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2026 Vol.71, Issue 3 Preview Page

Original Research Article

Characteristics of Korean Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Seeds According to Their Spikelet Position During the Maturation Period

국내 밀(Triticum aestivum L.) 품종별 이삭 위치에 따른 종실 특성 분석

Sejin Oh1
,
Yumi Lee1
,
Jaeyoung Ock2
,
Gitak Ryu3
,
Seul Lee3
,
Seong-Wook Kang4
,
Jin-Seong Moon5
,
Jinyoung Moon6
,
Jin-Young Kim6
,
Seong-Woo Cho78*
오 세진1
,
이 유미1
,
옥 재영2
,
류 기탁3
,
이 슬3
,
강 성욱4
,
문 진성5
,
문 진영6
,
김 진영6
,
조 성우78*
1Ph. D Student, Department of Plant Resources, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725, Republic of Korea
2Master's student, Department of Smart Agro-Industry, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725, Republic of Korea
3Bachelor's student, Department of Smart Agro-Industry, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725, Republic of Korea
4Post master researcher, Department of Forest Bioresources, National Institute of Forest Science, Suwon 02455, Republic of Korea
5Senior Researcher, Crop Science Division, Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, Jinju 52733, Republic of Korea
6Researcher, Crop Science Division, Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, Jinju 52733, Republic of Korea
7Associate professor, Department of Plant Resources, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725, Republic of Korea
8Associate professor, Department of Smart Agro-Industry, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725, Republic of Korea
1경상국립대학교 식물자원학과 박사과정
2경상국립대학교 스마트농산업학과 석사과정
3경상국립대학교 스마트농산업학과 학사과정
4국립산림과학원 산림생명자원연구부 석사후 연구원
5경상남도농업기술원 작물연구과 연구관
6경상남도농업기술원 작물연구과 연구사
7경상국립대학교 식물자원학과 부교수
8경상국립대학교 스마트농산업학과 부교수
*Corresponding Author
1 September 2026. pp. 127-141
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Abstract

In this study, we comparatively analyzed the morphological characteristics, starch and amino acid accumulation, and gene expression levels of Korean wheat seeds according to their spikelet position at 35 days after anthesis. The area, length, width, and dry weight of apical seeds were all lower than those of central or basal seeds (5.1-25.5%), indicating relatively limited seed development. Amino acid analysis showed that the contents of total amino acids (7.6-34.6%) and storage protein-related amino acids, including glutamic acid (8.9-9.6%), proline (10.1-21.8%), methionine (5.9-42.4%), and cystine (3.2-25.0%), were generally higher in central or basal seeds. Apical seeds had lower contents of amylopectin (5.4-13.3%) and amylose (18.0-52.6%) than those in central or basal seeds. Gene expression analysis revealed that sugar transport and starch biosynthesis were regulated differently among apical, central, and basal seeds. The Sugars Will Eventually Be Exported Transporter (SWEET) expression level was 43.2-79.9% higher in apical seeds than in central or basal seeds. The sucrose transporter (SUT) expression level tended to be 44.3-97.4% higher in central or basal seeds than in apical seeds. By contrast, the expression levels of starch biosynthesis-related genes, including ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), starch branching enzyme I (SBEI), and debranching enzyme (DBE), were generally higher in central or basal seeds. These results suggest that starch biosynthesis is more active in central or basal seeds. In conclusion, apical seeds exhibited relatively low development and storage protein-related amino acid and starch accumulation, whereas central or basal seeds showed enhanced starch and amino acid accumulation during the late maturation period.

Keywords
amino acid
maturation period
seed
spikelet position
starch accumulation
sugar transport
wheat
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Information
  • Publisher :The Korean Society of Crop Science
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국작물학회
  • Journal Title :The Korean Journal of Crop Science
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국작물학회지
  • Volume : 71
  • No :3
  • Pages :127-141
  • Received Date : 2026-07-13
  • Revised Date : 2026-08-02
  • Accepted Date : 2026-08-12
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7740/kjcs.2026.71.3.127
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