Mapping the geographical distribution of genetic variation in the genusLensfor the enhanced conservation of plant genetic diversity

Abstract

Plant genetic resource conservation strategies, informed by an understanding of the geographical distribution of genetic variation within species, are likely to result in a wider representation of conserved diversity inex situgene banks andin situgenetic reserves. The main objective of this study was to map the geographical distribution of genetic variation, as revealed by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs), in four wild relatives of the cultivated lentil, namelyLens culinarisssp.orientalis, L. odemensis, L. ervoidesandL. nigricans. Areas of high diversity and unique diversity were located for each taxon, and regions where further germplasm collection was most likely to yield novel genetic variation were identified. There were centres of diversity forL. culinarisssp.orientalisin southeast Turkey and northwest Syria, and in south Syria and Jordan. A centre of diversity was found to exist in Sweida province, south Syria, forL. odemensis, and forL. ervoidesalong the coastal border region between Syria and Turkey stretching down along the Syrian coast. There was a centre of diversity forL. nigricansin west Turkey. Analytical techniques previously used at the species level were found to be useful at the genotypic level to objectively target areas for future collection missions, to increase diversity inex situcollections and to target areas forin situconservation.