Genomic fingerprints in the tribe Triticeae produced by PCR using a tRNA consensus primer

Forty-one accessions belonging to ten genera of the tribe Triticeae representing both wild and cultivated species were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of two consensus tRNA primers tested, one primer revealed characteristic amplification products for all of the species. A total of 35 tRNA markers were scored across all accessions. Five genus-specific and three species-specific markers were obtained. Genomic fingerprints were largely conserved within a genus. The phylogram obtained using parsimony has separated most of the accessions into their prevailing taxonomic species and genus groups. The phylogram showed close association among the three genera Secale, Triticum and Hordeum as expected. The Triticum-Secale relationship was closer than the Triticum-Hordeum or the Secale-Hordeum relationships. The tree also reflected the close associations among the forage grass species belonging to Leymus and Elymus. Thus tDNA-PCR helped to identify species and genera. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.