Wheat plants exposed to higher than usual temperatures during ripening produced grain with weaker dough properties in glasshouse, field experiments and crop samples. In a review of Prime Hard wheat samples from 1960/61 to 1988/89, those seasons when the dough properties were particularly weak coincided with the years when the number of hours over 35�C during the grain filling period (October to December) was greatest. A five-day period of heat stress in 1988 provided an opportunity to directly investigate the effects of heat stress in the field. A weakening of dough properties was shown, for four varieties, by longer dough development times and faster breakdown in the Farinograph and also by shorter resistance to extension (at 5 cm) in the Extensograph. These (and similar changes for glasshouse grown grain) were accompanied by an increase in the proportion of gliadin (monomeric) proteins. That this increase was associated with the heat stress was shown by demonstrating increased accumulation of 14C amino acids into the gliadin fraction for heat-stressed heads in culture. These results support the hypothesis that episodes of high temperature during grain filling activate the heat shock elements of gliadin genes in wheat causing the mature grain to contain more gliadin and thus to produce weaker doughs.

Grain quality results for variety trials extending over 27 years (3 sites and 5 varieties) were compared with the temperature profiles during the grain filling period (56 days prior to harvest) to determine the effects on quality of high temperatures (>35�C) during this period of growth. Heat stress episodes have been frequent at two (Narrabri, N.S.W., and Turretfield, S.A.) of the three sites studied; spring temperatures were more moderate at the third site, Wongan Hills, W.A. There were highly significant (P< 0.01) correlations of heat stress (as hours above 35�C, during grain filling) with protein content (positive) and with grain yields (negative) at Narrabri for all varieties. In many combinations of site and variety, heat stress correlated negatively with loaf volume, and with dough strength (as Rmax, resistance to stretching with the Extensograph). Heat stress episodes in the Narrabri (N.S.W.) region in 1981 and 1982 gave further opportunity to examine these relationships. Results showed very clearly that high temperatures late in grain filling were associated with weaker dough properties (lower Rmax) in the resulting grain. These trends may form the basis of a predictive system by which to estimate crop quality and to interpret the results of variety trials.

Different protein fractionation techniques were used to define differences between a set of 8 wheat lines used in genetic mapping studies in Australia. A proteomics approach was used to establish the feasibility of identifying new protein polymorphisms for mapping purposes. Detailed analysis confirmed differences in the glutenin subunits, gliadin proteins, and 10–20 other proteins, between the mapping population parents, Cranbrook, Halberd, CD87, and Katepwa. Differences were particularly evident in the low molecular weight classes of protein. Alternative technologies were used to determine the differences in various protein classes in order to screen doubled haploid lines derived from crosses between the wheat lines. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis allowed the mapping of loci encoding high molecular weight (HMW) and low molecular weight (LMW) glutenin subunit proteins. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography also allowed several loci encoding LMW glutenin subunit proteins to be mapped, as well as a new protein on chromosome 6A. Capillary electrophoresis provided a high-resolution system that was used to map several gliadin-type proteins. The studies showed that proteins provide useful genetic markers and the data are discussed from the point of view of the advantages that protein-based markers offer in providing both genotypic and phenotypic data.

Poor resolution of protein zones in an electrophoretic pattern may not necessarily be the result of poor technique. The example is given of the 'streak material', extracted from wheat flour, now recognised to be aggregated subunits of glutenin. The size distribution of the aggregated glutenin 'streak' is the key to elucidating the functional properties of wheaten dough. A stepped-layer gel technique has been devised to quantitate the proportions of aggregated glutenin in specific size groupings.