Genetic Purity Research Articles

Characterization of Pigeonpea Genotypes Based on DUS Traits

The research entails morphological characterization of pigeonpea genotypes based on qualitative traits which aids in varietal description and ensure genetic purity. The study was conducted at the Department of Pulses, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University during kharif, 2019 and rabi, 2019-2020. The experiment was conducted in Randomized complete block design with two replications. The 68-short duration pigeonpea genotypes were characterized and grouped based on 17 qualitative traits. The morphological characterization revealed that, more variation was identified for traits viz., pattern of streaks on standard petal, plant height, seed colour, seed shape and seed size. Sixty - eight genotypes were subjected to cluster analysis and were grouped into four major clusters with an average similarity of 80%. The similarity coefficient ranged from 0.65 to 1.00. The cluster I consisted of 60 genotypes. Two sub-groups were formed from Cluster I. The sub-group I had 59 genotypes at 84 per cent similarity, whereas the sub-group II consisted of the genotype ICPL19050. Cluster II was made up of six genotypes. The cluster II was divided into two sub-groups at 84 per cent similarity. Clusters III and IV were solitary clusters, each with a single genotype. The characterization of genotypes with specific traits could be used to identify the genotypes, maintenance of genetic purity and to utilize in future breeding programmes.

Genetic Purity Analysis of Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrid Seed and Their Parents Produced in Different Seed Companies of Ethiopia

Genetic purity is one of the quality criteria required for successful seed production of maize. In hybrid seed production, genetic purity is contaminated due to out-crossing from other varieties or selfing events. In this study, Single nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) and Grow-out test (GOT) method was used for the objective to assess genetic purity of maize hybrid varieties with their parents produced by various seed growers in the country. Six three way cross hybrid (3WCH) maize varieties and seven single crosses were collected from different sources then planted with their parents in 2019. Genetic purity analysis by SNP revealed that 74% of an inbred line showed an acceptable genetic purity level (>95%). However, five inbred lines (CML395, A7033, F7215, SC22 and 124-b(113)) revealed heterogeneity >0.05 ranged from 0.13 to 0.20. All single crosses except A7033/F7215 and all the 3WCH varieties showed the genetic purity level ranging from 40 to 66% and 44 to 63% across seed sources, respectively. Based on GOT results, the level of type in single crosses and 3WCH variety across seed sources ranged from 7.1 to 46.4% and 3.6 to 35.7%, respectively. Generally, in the current result both SNP and GOT showed both heterogeneity and homogeneity of seed. This implies the presence of variation among seed producers in terms of producing high quality seed. Therefore, awareness should have to be given for each individual seed producers on quality seed production techniques and procedures that they have to follow. Similarly, genetic purity analysis could be conducted further in the seed system to provide error correction and to ensure seed quality assurance and control.

Selection of breed-specific SNPs in three Indian sheep breeds using ovine 50 K array

Recently DNA-based genetic purity determination tools have gained popularity, especially, in small ruminants like sheep. The objective of the present study was to select breed-specific SNPs for the three commercially important sheep breeds of India, i.e., Changthangi, Deccani, and Garole. Sheep genotype data (Ovine 50 K SNP array) from 344 individuals of eight sheep breeds (Garole, Deccani, Changthangi, Tibetan, Australian Merino, Dorset Horn, Rambouillet, and Irish Suffolk) were used as a reference population. Here, we used pre-selection statistics and the minor allele frequency–linkage disequilibrium (MAF-LD) method to analyze the reference population dataset. SNPs selection and breed assignment was executed with a panel of 768 markers for eight breeds near intermediate gene frequencies. We identified 95, 89, and 92 breed-specific SNPs for Changthangi, Deccani, and Garole, respectively. These informative SNPs were found to be associated with essential candidate genes associated with production and disease resistance. This methodology may be implemented in practice to identify individuals as being purebred or not.

