Taxonomic identity of the Iranian diploid Triticum as evidenced by nrDNA ITS analysis

Abstract

This study concerns the taxonomic investigation of the Iranian diploid Triticum gene pool using morphology and PCRSSCP analysis of ITS nrDNA. A co-occurrence of two character states of leaf indumentum and anther length was found to be diagnostically significant among these taxa. Three SSCP profiles were detected among our specimens. Sequencing the representatives of different SSCP patterns detected three new nrITS haplotypes. Based on the results of this study we concluded that the genus Triticum at diploid level is represented by two taxa in Iran: T. monococcum subsp. aegilopoides and T. urartu, which is a new taxonomic interpretation of the former taxon. The phylogenetic neighbor-joining tree based on nrITS confirms this interpretation. © 2013 Magnolia Press.