MOLECULAR DIVERSITY IN SOME A-GENOME WHEAT AMPHIPLOIDS (2n=6x=42; BBAAAA)

Abstract

Wild relatives of wheat have defying capability against detrimental conditions as they possess rich reservoirs of valuable genes. Through hybridization, many desired traits have been successfully introgressed from wild relatives to cultivars for various stress tolerances for wheat improvement. Wheat amphiploids (BBAAAA) have been created from diploid resources ( Triticum monococum (AA), Triticucm urartu (AA), and Triticum bioeticum (AA) and Triticum turgidum the tetraploid durum (BBAA) wheat cultivars through bridge crossing. These amphiploids possess enormous variability for biotic and abiotic stresses. In current study, molecular characterization of a collection of 79 amphiploids (2n=6x=42, BBAAA) by 25 SSR primers have been carried out. The molecular scanning produced 58 polymorphic bands and all were polymorphic showing 100% polymorphism. Dendrogram based on Nei and Li’s similarity coefficient, clearly distinguished the genotypes in the clusters showing abundant diversity. The genetically diverse germplasm identified through genetic similarity and cluster analysis in current study are accession 13, 16, 42, 52 and 50. These amphiploids received the A genome from diploid Triticum bioeticum. The selected collection should be used for the genetic improvement of wheat and the selected collection needs further studies to reveal the hidden desirable variability of agricultural utility.