Molecular identification and genetic diversity in Hypericum L.: A high value medicinal plant using RAPD markers markers

Abstract

Genus Hypericum (Guttiferae, Hypericoideae) is perennial, belonging to the Hypericaceae family, having 484 species in forms of trees, shrubs, and herbs, distributed in 36 taxonomic sections. No detailed Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) studies were conducted to study Hypericum genetic diversity. Therefore, we collected and analyzed six species from five provinces of Iran regions. Overall, seventy plant specimens were collected. Our aims were 1) to assess genetic diversity among Hypericum species 2) is there a correlation between species genetic and geographical distance? 3) Genetic structure of populations and taxa. We showed significant differences in quantitative morphological characters in plant species. H. dogonbadanicum depicted unbiased expected heterozygosity (UHe) in the range of 0.10. Shannon information was high (0.32) in H. perforaturm. H. dogonbadanicum showed the lowest value, 0.17. The observed number of alleles (Na) ranged from 0.22 to 0.53 in H. dogonbadanicum and H. elongaturn. Gene flow (Nm) was relatively low (0.87) in Hypericum. The Mantel test showed correlation (r = 0.45, p=0.0001) between genetic and geographical distances. We reported high genetic diversity, which clearly shows the Hypericum species can adapt to changing environments since high genetic diversity is linked to species adaptability. Present results highlighted the utility of RAPD markers and morphometry methods to investigate genetic diversity in Hypericum species.