Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of Winter Wheat Genotypes for Grain Yield, Quality Traits, and HMW Glutenin Subunits

Abstract

High grain yield (GY) and improved quality, including the presence of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS), determine the commercial success of a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) variety. A field study was conducted in 2021 and 2022 in Kibray, Uzbekistan, using 100 winter wheat germplasm to identify superior genotypes for GY and quality-related traits. GGE biplot analysis was conducted to identify superior genotypes. Molecular analysis was conducted using 8 markers to determine allelic variation and the presence of HMW-GS. The wheat genotypes showed arrays of variation for 17 morpho-physiological and grain- and quality-related traits and allelic diversity for HMW-GS. There was a high prevalence (74%) of the “5 + 10” HMW-GS at the “Glu-D1” locus, indicating that the 100 genotypes hold significant genetic value for improving flour strength. The five most superior genotypes based on the GGE biplot analysis for higher GY, TKW, TWT, protein, and gluten were #47(20AWYT-IR-87), #30(27FAWWON-IR-142), #6(27FAWWON-IR-31), #42(20AWYT-IR-54), and #3(27FAWWON-IR-13). Among these, genotypes #3, #6, and #42 carried the favorable “5 + 10” HMW-GS combination and had a Payne score of 9 (Good Quality), whereas genotypes #30 and #47 carried the “5 + 12” combination and had a Payne score of 7 (Medium Quality). The novelty of this study lies in the integration of multi-trait phenotypic characterization with HMW-GS molecular profiling, offering a robust and comprehensive approach to identify superior wheat genotypes valuable for breeding programs targeting simultaneously high grain yield and improved bread-making quality.