This invention relates to a new starch branching enzyme, and to the gene
encoding the enzyme. In particular, the invention provides a new starch
branching enzyme type II from wheat, the nucleic acid encoding the
enzyme, and constructs comprising the nucleic acid. The invention also
relates to a novel method for identification of branching enzyme type II
proteins, which is useful for screening wheat germplasm for null or
altered alleles of wheat branching enzyme IIb. The novel gene, protein
and methods of the invention are useful in production of plants which
produce grain with novel properties for food and industrial applications,
for example wheat grain containing high amylose or low amylopectin
starch.
