Genetic diversity of diploid wheat (Triticum urartu) using morphological traits and RAPD markers

Genetic diversity of 22 morphotypes of diploid wheat (Tricum urartu) was investigated using morphological traits and RAPD markers. Morphological characterizations were carried out based on 17 traits and statistical parameters of dispersion and diversity of agronomic traits were calculated. Statistical analysis showed significant differences for all characters among morphotypes. Dendrograms were generated for the Euclidean distance from the morphological data. Cluster analysis could separate Jordan and Syria samples from Iran, Iraq, and Turkey morphotypes. Molecular analysis of diversity were carried out using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique 10-mer random primers, which 12 were polymorphic, producing 112 DNA bands, 75 (67%) of which were polymorphic among morphotypes. Cluster analysis of RAPD markers based on the presence or absence of bands were performed by Jacard's similarity coefficients and UPGMA methods. Clustering of the morphotypes based on RAPD markers had no relation to their geographical distribution. These result showed that, diversity based on RAPD markers showed greater diversity than morphological traits. Also comparison of both dendrograms reveled that there is poor correlation (R=0.21) between the clustering with morphological traits and RAPD markers. These results suggest that the morphological traits provide parallel data with RAPD markers and studies based on 2 methods complete each other and provide much better evaluation of diversity than those that focus on just on approach.