Classifying Ethiopian Tetraploid Wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) Landraces by Combined Analysis of Molecular & Phenotypic Data

Article Information The aim of the study was to investigate the extent of the genetic diversity among gene bank accessions of Ethiopian tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum L.) landraces using microsatellite markers, qualitative and quantitative data. Thirty five accessions of Ethiopian tetraploid wheat (T. turgidum L.) landraces were grown in the greenhouse at IFA Tulln, Austria during spring 2009 for DNA extraction. The same accessions were already grown in spring 2008 at BOKU Vienna, Austraia for their phenotypical characterisation. DNA was extracted from each approximately one month old plant according to Promega (1998/99) protocol. A total of 10 μl reaction mixture per sample was used for DNA amplification by PCR. The amplified mixture was loaded to PAGE (12%) containing TE buffer (1 ) in CBS electrophoresis chambers and run in an electric field for 2 hrs. The fragments were visualized by scanning with Typhoon Trio scanner. Six and ten quantitative and qualitative morphological traits data respectively were used for combined analysis. Genetic variation was significant within and between wheat species and within and between altitudes of collection site. Genetic distances ranged from 0.21 to 0.73 for all accessions while it ranged from 0.44 within Triticum polonicum to 0.56 between T. polonicum and T. turgidum. Genetic distance between regions of collection ranged from 0.51 to 0.54 while for altitudes it ranged from 0.47 (≤2200 m) to 0.56 (≤2500 m). Cluster analysis showed that T. polonicum accessions were grouped together whereas T. durum and T. turgidum formed mixed clusters indicating T. polonicum as genetically more distinct from the other two species. We suggest combined analysis of molecular and morphological data for a better classification of accessions. Article History: Received : 08-01-2012 Revised : 10-02-2012 Accepted : 17-02-2012