METHODS
In order to reach a conclusion about genetic erosion in Canadian wheat cultivars, samples representing 48 Canadian wheat cultivars were obtained from Plant Gene Resources of Canada (PGRC) (Table 1). These cultivars represent the approximate 160 years of wheat cultivar development in Canada. Experiments at both the phenotypic and genotypic levels were performed. Phenotypic experiments were conducted in a controlled-environment greenhouse. Phenotypic information was collected from the 48 cultivars, six plants per cultivar. I obtained the following phenotypic data by recording: 1. days from planting until the first heading (when 50% of the head is exerted from the boot); 2. days from planting to maturity (all heads on plant); 3. maximum height of the plant from ground to the top of the head (excluding awns); 4. maximum length of each head; 5. number of kernels per head; 6. weight of kernels per head; 7. weight of kernels per plant; 8. number of heads per plant; 9. 100 kernel weight, and 10. whether the heads are awned or awnless. The genotypic information was collected from 48 cultivars with six plants per cultivar grouped together. The RAPD technique was used to determine the gene pool present in the wheat cultivars. In brief it involved extracting, purifying, quantifying, and amplifying DNA from leaf tissue. A Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) thermocycler was used. Electrophoresis gels were run and photographed using an automatic system. Twelve RAPD primers were used and the bands were scored accordingly. All data was analyzed using common statistical packages.