Authentication of the Montanera Period on Carcasses of Iberian Pigs by Using Analytical Techniques and Chemometric Analyses

Simple SummaryFor the Iberian pork industry, the authentication of the raw material is of great importance. For this reason, the main object of this study was the classification of Iberian pig carcasses in accordance with the time the animals have spent in the montanera period and the breed. To do this, the potential of Near Infrared Spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry techniques was studied. Different sampling methods and mathematical treatments of the data were assayed. The results obtained show high percentages of correct classification both for days in the montanera and according to the breed for both techniques. The advantages for the industry are that none of the selected techniques require any chemical treatment of the sample before analysis and the proposed sampling is easy to use by the operator. It is also not necessary to identify individual compounds. This leads to the conclusion that both technologies are fast and useful for the authentication of raw material.The potential of two complementary analytical techniques (near infrared spectroscopy, NIRS and gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry, GC-IMS) was used to establish the time that Iberian pigs have been fed on acorns and pasture and to verify their genetic purity. For both techniques it was neither necessary to carry out any chemical treatment in advance nor to identify individual compounds. The results showed that both the NIR spectrum and the spectral fingerprint obtained by GC-IMS were affected by the time that the Iberian pig feeds on natural resources. High percentages of correct classification were achieved in the calibration for both techniques: >98% for the days of montanera and >96% for the breed by NIRS and >99% for the days of montanera and >98% for the breed by GC-IMS. The results obtained showed that NIR spectra taken from intact samples is a quick classification method according to the time of montanera and breed.

Population genetic structure of European wildcats inhabiting the area between the Dinaric Alps and the Scardo-Pindic mountains

Habitat fragmentation and loss have contributed significantly to the demographic decline of European wildcat populations and hybridization with domestic cats poses a threat to the loss of genetic purity of the species. In this study we used microsatellite markers to analyse genetic variation and structure of the wildcat populations from the area between the Dinaric Alps and the Scardo-Pindic mountains in Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia and North Macedonia. We also investigated hybridisation between populations of wildcats and domestic cats in the area. One hundred and thirteen samples from free-leaving European wildcats and thirty-two samples from domestic cats were analysed. Allelic richness across populations ranged from 3.61 to 3.98. The observed Ho values ranged between 0.57 and 0.71. The global FST value for the four populations was 0.080 (95% CI 0.056–0.109) and differed significantly from zero (P < 0.001). The highest FST value was observed between the populations North Macedonia and Slovenia and the lowest between Slovenia and Croatia. We also found a signal for the existence of isolation by distance between populations. Our results showed that wildcats are divided in two genetic clusters largely consistent with a geographic division into a genetically diverse northern group (Slovenia, Croatia) and genetically eroded south-eastern group (Serbia, N. Macedonia). Hybridisation rate between wildcats and domestic cats varied between 13% and 52% across the regions.

Genetics and the question of purity in cutthroat trout restoration

As molecular techniques become more advanced, scientists and practitioners are calling for restoration to leverage genetic and genomic approaches. We address the role of genetics in the restoration and conservation of cutthroat trout in the western United States, where new genetic insights have upended previous assumptions about trout diversity and distribution. Drawing on a series of examples, we examine how genetically pure trout populations are identified, protected, and produced through restoration practices. In landscapes that have been profoundly impacted by human activities, genetics can offer seemingly objective metrics for restoration projects. Our case studies, however, indicate that (1) genetic purity is fragile and contingent, with notions of what genetics are “pure” for a given species or subspecies continually changing, and (2) restoration focused on achieving “genetically pure” native populations can deliberately or inadvertently obscure the socioecological histories of particular sites and species, even as (3) many “genetically pure” trout populations have endured on the landscape as a result of human modifications such as roads and dams. In addition to raising conceptual questions, designations of genetic purity influence policy. These include tensions between restoring connectivity and restoring genetic purity, influencing Wild and Scenic River Act designations, and the securing of water rights. Cutthroat trout restoration would benefit from adopting a broader, more holistic framework rather than fixating exclusively or primarily on genetic purity and hybridization threats.

Phenological, Morphological and Yield based Characterization of Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Germplasm Lines

Background: The characterization of chickpea genetic resources is a vital step to explore genetic variability in breeding programs. In the present study, we characterized 90 germplasm lines of desi chickpea collected across the Indian chickpea growing region. The identified trait-specific germplasm lines will be used as a valuable genetic resource for the chickpea improvement programme. Methods: An experiment was conducted in augmented design to characterize germplasm lines of chickpea for 13 qualitative and 17 quantitative agro-morphological traits under Bundelkhand agro-climatic conditions. Result: Ample variation was observed for qualitative and quantitative traits. The study revealed that the presences of high variability in qualitative and quantitative traits are useful in the identification of plant genotype for a specific trait, genetic purity analysis, germplasm conservation and also possible use of potential genotype in the breeding program.

