An analysis of Amplification fragment polymorphism of DNA from 27 acce
ssions of 19 tetraploid Elymus species was carried out using 18 wheat
microsatellite (WMS) primer pairs and 10 decamer primers. Ten WMS prim
er pairs produced multiple polymorphism on all accessions tested. Two
independent phenograms, one based on WMS-PCR and one on RAPDs, separat
ed the 19 tetraploid species into two main groups, viz., the SH genome
species group and the SY genome species group. The results coincide w
ith the genomic classification of these species and hence support prev
ious studies showing that Elymus is not a monophyletic genus. The assa
ys indicated that accessions within a species cluster together, which
concurs with the morphological classification. Interspecific and intra
specific polymorphisms were detected by the WMS-PCR and RAPD analyses.
Variation was observed among accessions of Elymus caninus. The WMS-PC
R detected a much higher level of polymorphism than the RAPD analysis.
WMSs seem to be more efficient markers than RAPD markers for studying
the population diversity of Elymus species. The potential of cross-sp
ecies amplification of microsatellite markers as an additional source
for genetic analysis and applications in Elymus is discussed in the co
ntext of these results.