Identification of codominant marker linked with Glu-D1 double null and its utilization in improving wheat for biscuit making quality

Abstract

Development of soft wheat with weak and extensible gluten is major breeding objective to improve biscuit making quality of wheat. Breeding for soft wheat products can be expedited by using molecular markers for soft grain texture and week gluten. Nap Hal, an Indian land race of wheat, contains Glu-D1 double null responsible for weak gluten. However, recessive marker is available for identifying Glu-D1 double null and hence has limited utility in breeding programme. Therefore, developing co-dominant markers associated with Glu-D1 double null differentiating heterozygotes from homozygotes is required for efficient utilization of Nap Hal. In the present investigation, PCR based codominant marker (gwm642) tightly linked with Glu-D1 double null was identified, validated and used in breeding for transferring Glu-D1double null into high yielding backgrounds. The codominant molecular marker developed for double null trait at Glu-D1 in this investigation can enhance the speed of variety development for better biscuit making quality.