'Plant Breeding: Sustaining the Future' Abstracts of the XVIth EUCARPIA Congress, Edinburgh, Scotland, 10-14 September 2001 GENETICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON SPELT AND SPELT x BREAD WHEAT HYBRIDS J. WAGA Plant Breeding and Acclimatisation Institute, Cracow, Poland

Biochemical and nutritional properties of parental forms (spelt and winter wheat cultivar Elena) as well as two near isogenic hybrid lines (NIL) which differed by the composition of ω-gliadin subunits coded by the 1B chromosome (locus Gli B1) were investigated. The content of microelements (Fe, Mg, Zn), amino-acids composition, protein content (%), sedimentation value, and baking quality were analysed. Spelt wheat, in comparison with Elena, was characterised by higher values of all analysed traits except for sedimentation value and baking quality. Particularly notable are high content of protein (about 18%) and zinc (above 100% more than in Elena). Locus Gli B1 differentiated selected NIL regarding the content of iron, technological properties and amino-acid composition. The values of these parameters were close to those of spelt wheat in lines containing gliadin block Gli B1-6 typical for spelt wheat and to those of Elena in lines containing gliadin block Gli B1-1 typical for Elena. The results of the investigations confirm the opinion that spelt wheat is a source of valuable nutritional properties. Gliadins coded by the 1B chromosome are linked with variability of some of them and can serve as gene markers in the selection with respect to these traits.