Evaluation of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA as a Genetic Indicator of Salt Tolerance in Iraqi Wheat

Abstract

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was utilized in order to generate information on polymorphism, genetic relatedness and diversity in two local salt tolerant wheat varieties Dijlah and Furat collected from different locations in Iraq( Latyfia, Twaitha and Hasoa) compared to three local non-salt tolerant varieties Tahdi, Tamose2 and Nakhoa for breeding purposes. Out of the 23 random decamer primers used, 15 primers produced monomorphic and polymorphic amplification patterns. Primers A11 and N16b showed the highest efficiency of 0.069, primer A11also showed the highest discriminatory power of 24.3%. Data obtained were used find the genetic distance and construct the dendogram. There was 26% polymorphism between the studied cultivars. In addition to that we were able to fingerprint seven cultivars.