VALBONA HOBDARI, Doriana BODE, Belul gixhari, Fetah elezi, adrian doko
Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
Department of Environment, Agricultural University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania
Corresponding author e-mail: vhobdari@ubt.edu.al
Abstract
Study for characterization of genetic diversity present in the durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) germplasm stored in genebank was carried out in the Experimental Field of Agriculture University of Tirana during the growing 2015-2016 season. The study analyzed 99 durum wheat accessions genotypes of local origin for 15 quantitative morphological characters and had the objective to characterize and select those with favorable characteristics for use in breeding programs and for accomplishment of farmer requests. Variance analysis, and correlation and cluster analysis reveal presence of significant variability between and the association among different traits. Most of the quantitative morphological characters (11 traits) showed significant differences for the important agronomic traits. Cluster analysis for morphological data divide the whole-wheat genotypes into six cluster groups in respect of genetic diversity and similarity among durum wheat accessions. Higher number of the wheat accessions was included into the fifth and the sixth cluster groups (21 and 24 accessions respectively). The study identifies traits with agronomic interest that account for genetic diversity and which will facilitate the maintenance and agronomic evaluation of the wheat collections.
Keywords: Clusters analysis, diversity, germplasm, quantitative characters.
