GENETIC VARIATION AMONG NATURAL POPULATIONS OF AGRPYRON CRISTAUM (POACEAE) BASED ON SDS-PAGE OF SEED PROTEINS

SDS-PAGE of seed proteins in 11 natural populations of Agropyron cristatum and one cultivated population of Elymus junceus was studied. In total 31 protein bands of different molecular weights were detected on the polyacrylamide gel indicating a high diversity. By performing Cluster Analysis and Principle Coordinate Analysis on these data, all studied populations were grouped in three major clusters. Clear correlation was seen between the population in three clusters with their geographical localities. This result suggests that seed protein markers between the natural populations of Agropyron cristatum are mainly correlated with eco-geographical factors and cannot be used alone for its taxonomy in the infra-specific levels.