Distribution of isoenzyme markers at 37 loci in a pedigree of European spring barley

Abstract

Linde-Laursen, I., Nielsen. G. and Johansen. H.B. 1987. Distribution of isoenzyme markers at 37 loci in a pedigree of European spring barley. —Hereditas 106: 241–251. Lund, Sweden. 018–0661. Received September 19, 1986 Inheritance of isoenzymes controlled by from 2 to 4 alleles at each of 17 loci was investigated in 59 related varieties or lines and one population of European 2-rowed spring barley. A further 20 isoenzyme loci showed no variation. Altogether the material spanned the last 150 years. Inheritance of alleles normally was as expected; however, in some cases allowance should be made for now lost polymorphism in parent(s). Polymorphism was more common in old than in recent varieties and in some varieties affected alleles at more than one locus. Some gene depletion had taken place during the period studied. However, a number of “new” alleles had been introduced together with, e.g., resistance genes from exotic lines. The variation present in modern European 2– rowed spring barley comprises a restricted part only of the variation present in the species. Isoenzyme patterns separated the material into 48 groups of one variety each. and 11 groups of two and one group of three normally closely related varieties or lines. The combined use of the isoenzyme loci was superior to the use of either hordeins or Giemsa C-banding patterns for the identification of lines.