Agro-morphological and molecular characterization of gene resources to be used in einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum) breeding

The aim of this study was to characterize 90 einkorn wheat genotypes both phenotypically and genotypically. The field experiment was carried out under Çukurova conditions according to randomized block experiment design during the growing seasons of 2016-2017 and 2017-2018. As a result of DNA analysis of einkorn wheat genotypes, 1219 SNP markers were determined. According to the dendrogram, the 90 einkorn genotypes were divided into three main groups. It was found that they did not divide according to their origins. Interestingly, some genotypes showed similar genetic background based on SNP analyses For the purpose of the agro-morphological characterization, some plant characteristics such as plant height, length of the upper internode, spike length, number of spikelets per spike, grain number per spike and spike yield were studied, and the obtained data were analyzed according to randomized block experiment design. As a result of the study, it was determined that 64 of 90 einkorn wheat genotypes were suitable for Çukurova conditions. Agro-morphological data showed that the examined einkorn wheat genotypes had a wide variation in terms of spike length, spike number per spike, grain number per spike and spike yield. From the results of the phenotypic and genotypic data, it was concluded that the genotypes studied could be used in the breeding programs of einkron wheat.