Molecular characterisation of the oldest domesticated Turkish einkorn wheat landraces with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers

Einkorn (Triticum monococcum L. ssp. monococcum) is an ancient diploid wheat species with many useful traits and used as a wheat gene discovery model. In this research, a total of 41 diploid and tetraploid wheat accessions were tested using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. A total of 33 genotypes of T. monococcum along with four genotypes each of tetraploid wheat (T. dicoccon and T. durum) were used as plant material. The analysis utilized 10 polymorphic markers, including a total number of 41 alleles with an average frequency of 4.1 alleles per locus during exploration of the level of genetic variations. Various diversity analyses, which are the effective number of alleles (Ne), gene diversity (h), Polymorphic Information Content (PIC), and Shannon's information index (I), were performed for 10 'A' genome wheat SSR markers. The results showed a narrow variation in einkorn genotypes, supported by Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA), with 66% maximum variation in all genotypes. The structure analysis divided the whole germplasm into two populations. A dendrogram was constructed to determine the genetic similarities using the unpaired group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA), which separated tetraploid wheat from other genotypes/accessions. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) co-supported the clustering of UPGMA and structure by differentiating the diploid and tetraploid wheat. These findings will help understand the genetic relationships among these wheat accessions and their use in breeding programs in the future works

Identification of Hordeum spontaneum Genotypes Resistant to Net Blotch Disease

Wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) is a progenitor of cultivated barley and naturally grows in Turkey. H. spontaneum genotypes possess superior characteristics for biotic and abiotic stress tolerance factors. In this study, 3 virulent Pyrenophora teres f. maculata and 3 virulent P. teres f. teres isolates were tested under greenhouse conditions in order to find net blotch resistant H. spontaneum genotypes. A total of 104 H. spontaneum genotypes were used. Twenty-six H. spontaneum genotypes which corresponded to 25% of the genotypes (genotypes numbered 8, 13, 14, 16, 22, 24, 27, 31, 37, 44, 47, 54, 58, 62, 65, 66, 69, 74, 78, 81, 89, 94, 99, 102, 104 and 107) exhibited reactions classified in the resistant group to 3 virulent P. teres f. maculata isolates. Eight H. spontaneum genotypes which corresponded to 7.6% of the genotypes (genotypes numbered 24, 27, 29, 33, 44, 54, 89 and 94) exhibited reactions classified in the resistant group to 3 virulent P. teres f. teres isolates. Six H. spontaneum genotypes which corresponded to 5.7% of the genotypes (genotypes numbered 24, 27, 44, 54, 89 and 94) exhibited reactions in the resistant group to both 6 virulent P. teres f. teres and P. teres f. maculata isolates. In addition, a considerable number of genotypes exhibited resistant group reactions to one or two isolates of both forms of the pathogen. These genotypes could be used for developing net blotch resistant barley cultivars

Assessment of the nutritional value of selected wild food plants in Türkiye and their promotion for improved nutrition

Türkiye represents one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots, containing over 11,000 species of plants, with an estimated 10% being edible. Wild food plants, especially in rural areas, are collected and eaten or sold in local markets, complementing people’s diets, and represent a source of additional income for foraging households. Yet, the use of wild food plants is declining, with both their dietary and cultural values being undermined. Wild food plants can be used as a healthy dietary alternative to imported and ultra-processed foods, particularly as the Turkish population increasingly suffers from diet-related diseases. Using a unique and innovative approach to mainstream biodiversity for food and nutrition, wild food plants from five different regions of Türkiye were analyzed to determine their nutrient composition, and to evaluate their contribution not only to diets and nutrition, but to promoting a more sustainable food system. Examples are presented of how the approach was put into practice and how action was taken to (i) strengthen the evidence of the nutritional value of wild food plants; (ii) use this knowledge to shape new policies and identify emerging markets for food biodiversity; and, (iii) improve awareness of consumers, using capacity building and farmer training, gastronomy, and cultural events

Eski bir arpa koleksiyonundaki fenotipik varyasyon

Historically barley has been a very important crop in agriculture system of Turkey as it is now. Barley breeding and collecting activities started at the beginning of 20th century in Turkey. During that time huge amount of material piled up at the seed banks and collections of plant breeding institutions through collecting missions and material exchange. We characterized around 3.500 barley accessions of Eskisehir Transition Zone Agricultural Research Institute. Characterized populations have been obtained from 44 countries (Asia 14, Europe 19, Americas 6, Africa 4 and Australia) of 5 continents and two international agricultural research institutes since 1950’s up to date. We are presenting only the result of 2.517 two row barley accessions with this paper. Results of the study reveal a series of phenotypic similarities and differences between the materials of several countries. Results also show the existence of a significant amount of diversity between the populations which can be used as a source for breeding programs.Arpa, günümüzde olduğu gibi geçmişte de Türkiye’nin tarım sistemi içinde önemli bir yere sahip olmuştur. Türkiye’de arpa ıslah ve toplama çalışmaları XX. yüzyılın ilk dönemlerinde başlamıştır. O günden günümüze değin toplama çalışmaları ve materyal değişimi yoluyla tohum bankalarında ve bitki ıslahı yapan enstitülerin koleksiyonlarında çok sayıda arpa örneği birikmiştir. Bu çalışmada Eskişehir Geçit Kuşağı Tarımsal Araştırma Enstitüsü stoklarındaki 3.500 civarında arpa örnekleri kullanılmıştır. Araştırma materyali 1950 yılından günümüze kadar dünyanın 5 kıtasındaki 44 ülkeden (Asya 14, Avrupa 19, Amerika 6, Afrika 4 ve Avustralya) ve iki uluslararası tarımsal araştırma enstitüsünden temin edilmiştir. Burada sadece 2 sıralı arpaların yer aldığı 2.517 örneğe ait sonuçlar verilmiştir. Çalışma sonuçlarına göre, örnekler arasında arpa ıslah programlarına iyi bir kaynak oluşturabilecek önemli derecede çeşitlilik olduğunu belirlenmiştir

Identification of Barley Landraces and Wild Barley (Hordeum spontaneum) Genotypes Resistant to Rhynchosporium commune

Barley scald is caused by the fungal pathogen Rhynchosporium commune. This disease causes substantial losses in barley production areas of the world. In this study, seedling resistance of 198 barley landraces, 104 wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) genotypes and two susceptible Turkish cultivars (Bülbül 89 and Efes 3) to 6 R. commune isolates was assessed in greenhouse experiments. Virulence differences among the R. commune isolates were observed. One sixrowed barley landrace (Yeşilköy 9052) was resistant to all six isolates. Another six-rowed barley landrace (genotype no 17) showed resistant reaction to 5 isolates. Fourteen barley landraces were resistant and susceptible to 4 and 2 isolates, respectively. Twenty seven genotypes of H. spontaneum numbered as 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 16, 20, 30, 31, 36, 37, 48, 50, 51, 56, 58, 59, 60, 62, 67, 79, 80, 83, 90, 94 and 101 were found resistant to all six isolates of R. commune. Apart from these genotypes, 19 genotypes numbered as 1, 2, 32, 33, 34, 42, 43, 49, 52, 64, 66, 76, 77, 78, 96, 97, 102, 104 and 107 showed resistance to 5 isolates and susceptibility to only 1 isolate. Two susceptible Turkish cultivars Bülbül 89 and Efes 3 were found susceptible to 96% of the scald isolates. Resistant barley landraces and Hordeum spontaneum genotypes can be used as sources of resistance against R. commune