Combination of elemental and protein studies along with molecular data using microsatellite markers may lead to the better and realistic determination of relatedness between the varieties and their populations. In this study, the extent of diversity among five Turkish durum wheat cultivars and their populations has been assessed using seven microsatellite markers and the elemental analysis together with the differences in their protein content. In molecular analysis, total 23 alleles have been obtained among all the genotypes with middling of 4.6 per primer. On employing UPGMA Dendrogram, Principle Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) and Winboot analyses, both inter and intra varietal polymorphic studies had shown similar clustering with minor differences. As a result of AMOVA performed, the extent of diversity was found to be higher among the genotypes (76%) in comparison to the variability within the genotypes (24%). In elemental analyses, 'Selcuklu-97' was found to be the most efficient variety with high content of several elements. Also, strong and positive correlation has been observed between magnesium-phosphorus, magnesium-sulphur and sulphur-sodium, while noteworthy negative correlation has been observed between sodium and zinc. The protein content of the genotypes was found in the range of 15.17-16.90%. The diversity revealed in durum genotypes can be employed in genetic expansion of the crop. These involved varieties may aid to avoid genetic attrition coming up from the landraces. The information provided can be utilized by breeders for appropriate selection of both, genetically and nutritionally efficient durum wheat varieties.

Lentil is one of the most promising legume crops providing nutritional and food assurance to human beings. Due to extensive production of lentil crop in rain-fed agriculture system, its growth and yield are mainly determined by the levels of precipitation. Consequently, it usually faces drought stress during the generative stage resulting in low yield. In such scenario, controlled supplemental irrigation (SI) can improve and stabilize the productivity. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the effect of supplemental irrigation on the growth and yield of lentil crop under semi-arid climate conditions of Turkey. An experiment was performed during two consecutive crop seasons at Sanliurfa, Turkey with annual mean rainfall of 196 and 275 mm in the first and second experimental year, respectively. Six supplementary irrigation treatments were given using drip irrigation system [no supplement irrigation (I 0 ), 25% (I 25 ), 50% (I 50 ), 75% (I 75 ), 100% (I 100, full irrigation) and 125% (I 125 ) supplement irrigation depending on the available soil water content]. Results obtained in the study indicated that in both study years, highest biomass, harvest index and grain yield values were obtained from fully irrigated treatments (I 100 ), while non-supplementary irrigated treatments have provided lowest values. It should be clearly noticed that growth parameters including yield were lower under over-irrigation treatment (I 125 ). Hence, it is recommended that farmers need to optimize the supplemental irrigation technique to obtain desired yields. This study will support the successful usage of the supplemental irrigation technology to improve lentil productivity, particularly under semi-arid environment.

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) is the most commonly grown crop due to its adaptation in a wide range of ecogeographical conditions and providing enhanced food assurance to the modern world. A diverse and rich collection is the foundation of each successful wheat improvement program. Therefore, major efforts are in progress worldwide to boost wheat production by broadening genetic diversity. Accepting this issue as a target, present study gives an overview of the major progress in the diversity and population evaluation of Indian and Turkish hexaploid wheat employing ISSR and RAPD primers. Various statistical analyses were employed for determining the hexaploid wheat population structure of India and Turkey. Results of dendrogram, scatterplots, Analysis of Molecular Variance (AMOVA) and population structure analysis were found in accordance with each other. All the experimental genotypes were clustered in two main groups, one group containing Indian varieties and another group containing both Indian and Turkish varieties reflecting the direct or indirect interbreeding among the populations of the two countries. Utilizing the genetic association of Indian and Turkish hexaploid wheat population, based on genetic distance estimated in the study, researchers worldwide may include Indian and Turkish hexaploid varieties in the wheat improvement programs and can evade the likelihood of selected germplasm becoming hereditarily consistent.