子量谷蛋白亚基(HMW-G S)组成及其籽粒硬度.共检测到13种亚基和21种亚基组合,30份材料具有5 10亚基,10份2*,9份17 18,1份13 16.5 10和2*在硬质麦中出现的频率较混合麦高,在软质麦中的频率最低,17 18在混合麦中的频率较高.HMW-G S组合中,N u ll、7 9、2 12和1、7 8、2 12的频率较高,分别为17.5%和14.0%,个别品种还同时聚合有1A、1B、1D上的优质亚基.参试品种(系)含硬质麦32份(1级20份、2级12份),混合麦15份(2级3份,3级12份),软质麦10份(4级6份,5级4份),籽粒硬度的分布范围为12~74.春小麦和冬小麦材料N e i s平均遗传变异系数分别为0.550 8和0.573 3,表明春小麦的高分子量谷蛋白位点的遗传变异略低于冬小麦;春小麦和冬小麦A、B和D基因组的N e i s平均遗传变异系数分别为0.497 5、0.648 7和0.540 3,说明G lu-B 1位点的遗传多样性最高,其次是G lu-D 1位点,G lu-A 1位点最低.     

67份美国小麦种质资源的HMW-GS组成与品质分析

为了挖掘新的种质资源,对引自美国的67份小麦种质材料进行了高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基组成与品质性状分析。HMW-GS组成分析表明,在供试材料中共检测到20种亚基类型和25种亚基组合,表明这批材料的遗传多样性较高。在GluA1位点上,亚基1与2*的出现频率分别为16.4%与35.8%;Glu-B1位点有9个等位变异,其中出现频率最高的为7+9亚基对(47.8%);Glu-D1位点有8个等位变异,以5+10亚基对为主要类型,出现频率高达74.6%。在Glu-B1位点上发现3个不常见亚基7*、8*、8**和3个未知亚基a、b、c,还发现1个未知亚基,暂时将其标记为5*,可能位于Glu-D1位点上。亚基组合类型中,"null,7+8,5+10"的出现频率最高,为22.4%。亚基评分在5~10分之间,平均8.2分,得分在8分及其以上的材料有42份(62.69%),其中得10分的材料有9份(13.43%)。利用DA7200近红外成分分析仪对这批小麦材料的品质性状进行初步分析,结果表明其品质指标较低。这67份美国小麦材料含有的优质亚基比例较高,可作为中间材料以改良我国黄淮麦区小麦品种的亚基组成。     

西北春麦区小麦地方品种高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基组成分析

为了给品质改良提供基础材料,并了解西北春麦区小麦地方品种的遗传多样性,采用十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)方法,分析了493份小麦地方品种的高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基(HMW-GS)的组成.结果表明:在供试材料中,Glu-1位点共有26个等位基因,其中Glu-A1位点3个,Glu-B1位点9个,Glu-D1位点14个,亚基null、7+8、2+12在各自的位点上出现频率最高,分别达到了94.53%、92.92%、86.24%;亚基组成类型共有30种,主要为null/7+8/2+12,频率达79.76%;同时筛选出一些含有1、2*、13+16、14+15、5+10、1.5+10等优质亚基或亚基对的材料,可作为优质基因源;西北春麦区小麦地方品种间Glu-1位点的遗传多样性,以Glu-D1位点最高,其次是Glu-B1位点,Glu-A1位点最低.     

甘肃省春小麦品种高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基组成分析

应用十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)技术,对甘肃省121个普通小麦品种(包括地方品种、育成品种和引进品种)高分子量谷蛋白亚基构成、不同等位基因间亚基变异及出现频率系统分析的结果表明,甘肃省春小麦品种HMW-GS等位基因Glu-Al编码1、2*、N(缺失)三种亚基,Glu-B1 编码 7 8、7 9、17 18、22、7、8、14 15七种亚基,Glu-D1编码2 12、2 11、5 10、2 10、10、4 11、3 12、N八种亚基,频率最高的亚基分别是Null(81.0%)、7 8(86.0%)、2 12(60.0%);一些优质亚基在现有品种中都存在,如甘春20、高台紫麦子等,作亲本用于品质改良有很大潜力,而且少数罕见亚基7、8、11也存在;不同来源的春小麦品种HMW-GS组成比较,优质亚基组成类型如1、7 8、5 10,1、17 18、5 10在育成品种中出现频率较高.     

