Genomic diversity at the Glu-D1 locus in Aegilops tauschii reveals the origin of elite high-molecular-weight glutenin genes in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum)

doi:10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.002

Plant Diversity ›› 2026, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (03): 557-566.DOI: 10.1016/j.pld.2025.06.002

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Genomic diversity at the Glu-D1 locus in Aegilops tauschii reveals the origin of elite high-molecular-weight glutenin genes in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Wanxin Xu^a, Shuaifeng Geng^a, Shaoshuai Liu^a, Andrea González-Muñoz^b, Yifan Liu^c, Zhongyin Deng^a, Yuqing Che^a, Dada Cui^a, Xinyu Zou^a, Wang Ziying^a, Xiang Wang^c, Daowen Wang^c, Dongcheng Liu^d, Yun Zhou^e, Dengcai Liu^f, Maria Itria Ibba^g, Brande B. H. Wulff^b, Aili Li^a, Long Mao^a

a State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China;
b King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia;
c College of Agronomy, Longzi Lake Campus, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China;
d State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China;
e State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China;
f Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan, 611130, China;
g Global Wheat Program, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), DF, Mexico

Received:2025-03-10 Revised:2025-06-04 Online:2026-06-10 Published:2026-05-25
Contact: Aili Li,E-mail:liaili@caas.cn;Long Mao,E-mail:maolong@caas.cn
Supported by:
This work was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFF1000204), the National Science Foundation (W2411025), and CAAS Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (CAAS-ZDRW202002).

Genomic diversity at the Glu-D1 locus in Aegilops tauschii reveals the origin of elite high-molecular-weight glutenin genes in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum)

a State Key Laboratory of Crop Gene Resources and Breeding, National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China;
b King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), Thuwal, Saudi Arabia;
c College of Agronomy, Longzi Lake Campus, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China;
d State Key Laboratory of North China Crop Improvement and Regulation, College of Agronomy, Hebei Agricultural University, Baoding 071001, China;
e State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China;
f Triticeae Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan, 611130, China;
g Global Wheat Program, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), DF, Mexico

通讯作者: Aili Li,E-mail:liaili@caas.cn;Long Mao,E-mail:maolong@caas.cn
基金资助:
This work was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFF1000204), the National Science Foundation (W2411025), and CAAS Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (CAAS-ZDRW202002).

Abstract

Abstract: The Glu-D1 locus of the Aegilops tauschii genome carries two high-molecular-weight glutenin genes, Dx and Dy, that are essential for viscoelastic properties of bread wheat dough, contributing to its success as a global staple crop. Here, we examined 48 Ae. tauschii high-quality genome assembles and identified a large dataset of Glu-D1, a locus that has remained recalcitrant to high-resolution analysis due to its genomic complexity. Phylogenetic analysis supported six major clades, slightly differing from the geography-based classification. Despite a short genomic distance, gene-based haplotype analysis detected possible ancestral recombination between Dx and Dy genes that were separated by distinctive repetitive sequences. Biochemically, glutenins of the same length can vary in isoelectric points, causing deviations in migration on traditional SDS-PAGE gels. Differential selection pressures were detected among clades and between Dx and Dy glutenin genes. Two clades, L2E-1 and L2W-2, with relatively lower coeliac motifs, were identified as the most probable ancestral contributors to bread wheat. Furthermore, key amino acids were identified as conceptually suitable for single-base editing to create novel elite alleles. Dissecting genomic diversity of the Glu-D1 loci deepens our understanding of the evolutionary trajectory of these long-studied seed storage proteins and offers new strategies for wheat grain-quality improvement.

Key words: HMW glutenin, Goat grass, Grain quality, Dx5+Dy10

摘要： The Glu-D1 locus of the Aegilops tauschii genome carries two high-molecular-weight glutenin genes, Dx and Dy, that are essential for viscoelastic properties of bread wheat dough, contributing to its success as a global staple crop. Here, we examined 48 Ae. tauschii high-quality genome assembles and identified a large dataset of Glu-D1, a locus that has remained recalcitrant to high-resolution analysis due to its genomic complexity. Phylogenetic analysis supported six major clades, slightly differing from the geography-based classification. Despite a short genomic distance, gene-based haplotype analysis detected possible ancestral recombination between Dx and Dy genes that were separated by distinctive repetitive sequences. Biochemically, glutenins of the same length can vary in isoelectric points, causing deviations in migration on traditional SDS-PAGE gels. Differential selection pressures were detected among clades and between Dx and Dy glutenin genes. Two clades, L2E-1 and L2W-2, with relatively lower coeliac motifs, were identified as the most probable ancestral contributors to bread wheat. Furthermore, key amino acids were identified as conceptually suitable for single-base editing to create novel elite alleles. Dissecting genomic diversity of the Glu-D1 loci deepens our understanding of the evolutionary trajectory of these long-studied seed storage proteins and offers new strategies for wheat grain-quality improvement.

关键词: HMW glutenin, Goat grass, Grain quality, Dx5+Dy10

Wanxin Xu, Shuaifeng Geng, Shaoshuai Liu, Andrea González-Muñoz, Yifan Liu, Zhongyin Deng, Yuqing Che, Dada Cui, Xinyu Zou, Wang Ziying, Xiang Wang, Daowen Wang, Dongcheng Liu, Yun Zhou, Dengcai Liu, Maria Itria Ibba, Brande B. H. Wulff, Aili Li, Long Mao. Genomic diversity at the Glu-D1 locus in Aegilops tauschii reveals the origin of elite high-molecular-weight glutenin genes in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum)[J]. Plant Diversity, 2026, 48(03): 557-566.

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Genomic diversity at the Glu-D1 locus in Aegilops tauschii reveals the origin of elite high-molecular-weight glutenin genes in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum)

Genomic diversity at the Glu-D1 locus in Aegilops tauschii reveals the origin of elite high-molecular-weight glutenin genes in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum)

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