The use of microsatellite markers for genetic diversity assessment of genus Hordeum L. in Kerman province (Iran)

In this study, gene diversity and genetic relationships among 30 genotypes of genus Hordeum from Kerman province (Iran) were assessed using 10 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers. Seven of these markers were highly polymorphic. A total of 96 alleles were detected. The number of alleles per microsatellite marker varied from 2 to 18. Except for Bmag0603, HVM36 and HvWAXY4, all the other markers showed on average, a high value of gene diversity ranging from 0.68 to 0.89. Primer GMS003 and GMS056 had the highest polymorphism information content (PIC) and so were able to distinguish different Hordeum genotypes. Cluster analysis based on unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) was accomplished by using the NTSYS-pc version 2.02 software for 4 major clusters which were finally extracted. Cluster 1 includes Hordeum distichon, Hordeum vulgare and Hordeum spontaneum, cluster 2 comprises Hordeum leporinum and Hordeum glaucum, cluster 3 has Hordeum bulbosum and cluster 4 includes Hordeum brevisubulatum ssp. iranicum. Data obtained from analysis are in complete agreement with taxonomic and gene pool classifications proposed previously. This study reports the first application of the SSR technique in characterization of genus Hordeum from Kerman province (Iran).