Co-expression of high-molecular-weight glutenin subunit 1Ax1 and Puroindoline a ( Pina ) genes in transgenic durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum ssp. durum ) improves milling and pasting quality

Background Durum wheat is considered not suitable for making many food products that bread wheat can. This limitation is largely due to: (i) lack of grain-hardness controlling genes (Puroindoline a and b) and consequently extremely-hard kernel; (ii) lack of high- and low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit loci (Glu-D1 and Glu-D3) that contribute to gluten strength. To improve food processing quality of durum wheat, we stacked transgenic Pina and HMW-glutenin subunit 1Ax1 in durum wheat and developed lines with medium-hard kernel texture.