Intergenomic suppression of endosperm protein genes in common wheat

Abstract

Total endosperm proteins from both several hexaploid wheat lines (genome AABBDD) and their extracted tetraploid derivatives (genome AABB) were fractionated on one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Several protein bands of the hexaploid lines were absent in the gel patterns of their tetraploid derivatives. These proteins are presumed to be controlled by genes of the D genome. On the hand, each extracted tetraploid line possessed several bands which were either missing or weakly stained in the gel pattern of its hexaploid progenitor. This suggests that D genes may suppress or effect the biosynthesis of these proteins. The suppressive effect of the D genome reappeared in synthetic amphiploids produced from one extracted tetraploid and several lines of Aegilops squarrosa, the donor of the D genome. The possible role of intergenomic gene interaction in regulating the optimal production of endosperm proteins in polyploid wheats is discussed.