Assessment of genetic diversity in different populations of Thymus daenensis Celak. using ISSR marker

Evaluation of diversity among different populations of wild species is one of the first and most important steps in domestication and breeding process. Thymus daenensis Celak. is an endemic medicinal plants of Iran with high essential oil percentage and thymol content and therefore, in order to domestication of this plant species, evaluation of different populations is necessary. In this study were used 13 ISSR primers for evaluation of within and among diversity of eight populations of this plant species (Malayer 1, Malayer 2, Arak, Jowzan, Khane e Miran Bala, Khane e Miran Paien, Zaghe and Shazand) that total of 293 bands were generated by these primers. The calculated PIC for primers varied from 0.08 to 0.15. Genetic diversity within populations was higher than between populations. 98% of variance belonged to within populations and only 2% of variance belonged to among the populations. The genetic distance of the populations had no correspondence with geographical distance. The populations of Jowzan and Shazand had the highest and the lowest diversity based on PIC index, respectively. The highest genetic distance based on Nei's index was observed between Shazand and Khane e Miran Paien populations and the highest genetic similarity was observed between Malayer 1 to Jowzan and Khane e Miran Bala populations that could be importance in domestication and breeding of this plant species.