Milking economies: Multispecies entanglements in the infant formula industry

In 2016 the Chinese infant formula company Feihe International signed a deal with the Canadian Dairy Commission (CDC) to process Canadian cows’ and goats’ milk for infant formula export to China. Our purpose in this paper is to understand how this deal – and the new Feihe formula factory located in Kingston, Canada – is underpinned by a series of multispecies entanglements across cow, human and goat mothers in China and Canada. To do so, we analyse official correspondence between the CDC, Feihe and City of Kingston; market reports for the dairy, goat and infant formula industries; and news articles about the Feihe infant formula plant. Conceptually, we develop an anti-colonial, multispecies entanglement framework to chart the violent inclusions, exclusions and typologizations that make milk and formula economies possible. We are specifically interested in how the Feihe–CDC deal (re)configures entanglements across species, nation, race, science and motherhood. To understand these relations, we heuristically imbricate two different sets of entanglements that underpin this deal: milk drinking, empire and genetic purity across race, breed and species; and motherhood, science and technology across humans, goats and cows. We use our threefold entanglement framework to better understand the violence of these imbrications and to work towards a multispecies feminist ethic in the infant formula industry.

SNP-based assessment of genetic purity and diversity in maize hybrid breeding.

Assessment of genetic purity of parental inbred lines and their resultant F1 hybrids is an essential quality control check in maize hybrid breeding, variety release and seed production. In this study, genetic purity, parent-offspring relationship and diversity among the inbred lines were assessed using 92 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A total of 188 maize genotypes, comprising of 26 inbred lines, four doubled haploid (DH) lines and 158 single-cross maize hybrids were investigated in this study using Kompetitive Allele Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (KASP) genotyping assays. The bi-allelic data was analyzed for genetic purity and diversity parameters using GenAlex software. The SNP markers were highly polymorphic and 90% had polymorphic information content (PIC) values of > 0.3. Pairwise genetic distances among the lines ranged from 0.05 to 0.56, indicating a high level of dissimilarity among the inbred lines. A maximum genetic distance of (0.56) was observed between inbred lines CKDHL0089 and CML443 while the lowest (0.05) was between I-42 and I-40. The majority (67%) of the inbred lines studied were genetically pure with residual heterozygosity of <5%, while only 33% had heterozygosity levels of >5%. Inbred lines, which were not pure, require purification through further inbreeding. Cluster analysis partitioned the lines into three distinct genetic clusters with the potential to contribute new beneficial alleles to the maize breeding program. Out of the 68 hybrids (43%) that passed the parent-offspring test, seven hybrids namely; SCHP29, SCHP95, SCHP94, SCHP134, SCHP44, SCHP114 and SCHP126, were selected as potential candidates for further evaluation and release due to their outstanding yield performance.

Morphological Characterization of High Grain Iron and Zinc Concentration Bio-fortified lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris) in Nepal

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris) is the wonderful, most popular &amp; preferred food legume of Nepalese people and commonly grown in the rice and maize based cropping system. Morphological characters have been frequently used in order to know the diversity in germplasm collections. The main objectives of the study were to characterize the bio-fortified lentil accessions using morphological markers and select the DUS accession for using targeted the best utilization in hybridization program. Plant breeders can use these morphological variations to make decision regarding the choice for selecting superior genotypes for improvement or to be utilized as parents for the development of future cultivars through hybridization. Furthermore, important morphological markers like, plant type, foliage color, testa color, testa pattern and cotyledon colors can also be used for testing hybridity and keeping genetic purity at genetic level. The information obtained by the identification keys at seed and plant levels may be useful for discrimination and verification of varieties, hybridity testing and maintenance of genetic purity at genetic level during seed production and certification programme. Out of 25 lentil accessions, 18 accessions were observed as erect and compact growth habit, 22 accessions had green stem color, 21 accessions had dense leaf pubescence and dark foliage, 7 accessions had prominent tendril, 3 accessions had white blue veins flower and 4 accessions had large seeded accession.

