Evaluation of genetic diversity in Aegilops populations possessing D genome using SCoT and TRAP markers

The main objectives of this study were to evaluate the genetic diversity in 53 Aegilops accessions belonging to Aegilops tauschii, Ae. cylindrica and Ae. crassa as well as comparison of the efficiency of start codon targeted (SCoT) and targeted region amplification polymorphism (TRAP) markers. A total of 15 SCoT and six TRAP primer pairs amplified 165 and 201 polymorphic bands, respectively. TRAP primers indicated higher values for the number of polymorphic bands, marker index and resolving power compared to SCoT primers. However, SCoT primers showed the higher PIC value than TRAPs. The results of molecular variance analysis (AMOVA) were different for each of the marker systems, so that SCoT markers showed the highest portion of genetic variance referred to intra-species, while based on TRAP markers the highest variance was observed inter-species. SCoT markers indicated the highest values for all genetic parameters compared to TRAPs and Ae. cylindrica and Ae. tauschii exhibited the highest genetic variation based on SCoTs and TRAPs, respectively. Cluster analysis based on each marker systems as well as the pooled data classified all accessions into three main groups. The clustering pattern based on SCoT primers was clearer than TRAPs. Hence, the use of SCoT markers is recommended for population genetic structure analysis and grouping of them, while the use of TRAPs can be recommended for fine mapping studies.