Abstract

In the present study, thirty indigenous landraces exclusively collected from Waziristan Agency, Khyber Pakhtunkwa, Pakistan along with 14 cultivars were investigated for genetic diversity and resistance to fungal diseases. The germplasm was evaluated for morphological traits, response to rust and smut, and seed protein markers. A low level of allelic variation was observed for morphological trait, while the agronomic traits exhibited higher level of coefficient of variation. In the present study, six lines (MIRALI (ECDOCK) NWA, MIRALI NWA-1, MIRALI NWA-2, BANNU PROPER-1 and FR-BANNU DOMEL) were highly resistant to rust disease. The SDS-PAGE was carried out to assess the genetic diversity and selection of elite genotypes based on proteomic homology of high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin (Glu-A1) using Jaccard’s similarity coefficient. Almost 16% genetic diversity (low level) was observed in HMW glutenin protein and the germplasm was grouped into five clusters. The cluster 5 sorted resistant lines, while the others were inter-spread, although few of these were grouped on the basis of collection sites. The genotype from Chakdara-2 of Cluster 1 was unique due to the presence of all the polypeptides of HMW glutenin protein. Based on HMW glutenin, the resistant line fromBannu Proper-1 and FR-Bannu Domel were similar to the improved line RAJ andBAKHTAWAR-92. On the basis of this initial investigation it is suggested to investigate this germplasm for their adaptability and for molecular markers to employ this unique germplasm in modern wheat cultivars.

Key words: Diversity in Glu-A1 loci, novel immune lines, Pakistani wheat, Puccinia triticina, SDS-PAGE.