Abstract:

【Objective】 The purpose of this study was to reveal genetic relationship between the large-scale cultivated wheat varieties and the founder genotypes (cornerstone breeding parents) and illuminate the role of the founder genotypes in breeding at genomic level. 【Method】 Sixty-six large-scale planted varieties and 13 founder genotypes were genotyped at 481 SSR loci by the ABI 3730. 【Result】 Analyses of principal coordinate (PCO) and neighbor-joining cluster based on the genotyping data showed that the 66 large-scale planted varieties were clustered into six major groups. In each group, there is at least one founder. Within each group, most of the large-scale planted varieties are the descendents of the founder. Varieties from the same province usually jointed into one group. Two founders, Bima 4 and St2422-464 convey more alleles favored in breeding than their sister lines, Bima 1 and St1472-506, respectively. Usually, the older cornerstone breeding parents are the founders for the new ones. Among sister lines, the new founder has more difference than large-scale cultivated varieties to their founder genotype. 【Conclusion】 Therefore, innovation and enhancement of germplasm is the base for breeding large-scale planted varieties. It should occupy proper portion in national breeding program.

Key words: common wheat, major cultivar, founder, microsatellite genotyping