Efficient in vitro plant regeneration from leaf-derived callus and genetic fidelity assessment of an endemic medicinal plant Ranunculus wallichianus Wight &amp; Arnn by using RAPD and ISSR markers

Ranunculus wallichianus is a medicinally important plant and an endemic species to the Western Ghats of South India. An efficient and reliable indirect regeneration protocol system for R. wallichianus was developed from leaf explants in the present investigation. Leaf explants were cultured on both full-strength and half-strength MS (Murashige & Skoog) medium supplemented with different concentrations (0.5 mg L− 1 to 3.0 mg L− 1) of 2,4-D and NAA. Among the different concentrations tested, the highest percentage of yellowish-green compact nodular callus formation was observed on a half-strength MS medium with 2.0 mg L− 1 of 2, 4-D. Then, the in vitro raised organogenic callus was cultured on a half-strength MS medium containing various concentrations (0.5 mg L− 1 to 3.0 mg L− 1) of BA, KIN, and TDZ with 0.5 mg L− 1 NAA and 10 % CW for in vitro shoot regeneration. The highest percentage of regeneration response (97 %) and a maximum number of shoots formation (11.1 ± 0.13 shoots/culture with 9.2 ± 0.21 cm mean shoot length) were obtained from MS medium containing 2.5 mg L− 1 BA with 0.5 mg L− 1 NAA and 10 % CW. The well elongated in vitro raised shoots were effectively rooted in a half-strength MS medium with 2.5 mg L− 1 IBA + 250 mg L− 1 activated charcoal. The well-rooted plantlets were successfully hardened and acclimatized with a survival rate of 94 %. Clonal fidelity of in vitro raised plantlets was assessed by using DNA-based RAPD and ISSR molecular markers. A total of 56 and 47 monomorphic bands were obtained from RAPD and ISSR markers respectively. This present in vitro propagation protocol system could be effective for the conservation of R. wallichianus with their genetic purity and its further investigations.

Genetic relationships and identification of core germplasm among rice photoperiod- and thermo-sensitive genic male sterile lines

BackgroundHarnessing heterosis is one of the major approaches to increase rice yield and has made a great contribution to food security. The identification and selection of outstanding parental genotypes especially among male sterile lines is a key step for exploiting heterosis. Two-line hybrid system is based on the discovery and application of photoperiod- and thermo-sensitive genic sensitive male sterile (PTGMS) materials. The development of wide-range of male sterile lines from a common gene pool leads to a narrower genetic diversity, which is vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stress. Hence, it is valuable to ascertain the genetic background of PTGMS lines and to understand their relationships in order to select and design a future breeding strategy.ResultsA collection of 118 male sterile rice lines and 13 conventional breeding lines from the major rice growing regions of China was evaluated and screened against the photosensitive (pms3) and temperature sensitive male sterility (tms5) genes. The total gene pool was divided into four major populations as P1 possessing the pms3, P2 possessing tms5, P3 possessing both pms3 and tms5 genes, and P4 containing conventional breeding lines without any male sterility allele. The high genetic purity was revealed by homozygous alleles in all populations. The population admixture, principle components and the phylogenetic analysis revealed the close relations of P2 and P3 with P4. The population differentiation analysis showed that P1 has the highest differentiation coefficient. The lines from P1 were observed as the ancestors of other three populations in a phylogenetic tree, while the lines in P2 and P3 showed a close genetic relation with conventional lines. A core collection of top 10% lines with maximum within and among populations genetic diversity was constructed for future research and breeding efforts.ConclusionThe low genetic diversity and close genetic relationship among PTGMS lines in P2, P3 and P4 populations suggest a selection sweep and they might result from a backcrossing with common ancestors including the pure lines of P1. The core collection from PTGMS panel updated with new diverse germplasm will serve best for further two-line hybrid breeding.

A noninvasive diagnostic approach to retrospective donor HLA typing in kidney transplant patients using urine.

Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a major obstacle to long-term kidney transplantation. AMR is mostly caused by donor specific HLA antibodies, which can arise before or any time after transplantation. Incomplete donor HLA typing and unavailability of donor DNA regularly preclude the assessment of donor-specificity of circulating anti-HLA antibodies. In our centre, this problem arises in approximately 20% of all post-transplant HLA-antibody assessments. We demonstrate that this diagnostic challenge can be resolved by establishing donor renal tubular cell cultures from recipient´s urine as a source of high-quality donor DNA. DNA was then verified for genetic origin and purity by fluorescence insitu hybridization and short tandem repeat analysis. Two representative cases highlight the diagnostic value of this approach which is corroborated by analysis of ten additional patients. The latter were randomly sampled from routine clinical care patients with available donor DNA as controls. In all 12 cases, we were able to perform full HLA typing of the respective donors confirmed by cross-comparison to results from the stored 10 donor DNAs. We propose that this noninvasive diagnostic approach for HLA typing in kidney transplant patients is valuable to determine donor specificity of HLA antibodies, which is important in clinical assessment of suspected AMR.

