Genetic diversity of Secale cereale L. in Iran as measured using microsatellites

Abstract

Microsatellite markers were used to analyse the genetic diversity of 120 individuals of 20 weedy/wild populations of Secale cereale collected all around Iran. High levels of diversity, with an average number of seven alleles per locus (ranging up to 11) and high level polymorphism with polymorphism rate averaging 0.645 (between populations) and 0.364 (within populations) were observed. The Northwestern populations showed the highest and the Northern populations showed the lowest polymorphism and diversity. One population was notably more similar to five of the S. strictum used as outgroups. No taxon or geographic specific marker was detected, suggesting high gene flow between the populations, however some groupings which can be related to the subspecies, were evident. This survey showed the high genetic diversity within the Iranian rye genepool as an important source for crop breeders, and indicated that there is value in sampling for useful genes for crops improvement. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2009.