Abstract
Landraces are considered a key element of agrobiodiversity because of their high variability and adaptation to local environmental conditions, but at the same time, they represent a breeding potential hidden in gene banks that has not yet been fully appreciated and utilized. Here, we present a genome-wide DArTseq analysis of the diversity of 116 spring barley landraces preserved in the collection of the Polish gene bank. Genetic analysis revealed considerable variation in this collection and several distinct groups related to the landraces’ country of origin and the grain type were identified. The genetic distinctness of hulless accessions may provide a basis for pro-quality breeding aimed at functional food production. However, the variable level of accession heterogeneity can be a significant obstacle. A solution to this problem is the establishment of special collections composed of pure lines that are accessible to breeders. Regions lacking genetic diversity have also been identified on 1H and 4H chromosomes. A small region of reduced heterogeneity was also present in the hulless forms in the vicinity of the nud gene that determines the hulless grain type. However, the SNPs present in this area may also be important in selection for traits related to grain weight and size because their QTLs were found there. This may support breeding of hulless forms of spring barley which may have applications in the production of high-quality foods with health-promoting values.
Highlights
The progressive genetic erosion of agricultural ecosystems and the associated irreversible loss of this vital part of the global biodiversity essential to sustaining humankind is a fact that no one discusses anymore
The results of DArTseq genotyping were generated as a table listing single nucleotide polymorphisms markers that were detected in the sequenced fragments of genome representations
Worth noting is the fact of varying levels of genetic diversity depending on both the chromosome and the accession country of origin
Summary
The progressive genetic erosion of agricultural ecosystems and the associated irreversible loss of this vital part of the global biodiversity essential to sustaining humankind is a fact that no one discusses anymore. It should be kept in mind that under conditions of modern, intensive farming, landraces yield at a much lower level than commercial cultivars and are unable to feed the world [13] These unique morphological, physiological, and genetic traits of landraces that allowed them to survive and to be productive despite the pressure of biotic and abiotic factors should be used to develop new cultivars resistant to climatic conditions and new aggressive races of pathogens [10]. DArTseq derived SNPs were used (a) for genetic analysis and population structure of barley spring landraces preserved in Polish gene bank; (b) to assess the level of within-accession heterogeneity; (c) to evaluate chromosome level diversity with an emphasis on the region adjacent to the nud gene; and (d) to assist in the selection of materials useful for breeding programs. Μ where σ is the standard deviation and μ is an arithmetic mean, and was used to measure the dispersion of traits
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