GENETIC diversity refers to genetic variability within and among species. Each individual species possesses alleles which are the source of its own unique adaptation features to the future biotic and abiotic stresses. The greater the genetic diversity within a species, the greater that this species have chances of long-term survival.
Studying seed storage proteins patterns of different species of Vicia germplasm was aimed to characterize and assess the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationship among defined 51 accessions collected by ICARDA (International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Area) from different countries and habitats. These represent nine Vicia species and subspecies; V. ervilia, V. monantha, V. villosa subsp. villosa, V. villosa subsp. dasycarpa, V. villosa subsp. eriocarpa, V. sativa subsp. nigra, V. sativa subsp. amphicarpa, V. sativa subsp. macrocacrpa and V. sativa subsp. sativa. Dry seeds were used to extract total storage proteins since each seed is regarded as a fixed physiological state. The pattern of variation in molecular size of total storage proteins in those accessions were studied by the numerical analysis of data obtained by using SDS-PAGE technique. The descriptive population statistics calculations were based on band presence versus absence and allele frequencies. Consequently, these data generate pertinent genetic information for the complement of passport data of ICARDA germplasm collections.