Geographic distribution of genetic variation in a lentil collection by SDS-PAGE fractionation of seed storage proteins

The variation of seed storage protein profiles was studied in 264 populations of Lens culinaris Medik, from 19 Countries, mainly located in the Western side of Mediterranean basin. Fifty-eight associations were generated by the different combinations of the patterns relative to two polymorphic zones identified in the protein profiles. About 50% of populations resulted polymorphic and their individuals showed from 2 to 8 associations, the Italian germplasm showing the highest genetic diversity indices. The similarity degree among the tested Countries was estimated submitting to the cluster analysis the data. Pakistan and 10 Mediterranean Countries resulted in the same cluster, while Ethiopia showed the lowest homology with all tested Countries