Genetic and Morphological Diversity of Wild Mint "Mentha longifolia (L.) Hudson subsp. noeana (Briq.) Briq." in South and Southeastern Iran

The wild mint "Mentha longifolia (L.) Hudson subsp. noeana (Briq.) Briq." is an important medicinal plant which contains several worthy components like: menthone, pulegone, pipertenon, menthol, thymol, and carvone in its essential oil. This plant grows extensively in center of Asia including Iran. Because of so worthy components and its big role in traditional and modern medicine, the wild mint diversity was considered based on morphological and phytochemical variables and DNA markers (RAPD and ISSR) in South and Southeastern Iran. A total of 64 genotypes of M. longifolia  subsp. noeana genotypes were col­lected from 8 distribution centers. In total, the 15 morphological and pigments variables were measured and calculated. The cluster analysis based on morphological and phytochemical variables divided populations in the 4 main groups. The fifteen RAPD primers with reproducible and score able amplifications characters were selected. Cluster analysis based on RAPD markers revealed seven main clusters in genetic distance 0.22. The nine ISSR primers with score able amplifications characters were selected. Cluster analysis based on ISSR markers revealed five main clusters in genetic distance 0.23. The results of this research showed enough genetic diversity among and inside of the studied wild mint populations which could be applied in following breeding and gene bank conservation programs.