Waxy protein variation in tetraploid and hexaploid wheats

Waxy proteins (Wx) are a group of proteins involved in amylose synthesis in the starchy endosperm. Studies on allelic variation at the waxy Ioci have indicated the presence of different alleles and null forrns at the three loci. In this study, the results of SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional electrophoretic separations carried out on different accessions of tetraploid and hexaploid wheats are reported. Detection of new or null alleles, as those found in this study, may facilitate the production of lines carrying different levels of deficiency for these proteins. These lines could be used to deter:mine whether and how the allelic composition has an effect on the amylose content and wheat flour quality.