Ecogeographic adaptation and genetic variation in wild barley, application of molecular markers targeted to environmentally regulated genes

Lucia Liviero, Elena Maestri, Mariolina Gulli, Eviatar Nevo, Nelson Marmiroli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Long primer PCR (LP-PCR) markers specifically targeted to sequences involved in the response to abiotic stress were utilised to analyse genetic variation within and among wild barley populations from Israel. Populations were sampled in locations reflecting a wide range of habitats and the potential correlation between genetic variation and ecogeographic parameters was examined. A high level of polymorphism was observed. Most of the variability was due to differences within populations, however a substantial portion of genetic variation (36%) could be attributed to differences among populations, indicating local adaptation of genotypes to microclimatic conditions. Moreover, clustering and ordination techniques showed that genotypes grouped together according to their area of origin and were separated on the basis of ecogeography, chiefly by a combination of temperature, altitude and rainfall variables. Finally, 28% of the polymorphic PCR fragments were significantly correlated with ecogeographic parameters. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of PCR-based molecular markers targeted to environmentally regulated genes in detecting 'useful' variation and thus in monitoring the impact exerted by adaptation to the environment on genetic differentiation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)133-144
Number of pages12
JournalGenetic Resources and Crop Evolution
Volume49
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
N. Marmiroli thanks for financial support the Ministry of University and Scientific and Technological Research. E. Nevo thanks for financial support the Israeli Discount Bank Chair of Evolutionary Biology and the Ancell-Teicher Research Foundation for Genetics and Molecular Evolution.

Keywords

  • Barley
  • Long primer PCR
  • Molecular marker
  • Stress-responsive genes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • Genetics
  • Plant Science

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