Evaluating genetic diversity in different populations’ of six salvia species through R-ISSR markers analysis

Abstract

Abstract The assessment of genetic diversity is crucial for understanding the evolutionary dynamics and conservation implications of plant species. In this study, we employed R-ISSR markers to evaluate the genetic diversity in six Salvia species (S. verticillata, S. glutinosa, S. reutriana, S. hypoleuca, S. leriifolia, and S. limbata) across multiple populations’ in Iran. A total of 28 populations (92 specimens) were sampled, and DNA analysis was performed using R-ISSR markers to assess genetic variation. After screening of 10, R-ISSR primers, four primers that produced clear and reproducible fragments were selected for further analysis.The four primers generated 93 bands ranging in size from 100 to 2000 bp, corresponding to an average of 23.25 bands per primer. Polymorphic information content (PIC value) ranged from 0.223 to 0.260 and marker index (MI) ranged from 4.43 to 6.02 per primer. The primers P9 had the highest PIC (0.260) and P1 had the highest MI (6.02) values. The mean coefficient of gene differentiation (Gst) was 0.7014, indicating that 48% of the genetic diversity resided within the populations’. Based on the general results obtained from this research, various hypothesizes including genetic differentiation, population structure, limited gene flow, marker utility and genetic affinities can be proposed. The observed polymorphism and genetic diversity within and among populations’ of Salvia species suggest that there is significant genetic differentiation between populations’. This could be due to factors such as geographic isolation, habitat differentiation, or reproductive barriers. The clustering analysis and sub-clustering patterns indicate the presence of distinct genetic clusters and subpopulations’ within each Salvia species. The AMOVA results and significant genetic variation among populations’ suggest limited gene flow between populations, potentially influenced by geographical barriers or ecological factors. The primers P1 and P9, which exhibited high levels of polymorphism, can serve as valuable tools for future breeding studies and germplasm management in Salvia species. The genetic affinities and relatedness observed among some populations suggest that certain Salvia species are more closely related to each other than to others.