Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important sources of human nutrition. The natural improvement of grain and flour quality through the realization of the genetic potential of bread wheat varieties is one of the major goals of wheat breeding. Wheat quality is affected by many genes. In particular, baking properties are determined by the composition of gluten protein complex, which is controlled by the genes for gliadin and glutenin synthesis. However, the high bread-making quality is also influenced by other genetic factors, such as wbm (wheat bread making) allele, which expression is enhanced in the developing grain. In this study 51 European winter wheat cultivars were screened using PCR marker for the presence of highly expressed wbm allele. Four cultivars of Estonian origin tested positive for the wbm allele marker. Old cultivars Eka, Kalvi and Ümarik were polymorphic, so 20-25% of investigated samples of these cultivars demonstrated the presence of the marker associated with high expression of wbm allele. Plants of cultivar Eka positive for wbm marker also had a high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW-GS) Glu-B1d allele. However, plants of Eka without wbm marker had allele Glu-B1b. In cultivar Ümarik the presence of the wbm marker coincided with the presence of GluB1c allele, whereas samples without wbm marker had Glu-B1b and Glu-B1d alleles. Cultivar Sani showed the presence of the wbm allele in all investigated plants. However, this cultivar is phenotypically polymorphic, and three distinct breeding lines Sani A, Sani B and Sani nui were subsequently derived from it. Of Sani derivatives, only line Sani B was positive for the wbm allele. The highly expressed wbm allele marker was absent in the following winter wheat cultivars: Ada, Širvinta (Lithuanua); Akteur, Anthus, Ararat, Brilliant, Certo, Compliment, Flair, Kris, Lars, Leiffer, Lucius, Miras, Mulan, Olivin,

Portal, Ramiro, Residence, Tarso, Torrild (Germany); Ambition, Audi, Gosmer, Mariboss, Skagen (Denmark), Arktika, Urho (Finland); Bezostaya 1, Donskaya polukarlikovaya (Russia); Bjørke (Norway); Dorota, Ebi (UK); Edvins, Fredis (Latvia); Gunbo (Sweden); Korweta, Turnia (Poland); Ritmo (the Netherlands); Joni, Jõgeva 22, Kehra, Kuusiku, Luunja, Puuk, Ruske (Estonia); Nemunas (Lithuania/Estonia). We conclude that old bread wheat cultivars of Estonian origin may serve as donors of the highly expressed wbm allele in breeding programs for improving bread-making quality using of marker assisted selection.