Introduction of D-genome related gluten proteins into durum wheat

Genes encoding D-genome related gliadins and glutenin subunits have been transferred to durum wheat through chromosome engineering. In particular, segments containing genes corresponding to the pairs of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMWGS) 5 + 10 or 2 + 12, normally present at the Glu-D1 locus in bread wheat, have been introgressed into chromosome 1A of different durum wheat cultivars, replacing the null allele present at the Glu-A1 locus. Using the same approach or the bread wheat cultivar Perzivan, carrying a translocation involving the short arm of chromosomes I A and ID, the two alleles present at Gli-D1/Glu-D3 loci in most bread wheat cultivars, encoding gliadin and low molecular weight glutenin subunits (LMW-GS), have also been introduced into durum wheat.