Summary
Esterase isozymes of tetraploid wheat landraces originating from four localities in the central highlands of Ethiopia were studied using the horizontal starch gel electrophoresis. The landraces studied consisted of 60 Triticum turgidum L., one T. dicoccon Schrank, one T. polonicum L. and an improved local cultivar. One introduced durum cultivar was also included for comparison.
A total of 12 esterase zymograms were detected in the landraces. Among these, the types C, A and G were found to be the most prevalent. The esterase isozymes exhibited high variation in the landraces. The esterase zymograms of the introduced durum cultivar and T. dicoccon differed from those of the landraces while the patterns attained in T. polonicum and the improved local cultivar were identical to those of the other landraces.
The total number of bands detected was 10, of which 2 were rare, being displayed by only 1 pattern each. The band content of zymograms was in the range of 3–6 and the average was 4. The unique bands were observed in zymograms with both high and low prevalences in the landraces. Two zymograms, including zymogram C which had the highest frequency, occurred in all the localities. The high yielding landraces displayed 4 of the zymograms, one of which belonged to two of the zymograms with widest distribution.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ainsworth, C.C., M.D., Gale & S., Baird, 1984. The genetic control of grain Esterases in hexaploid wheat. I. Allelic variation. Theor. Appl. Genet. 68: 219–226.
Barber, H.N., C.J., Driscoll & R.S., Vickery, 1968. Enzymatic markers for wheat and rye chromosomes. In: K.W., Finlay & K.W., Shepherd (Eds.), Proceeding of Third International Wheat Genetics Symposium, p.p. 116–122, Australian Academy of Sciences, Canberra.
Barber, H.N., C.J., Driscoll, P.M., Long & R.S., Vickery, 1969. Gene similarity of the Triticinae and the study of segmental interchanges. Nature 222: 897–898.
Brown, A.H.D., E., Nevo, D., Zohary & O., Dagan, 1978. Genetic Variation in natural populations of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum). Genetica 2 (3): 97–108.
Demissie, A. & G., Habte Mariam, 1991. Wheat Genetic Resources in Ethiopia, In: H.G., Mariam, D.G., Tanner & M, Hulluka (Eds.), Wheat Research in Ethiopia: A Historical Perspective, P.P. 34–46, IAR/CIMMYT, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Fedak, G. & T., Raihathy, 1972. Esterase isozymes in Canadian barley cultivars. Can. J. Plant Sci. 52: 507–516.
May, C.E., R.S., Vickery & C.J., Driscoll, 1973. Gene control in hexaploid wheat, In: E.R., Sears & L.M.S., Sears (Eds.), Proceedings of Fourth International Wheat Genetics Symposium, P.P. 843–849, University of Missouri, Columbia Missouri, USA.
Rebordinos, L. & M. Perezde la, Vega, 1990. Genetic variability of leaf esterases in Triticum aestivum L. 2n=42. Theor. Appl. Genet. 79: 673–678.
Tesfaye, Tesemma & G., Belay, 1991. Aspects of Ethiopian Tetraploid wheats with emphasis on Durum Wheat Genetics and Breeding Research, In: H.G., Mariam, D.G., Tanner & M., Hulluka (Eds.), Wheat Research in Ethiopia: A Historical Perspective, P.P. 47–71, IAR/CIMMYT, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Tesfaye, Tesemma, G., Belay & M., Worede, 1991. Morphological diversity in tetraploid wheat landrace populations from the central highlands of Ethiopia. Hereditas 114: 171–176.
Walker, C.H. & M.I., Mackness, 1983. Esterases: Problems of identification and classification. Biochem. Pharmacol. 32: 3265–3269.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tsegaya, S., Becker, H.C. & Tesemma, T. Variation of leaf esterases in some Ethiopian tetraploid wheat landraces. Genet Resour Crop Evol 43, 119–123 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00126754
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00126754