Genetic Diversity of Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) using iPBS and SSR Molecular Markers

In order to study the genetic diversity of saffron, six cropping ecotypes from different regions of Razavi Khorasan province (Mashhad, Torbat-e Jam, Gonabad and Torbat-e Heydrieh) and South Khorasan province (Qaen and Birjand) were collected and evaluated with two molecular marker systems, iPBS and SSR. The results of molecular analysis showed that 28 iPBS markers and 22 SSR markers were detected 179 and 44 polymorphic alleles, respectively. The numbers of amplified bands for each marker were 3-10 (average 6.4) and 1-3 (average 2), respectively. Also, the average of polymorphism information content (PIC) for SSR and iPBS markers were estimated 0.79 and 0.40, respectively. On the other hand, the results of molecular variance analysis showed that the variance within ecotypes was more than between ecotypes based on iPBS markers, while the variance between ecotypes was greater than within ecotypes based on SSR markers.Also, cluster analysis grouped saffron ecotypes in three clusters and this classification was approved by principal coordinate analysis (PcoA). However, ecotypes Gonabad and Birjand and ecotypes Torbat-e Heydarieh and Qaen had no significant differences with each other in respect to both cluster analyses. Also, high genetic similarities between all saffron ecotypes were reported. Overall, the results of the present study showed that although both markers were efficient to assess genetic diversity of saffron but the iPBS markers in comparison with the SSR markers were higher efficiency to determine the genetic diversity of studied saffron ecotypes.