Comparison of sudden heat stress with gradual exposure to high temperature during grain filling in two wheat varieties differing in heat tolerance. II. Fractional protein accumulation

Two varieties of wheat differing in heat tolerance (cvv. Egret and Oxley, tolerant and sensitive, respectively) were exposed to either a sudden or gradual (6 degrees C h(-1)) increase from 20 to 40 degrees C to determine if the rate of temperature increase used in controlled-environment studies (1) alters the accumulation of functionally important proteins during grain-filling, and (2) affects the ability to discriminate between heat tolerant and sensitive varieties of wheat. After heat treatment, grain samples were taken throughout grain growth and analysed for protein content and composition. Wheat proteins were separated and quantified as albumin/globulin, monomer, SDS-soluble polymer and SDS-insoluble polymer using size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography. The rate of temperature increase exerted a significant influence on the accumulation of total wheat protein and its fractions, and protein fractions differed in their responses to the suddenness of heat stress. The acclimation to heat stress afforded by a gradual increase to high temperature can mitigate the effects of heat stress on fractional protein accumulation, and consequently grain protein composition at maturity. Furthermore, the ability of wheat to acclimate to high temperature varies between genotypes, and this needs to be taken into account when selecting for heat tolerance.