Evaluating the effectiveness of ISSR and leaf soluble proteins markers in investigating the conformity of the genetic diversity of Agropyron elongatum genotypes with their geographical distribution

Genetic erosion increases the vulnerability of plants to environmental and biological stresses. The wild relatives of cultivated plants are undeniably very useful for the modern agricultural breeders in the richness of their vast gene pool, which, according to this genetic diversity, forms the basis of breeding programs and makes it possible to improve plants with desirable traits and characteristics.

The effectiveness of ISSR and leaf soluble proteins markers in examining the genetic diversity of 12 Agropyron elongatum genotypes collected from different regions of Kermanshah province in the Biotechnology Laboratory of the Research and Education Center of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Kermanshah Province were investigated in 2019.

Based on leaf soluble proteins, 14 bands were observed for genotypes, the highest number of bands were related to genotypes 2G, 5G and 7G with 13 bands and the lowest number of bands were related to 4G with 9 bands. Soluble proteins did not show a high genetic diversity among the studied genotypes and a total 36% of bands were polymorphic. Grouping of genotypes based on soluble proteins showed that genotypes 1G, 5G, 12G and 10G were in the first group, 4G, 3G and 9G were in the second group and 6G, 7G, 8G, 2G and 11G were in the third group. The grouping obtained from the genotypes did not correspond to their geographical distribution and due to the high similarity of the genotypes, no favorable polymorphism was observed with regard to leaf soluble proteins. In total, the soluble proteins did not have the ability to suitable separation within the species for the species of Tall wheatgrass. Based on ISSR primers, a total of 73 bands were observed, of which 70 bands were polymorphic among genotypes. The average percentage of polymorphism among genotypes was 96.25%. The lowest number of bands was related to IS3 primer (3 bands) and the highest number of bands was related to IS5 primer (10 bands). Primers IS3, IS10, IS11, IS13, and IS14 were introduced as suitable primers for investigating the populations of Tall wheatgrass species. The grouping of genotypes based on ISSR data was highly consistent with the geographical distribution of genotypes. The first group included 8G, 9G and 10G, and the genotypes of this group belonged to two cities of Javanrood and Ravansar. The second group included 5G, 6G and 7G. The genotypes of this group belonged to Eslamabad-e Gharb region. The third group was 11G and 12G. This group was also from Harsin region. The fourth group included 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G. The genotypes of this group belonged to Kermanshah. Genotypes from Javanroud and Ravansar had the highest genetic distance with other genotypes, and the genotypes from Harsin had the least genetic distance similarity with the genotypes from Kermanshah.

The ISSR marker was more efficient than the soluble proteins in determining the intraspecies genetic diversity of the studied genotypes, and the genotypes of Javanrud and Ravansar (8G, 9G, and 10G) had the greatest genetic distance with the genotypes of Kermanshah (1G, 2G, 3G, and 4G).