Ta1小麦轮选群体高分子量谷蛋白亚基组成分析

利用Ta1小麦 Ms2 创建改良小麦面包品质的优质群体,采用SDS-PAGE法对其2次互交轮回群体C2的HMW-GS组成进行了分析.结果表明:在供试的193个样品中各HMW-GS及其组成模式的频率不尽相同,Glu-A1、Glu-B1和Glu-D1位点上产生频率最高的亚基分别是1、14+15和2+12,各为54.40%、35.75%和60.10%,优质亚基5+10的频率为17.6%; null、14+15、2+12 模式产生频率最高,为13.47%,并有 14+15,5+10 的优质亚基聚合体出现,占5.2%;该群体也产生了亲本不具有的13、16、22亚基及19种新的HMW-GS组成模式.说明利用Ta1小麦轮回选择技术是创造新亚基类型的一个有效途径.     

山西小麦育成品种品质性状及HMW-GS组成演变分析

研究山西省小麦育成品种的品质及高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基的演变,有助于优异种质资源的挖掘和创新,可以为小麦品质改良和品种推广提供依据。对山西小麦育成品种的品质及HMW-GS组成进行演变分析,结果表明,山西小麦整体上以中筋为主,除硬度指数呈逐年下降趋势外,其他品质指标在20世纪90年代之前均逐渐提升,而后呈现下降趋势;山西省小麦品种HMW-GS的Glu-1位点等位变异较为丰富,Glu-A1位点有1、2*和Null 3种亚基类型,Glu-B1位点有7种亚基类型(7+8、7+9、6+8、13+16、14+15、17+18、20),Glu-D1位点有6种亚基类型(2+12、2+10、5+12、5+10、4+12和2. 2+12),共检测到亚基组合类型32种,"Null,7+8,2+12"出现频率最高,且优质亚基的变化与品质演变趋势一致; Glu-D1位点对蛋白质含量、硬度指数、容重、湿面筋含量、延伸性和吸水率的效应较大,其中4+12和2+10对蛋白质含量和湿面筋含量具有正效应,Glu-B1位点主要影响沉降值、形成时间、稳定时间、拉伸面积和最大抗延阻力等指标,其中7+8、7+9亚基对拉伸面积具有正效应,Glu-A1位点的2*对沉降值、最大抗延阻力、稳定时间、形成时间和拉伸面积具有正效应;"2*,7+8,4+12"和"1,7+9,2+10"亚基组合对品质性状效应较高。     

小麦低分子量麦谷蛋白亚基功能标记研究进展

小麦是我国主要的粮食作物之一,籽粒中的低分子量麦谷蛋白对于小麦面包的加工品质具有重要的作用。近年来,利用分子标记技术检测小麦低分子量麦谷蛋白亚基（low molecular weight glutenin subunit,LMW-GS）的类型和组成已成为小麦品质改良的研究热点之一。主要综述了小麦低分子量麦谷蛋白亚基基因和蛋白质的结构特征、分类以及功能标记的研究进展,讨论了开发利用小麦Glu-A3、Glu-B3、Glu-D3位点LMW-GS功能标记的意义及存在的问题,并强调了LMW-GS分子标记检测技术的革新及亚基类型的完善对小麦品质改良的重要性,以期加速LMW-GS功能标记在优质小麦育种工作中的应用进程。     

150个小麦品种高分子量谷蛋白亚基组成与蛋白质含量和沉降值关系的研究

对150个不同小麦品种高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基与蛋白质含量、沉降值之间的关系进行了研究,结果表明:Glu-1三位点控制的亚基等位变异与品质性状关系密切.A1位点亚基出现频率高于N,对品质效应以1>N;B1位点7+9亚基对出现频率最高,其次为7+8,各亚基对蛋白质含量效应以8>17+18>7+8>13+19>7+9>14+15,对沉降值效应以8>13+19>7+8>7+9>14+15>7>17+18;D1位点2+12亚基对频率高于5+10,各亚基对品质效应以5+10>5+12>2+12.具有亚基1,8或7+8,5+10组合类型的小麦品种可望为品质较好的品种.     

