Viscoelastic characterization of glutenins in wheat kernels measured by creep tests

The effect of high and low molecular weight glutenin subunits on viscoelastic properties of wheat kernels was investigated using creep tests with generalized Kelvin–Voigt model (r² ≈ 0.94; P < 0.0001). Glu-A1, Glu-B1 and Glu-D1 affected the creep coefficients in Glu-1 loci. Regarding LMW-GS, the locus Glu-A3 had highest influence on creep followed by Glu-B3; Glu-D3 did not showed differences. In general, the modulus of elasticity E₀ ≈ 242 MPa and viscosity was μ₀ ≈ 1.6 × 10⁷ MPa·s. Higher elastic moduli and viscosity were found in HMW-GS and LMW-GS of good quality compared to the poor quality performance genotypic groups. Samples with subunit Glu-A1 null presented lower elastic modulus and viscosity compared to Glu-A1 1 and 2^∗. Glu-B1 13 + 16 presented higher elastic modulus and viscosity, which is associated with good quality performance. The elastic moduli, especially E₀ were positively correlated with SDS-volume and rheological properties. This methodology can be applied to few kernels is easy, rapid, and nondestructive.