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Brachypodium distachyon (L.) P.Beauv. is a model grass species that is useful for studying temperate cereal, forage, and energy crops. In this study we aimed to determine the genome size and species identity in the collections of the B. distachyon complex that included samples from 56 different locations in Turkey, applying chromosome counting and nuclear genome size evaluation by flow cytometry method (FCM). Moreover, the study examined whether diverse geographical conditions at the collecting sites influence the genome size. Chromosomal analysis revealed that the number of B. distachyon (x = 5, 2n = 10) genotypes was 48 and the number of B. hybridum (x = 5 + 10, 2n = 30) ones was 11. No genotypes of B. stacei were found. FCM analyses revealed that the minimum and maximum genome size of B. distachyon was 0.732 and 0.752 pg2C-1, respectively. The mean genome size of B. distachyon was 0.743 pg2C-1. The mean genome size of B. hybridum was 1.431 pg2C-1 with the minimum 1.417 pg2C-1 and maximum 1.451 pg2C-1. Intraspecific variation in the genome size was identified for both species. It was determined that geographical origin (localization, altitude) had a statistically significant effect on genome size in B. distachyon. In addition, a negative correlation was found between altitude and genome size in this species. On the other hand, localization and altitude did not have any statistically significant effect on genome size in B. hybridum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brachypodium distachyon is a new model plant species for cool season grasses. In this study, 48 natural B. distachyon populations from the collection stored at Namık Kemal University, Department of Field Crops; which were collected from different geographic regions of Turkey were used. Seventeen morphological characters and their relationship with altitude were investigated in the study. Based on the result of study, average properties were 24.7 cm for plant height, 5.6 cm for length of flag leaf, 4.5 mm for width of flag leaf, 4.5 g for biomass weigth (except the root), 34 for spike number per stem, 4 for number of stem without spike, 111 for number of spikelet per plant, 372 for number of seed per plant, 1.95 g for seed weight per plant, and 5.22 g for the thousand kernel weight. Additionally, average duration for seed germination, heading and anthesis were determined to be 15, 125, and 136 days respectively. It was determined that most of the plants had green colour, feathered structure and erect forms. But, semi-erect and even prostrate forms were also observed in some populations. All the data was subjected to principle component analysis. The results of the analysis indicate that B. distachyon collection used in this study have a tremendous morphological variation. Based on the results, duration of the germination had a negative correlation with increasing altitude while thousand kernel weight and plant appearance had a positive correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]