Identification of Poplar clones is necessary, Particularly at early stage of growth, to demonstrate their similarity and diversity in selection process. Identification and selection of poplar clones was carried out using MORPHOLOGICAL attributes after a process period of 10-15years. Although this approach, renders some information about the clones growth characteristics, but requires relatively high costs for time and site. In this study 12 clones belonged to four species were planted under randomized complete blocks statistical design with three replicates and their data were recorded during the years 1999-2001. Twenty distinctive MORPHOLOGICAL attributes of the poplar clones leaves, branches and roots which according to the new methods can be applied to identify clones and species at early growth stages, were measured at different times. The data were analyzed using various univariate and multivariate statistical methods including analysis of variance, cluster analysis and principal component analysis. The results shows that the MORPHOLOGICAL MARKERS in conjunction with appropriate statistical methods are able to differentiate poplar clones. There were significant differences between the species and clones, regarding their MORPHOLOGICAL characteristics. Although univariate analysis was not suitable for systematical classification, but multivariate analyses such as cluster and component analyses were the best for the clones and species classification. Overall, the clones of the species P. alba, P. nigra, P. euphratica and P.deltoides were classified at separate groups.

Tomato is one of the most economically important vegetable crops in many parts of the world. Improvement of yield and other essential characteristics of tomato have received more attention. Mapping quantitative trait loci could accelerate tomato breeding processes. ISSR MARKERS were used to identify molecular makers associated with qualitative and quantitative traits in 93 landraces (from West Azarbaijan in Iran and Iğ dı r in Turkey) and three commercial cultivars. Association analysis using mixed linear model (MLM) identified 74 ISSR MARKERS significantly (p<0. 05) associated with 12 qualitative traits. The highest and lowest number of associated MARKERS achieved for fruit size homogeneity (4 MARKERS) and depression at peduncle end (10 MARKERS), respectively. For quantitative traits, 93 ISSR MARKERS were found to be significantly (p<0. 02) associated with 20 traits. The highest and lowest number of associated MARKERS was observed for cotyledon leaf width (one marker) and fruit length and fruit pH (9 MARKERS), respectively. Some MARKERS showed significant association with a number of quantitative traits in both years. Also, siginificant associations were found between a marker and various traits. After validation of these MARKERS, we will be able to use them in tomato breeding programs for simoultaneous mutil-trait selection.

This study was conducted to analyze genetic diversity in 15 natural populations of Iranian Agropyron pectiniforme using MORPHOLOGICAL traits and RAPDs (Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA) molecular MARKERS. Five primers out of the 10 were highly polymorphic and produced 128 polymorphic bands ranging in length of 500 to 2200 bp. According to AMOVA (Analysis of Molecular Variance) results, there was higher genetic variation between populations (53%) than within them (47%). Cluster analysis based on RAPD data categorized the populations into five clusters. PCoA (Principal Coordinates Analysis) results showed the first four coordinates accounted for 95% of the total variation. The scatter of populations based on the first two components was in agreement with cluster analysis results. There was no significant mantel correlation coefficient between molecular and geographical data indicating the classification of A. pectiniforme based on RAPD marker was not in accordance with geographical distribution. With regard to MORPHOLOGICAL traits, characters such as plant height and the number of stems per plants were considered as suitable parameters for selection and breeding programs. The two marker systems gave different estimates of genetic variability among populations. Finally, our findings demonstrated the feasibility of the RAPD technique for quantifying genetic distances among A. pectiniforme populations. It was concluded that, there is sufficient genetic variation between Iranian populations of Agropyron pectiniforme making these populations potentially useful for breeding improved varieties.

