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Title: Understanding the molecular basis of Chinese noodle quality

Author
item HE, Z - CHINESE ACAD OF AG SCI
item XIA, X - CHINESE ACAD OF AG SCI
item HE, X - CHINESE ACAD OF AG SCI
item ZHANG, Y - CHINESE ACAD OF AG SCI
item APPELS, R - MURDOCH UNIV AUSTRALIA
item Morris, Craig

Submitted to: Wheat Genetics International Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/26/2008
Publication Date: 12/1/2008
Citation: He, Z.H., Xia, X.C., He, X.Y., Zhang, Y., Appels, R., Morris, C.F. 2008. Understanding the molecular basis of Chinese noodle quality. Proceedings of the 11th International Wheat Genetics Symposium, 24-29 August 2008, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. R. Appels, R. Eastwook, E. Laguday, P. Langridge, M. Mackay, L. McIntyre, and P. Sharp (eds.). Sydney University Press, Volume 1, pp. 133-136.

Interpretive Summary: Traditionally, yield improvement has been a major objective for Chinese wheat breeding and production. During the last 10 years, as the living standards have improved, market demand for high quality wheat has increased rapidly. Therefore, quality improvement has become an important objective for wheat breeding programs across China. Improvement of traditional Chinese products such as noodles is very important to serve the domestic market need. Establishment of a standardized laboratory noodle testing procedure is crucial for wheat breeding programs to develop good noodle quality cultivar. Identification of major traits associated with noodle quality, understanding their molecular basis, and development and utilization of molecular markers will definitely improve the efficiency of genetic improvement for noodle quality. The objective of this paper is to review the progress in understanding the molecular basis of a specific quality, DWCN, by combination of conventional breeding and quality testing, in silico cloning, and molecular marker development and validation.

Technical Abstract: Traditionally, yield improvement has been a major objective for Chinese wheat breeding and production. During the last 10 years, as the living standards have improved, market demand for high quality wheat has increased rapidly. Therefore, quality improvement has become an important objective for wheat breeding programs across China. Improvement of traditional Chinese products such as noodles is very important to serve the domestic market need. There are many types of noodles consumed in China, and we focus on the dry white Chinese noodles (DWCN), largely due to its popularity and high commercial value. In comparison with pan bread making quality, very little information is available on the genetic basis of DWCN quality although quality of Japanese udon noodle is basically controlled by Wx-B1 null type (1). Genotype, environment, their interaction, and processing procedure all affect noodle quality. Quality attributes such as grain hardness (Pina/Pinb), dough strength and extensibility (Glu-1 and Glu-3), starch viscosity (waxy), and color associated traits such as polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and yellow pigment (YP), are basically controlled by major genes /QTL and are less sensitive to environmental stress although environment also has significant effect, however, protein content and test weight are much more influenced by environment (2,3). The official standardized procedure for Chinese noodles (SB/T10137-93), has been released, but not widely used in milling industry and breeding programs, largely due to its poor repeatability. Establishment of a standardized laboratory noodle testing procedure is crucial for wheat breeding programs to develop good noodle quality cultivar. Identification of major traits associated with noodle quality, understanding their molecular basis, and development and utilization of molecular markers will definitely improve the efficiency of genetic improvement for noodle quality. The objective of this paper is to review the progress in understanding the molecular basis of DWCN quality by combination of conventional breeding and quality testing, in silico cloning, and molecular marker development and validation.