Characterization of loci containing microsatellite sequences among Canadian wheat cultivars

Two microsatellite sequences, one within a γ-gliadin locus and another within a low molecular weight glutenin locus, were characterized on a set of 16 wheat lines. The wheat lines analyzed were primarily Canadian cultivars or breeding lines. A high level of variation was detected, especially between the Canadian Prairie Spring and the Canadian Western Red Spring Wheat classes. Markers based on microsatellite sequence sites appear to be more informative on closely related germplasm than either RFLP- or RAPD-based markers. The applicability of these markers across a wide spectrum of classes and cultivars provides a starting point for developing a point of delivery wheat class identification system.