Allelic variation of the HMW glutenin subunits in Spanish accessions of spelt wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta L. em. Thell.)

Spelt wheat (Triticum aestivum ssp. spelta L. em. Thell.) is a hulled wheat of Germanic origin that survives at marginal areas in Asturias (Spain). The HMW glutenin subunit composition of 403 accessions of spelt wheat from Spain has been analysed by SDS-PAGE. Three allelic variants were detected for Glu-A1. For the Glu-B1 locus, two of seven alleles detected have not been found before; while four of nine alleles detected for the Glu-D1 are not previously described. Considering the three loci, twenty five combinations were found among all the evaluated lines. This wide polymorphism could be used to transfer new quality genes to wheat, and widen the genetic basis of them. Received: 19 September 2000 / Accepted: 20 October 2000