Genotype × environment interaction (GEI) is an important aspect of both plant breeding and the successful introduction of new cultivars. In the present study, additive main effects and multiplicative interactions (AMMI) and genotype (G) main effects and genotype (G) × environment (E) interaction (GGE) biplot analyses were used to identify stable genotypes and to dissect GEI in Plantago. In total, 10 managed field trials were considered as environments to analyze GEI in thirty genotypes belonging to eight Plantago species. Genotypes were evaluated in a drought stress treatment and in normal irrigation conditions at two locations in Shiraz (Bajgah) for three years (2013-2014- 2015) and Kooshkak (Marvdasht, Fars, Iran) for two years (2014–2015). Three traits, seed yield and mucilage yield and content, were measured at each experimental site and in natural Plantago habitats. AMMI2 biplot analyses identified genotypes from several species with higher stability for seed yield and other genotypes with stable mucilage content and yield. P. lanceolata (G26), P. officinalis (G10), P. ovata (G14), P. ampleexcaulis (G11) and P. major (G4) had higher stability for seed yield. For mucilage yield, G21, G18 and G20 (P. psyllium), G1, G2 and G4 (P. major), G9 and G10 (P. officinalis) and P. lanceolata were identified as stable. G13 (P. ovata), G5 and G6 (P. major) and G30 (P. lagopus) had higher stability for mucilage content. No one genotype was found to have high levels of stability for more than one trait but some species had more than one genotype exhibiting stable trait performance. Based on trait variation, GGE biplot analysis identified two representative environments, one for seed yield and one for mucilage yield and content, with good discriminating ability. The identification of stable genotypes and representative environments should assist the breeding of new Plantago cultivars.

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This study presents the first data on the drought resistance pattern of seven new synthetic 6x primary Tritipyrum amphiploid lines and evaluates their mitotic instability. The primary Tritipyrum lines were crossed with Iranian 6x bread wheat 'Navid' cultivar and their F 1 and F 2 progenies were obtained. Two experiments with complete randomized design were conducted under optimum and limited water conditions to evaluate Tritipyrum-derived genotypes for drought resistance in greenhouse. Under optimum water conditions, grain yield, numbers of grains per spike and harvest index of Tritipyrum-derived genotypes were significantly lower than bread wheat; however the differences were not significant under limited water conditions. These results showed the better responses of Tritipyrumderived genotypes to drought conditions. Evaluation of leaf osmotic and water potentials and drought susceptibility index showed that drought resistance of Tritipyrum and F 1 genotypes was significantly higher than that of bread wheat and Triticale. Cytological investigations showed that Tritipyrum-derived genotypes aneuploidy was significantly higher than Triticale and bread wheat (p<0.05). Mitotic instability in light grains (1000-grains weight < 30 gr) was significantly higher than heavy grains (1000-grains weight > 30 gr) in parental and F 2 genotypes (p<0.01). Aneuploidy has showed a significant negative correlation with fertility, grain yield and 1000-grains weight in Tritipyrum genotypes. In general, Tritipyrum may complement the role of bread wheat in arid and semi-arid regions; but further breeding research is needed to overcome its mitotic instability.

Tritipyrum is prone to mitotic instability, stiff straw and low fertility. A complete randomized design was used to evaluate morphological diversity, fertility and grain yield of 7 new synthetic Tritipyrum lines and their F 1 offspring'sin a cross with bread wheat. Fertility, harvest index, biological yield, 1000-grains weight (TGW) and grain yield of Tritipyrum derived genotypes were significantly lower than bread wheat and Triticale. The morphology of Tritipyrum was found to be similar with wheat lines and hybridization between Tritipyrum and bread wheat was efficient for developing early maturelines and reducing stiff straw and plant height. Results showed that mitotic instability in small size grains (TGW< 30 g) were significantly higher than heavy grains (TGW> 30 g) in both parental and F 2 progenies .Euploidyof Tritipyrum derived genotypes were significantly lower than Triticale and bread wheat. Results suggested that the larger and heavier grains show higher frequency of euploidy and that can be useful for maintenance of the genetic stability of Tritipyrum genotypes. Tritipyrum as a new man made cereal is a good genetic resource for wheat breeding and may complements the role of bread wheat wherever environmental condition is not suitable for wheat cultivation.

AbstractAnalysis of genetic diversity in medicinal plants assists germplasm conservation and selection for use in breeding schemes. The aims of the present study were to assess genetic diversity and differentiation of several Plantago species using Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) markers and identify marker-trait associations (MTAs). Thirty-one Plantago accessions belonging to eight species with various mating system and chromosome number were collected from geographical regions of Iran environments. Polymorphism in the DNA of Plantago accessions were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of 25 ISSR primers. The data for number of polymorphic bands were analyzed on the basis of several genetic diversity parameters. The results of gel analysis indicated that the ISSR primers amplified 5 to 21 polymorphic bands with 100 to 3000 bp size. The mean polymorphism was 83.83% and five primers showed 100% polymorphism among Plantago accessions. The Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) for ISSR as a dominant marker ranged from 0.1103 to 0.3829 with the mean 0.2727 in the species tested. Accessions in P. amplexicaulis and P. pysillum species represented the highest Nei’s and Shannon’s genetic diversity whilst the lowest obtained for P. lagopus. Analysis of phylogenetic network generated by the Neighbor-Net Algorithm showed moderate split of the eight species tested and the network depicted moderate conflict. The principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) results showed lower conflict in separation of accessions of the eight species. Fifty-six significant MTAs were detected for the traits tested in Plantago accessions, of which six were shared between three seed and mucilage traits and 24 were common between two traits. The coefficient of determination (R2) for the identified MTAs varied between 32 and 73%. In conclusion, the results of genetic diversity analysis suggested that ISSR marker could efficiently differentiate Plantago species and the information of genetic diversity might assist Plantago improvement and conservation.