Grain quality analysis using a custom wheat microarray

Custom microarrays can be used to examine genes influencing wheat grain quality that are expressed during seed development. Data obtained from previous SAGE (Serial Analysis of Gene Expression) analysis of the wheat genome has been used to developed a custom array containing specific genes of interest. The custom array uses an electrochemical detection system for recognition of hybridisation. A 12K array was designed for each of two time points of the developing wheat grain (14dpa and 30dpa). The arrays contained genes that had shown statistical differences in expression between wheats of varying quality. Controls were also included as were other genes of interest. This process of including only variable genes narrowed the number of data points to be analysed to a more manageable number. This system can therefore be used to analyse a larger number of varieties for genes of interest at a lower cost. This microarray tool should have wide application in wheat quality analysis.