Genetic differentiation and post-glacial establishment of the geographical distribution in Aegilops caudata L.

Aegilops caudata L. is a diploid wild relative of wheat distributed over the north-eastern Mediterranean from Greece to northern Iraq. To elucidate the geographical differentiation pattern, 35 accessions derived from the entire distribution area were crossed with four Tester strains. Pollen fertility in the F1 hybrids varied from 0 to 96.3% among cross combinations, closely correlating with the geographical regions where the parental accessions were collected. Based on the intraspecific hybrid sterility, the present distribution area of Ae. caudata was divided into two geographical regions effectively isolated by the mountainous region lying between West Anatolia and Central Anatolia. The western region is composed of Greece and West Anatolia, while the eastern region consists of Central Anatolia, South Anatolia, East Anatolia and northern Iraq. The present results and the facts from recent palaeopalynological works suggest that during the maximum glacial period from 18,000 BP to 16,000 BP, Ae. caudata occurred in the two isolated regions, i.e., the region surrounding the Aegean Sea and the western Levant or some sheltered habitats in the East Taurus/Zagros mountains arc, and that it migrated into Central and East Anatolia from the latter regions as the climate became warmer. Furthermore, it is also suggested that the Levant populations now occur in the eastern region of the distribution, while those occurring in the Aegean Sea region during the last glacial period now occupy the western region of the distribution.