Genetic diversity in doubled haploids wheat based on morphological traits, gliadin protein patterns and RAPD markers

Genetic diversity among 102 doubled haploid wheat accessions originating from CIMMYT were investigated using morphological traits, gliadin patterns and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) variation. Among the morphological traits under study, the highest amount of diversity was related to grain yield per plant, number of total tillers and number of fertile tillers. Principle components analysis and cluster analysis for morphological traits were used to effectively classify the samples. Based on these analyses, three genotypes with maximum yield and the related traits were determined. In the analysis of gliadins, 48 bands and 47 different patterns were detected. The average genetic diversity index for these proteins was calculated as H = 0.75. The mean of genetic diversity index was more for RAPDs than gliadins (H = 0.83). Although during statistical reviews one pattern in the area was found to have relations with the trait of spikelet per spike, no relationship was found between morphological, storage proteins and RAPDs data. As a result, it seems that applying only one of these methods is not sufficient to estimate the genetic diversity. In order to have a clearer picture of the status of genetic diversity in different populations of bread wheat, it is recommended that all the three methods be applied simultaneously.