Genetic and phytochemical diversity of Punica geranatum germplasm in Kerman province using molecular markers and chromatography

Pomegranate tree (Punica granatum) has delicious fruit and its seed, bark, fruit, flower, peel root and stem are extensively used in pharmaceutical and dyeing industry. Pomegranate is endemic to Iran and the world’s largest cultivation area of this fruit Iran. It is extensively grown with a high level of biodiversity in dry, moderate and warm and relatively humid climates of Kerman province. In order to investigate genetic and phytochemical diversity of Punica granatum germplasm. 20 genotypes from different parts of Kerman province were collected. For polymerase chain reaction, 15 RAPD primers and 3 ISSR Primers were used. After electrophoresis analysis, 186 bands in range of 240-2800 bp were obtained which 169 bands (91%) showed polymorphism. Cluster analysis classified genotypes in 4 groups. They were almost according to geographical and climatic diversity. Results of GC-mass analysis of peel essence for Kohbanan (sour), Chatrod (sweet) and Mahan (sour-sweet) pomegranate showed 40, 24 and 18 components, respectively, with qual more than 90. In Kohbenan sour pomegranate, hexadecanoic acid, octadecane and hexedececne, in Chatrod sweet pomegranate, tetradecanol, tetradecene and octadecane and in Mahan sour-sweet pomegranate hexedecene, octadecane and hexadecanoic acid were highest amount of essence component.