Population genetic structure of wild barley and wheat in the near east fertile crescent: Regional and local adaptive patterns

The studies conducted at the Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, during 1975-2004 and briefly summarized in this chapter, demonstrated genetic differentiation within and between populations of wild barley and wild emmer wheat. This genetic differentiation is reflected both at the protein (isozyme) and DNA (molecular markers) levels and is largely adaptive in nature, driven by selective evolutionary forces. Conceptually, in-depth probing of comparative genome structure and function are the major challenges, in particular, the intimate relationship of the coding and noncoding (largely regulatory) genomes. Such studies will unravel the regulation of genome evolution and highlight the rich genetic potentials for cereal improvement residing in wild cereals. In particular, the following areas deserve major attention: molecular cloning of adaptation genes based on integrated genomic strategies and novel methodologies including genetic and physical mapping of molecular markers and expressed sequence tags (EST), sequencing of gene rich regions of cereal genomes, microarray expression analysis, retrotransposons (Kalendar et al., 2000), and genetic transformation involving defined target genes/alleles. The population subdivision reviewed here should be an important guideline in exploring genome structure and dynamics.