HMW and LMW glutenin alleles among putative tetraploid and hexaploid European spelt wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum spelta</Emphasis> L.) progenitors

The allelic compositions of high- and low-molecular-weight subunits of glutenins (HMW-GS and LMW-GS) among European spelt (Triticum spelta L.) and related hexaploid and tetraploid Triticum species were investigated by one- and two-dimensional polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and capillary electrophoresis (CE). A total of seven novel glutenin alleles (designated A1a*, B1d*, B1g*, B1f*, B1j*, D1a* at Glu-1 and A3h at the Glu-3 loci, respectively) in European spelt wheat were detected by SDS-PAGE, which were confirmed further by employing A-PAGE and CE methods. Particularly, two HMW-GS alleles, Glu-B1d* coding the subunits 6.1 and 22.1, and Glu-B1f* coding the subunits 13 and 22*, were found to occur in European spelt with frequencies of 32.34% and 5.11%, respectively. These two alleles were present in cultivated emmer (Triticum dicoccum), but they were not observed in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The allele Glu-B1g* coding for 13* and 19* subunits found in spelt wheat was also detected in club wheat (Triticum compactum L.). Additionally, two alleles coding for LMW-GS, Glu-A3h and Glu-B3d, occurred with high frequencies in spelt, club and cultivated emmer wheat, whereas these were not found or present with very low frequencies in bread wheat. Our results strongly support the secondary origin hypothesis, namely European spelt wheat originated from hybridization between cultivated emmer and club wheat. This is also confirmed experimentally by the artificial synthesis of spelt through crossing between old European emmer wheat, T. dicoccum and club wheat, T. compactum.Communicated by H.F. Linskens     

Allelic variation of high molecular weight glutenin subunits of bread wheat in Hebei province of China

In common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), allelic variations of Glu-1 loci have important influences on grain end-use quality. The allelic variations in high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GSs) were identified in 151 hexaploid wheat varieties representing a historical trend in the cultivars introduced or released in Hebei province of China from the years 1970s to 2010s. Thirteen distinct alleles were detected for Glu-1. At Glu-A1, Glu-B1 and Glu-D1, we found that the most frequent alleles were the 1 (43.0%), 7+8 (64.9%), 2+12 (74.8%) alleles, respectively, in wheat varieties. Twenty two different HMW-GS compositions were observed in wheat. Twenty-five (16.6%) genotypes possessed the combination of subunits 1, 7+8, 2+12, 25 (16.6%) genotypes had subunit composition of 2*, 7+8, 2+12; 20 (13.2%) genotypes had subunit composition of null, 7+8, 2+12. The frequency of other subunit composition was less than 10%. The Glu-1 quality score greater than or equal to 9 accounted for 20.6% of the wheat varieties. The percentage of superior subunits (1 or 2* subunit at Glu-A1 locus; 7+8, 14+15 or 17+18 at Glu-B1 locus; 5+10 or 5+12 at Glu-D1 locus) was an upward trend over the last 40 years. The more different superior alleles correlated with good bread-making quality should be introduced for their usage in wheat improvement efforts.     

西南冬麦区地方品种HMW-GS组成遗传多样性研究

采用十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(SDS-PAGE)对西南冬麦区(云南、贵州、四川)3个省份共计560份小麦地方品种的高分子量谷蛋白亚基(HMW-GS)组成进行了研究。结果表明:Glu-1位点共有22种等位基因,其中Glu-A1位点4种、Glu-B1位点11种、Glu-D1位点7种;亚基null、7 8和2 12在各自位点的频率最高,分别为89.64%、68.21%和96.43%。亚基组成类型共有46种,以null/7 8/2 12和null/7 9/2 12为主,频率分别为50.89%和11.79%。在这些材料中筛选出一些含有1、2*、17 18、14 15、5 10等优质亚基的材料,其中有52份材料含有优质亚基组合。     

部分小麦育种材料低分子量谷蛋白亚基等位基因变异

改进小麦LMW-G S分离技术,利用改良一步单向连续梯度SDS-PAGE技术分析40份具有较好品质、产量特性的小麦育种亲本材料的LMW-G S类型和组成形式。结果表明:采用适当的方法提取谷蛋白亚基,在4.8%浓缩胶(pH 6.8,C=2.6%),12.0%~14.0%连续梯度分离胶浓度(pH 8.8,C=1.3%),电流35 mA,电泳330 m in后可以获得良好的LMW-G S分离效果。G lu-3位点出现11种变异类型、19种亚基组合形式。G lu-A 3位点出现G lu-A 3a、G lu-A 3b、G lu-A 3c、G lu-A 3d 4种类型,频率分别为40.0%、12.5%、10.0%、37.5%;G lu-B 3位点出现7种亚基类型,其中G lu-B 3d、G lu-B 3b、G lu-B 3 j为主要类型,频率分别为40.0%、20.0%、12.5%。亚基组合形式G lu-A 3a G lu-B 3d组合频率最高,频率为22.5%;9个亚基组合分别只在一个亲本出现,占分析材料总数22.5%。G lu-A 3位点的遗传变异指数为0.673 8,G lu-B 3位点的遗传变异指数为0.800 8,表明G lu-3位点遗传变异丰富。     

