Changes in expression of HMW glutenins of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) induced by nitrosoethylurea

The application of a chemical mutagen, N-nitroso-N-ethylurea, to the grains of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. 'Viginta', provided a mutant line. 'NT -10', with an altered composition of high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin s ubunits. The qualitative mutation was detected in the Glu-B1 locus by elect rophoretic analyses of glutenins. Instead of the HMW glutenin subunits 7 9 present in the original genotype, a separate HMW subunit 6 was expressed in the mutant line. The other glutenin and gliadin proteins of the mutant l ine remained unchanged. The mutant line is also characterized by several ch anges in morphological and physiological characters-stronger stem, wider le af, bigger spike and higher grain hardness. This is the first communication of the possibility of changing the composition of high molecular weight su bunits of wheat glutenin by means of mutagenesis.