Investigation of genetic variability in g Iranian populations of desert wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum) based on morphological and RAPD markers.

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

Genetic diversity in eighteenIranian populations of desert wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum), was evaluated using morphological traits and Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The populations were examined for seed yield and its components using a complete block design with 3 replications as spaced plant under irrigation conditions during 2006-2008. Analysis of variance showed significant differences among the populations for all the studied traits. The population 400 (Ardabil) had higher dry matter (9.24 ton/ha) and seed production (514.89 kg/ha). Broad-sense heritability  values were high (h2b= 0.52 - 0.61) for seed yield, spike length and seed number per spike. For stems number broad-sense heritability was moderate (h2b= 0.27) and for other traits it was low and non significant. Ten primers out of the 50 decamer random primers screened generated 56 highly repeatable polymorphic bands. Estimates of Nei's gene diversity (h) and Shannon's Information index (I) for all loci in individual populations showed the populations of 3974 (Karaj) and 742 (Hamedan) had higher (h=0.302 and I=0.449) and lower (h=0.146 and I=0.225) gene diversity, respectively. Total gene diversity (Ht) and mean of gene diversity within populations (Hs) were estimated 0.224 and 0.356, respectively. Average value of gene diversity among the populations (Gst) was estimated as 0.37. The results showed that of total variation, between and within population variation were 0.37 and 0.63, respectively. Jaccard's similarity coefficients ranged from 0.19 to 0.49 across all 18 populations. The molecular and morphological data were subjected to Unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages cluster analysis, Populations were partitioned into three groups. In both cluster analysis, population of 400 (Ardabil) was located into same separate group. The Mantel correlation analysis between morphological and RAPD data was not significant. In general, RAPD markers data proved to be a good method of assessing genetic variation among populations of desert wheatgrass.
 

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Iranian Journal of Rangelands and Forests Plant Breeding and Genetic Research
Volume 19, Issue 1 - Serial Number 1
September 2011
Pages 85-100

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