Abstract

Genetic variation in the allotetraploid grass Elymus alaskanus complex was assessed using microsatellites in seven populations from Canada, Greenland, and the U.S.A. Microsatellite variation was compared with allozyme and RAPD variation. Our results indicated that E. alaskanus was highly homozygous but also highly variable. The polymorphic loci ranged from 50 to 100% with a mean of 78.6%, and the mean number of allele per locus was 3.14. Average expected heterozygosity value (H-E, gene diversity) varied across populations and ranged from 0.244 to 0.651 with mean of 0.414. The mean value of H-E across Canadian populations (0.517) was significantly higher than that across populations in Greenland (0.367). The correlation between allozyme and microsatellite gene diversity value (H-E) showed a high positive correlation (r = 0.68), but between RAPD and microsatellite showed a low positive correlation (r = 0.08). Populations were highly differentiated, with 38% of variation among populations. Interpopulation genetic distance showed no association with geographic distance between the population sites of origin. A Hardy-Weinberg exact test for all loci and all populations reveals a significant heterozygote deficiency. Possible explanations for heterozygote deficiency are discussed

Published in

Genome
2003, Volume: 46, number: 5, pages: 729-737
Publisher: NATL RESEARCH COUNCIL CANADA

SLU Authors

• Salomon, Björn

  • Department of Crop Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Agricultural Science
Food Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/G03-052

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/1751