Genetic control of amylose content in wheat endosperm starch and differential effects of three Wx genes

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The endosperm starch of the wheat grain is composed of amylose and amylopectin. Genetic manipulation of the ratio of amylose to amylopectin or the amylose content could bring about improved texture and quality of wheat flour. The chromosomal locations of genes affecting amylose content were investigated using a monosomic series of Chinese Spring (CS) and a set of Cheyenne (CNN) chromosome substitution lines in the CS genetic background. Trials over three seasons revealed that a decrease in amylose content occurred in monosomic 4A and an increase in monosomic 7B. Allelic variation between CS and CNN was suggested for the genes on chromosomes 4A and 7B. To examine the effects of three Waxy (Wx) genes which encode a granule-bound starch synthase (Wx protein), the Wx proteins from CS monosomics of interest were analyzed using SDS-PAGE. The amount of the Wx protein coded by the Wx-B1 gene on chromosome arm 4AL was reduced in monosomic 4A, and thus accounted for its decreased amylose content. The amounts of two other Wx proteins coded by the Wx-A1 and Wx-D1 genes on chromosome arms 7AS and 7DS, respectively, showed low levels of protein in the monosomics but no effect on amylose content. The effect of chromosome 7B on the level of amylose suggested the presence of a regulator gene which suppresses the activities of the Wx genes.