Estimation of the Degree of Diversity for Some Iraqi Wheat Varieties through ISSR, SRAP and RAPD Markers

DNA-based molecular markers such as Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR), Sequence-Related Amplified polymorphism (SRAP) and Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) were used in this study to examine the genetic differences among sixteen Iraqi wheat varieties. Seventy three primers out of 177 were reproducible and showed clear amplified bands. The degree of genetic diversity, Polymorphism information content (PIC) and resolving power (RP) were estimated. All the studied molecular markers were informative and showed good ability to classify and distinguish 16 wheat varieties. Total number of polymorphic bands is 134, 221 and 55 for ISSR, SRAP and RAPD respectively. PIC and RP values were 0.259, 0.264 and 0.262 and 9.06, 7.87 and 2.78 respectively. It seems that SRAP marker was the most optimal technique for characterization the of Iraqi wheat varieties. The most efficient primers were Ne ISSR 7 for ISSR; Me4-Em3 and Me4-Em9 primers combination for SRAP; Operon primers K14, K15 and K19 for RAPD. The results of this study can be used to as starting point of the data base for Iraqi wheat varieties to be used in the future development of new varieties in a breeding programs.