Analysis of diversity of Russian and Ukrainian bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars for high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits

The allelic diversity of high-moleculat-weght glutenin subunits (H WIGS) in Russian and Ukrainian bread wheat cultivars was analyzed. The diversity of spring wheat cultivars for alleles of the Glu-1 loci is characterized by medium values of the polymorphism index (polymorphism information content, PlC), and in winter wheats it varies from high at the Glu-A1 locus to low at the Glu-D1 locus. The spring and winter cultivars differ significantly in the frequencies of alleles of the glutenin loci. The combination of the Glu-A1b, Glu-B1c, and Glu-D1a alleles prevails among the spring cultivars, and the combination of the Glu-A1a, Glu-B1c, and Glu-D1d alleles prevails among the winter cultivars. The distribution of the Glu-1 alleles significantly depends on the moisture and heat supply in the region of origin of the cultivars. Drought resistance is associated with the Glu-D1a allele in the spring wheat and with the Glu-B1b allele in the winter wheat. The sources of the Glu-1 alleles were identified in the spring and wheat cultivars. The analysis of independence of the distribution of the spring and winter cultivars by the market classes and by the alleles of the HMWGS loci showed a highly significant association of the alleles of three Glu-1 loci with the market classes in foreign cultivars and independence or a weak association in the Russian and Ukrainian cultivars. This seems to be due to the absence of a statistically substantiated system of classification of the domestic cultivars on the basis of their quality.     

Analysis of diversity of russian and Ukrainian bread wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis> L.) cultivars for high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits

The allelic diversity of high-moleculat-weght glutenin subunits (HMWGS) in Russian and Ukrainian bread wheat cultivars was analyzed. The diversity of spring wheat cultivars for alleles of the Glu-1 loci is characterized by medium values of the polymorphism polymorphism information content (PIC), and in winter wheats it varies from high at the Glu-A1 locus to low at the Glu-D1 locus. The spring and winter cultivars differ significantly in the frequencies of alleles of the glutenin loci. The combination of the Glu-A1b, Glu-B1c, and Glu-D1a alleles prevails among the spring cultivars, and the combination of the Glu-A1a, Glu-B1c, and Glu-D1d alleles prevails among the winter cultivars. The distribution of the Glu-1 alleles significantly depends on the moisture and heat supply in the region of origin of the cultivars. Drought resistance is associated with the Glu-D1a allele in the spring wheat and with the Glu-B1b allele in the winter wheat. The sources of the Glu-1 alleles were identified in the spring and wheat cultivars. The analysis of independence of the distribution of the spring and winter cultivars by the market classes and by the alleles of the HMWGS loci showed a highly significant association of the alleles of three Glu-1 loci with the market classes in foreign cultivars and independence or a weak association in the Russian and Ukrainian cultivars. This seems to be due to the absence of a statistically substantiated system of classification of the domestic cultivars on the basis of their quality.     

云南铁壳麦高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基组成及其遗传多样性分析

以36份云南铁壳麦为试验材料,采用SDS-PAGE法分析了Glu-1位点编码的高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基(HMW-GS)及组成。结果表明,在Glu-A1位点上检测到3种(N,2*和1)亚基类型,Glu-B1位点上共检测到5种(7、7 8、17 18、13 16和6 8)亚基类型,Glu-D1位点上只检测到1种(2 12)亚基类型。共检测到6种亚基组成类型,即:N、7、2 12,N、7 8、2 12,2*、7 8、2 12,2*、17 18、2 12,1、6 8、2 12和1、13 16、2 12。云南铁壳麦的HMW-GS为普通小麦已知变异类型的18%,3个位点的Nei's遗传变异系数顺序为Glu-B1(0.5734)>Glu-A1(0.2484)>Glu-D1(0),表明云南铁壳麦属较原始类型,Glu-D1位点未发生变异。品质评分最高分为8分(3份材料),平均为5.2分。同时86%的云南铁壳麦具有适合制作优质手工馒头的高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基(N和2 12),42%的云南铁壳麦具有亚基组成类型(1、7 8、2 12和N、7 8、2 12),这些材料可作为云南小麦馒头品质改良的材料。     

Development of primers specific for LMW-GS genes located on chromosome 1D and molecular characterization of a gene from Glu-D3 complex locus in bread wheat

