Evaluation of some morphological characters of Aegilops cylindrica populations from Hungary

In order to assess the genetic diversity of some jointed goatgrass (Aegilops cylindrica Host) populations in Hungary, some of their morphological traits and agronomic characters were evaluated in 2001-2002. Jointed goatgrass is a wild relative of wheat and the only native Aegilops species present in the Hungarian flora. A total of 54 samples from natural populations at 19 sites were collected (1998-2002) in the central and nor-them parts of Hungary. For detailed morphological characterisation, 23 samples were selected and evaluated in an autumn sown field trial in three replications on meadow loam soil. Multivariate statistical methods were used to analyse the association of some morphological traits and agronomic characters (plant height, length of ear, number of spikelets/ear, number of seeds/ear, grain diameter, thousand seed mass). Variation was detected in both morphological and grain characters. The experimental data indicate the existence of considerable genetic variation underlying the traits studied in jointed goatgrass populations grown in the experiments conducted.