Characterization of wild emmer wheat Triticum dicoccoides germplasm for vernalization alleles

The flowering in winter and wild wheats is induced by extended exposure to cold temperatures, a process called vernalization while spring wheats do not have any such requirement. In the present study, we analyzed 45 accessions of wild emmer wheat T. dicoccoides for the allelic composition of the vernalization genes at VRN-A1 and VRN-B1 loci. Three gene based markers for VRN-A1 and two for VRN-B1 locus were used. Thirty five T. dicoccoides accessions had only winter type allele vrn-A1 at VRN-A1 locus. One accession each had VRN-A1a and Vrn-A1d allele, and two accessions each showed the presence of VRN-A1b and Vrn-A1c, potent spring type alleles. Three accessions, however, had multiple alleles at VRN-A1 locus. At the VRN-B1 locus 35 accessions had winter type allele vrn-B1 and 10 accession had dominant Vrn-B1 allele. These T. dicoccoides accessions constitute a very useful resource for incorporation of alternative vernalization alleles in the cultivated wheat gene pool for developing better adaptive wheat varieties.