Genetic study of Persian shallot (Allium hirtifolium Boiss.) using morphological and molecular markers

In this research work، genetic diversity of 21 wild Persian shallot (Allium hirtifolium Boiss.) accessions from south، southwest، west and center of Iran was evaluated using morphological traits as well as AFLP markers. Results showed that Khansar accession had the highest leaf width (5. 42 cm)، mean leaf number per plant (5. 41)، bulb diameter (10. 84 cm)، bulb height (4. 95 cm) and mean bulb weight (122. 5 g) which was the suitable accession for domestication and culturing. Based on cluster analysis، studied accessions were divided into three groups according to their morphological characters which mostly had coincidence with geoghraphical distribution. Molecular survey by AFLP markers was done using four primer combinations of EcoRI and MseI with three selective nucleotides. In molecular analysis 376 bands were obtained in which 204 bands were polymorphic (53. 28%). Based on dendrogram from molecular data، Persian shallot accessions at 70 % similarity was divided into five groups which mostly showed coincidence with geographical distribution. Also Kazerun accession from warmer southern region of Iran had obvious genetical differences with accessions from colder northern regions. Results showed that AFLP technique is a suitable tool for evaluation of genetic diversity for Persian shallot accessions.