Genetic diversity of durum wheat genotypes assessed by gliadin electrophoresis and biomorphological markers

Abstract

Our research evaluated the genetic diversity of 53 durum wheat genotypes and 22 parental varieties. For this purpose, a dual marker approach based on the study of biomorphological characteristics and the electrophoresis of storage proteins was used. Quality assessments including gluten content, the gluten deformation index, SDS-sedimentation (Peña method) and protein concentration (Kjeldahl method) were carried out. Cluster analysis based on acid-PAGE gliadin fingerprints revealed nine distinct clusters. A significant correlation (r = 0.82) was identified between SDS-sedimentation volume and grain protein content, and the “strong” quality group was concentrated within a single gliadin cluster, which indicates that the storage protein profiles are informative for technological quality. The genotypes with the greatest genetic distance from the rest of the collection were identified as potential donors for broadening variability in future crosses. The integration of biochemical markers with morphological data proves to be a superior strategy for early-generation selection in wheat breeding programmes, ensuring both genetic purity and superior grain quality.