Assessment of Genetic Diversity Among Wheat Varieties in Sulaimanyah using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) Analysis

Genetic diversity among 11 durum and bread wheat genotypes was studied using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. A total of 70-75 DNA fragments were amplified with 10 random decamer primers 40% (bread , and 35.7% (durum wheat) of which were polymorphic. Genetic similarity matrix based on Dice index detected coefficients ranging from 0.5 to 0.952 (bread wheat) and 0.102 to 0.917 (durum wheat). These coefficients were used to construct a dendrogram using unweighted pair group of arithmetic means (UPGMA). The bread wheat genotypes were clustered into two major groups; first group includes Cham 4 and Cham 6; and the second includes Tammuz, Aras, and Rabia. The durum wheat genotypes were classified into two groups: group 1 presents the varieties Acsad 65 and Cemmitto, and group 2 contains Creso Kurde, Creso Italy, Ovanto, and Bakrajo 1. The highest similarity among the wheat varieties was observed between Cham 4 and Cham 6 for bread wheat and Bakrajo 1 and Ovanto for the durum wheat. The most distant genotype in the dendrogram was Acsad 65 and Aras. It has been clearly shown that most of the varieties possessed narrow genetic background. The information would be helpful for future genome mapping programs as well as for the application of intellectual breeder rights. The study will also work as indicator for wheat breeders to evolve varieties with diverse genetic background to achieve sustainability in wheat production in the country.