Glutenins are multimeric aggregates of high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) subunits, which determine the quality in wheat. Development of locus-specific primers is an important step toward cloning specific LMW glutenin subunits (LMW-GS) by PCR method. Based on the publicly available, a pair of primer, namely primer 3 (5' TTGTAGAAACTGCCATCCTT 3') and primer 4 (5' GTCACCGCTGCAT CGACATA 3') was designed and verified to specific for LMW-GS genes located on chromosome 1D in this study. The LMW-GS gene located at the Glu-D3 locus in bread wheat cultivar Xiaoyan 6 was cloned using this pair of primer. The clone designated as XYGluD3-LMWGS1 (AY263369), contains the endosperm-specific-expression promoter and the entire coding region. Nucleotide sequence comparison of the XYGluD3-LMWGS1 with other reported LMW-GS genes located at different Glu-3 loci showed the degree of identity among them ranged from 59.57% to 99.78%. The LMW-GS genes at the same locus showed more similar to each other than to the gene at different locus. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of the XYGluD3-LMWGS1 with the sequences of 12 group LMW-GSs of wheat cultivar Norin 61 showed that the deduced amino acid sequence was nearly the same to LMW-GS group 10 (identity 99.67%). The deduced LMW-GS contains nine cystine residues, which contained one more cystine residue in the C-terminal conserved domain than previous reported. This was the first LMW-GS gene encoding for a LMW-GS with 9 cystine residues that has been discovered so far.     

Development of haplotype-specific molecular markers for the low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits

Low-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GSs) are one of the major components of gluten, and their allelic variation has been widely associated with different wheat end-use quality parameters. These proteins are encoded by multigene families located at the orthologous Glu-3 loci (Glu-A3, Glu-B3, and Glu-D3); the genes at each locus are divided by large intergenic and highly recombinogenic regions. Among the methods used for the LMW-GS allele identification, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based molecular markers have the advantages of being simple, accurate, and independent from the plant stage of development. However, the available LMW-GS molecular markers are either incapable of capturing the complexity of the LMW-GS gene family or difficult to interpret. In the present study, we report the development of a set of PCR-based molecular markers specific for the LMW-GS haplotypes present at each Glu-3 locus. Based on the LMW-GS gene sequences available in GenBank, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) specific for each Glu-3 haplotype were identified and the relevant PCR primers were designed. In total, we developed three molecular markers for the Glu-A3 and Glu-B3 loci, respectively, and five molecular markers for the Glu-D3 locus. The markers were tested on 44 bread wheat varieties previously characterized for their LMW-GS genic profile and found to be equally or more efficient than previously developed LMW-GS PCR-based markers. This set of markers allows an easier and less ambiguous identification of specific LMW-GS haplotypes associated with gluten strength and can facilitate marker-assisted breeding for wheat quality.     

New insights into the organization, recombination, expression and functional mechanism of low molecular weight glutenin subunit genes in bread wheat

The bread-making quality of wheat is strongly influenced by multiple low molecular weight glutenin subunit (LMW-GS) proteins expressed in the seeds. However, the organization, recombination and expression of LMW-GS genes and their functional mechanism in bread-making are not well understood. Here we report a systematic molecular analysis of LMW-GS genes located at the orthologous Glu-3 loci (Glu-A3, B3 and D3) of bread wheat using complementary approaches (genome wide characterization of gene members, expression profiling, proteomic analysis). Fourteen unique LMW-GS genes were identified for Xiaoyan 54 (with superior bread-making quality). Molecular mapping and recombination analyses revealed that the three Glu-3 loci of Xiaoyan 54 harbored dissimilar numbers of LMW-GS genes and covered different genetic distances. The number of expressed LMW-GS in the seeds was higher in Xiaoyan 54 than in Jing 411 (with relatively poor bread-making quality). This correlated with the finding of higher numbers of active LMW-GS genes at the A3 and D3 loci in Xiaoyan 54. Association analysis using recombinant inbred lines suggested that positive interactions, conferred by genetic combinations of the Glu-3 locus alleles with more numerous active LMW-GS genes, were generally important for the recombinant progenies to attain high Zeleny sedimentation value (ZSV), an important indicator of bread-making quality. A higher number of active LMW-GS genes tended to lead to a more elevated ZSV, although this tendency was influenced by genetic background. This work provides substantial new insights into the genomic organization and expression of LMW-GS genes, and molecular genetic evidence suggesting that these genes contribute quantitatively to bread-making quality in hexaploid wheat. Our analysis also indicates that selection for high numbers of active LMW-GS genes can be used for improvement of bread-making quality in wheat breeding.