Abundant Genetic Diversity Harbored by Traditional Naked Barley Varieties on Tibetan Plateau: Implications in Their Effective Conservation and Utilization
NiMa QuZhen,
Lhundrup Namgyal,
Dawa Dondrup,
Ying Wang,
Zhi Wang,
Xing-Xing Cai,
Bao-Rong Lu,
La Qiong
Affiliations
NiMa QuZhen
Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Environment on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Lhasa 850000, China
Lhundrup Namgyal
State Key Laboratory of Hulless Barley and Yak Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Research Institute of Agriculture, Tibet Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lhasa 850000, China
Dawa Dondrup
State Key Laboratory of Hulless Barley and Yak Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Research Institute of Agriculture, Tibet Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Lhasa 850000, China
Ying Wang
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Fudan University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering, Shanghai 200438, China
Zhi Wang
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Fudan University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering, Shanghai 200438, China
Xing-Xing Cai
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Fudan University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering, Shanghai 200438, China
Bao-Rong Lu
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Fudan University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering, Shanghai 200438, China
La Qiong
Key Laboratory of Biodiversity and Environment on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Tibet University, Lhasa 850000, China
Naked barley (Hordeum vulgare var. nudum) is a staple food crop, contributing significantly to global food security. Understanding genetic diversity will facilitate its effective conservation and utilization. To determine genetic diversity and its distribution within and among varieties, we characterized 30 naked barley varieties from Tibet, representing the traditional, modern, and germplasm-resources-bank gene pools, by analyzing SSR molecular fingerprints. The results demonstrate abundant genetic diversity in Tibetan naked barley varieties, particularly those in the traditional gene pool that holds much more private (unique) alleles. Principal coordinates and STRUCTURE analyses indicate substantial deviation of the modern varieties from the traditional and germplasm-resources-bank varieties. A considerable amount of seed mixture is detected in the modern varieties, suggesting the practices of using mixed seeds in modern-variety cultivation. Cluster analyses further indicate the narrow genetic background of the modern varieties, likely due to the limited number of traditional/germplasm-resources-bank varieties applied in breeding. Relationships between increases in genetic diversity and sample sizes within naked barley varieties highlight the importance of effective sampling strategies for field collections. The findings from this study have important implications for the sustainable utilization and effective conservation of different types of naked barley germplasm, both in Tibet and in other regions around the world.
