Genetic diversity among rainfed wheat genotypes using RAPD markers and morphological traits

Diversity is very important for the breeding objectives, since a narrow genetic base of germplasm is very vulnerable to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, genetic diversity of 25 rainfed wheat genotypes were assessed using morphological traits as well as 20 primers of RAPD markers. There were significant differences among genotypes for the most traits, indicating high genetic variations among wheat genotypes. Based on the molecular data, 197 bands were detected within 25 genotypes and 160 bands were polymorphs. Average mean number of bands per primer was 9.8. According to cluster analysis of similarity matrix of molecular and morphological data based on euclidean distances, similarities ranged between 0.56-0.83 and 1.92-108.96, respectively. Based on molecular data and morphological traits, the highest similarities were belonge to Gahar and Maron (0.83), and Kuhdasht and Pigo (1.92) varieties, respectively. The results showed that RAPD markers and morphological traits could distinct spring and winter wheat genotypes having high grain yield (Nestor, TV2, Katila-11 and GHK). Distinction of durum and bread wheat genotypes did not follow the same pattern. There was no significant correlation between two similarity matrices of molecular and morphological data.