Seed storage protein diversity in triticale varieties commonly grown in Portugal

A collection of 14 triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack) varieties commonly grown in Portugal were analysed using sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamid e gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to describe allelic diversity in the stora ge proteins encoded at the Glu-1 (Glu-A1, Glu-B1 and Glu-R1), Gli-1 (Gli-A1 and Gli-B1), Glu-3 (Glu-A3 and Glu-B3), Glu-B2 and Gli-R2 loci. Several al leles were identified: 10 at the loci encoding for high molecular weight (H MW) subunits (seven for glutenin and three for secalins), eight for low mol ecular weight glutenin subunits, four for omega-gliadins and three for 75 K gamma-secalins. These results showed that triticale varieties grown in Por tugal exhibit great genetic diversity. Knowledge of the diversity of these storage proteins, which are the major gluten components, will greatly incre ase our understanding of the quality differences that might exist between t riticale varieties.