Genetic Similarity of Avena sativa L. Varieties as an Example of a Narrow Genetic Pool of Contemporary Cereal Species

Abstract

The assessment of the genetic diversity of cultivated varieties is a very important element of breeding programs. This allows the determination of the level of genetic differentiation of cultivated varieties, their genetic distinctiveness, and is also of great importance in the selection of parental components for crossbreeding. The aim of the present study was to determine the level of genetic diversity of oat varieties currently grown in Central Europe based on two marker systems: ISSR and SCoT. The research conducted showed that both these types of markers were suitable for conducting analyses relating to the assessment of genetic diversity. The calculated coefficients showed that the analyzed cultivars were characterized by a high genetic similarity. However, the UPGMA and PCoA analyses clearly indicated the distinctiveness of the breeding programs conducted in Central European countries. The high genetic similarity of the analyzed forms allow us to conclude that it is necessary to expand the genetic pool of oat varieties. Numerous studies show that landraces may be the donor of genetic variation.