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This study was conducted to identify markers associated with some kernel traits in bread wheat in two separate experiments under field and laboratory. One hundred wheat genotypes were evaluated in an alpha lattice experimental design with two replications. Grain hardness, seed length, seed width and thousand kernel weights were measured. Association mapping was performed based on 96 unlinked and 22 SSR QTL linked markers, using structure and Tassel software. Correction for population structure was performed using genome wide SSR markers so that genotypes were divided into six sub-populations. Totally, 35 SSR markers linked to traits were detected eight of them being QTL linked markers and other markers that were linked to traits, were used to investigate population structure. The QTLs linked markers were as follows: Chromosomes 5B, 5D and 6D had three QTL for grain hardness. Nine QTLs were detected on chromosomes 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 2D, 5B, 5D, 6D and 7B for kernel length, kernel width and thousand kernel weights. The results of this study demonstrate that association mapping is a useful approach to complement and enhance previous QTL information for marker-assisted selection in wheat.

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Evaluation of genetic diversity among apricot genotypes may increase our genetic knowledge and provide better plant materials for selection of desirable genotypes. In this study, genetic diversity of 26 apricot genotypes phenological and physiological traits of 26 apricot cultivars collected at Kurdistan agricultural research station was studied based on a randomized complete block design with three replications for phenological and physiological traits. Analysis of variance showed that the effect of genotype on flower initiation, flowering period, relative water content (RWC), ion leakage, proline and potassium content of flower pistil tissue, spring frost damage to flowers, harvest date, total soluble solids, titratable Acidity (TA) and pH was significant at the 1% level. These results indicated that the existence of significant genetic variation among studied genotypes. The lowest heritability (28.5%) was belonged to date of 50% flowering, indicating the strong effect of environmental factors on this trait. The highest heritability (99%) estimated for related traits to yield including total soluble solids, fruit harvesting period and uniform rippening, suggested that the influence of environmental effects on these traits were very low.

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In this study, genetic diversity of 25 rainfed bread and durum wheat genotypes were assessed using 20 SSR primers that all of them were generated scorable bands. Totally 69 alleles (ranged between 2 allele for Xcfd40 and Xgwm369, and 5 allele for Xbarc54 primers per each locus), were distinguished. Polymorphic information content (PIC) for all SSR primers was calculated. The highest (0.98) and the lowest (0.64) amount of PIC was pertained to Xcfd40 and Xgwm30 primers, respectively. Based on similarity matrix, the highest and lowest genetic similarity was belonged to Seri82 and Seri (0.86) and Sita/chil and Baviacora (0.14), respectively. Cluster analysis could distinct spring and winter wheat genotypes and as well as bread and durum wheat genotypes. It was concluded that SSR marker was suitable for evaluation of genetic diversity in rainfed wheat genotypes. This genetic diversity can be used in wheat breeding programs.

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Estimation of genetic variation in crops, a very important role in the development of breeding programs and preservation of genetic resources through morphological characteristics, is possible. To identifying genetic variation and double haploid barley lines classification in relation to germination traits, 72 lines derived from the cross of Steptoe and Morex were evaluated in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with two replications, at three conditions including normal and two salinity levels of NaCl (100 and 200 mM NaCl). Investigated traits in this study were coefficient of velocity of germination, final germination percentage, mean germination daily, germination rate index and average germination speed. The results indicated that considerable genetic variation among genotypes in all traits. Genetical correlation based on average of the three environments indicated that high significant correlation exist (r= 0.85**) between the daily germination and final germination percentage. In this study, the highest value of phenotypic and genotypic variation coefficient, broad and narrow sense heritability and genetic gain were calculated for final germination percentag. Based on cluster analysis, barley genotypes were grouped into three categories and genotypes of the third cluster, were superior coefficient of variation of germination, germination percentage, germination rate and mean daily germination index, but had low a mount of germination rate. Therefore, the genotype of this group can be used in breeding for high germination percentage. Using principle component analysis; five traits were grouped in the form of two new variables that explained 99.061 percent of the total variance. Analysis biplot indicated that the genotypes of first group have a high percentage of germination index and germination index coefficients.

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Phylogenetic relations among 12 wild species of almonds, one cultivated almond and one species of peach were investigated by using of ITS1-5.8S rDNA-ITS2 sequences and trnL region of chloroplast DNA. To do this, maximum-parsimony and neighbor joining analysis adopted. Results of ITS data showed that studied species of Prunus only divided in two groups but incapable to separate different sections. P. tenella showed more diverse genetic distance in compare to other studied species and it seems that this species does not belong to Amygdalus. Also, by using the ITS data it can be reported that Prunus is monophyletic. In this research, the genetic distances for each pair of species were determined and the average genetic distance between species shows only the lowest genetic distance within the genus. Therefore, Prunus is a single genus. Regarding its high similarity of trnL region in wild almond species, it can be reported that maternal ancestor of Prunus is the same and trnL is not optimum marker to separate species of almond.

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Hexaploid winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L., 2n= 6x= 42, AABBDD) is an important small-grain cereal crop grown for food and feed. In Iran, wheat is the most cultivated cereal crop where winter wheat is ranked 1st in terms of production. Wheat fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most important diseases of wheat in humid and hot regions of the world, which causes a decrease in yield and grain quality. Fusarium head blight is caused by Fusarium graminearum. In order to investigate the resistance of some wheat traits against HBF, 27 varieties and lines of bread wheat were sown at the farm of Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University. The spikes were infected at the first flowering stage by spray inoculation. The results showed that there was a great diversity among the 27 varieties of bread wheat tested in terms of growth traits, yield components, and grain yield. The results of The Duncan's test for comparing means showed that cultivars Ghods, Shiraz, Morvarid 2, and Pishtaz had a significant superiority in terms of grain yield compared to other cultivars. The results of simple correlation and also stepwise regression analysis showed that the traits of 1000 seed weight, plant height, number of seeds per spike, number of spikes, spike length and plant height are very important traits for grain yield. According to values of broad sense heritability and genetic gain for plant height and high correlation of this trait and seed yield, plant height can be used as a suitable trait for improving seed yield by selection. The overall results showed that Shiraz, Pishtaz, Quds and Morwarid-2 cultivars are suitable for transferring resistance to wheat spike blight disease in breeding programs.