Evaluation of genetic diversity of Dactylis glomerata L. ecotypes using RAPD markers

Asghari, Ali; Shokrpour, Majid; Mohammad Doost Chaman Abad, Hamidreza; Panahi, Elham; Imani, Aliakbar

Evaluation of genetic diversity of Dactylis glomerata L. ecotypes using RAPD markers

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

Determining genetic diversity of plant materials is necessary in the beginning of any breeding program. In this study, genetic diversity within and among 15 orchardgrass ecotypes collected from different parts of Iran, 7 foreign ecotypes (USA, Russia, Stonia, Spain) and 3 ecotypes with unknown origin were evaluated using RAPD markers. Eight primers from 40 tested RAPD primers produced 73 polymorphic bands. The total number of polymorphic bands within ecotypes varied from 25 to 49 bands. The averages of total and within ecotypes genetic diversity and the degree of genetic differentiation were estimated 0.291, 0.181 and 0.378, respectively. Molecular variance analysis based on squared Euclidean distances indicates that larger proportions of variability existed within ecotypes (78.37 %). Cluster analysis of molecular data, grouped the entries under study into 8 cluster. The grouping based on molecular data had not correspondence with the geographical pattern. Using principal coordinate analysis, the first tree coordinates determined 59.48% of the total variation. Grouping of ecotypes using the first two coordinates confirmed the results of cluster analysis. Cluster analysis of morphological data, grouped the entries into 4 cluster, but great match between the results of morphological and molecular data weren’t observed. In this study, a great amount of genetic diversity observed between and within orchardgrass ecotypes that could be used for selection suitable varieties and the ecotypes with exceeding genetic distance could be used in crossing programs for producing heterosis, mapping populations and disperse generations.

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