Description and Characterization of Hellenic Wheat Germplasm for Agronomical and Seed Quality Parameters Using Phenotypical, Biochemical and Molecular Approaches

Abstract

Hellenic wheat germplasm developed at the Cereal Institute of Thessaloniki, during the last fifty years, is depicted in the present study, using agronomical, biochemical and molecular criteria. The bread wheat germplasm is characterized by high yield potential, adaptation to the Mediterranean conditions, and advanced qualitative traits. The biochemical analysis revealed that three cultivars (“Acheron”, “Elissavet” and “Orpheus”) carry the 1BL.1RS wheat-rye translocation, which was further confirmed by molecular analysis. The cultivars “Acheron” and “Elissavet”, despite the presence of the translocation, have good bread making quality due to the presence of favorable genes controlling quality. Most of the Hellenic durum germplasm have high end product quality. The biochemical evaluation at the Gli-B1 locus revealed the presence of alleles related with the γ-45 component, indicative of high technological traits. On the other side, it was found that two older durum wheat cultivars and a population tested, had the allele in* at the same locus, which is related with the γ-42 component, indicative of inferior pasta quality. Most of the Hellenic germplasm, either durum or bread wheat, carries very good agronomical and qualitative traits and could be used to broaden wheat biodiversity in the S–E Mediterranean region.