Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)

Research article2015Peer reviewedOpen access

Breeding for wheat quality to assure food security of a staple crop: the case study of Tajikistan

Husenov, Bahromiddin; Makhkamov, Marufkul; Gustavsson, Larisa; Muminjanov, Hafiz; Johansson, Eva

Abstract

Background: This study evaluated options and obstacles to strengthening food security through breeding a staple crop in a developing country, using the case of quality of bread wheat in Tajikistan as an example. Methods: Three wheat varieties and 19 breeding lines were collected from two field trial locations included in the Tajik wheat breeding programme. Grain protein composition as a measure of quality was determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Payne scores were calculated in order to predict quality. Results: There was high variation between and high heterogeneity within several lines and varieties in relation to protein composition. Differences between the same varieties/lines at different locations were also observed. The number of grains analysed from each variety/line allowed prediction of quality, and the majority of materials analysed showed high Payne scores. Based on Payne scores and cluster analyses, a group of varieties/lines with high quality was identified as interesting for further breeding. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the importance of improving wheat maintenance breeding and early generation seed production and of developing suitable screening methods for quality to secure food supply in developing countries such as Tajikistan.

Published in

Agriculture and Food Security
2015, Volume: 4, article number: 9