The main objectives of the study reported here were to construct a molecula
r map of wild emmer wheat, Triticum dicoccoides, to characterize the marker
-related anatomy of the genome, and to evaluate segregation and recombinati
on patterns upon crossing T. dicoccoides with its domesticated descendant T
riticum durum (cultivar Langdon). The total map length exceeded 3000 cM and
possibly covered the entire tetraploid genome (AABB). Clusters of molecula
r markers were observed on most of the 14 chromosomes. AFLP (amplified frag
ment length polymorphism) markers manifested a random distribution among ho
mologous groups, but not among genomes and chromosomes. Genetic differentia
tion between T. dicoccoides and T. durum was attributed mainly to the B gen
ome as revealed by AFLP markers. The segregation distorted markers were mai
nly clustered on 4A, SA, and 5B chromosomes. Homeoalleles, differentially c
onferring the vigor of gametes, might be responsible for the distortion on
5A and 5B chromosomes. Quasilinkage, deviation from free recombination betw
een markers of nonhomologous chromosomes, was discovered. Massive negative
interference was observed in most of the chromosomes (an excess of double c
rossovers in adjacent intervals relative to the expected rates on the assum
ption of no interference). The general pattern of distribution of islands o
f negative interference included near-centromeric location, spanning the ce
ntromere, and median/subterminal location.