The objective of the present study is to determine specific
differences of some Aegilops species, by means of protein
pattern structure characteristics. Twenty-one samples belonging to
seven wild wheat species, collected from different altitudes and
regions of Turkey were studied. Gliadin protein patterns, relative
density and mobility of protein bands were compared by means of
polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) method. As a result of the
research, it was observed that the gliadin band pattern of the
identical species had homogenous structure and there were significant
differences between species.
Key words: Aegilops spp., Electrophoresis, Gliadin
proteins, Tetraploid wild wheat
Introduction
Morphological, cytological and biochemical traits are used as markers in breeding studies. Since proteins can be used as one of the biochemical markers, the storage proteins can be also analyzed for identifying the wheat species. The quality of wheat depends on storage proteins. Structural or functional properties of storage proteins are identified by means of electrophoresis techniques. Hence, this technique can be used in identifying the species by their protein bands that can be considered as fingerprints.
Most widely used and effective technique of electrophoretic
analysis for wheat gliadin proteins is the PAGE method (Khan 1982).
Proteins are easily separated and examined. They are also the most
stable genetic substance against diseases, freezing damages,
environmental factors such as soil type, growing season and
locational differences (Lee and Ronald 1967). Electrophoresis studies
in plant breeding are divided in two categories, namely storage
protein s and enzymes. The studies on storage proteins are related
with heritage and identification of species. Electrophoresis for
identification of species uses the principle of electrophoregrams.'
For this reason several researchers suggest that those bands can be
used for identification of cultivated species (Khan et al. 1983;
Sapirstein and Bushuk 1985a, b).