Phylogenetic relationships of five morphological groups of hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell.) based on RAPD analysis.

The genetic relationships among the five groups of hexaploid wheat: common, spelta, macha, vavilovii, and semi-wild wheat (SWW) are not clear. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used to assess phylogenetic relationships among these five morphological groups of hexaploid wheat. RAPD data were analyzed using the NTSYS-PC computer program to generate Jaccard genetic similarity coefficients. A dendrogram based on RAPD analysis grouped 15 accessions into five distinct clusters. These results are in agreement with those based on morphological classification, suggesting that common wheat is most closely related to SWW, followed by spelta, vavilovii, and macha.