The Effect of Group 5 Chromosomes on the Free and Total Galactosyldiglycerides in Wheat Endosperm

Total galactosyldiglycerides were quantified in purified endosperm and flour from tetraploid and hexaploid wheats. Mean levels of monogalactosyldiglycerides and digalactosyldiglycerides were not significantly different between tetraploids and hexaploids. Studies with aneuploids of hexaploid breadwheats failed to reveal consistent differences in either type of glycolipid that could be attributed to a single chromosome, and a prior claim that the short arms of homologous group 5 chromosomes control the levels of total galactosyldiglycerides was shown to be unjustified. However, deletion of the short arm of chromosome 5D (but not of 5A) did cause a large decrease in the amounts of free galactosyldiglycerides that could be extracted from Koga II hexaploid wheat with light petroleum.