Molecular tools for genebank management and evaluation

Abstract

Molecular markers were developed for many species and enabled us to use them for the characterisation of genebank collections. We used the marker technology (microsatellites) for studying the genetic integrity of the self pollinating species wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and the open pollinating species rye (Secale cereale L.). The study became possible, because at IPK both the ex situ collection, consisting of seeds from the most recent regeneration and a herbarium collection is maintained. In the herbarium collection from each accession samples of grains and complete spikes are deposited as vouchers when they are grown initially. For the wheat accessions investigated the comparison of the DNA fingerprints showed a high degree of idendity. No contamination due to foreign pollen or incorrect handling during the multiplication cycles was discovered. For the open pollinating species rye, however, major changes in allele frequencies were detected. Overall, nearly 50% of the alleles discovered in the original sample were not found in the material present in the ex situ collection now. In some cases alleles were detected in the most recently propagated subpopulations that were not observed in the investigated plants of the original one. In addition to the integrity studies we are in process of utilizing molecular markers for a marker assisted screening of genebank collections. Salt tolerance of barley has been shown as a case study in the present article.