M. Mardi - Department of Genomics, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran, Mahdasht Road, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran.
M. R. Naghavi - Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran.
S. M. Pirseyedi - Department of Genomics, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran, Mahdasht Road, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran.
M. Kazemi Alamooti - Department of Genomics, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran, Mahdasht Road, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran.
S. Rashidi Monfared - Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran.
A. H. Ahkami - Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Islamic Republic of Iran.
M. A. Omidbakhsh
N. S. Alavi
P. Salehi Shanjani
A. Katsiotis

Comparative assessment of genetic diversity of ۱۲۲ durum wheat genotypes (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum) was performed using ۷۳ SSAP polymorphic fragments, ۱۲۳ AFLP polymorphic loci and ۱۰۴ SSR alleles. SSAP and AFLP data showed a clear demarcation between the cultivars and landraces and SSR data classified cultivars and landraces according to their origin. Furthermore, the estimated genetic diversity of Iranian landraces was higher compared to the foreign entries and a loss of genetic diversity was observed from landraces to cultivars. This study determined that differences in genetic relationships revealed by SSAP, AFLP and SSR distances could not be attributed solely to differences in the level of polymorphism detected by each marker system. The molecular evidence of genetic diversity decrease of the durum wheat gene pool further strengthens the strategic relevance of undertaking appropriate genetic conservation measures for food security.

Genetic diversity, AFLP, Durum, SSAP, SSR