Association analysis allows precise and fast methods for positioning of genes controlling quantitative traits. For this purpose, present study was conducted to assess the association of 27 primer pairs and 16 MORPHOLOGICAL traits recorded on 36 accessions belonged to 7 species of genus Brassica by stepwise regression using SAS software. Twenty-seven SSR primers amplified 130 alleles which 127 were polymorphic bands, with an average of 4. alleles per locus. Polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.16 to 0.49, with an average of 0.77. Primers O113-D02a and Ra2-E12 had the highest PIC. The result of stepwise regression analysis showed significant relationship among 27 SSR MARKERS and at the least one of the MORPHOLOGICAL traits. Therefore, it is possible to use these MARKERS along with MORPHOLOGICAL data in canola breeding programs for identification of suitable parents especially in segregation populations. A significant amount of MORPHOLOGICAL variation was explained by MARKERS BRMS- 008 and BRMS -024 indicating that genes associated with these traits are possibly located in chromosomal loci close together. The most variation of oil content (0.99) was accounted by BRMS-001, BRMS-005, BRMS-007, BRMS-008, BRMS-029, BRMS-031, BRMS-040, Ni4-D09, Na14-G06, Na12-F03, Na12-D04, O113-D02a, Ra2-E12 and Ni2-F02 MARKERS. In this study, all studied loci were uniformly distributed around traits. Therefore, coding genes of agronomcal traits could identify by sequencing of loci with highest R2Also MARKERS with highest association to traits can be used for saturating linkage maps.

In order to group and compare 100 almond seed genotypes in Malayer region, 65 different quantitative and qualitative attributes related to vegetative and fruit traits of nut and kernel were measured based on the almond descriptor. Based on the results obtained some of the traits like the habit of tree growth, marking of outer shell, the durability of the outer layer of the outer shell, the opening of the outer shell, the presence of an extra edge of the nut, the time of leaves fall in the autumn, the percentage of twin kernels, the amount of leaf phosphorus and taste of the kernel had a high coefficient of variation. Simple correlation coefficients between traits showed that there were some vegetative, nut and kernel measured traits have a positive or negative correlation. Significant positive correlation between the ratio of length to width of the kernel and the shape of the nut (r= 0. 60), the outer shell thickness and the softness and hardness of the outer shell (r = 0. 65) existed. The cluster analysis divided the genotypes into two main groups at 15 Euclidean distances and the most important factors in the separation of genotypes from each other are the outer shell thickness, the outer layer thickness of the outer shell, the softness and hardness of the outer shell. With decrease in the Euclidean distance from 15 to 5, genotypes were divided into six main groups. Among the important factors were the separation of traits such as fruit ripening, nut shape, outer shell thickness, softness and hardness of the crust and the percentage of twin kernel. Factor analysis reduced the assessed traits to 11 main factors, justifying 61. 17 percent of total variation. The traits related to the nut and kernel had the greatest effect on the separation of cultivars and genotypes. According to the results, there is a good genetic variation in almond genotypes in this region which can be used in almond breeding programs.

