Distribution and characterization of Aegilops cylindrica species from Iran
Jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica Host; 2n = 4x = 28, CcCcDcDc) is a tetraploid remote relative of bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L; 2n=6x=42, AABBDD) with 2 genomes and 28 chromosomes. The diversity center of this species is in the Fertile Crescent and in central Asia and could also be found in many places in Iran. In this experiment, 359 accessions provided by National Plant Gene Bank of Iran (NPGBI) were used. Based on the geographical distribution, the highest distribution of Ae. cylindrica are from North, West and North West regions of Iran. The distribution data of Ae. cylindrica showed that the distribution centers in Iran are more than those reported in previous studies in Iran. Chromosome counting showed that all Ae. cylindrica accessions are tetraploid (2n=4x=28). Results of factor analysis for 9 morphological chromosome traits showed that karyotypic variation within accessions are related to the length of chromosomes and there is difference between accessions for their total chromosome length, but the karyotype of different accessions were almost the same for the symmetry. Low coefficient of variation in morphological traits as well as symmetric karyotypes of Ae. cylindrica species observed in this study could lead us to more confidently say that Ae. cylindrica could be a recently evolved species among remote relatives of bread wheat.