Molecular characterization of rye cultivars

The results of molecular analysis of 45 rye taxa (Secale cereale L.) represented by agricultural varieties originated from Central Europe and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (SUN) are presented. The genetic diversity of rye cultivars by 6 SSR markers was evaluated. Six specific microsatellite primer pairs produced 58 polymorphic alleles with an average of 9.7 alleles per locus. The number of alleles ranged from 6 (SCM2) to 14 (SCM86). Genetic polymorphism was characterized based on diversity index (DI), probability of identity (PI) and polymorphic information content (PIC). The diversity index (DI) of SSR markers ranged from 0.5478 (SCM2) to 0.887 (SCM86) with an average of 0.778. The lowest value of polymorphic information content was recorded for SCM2 (0.484) and the highest value for SCM86 (0.885) of PIC was detected in SCM86 with an average of 0.760.The dendrogram of genetic similarity was constructed, based on UPGMA algorithm. The hierarchical cluster analysis divided rye genotypes into 4 main clusters. The first cluster of 14 genotypes was subdivided in two subclusters (1a and 1b) where 50% of genotypes were Czechoslovak origin. The second cluster contained four genotypes were three (75%) of them had Czech or Czechoslovak origin. In the third subcluster separated three rye genotypes of different origin. The rest (24) of rye genotypes in the fourth cluster were divided into two subclusters (4a and 4b) where clearly separated group of Polish (4aa) and Czech and Czechoslovak (4ab) genotypes. Two genotypes of 4aa subcluster (Wojcieszyckie and Dankowskie Nowe) from Poland were genetically the closest. In the dendrogram alle genotypes were differentiated and clustering partially reflects geographic origin of studied rye genotypes. In this experiment, SSRs markers proved to be a high informative and usefull tool in genetic diversity research for the distinguishing and characterization of close related varieties.