Molecular Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Relationships of Barley Landraces Based on Microsatellite Markers

Due to their adaptation to different environment conditions¡ landraces are valuable genetic resurces for incresing diversity of breeding germplasms and are potential resources for biotic and abiotic stress resistant genes. In the present study¡ genetic diversity and relationships of 119 barely landraces from different countries along with 25 commerical varieties and breeding lines were assessed¡ using 45 microsatellite primer pairs. In total¡ 225 alleles range from 2 to 14 and an average of 5 alleles per locus were amplified. Polymorphic information contenet (PIC) varied from 0.05 to 0.90 with a mean of 0.51. The minimum and maximum frequency of common allele belonged to EBMAC0788 (0.13) and GBM1411 (0.97) markers¡ respectively. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a higher within group variation (94%) than between group. Maximum and minimum Shannon’s and Nei gene diversity indices were observed in Iranian and Egyptian landraces¡ respectively. Cluster analysis using Minimum Evolution algorithm and P-distance coefficient assigned the studied genotypes into three groups. This grouping was partly consistent with geographical origins of the genotypes.