Molecular genetic analysis of some North African barley germplasms

Isozyme and RAPD markers were used to characterize 29 barley accessions, which were collected from North Africa. In addition, resistance gene sequences were employed to develop molecular markers using RT-PCR approach. High level of polymorphism was found with both RAPD and isozyme markers, where RAPD showed that 60 % of amplified bands were polymorphic. Peroxidase showed three polymorphic loci (7 allelic bands). Isozymes cluster analysis successfully separated the barley accessions into three geographically distinct groups. RAPD investigation demonstrated that Egyptian accessions were grouped into two obvious groups. Moreover, the Tunisian accessions showed no distinct clustering, while high dissimilarities were revealed by the Algerian accessions. In the RT-PCR, from six primer pairs selected, primer pair AF092524P1P2 successfully amplified two specific amplicons of approximately (340 & 220 bp) and (360 & 270 bp), respectively in two Egyptian barley genotypes (El-Awamah and Awlad-Ali). One primer pair DN988165P1P2 gave only one specific amplicon in both barley genotypes of 250 and 270 bp, respectively. The markers developed could be used in improving barley crop by assisting in breeding selection of resistance genotypes.