Characterization of Genetic Diversity in Cultivated Einkorn Wheat (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum) Landrace Populations from Turkey as Revealed by ISSR

Abstract

In this study, six einkorn (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum) landrace populations, and two bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) populations collected from farmers' fields in Bolu and Kastamonu provinces were characterized in terms of genetic diversity by using 12 Intel Simple Sequence Repeat primers, which produced a total of 247 loci, 238 (96.36%) polymorphic and 9 monomorphic (3.64%). The mean numbers of allele, effective allele, and value of genetic diversity were observed as 2, 1.3, and 0.2, respectively. According to species, Triticum monococcum had 233 (93.93%) polymorphic loci, while Triticum aestivum had, 123 (49.80%). The genetic diversity was observed as h = 0.20 in T. monococcum, and h = 0.14 in Triticum aestivum. A dendrogram constructed according to the genetic distance values by using unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean method. Triticum aestivum and Triticum monococcum populations are clustered into different clusters. The number of sub-populations was identified as the optimal value for K = 7. ISSR markers were successful to determine the genetic diversity and population structure within and between species. Triticummonococcum, a valuable genetic resource, is currently under extinction risk. Not only does this important genetic resource to be protected by ex situ conservation, but also it must continue to be cultivated by local farmers through on farm conservation. In this way, the dynamic evolutionary process will continue and be genetically compatible with current ecological conditions. Besides, as it is a suitable plant species for organic farming and contains important nutrients for human health in terms of food content and, therefore, its popularity is increasing for the production of local products.