Analysis of genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships and population structure of Arasbaran cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) genotypes using ISSR molecular markers

Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.), considered as the ancestor of cultivated trees in Arasbaran region, is a medicinally and economically plant species. However, little is known about genetic diversity, breeding programs, and population structure of this species in mentioned region. Keeping this in view, the main objectives of present study were to analysis the genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships and population structure of cornelian cherry genotypes from Arasbaran region using Inter Simple Sequence Repeat molecular markers. Utilized primers amplified 153 bands, of which 98 bands were polymorphic (64% polymorphism). Highest Jaccard’s similarity coefficient was obtained 0.777. Based on Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Averages, genotypes were divided into seven major groups. On the other hand, Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) as a complementary method to cluster analysis demonstrated genotypes grouping in phylogenetic dendrogram. Relatively low amount of three main components in Principal Component Analysis (PCA) (41.464%) indicated the scattering distribution of utilized primers’ sequence in cornelian cherry genome. The mean values of polymorphism information content, marker index, resolving power, observed number of alleles, effective number of alleles, Nei’s gene diversity, and Shannon’s information index were 0.230, 1.769, 4.7, 1,642, 1.498, 0.271, and 0.392 respectively. Population structure analysis showed the seven groups or sub- populations (K= 7) when the amount of K value was set at K= 2 to K= 10, which demonstrated the results of phylogenetic dendrogram and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA). Results of this study can be useful for planning future studies on cornelian cherry germplasm and breeding programs.