Genetic Diversity of the Beet Distributed in Armenia Using Protein Markers

Abstract

The genetic resources of plants and animals are the wealth of every country. They are a valuable starting material in the breeding processes of cultivated plants and farm animals. In order to improve the existing varieties of crops and obtain new, valuable varieties, it is very important to document, preserve and enrich their gene pool, while preserving local varieties and forms of crops, it is possible to carry out breeding works. From this point of view, the genetic characterization of beet population varieties cultivated in Armenia and their wild relatives using protein markers is up-to-date and has important scientific and practical significance. It is known that the degree of genetic diversity of a population can be estimated if the protein formulas and their frequency of occurrence in the population are known. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the genetic diversity of beet spread in Armenia, formed during the evolutionary development processes, to passport the wild species and population varieties of beet by using protein markers and offering them as starting breeding material. As a result, the preferred raw material forms were proposed in the breeding works in the direction of increasing yield, sugar level, and resistance to powdery mildew and Cercospora leaf spot diseases. Further cluster analysis will make it possible to select parental pairs. Future beet breeding efforts in the target direction must make use of the genetic and genomic resources available for efficient improvement.