Exploitation of Medicago SSR markers in assessment of genetic diversity in cultivated sainfoin populations

In order to evaluate genetic diversity of 22 cultivated sainfoin accessions collected from different regions of the world، SSR markers from Medicago genus were used. Polymorphism information content value ranged from 0. 20 to 0. 43 with an average of 0. 33. The most informative markers were “mtgsp_005e04. taa. 9-1” and “Actt004” with the highest polymorphism information content values. Cluster analysis based on SSR markers grouped the sainfoin populations into two main groups (Iranian and exotic cultivate sainfoin) with two sub-clusters for each group. The two sub-clusters of exotic group (B) mostly comprised accessions from Western Europe (BI) and Central and Eastern Europe (BII). The clustering results were also confirmed by principal coordinate analysis. According to the analysis of molecular variance، 13. 6% of genetic variation related to among Iranian and exotic cultivated populations and 69. 5% related to within-population diversity in the sainfoin populations. The analysis of molecular variance also indicated a fixation index of 0. 27 suggesting a high differentiation among Iranian and exotic cultivated populations. Overall، the SSR markers used in this study were highly polymorphic and efficient in revealing the level of genetic diversity present in the studied germplasm.