Background and Objectives: Tea (Camellia sinensis (L. ) O. Kuntze) is one of the most important crops in north of Iran. Todays, many tea plants are being destroyed for various reasons, so having information about their genetics is helpful in designing breeding programs to reach appropriate plants for specific purposes. Therefore, in this research, the genetic diversity of some tea genotypes were identified in major cultivation regions of this crop in north of Iran with comparison by eight imported clones. Materials and Methods: In this study genetic diversity of 42 tea plants were investigated by using of two MORPHOLOGICAL and ISSR MARKERS. MORPHOLOGICAL study was performed by descriptor that registered form for tea and 31 traits were checked out. After selecting young and well expanded leaves, their genomic DNA were extracted and 10 ISSR primer were used for investigation of genetic relationships between 42 tea genotypes. Collected data was analyzed by Euclidean distances for MORPHOLOGICAL MARKERS and SM similarity coefficient for ISSR and clusters were designed based on UPGMA algorithm. PCA analyzed were done by SPSS. Results: Comparative analysis on 31 MORPHOLOGICAL characteristics in tea genotypes and clone showed moderate variations and showed a narrow range. In cluster analysis at a difference of 6. 6, the samples were divided into six groups; the main group consisted of the sixth group, which contained 88% of the samples. The results of PCA on MORPHOLOGICAL characters showed that the first, five principal components accounted for 54. 21% of the total variance. Ten ISSR primers yielded a total of 92 scorable fragments that could be scored, of which 72 were polymorphic, with an average of 78. 26%. The PIC analysis showed ranging from 0. 43 to 0. 50. cophenetic test showed that SM similarity coefficient and UPGMA algorithm was the best for cluster analyses. According to ISSR data calculated similarity were range between 0. 28-0. 93. In cluster analyses, samples at similarity 0. 55 divided to four group that fourth group was the main created group and covered 66. 66% of samples. The results of PCA on ISSR data showed that the first, five principal components accounted for 72. 98% of the total variance. Conclusion: A significant variability was observed in the selected tea genotypes at MORPHOLOGICAL and molecular levels. MORPHOLOGICAL study showed that distribution of tea plant in the past, although based on desirable characteristics, but due to the limited initial source of this plant, there is little variation among the genotypes of the regions. In relation to the ISSR marker, the polymorphism percentage and t polymorphic information content from the primers used in this study indicate the ability of these MARKERS to differentiate the tea genotypes. From these results it could be understood that these series of characters and primers can distinguish genetic differences very well. Using these MARKERS, genetic variation was observed between the genotypes of tea, but this diversity was not such as to be able to disrupt the genotypes of different regions. It seems that this separation could be achieved by increasing the number of primer combinations and using other MARKERS such as SSR and SNP. Also, the results of this study showed that Iranian tea genotypes have high genetic variation because they are mostly reproduced sexually.

The first step in a plant breeding program, is to evaluate genetic variation in the plant germplasm. In order to study the genetic diversity among barley genotypes, 64 genotypes provided by the Seed and Plant Improvement Institue, Karaj, Iran were assessed using 14 SSR MARKERS. The obtained 128 alleles, had 1 to 17 polymorphic alleles in each locus and 81 polymorph alleles were obtained.Average number of alleles in all of locus were 9.14.Average number alleles in plant in all of locus showed 2.0. Calculated PIC coefficient (Polymorphism Information Content) based on the scored bands ranged from 0.49 to 0.89.Some of the MARKERS showed association with one or more MORPHOLOGICAL characteristics.Results showed that micro satellite MARKERS could reveal high polymorphism and therefore are helpful for fingerprinting, clustering and marker assisted selection.

In the current investigation, 22 SSR primer pairs were used to identify molecular MARKERS associated with MORPHOLOGICAL traits in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) based association analysis, MARKERS produced 186 locations in 32 cowpea genotypes. 22 SSR primers pair amplified 8.45 for each primer location and the average polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.445 to 0.25 (Vm25) and 0.625 (Vm5) were varied, respectively. Cluster analysis based on Dice, Jaccard and Simple Maching similarity coefficients based on molecular traits revealed primarily two major groups. Stepwise regression analysis between molecular data as independent variables, and MORPHOLOGICAL data as dependent variables was performed to identify informative MARKERS associated with the studied traits. SSR loci associated with economic and biological yield, in normal conditions and in drought stress condition were Vm70 and Vm33, and Vm3 and Vm26 respectively. In drought stress condition the maximum variation of number of days to 50% flowering, days to 50% maturity of pods and pod length (99.9%, respectively) was accounted by Vm22, Vm31 and Vm26 MARKERS. While in the normal condition the maximum variation of traits sheath thickness, width of pod and days to 50% flowering (99.9%) was accounted by Vm14, Vm34 and Vm34 MARKERS. In both normal and drought conditions most of the used SSR primers showed significant association with the studied traits, so we can use these MARKERS along with MORPHOLOGICAL traits in breeding cowpea genotypes to identify drought tolerant and hardy cultivars suitable for the preparation and use mapping populations.