Genome-specific markers of tetraploid wheats and their putative diploid progenitor species

The objective of this study was to isolate genome-specific markers from the genomes of tetraploid wheats and the putative donor diploid species on the basis of random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis followed by cross-hybri dization. Twenty different Triticum and Aegilops species and accessions wer e analysed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using 30 random primers. The polymorphic PCR fragments were then isolated, labelled and used in crosshyb ridization screenings. The hybridization results established that one marke r was specific to the Ae. speltoides S genome. two to the A genome, one to the B genome and five to the G genomes of polyploid species land to the gen omes of the corresponding progenitor species). Four markers were identified that were specific to both the B and G genomes, Analysis of the Triticum a nd Aegilops species and accessions supported the notion that Ae.speltoides is more closely related to the B and G genomes of polyploid wheat species t han were other members of the Sitopsis section. The data also indicated tha t the B and G genomes had originated from different accessions of Ae. spelt oides.