Identification of soybean varieties based on hyperspectral imaging technology and one‐dimensional convolutional neural network

AbstractVariety identification of seeds is essential to ensure the purity and yield of the variety. A model based on hyperspectral imaging technology and one‐dimensional convolutional neural network (1D CNN) was proposed to distinguish soybean seed varieties in this article. A total of 3,600 soybean seeds (900 seeds per variety) of hyperspectral images in the spectral range of 866.4–1,701.0 nm were collected. Traditional machine learning models (k‐nearest neighbor, support vector machines, partial least squares discriminant analysis) and 1D CNN model were established based on different numbers of sample sets. The 1D CNN model was the most stable and had the highest classification accuracy, higher than 98%. Fivefold cross validation was used to evaluate the model, and the model achieved an accuracy of more than 95% in both the training set and the validation set. Finally, the t‐distributed stochastic neighbor embedding was used to visualize the feature values extracted by 1D CNN. The research results demonstrated that the 1D CNN model maintained good classification performance in soybean seed classification and had good application prospects in hyperspectral imaging technology.Practical ApplicationsVariety identification of soybean seeds is essential to ensure the purity and yield of the variety. Different soybean varieties have different genetic purity, physical purity, germination ability and vigor, which are related to quality attributes, such as nutritional value, stress resistance, and final yield. In the past, most soybeans were identified using traditional machine learning algorithms combined with near‐infrared hyperspectral imaging technology to build models. This requires a series of operations, such as smoothing preprocessing and dimensionality reduction on hyperspectral data. These steps are too cumbersome and are not conducive to online hyperspectral monitoring systems. The results of this study show that it is feasible to use one‐dimensional convolutional neural network combined with hyperspectral technology to identify soybean seeds, and it also provides a new idea for building an online detection system in the future.

Genetic purity and population structure of potato variety Granola L

The phenotypic performances have formed the basis for genetic purity evaluation. However, the phenotypic based the genetic purity assessment are time-consuming, expensive, and not stable due to a great environmental effect on traits expression. While, the genotypic based genetic purity evaluation of a variety offers an efficient, more stable, and precise result than those phenotypic method due to no environmental factors involved. The objectives of this study were to determine genetic purity and population structure of Granola L. potato variety derived from twelve collection sources using microsatellite markers. This study consisted of following steps, such as cultivation of Granola L. potato varieties in the field, DNA isolation, PCR analysis, amplified DNA fragment analysis. The results showed that Granola L. variety derived from twelve sources had high level of genetic purity which indicated by genetic similarity value of 0.96 observed in present study. Based on population structure analysis, Granola L. variety might have consisted of two sub-populations of which one sub-population was more dominant than other sub-population. Therefore, genetic purification activities for Granola L. variety are still needed to increase genetic purity and to reduce phenotypic differences in future.

Molecular characterization and diversity analysis of selected maize inbred lines using single-nucleotide polymorphism markers

The level of genetic diversity among the available breeding materials determines the potential success of a breeding program. In this study, 92 maize inbred lines were genotyped with 3047 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers using a Kompetitive allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (KASP™) genotyping protocol. The objectives were to determine the level and pattern of genetic diversity and define potential heterotic groups of maize inbred lines developed by the Agricultural Research Council maize program of South Africa. More than 91% of the SNPs used were polymorphic with a mean polymorphic information content of 0.36. Gene diversity ranged from 0.35 to 0.37, with a mean of 0.36. Cluster analysis revealed the presence of three distinct subpopulations. Analysis of molecular variance revealed low but highly significant (P &lt; 0.0001) variations among populations and high within and among individual variations. Variation among individuals contributed 83% of the total variation, whereas variation within individuals and among populations contributed 14% and 3%, respectively. Low mean population differentiation observed in this study suggested that the inbred lines might be developed from parental genotypes with similar genetic backgrounds. The mean percentage of genetic purity among the inbred lines was 4.8, with more than 79% of the inbred lines exhibiting less than 5% heterozygosity, indicating the inbred lines are fixed. Genotypes in different clusters may be earmarked as belonging to distinct heterotic groups, and their crosses may result in better heterosis. Thus, the findings of this study set the basis for earmarking heterotic groups and parental selection.

