Genetic Diversity Analysis and Molecular Screening for Salinity Tolerance in Wheat Germplasm

Salinity is the most significant constraint to wheat cultivation in the salinity-affected areas. Saline-prone soils can be brought under cultivation by the development of salt-tolerant lines through molecular breeding aided by diversity analysis and molecular screening. The study aimed to screen for salinity tolerance and elucidate the extent of diversity among 75 wheat varieties and accessions. This molecular analysis and detection used 21 linked SSR markers. The study identified 202 alleles in 75 genotypes of wheat, giving 9.6 alleles on an average for salt tolerance screening. The mean polymorphism information content (PIC) of 0.7599 and the Nei’s (1973) gene diversity of 0.7856 were recorded. The accessions possess higher gene diversity and PIC than the cultivars. The average genetic similarity matrix coefficient was 0.60 within the range of 0.19 and 1.00. Similarity indices based UPGMA cluster analysis separated the 75 germplasm into six clusters. Eight genotypes grouped in sub-cluster Ib together with the positive control BINA Gom-1. Therefore, these eight genotypes were identified as potential salt-tolerant by molecular analysis using SSR markers linked to salinity. The gene diversity estimated, and the germplasm identified as potential salt-tolerant are promising for use in wheat breeding to incorporate salt tolerance in novel cultivars by marker-assisted breeding.