Multiplex polymerase chain reaction analysis of Glu-1 high-molecular-mass glutenin genes from wheat by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detection

The unique bread-making properties of wheat are closely correlated with composition and quantity of high-molecular-mass (HMW) glutenin subunits encoded by the Glu-1 genes. We report the development of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to identify bread wheat genotypes carrying HMW glutenin allele composition of Glu-1 complex loci (Glu-A1, Glu-B1 and Glu-D1) by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection. Two triplex primer sets of HMW glutenin subunit genes were examined. An automated and rapid CE–LIF technique is helpful in the multiplex PCR optimization process. Two fluorescent intercalating dyes (EnhanCE, and YO-PRO-1) are compared for detection of DNA fragments. Amplified DNA fragments of HMW glutenin Glu-1 genes were well separated both by agarose slab-gel electrophoresis and CE, and revealed minor differences between the sequences of 1Ax2*, 1Axnull, 1Bx6, 1Bx7, 1Bx17 and 1Dx5 genes. Moreover, CE technique requires samples of smaller volumes in comparison to slab-gel electrophoresis, and data can be obtained in less than 20 min. There was a very high concordance in the assessment of the molecular size of PCR-generated DNA markers. Fast and accurate identification of molecular markers of Glu-1 genes by CE–LIF can be an efficient alternative to standard procedure separation for early selection of useful wheat genotypes with good bread-making quality.