Phylogenetic characteristics of selected European huchen (Hucho hucho L.) broodstocks – implication for broodstock management

Abstract European huchen (Hucho hucho) is a representative of large and rare migratory salmonid fish, which has become endangered due to extensive anthropogenic changes in freshwater ecosystems. Numerous broodstocks of the European huchen have therefore been established throughout the species’ range in recent years to supplement wild fisheries of this species. Unfortunately, this conservation management strategy entails a number of potential ecological and genetic risks associated with the release of farm-raised fish into wild populations. A comprehensive and feasible genetic monitoring protocol for broodstocks maintained for the production of restocking material is therefore essential in the sustainable management of critically endangered fish species. The current paper presents phylogenetic characteristics of four selected huchen broodstocks across Central and Eastern Europe. Genetic comparisons of the studied broodstocks were based on ten microsatellite DNA markers. The effective population size (Ne), the individual assignment test, the Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA), the allele sharing distance (DAS) and the Bayesian clustering analysis were applied in this study. Moreover, five selected fragments of mitochondrial DNA were used for molecular verification of species membership and genetic purity of examined specimens.

Performance evaluation of tractor operated winnower using tachometer

Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern & Coss) is an important economical oilseed crop worldwide. An experiment was carried out at the Department of Seed Science & Technology, CCS Haryana Agriculture University, Hisar, Haryana to prepare an identification key for mustard varieties. It was based on seed characters of twenty Indian mustard varieties release for general cultivation from the various organizations. The characterization of varieties was based on the morphological characters as well as response of chemical seed tests. Mustard varieties were distinguished from each other on the basis of seed colour, test weight, oil content, phenol test, modified phenol test, potassium hydroxide test, peroxidase test and 2, 4-D auxin test. These seed characters based identification key can be an effective tool for maintaining the genetic purity of the varieties during seed certification process.

Genetic Purity of Cacao Criollo from Honduras Is Revealed by SSR Molecular Markers

The cultivation of cacao represents an income option and a source of employment for thousands of small producers in Central America. In Honduras, due to the demand for fine flavor cacao to produce high-quality chocolate, the number of hectares planted is increasing. In addition, cacao clones belonging to the genetic group named Criollo are in great demand since their white beans lack of bitterness and excellent aroma are used in the manufacturing of premium chocolate. Unfortunately, the low resistance to pests and diseases and less productive potential of Criollo cacao leads to the replacement with vigorous new cultivars belonging to the other genetic groups or admixture of them. In this study, 89 samples showing phenotypic traits of Criollo cacao from four regions of Honduras (Copán, Santa Bárbara, Intibucá, and Olancho) were selected to study their genetic purity using 16 SSR molecular markers. The results showed that some samples belong to the Criollo group while other accessions have genetic characteristics of “Trinitario” or other admixtures cacao types. These results confirm the genetic purity of Criollo cacao in Honduras, reaffirming the theory that Mesoamerica is a cacao domestication center and also serves to generate interest in the conservation of this genetic wealth both in-situ and ex-situ.

Traceability of Sicilian Durum Wheat Landraces and Historical Varieties by High Molecular Weight Glutenins Footprint

Over the last new decade, there has been a strong interest in landraces and historical wheat varieties from farmers, manufacturers and consumers. They are agronomically and nutritionally interesting but the supply chain (from seed to end-product) is not solid and traceable. High molecular weight glutenins (HMW-GS) can act as markers to trace the varietal correspondence and to verify the genetic purity of the grain and consequently of the flours, marketed and labeled as mono-varietal. In the present work, HMW-GS of different durum wheat Sicilian landraces (Timilia, Russello, Perciasacchi) and one historical variety Margherito were analyzed. At first, specific protein profiles were assigned to each Sicilian landrace by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF/MS analyses, thanks to the availability of pure seeds. Analysis of the protein profiles were then carried out from random samples of seed batches of the same landraces grown on a farm in South-East Sicily. The results highlighted the presence of different protein bands within the individual seed batches, which are reflected in complex profiles in the corresponding commercial flours labelled as mono-varietal. The bread wheat landrace Maiorca cultivated in the same farm was also found as a contaminant at different percentages in the durum wheat batches. The results of this study offer opportunities to improve the supply chain of the different Sicilian landraces or historical varieties cultivated, underlining the need for accurate controls from the field to the transformation process to be labelled as mono-varietal products.