Genetic diversity of Triticum turgidum L. based on microsatellite markers

Using microsatellite (SSR) markers, the genetic diversity and genetic relationships among 48 Triticum turgidum L. accessions, including 30 Triticum turgidum L. ssp. turgidum, 7 Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum, 4 Triticum turgidum L. ssp. carthlicum, 3 Triticum turgidum L. ssp. paleocolchicum, 2 Triticum turgidum L. ssp. turanicum and 2 Triticum turgidum L. ssp. polonicum accessions, were investigated. A total of 97 alleles were detected on 16 SSR loci. At each locus, the number of alleles ranged from 2 to 14, with an average of 6.1. The Genetic similarity (GS) value ranged from 0.20 to 0.92, with the mean of 0.59. In cluster analysis, it was found the 48 Triticum turgidum L. accessions could be distinguished easily by SSR markers, whereas the 6 subspecies taxonomic entities of T. turgidum L. could not differentiate with each other, indicating that the morphological differences present among the 6 subspecies could not be reflected by the SSR markers. These results suggested that SSR markers had the superiority in detecting the genetic diversity of T. turgidum L., while it was not good for the studies of the phylogenic relationships among the subspecies of T. turgidum L.