Abstract:he grain selenium (Se) contents of 110 genotypes of the tetraploid wild progenitor of wheat (Triticum dicoccoides) originating from 15 populations in Israel were detected by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry (HG-AFS). The results showed that there were significant differences of grain Se content among populations by one way ANOVA (P≤0.001). Grain Se concentration (GSeC) and grain Se content among the 110 wild emmer wheat genotypes varied from 0.043 to 0.409 mg kg−1 and 0.008 to 0.125 mg seed-1, with the average of 0.180 mg kg−1 and 0.046 mg per seed, respectively. The highest genotypes of GSeC and grain Se content were TZ36 and TZ34, both derived from Bat-Shelomo population, while the lowest genotypes were TZ120 from Gamla and TZ8 from Mt. Hermon, respectively. The coefficient of variation of GSeC among populations also was obviously different, ranged from 9% (Bat-Shelomo) to 74% (Givat-Koach). According to Spearman’s Rho Correlation analysis, the GSeC had significant negative correlationships with altitude, mean annual rainfall, mean number of dry days in original area, and positive correlationships with mean annual temperature, mean temperature in August, mean temperature in January and soil types, respectively. The grain Se content had similar tendency of GSeC. These demonstrated that natural selection has created abundant phenotypes of grain Se content in this wild species, and would be used for identification of novel genotypes or genetic studies on wheat mineral nutrition.
