Evaluation of genetic, morpho-physiological diversity in Iranian Mentha longifolia ecotypes

Pennyroyal (Mentha longifolia) belongs to the family Lamiaceae (Labiatae). This plant is very important in terms of medicinal properties in the world.
The purpose of this study is to evaluation genetic, morphological and physiological diversity between 11 ecotypes of Pennyroyal from different regions of the country.
In order to evaluation of genetic diversity between 11 ecotypes of Pennyroyal, an experiment was conducted in randomized complete block design with three replications in the university of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. To study the genetic diversity of 11 ecotypes of Pennyroyal, RAPD molecular markers were used. physiological traits such as leaf length, leaf width, leaf area, leaf number, plant canopy height, plant canopy width, number of branches, days to flowering, chlorophyll a and b content, total chlorophyll, carotenoid content, percentage of electrolyte leakage and RWC were measured.
Genetic diversity of 11 ecotypes was investigated using 15 RAPD molecular markers. 15 RAPD primers were amplified 167 bands that 163 band (29/97%), polymorphism and 4-band (% 71/2) were single form. Polymorphism information content (PIC) was in the range of 149/0 (initiator 83) to 256/0 (primer 3). West Azerbaijan ecotype and Yazd ecotype have had the most genetic similarity (952/0). Genotypes’ cluster analysis was performed using Jaccard coefficient and UPGMA method and 11 ecotypes were classified in 3 Groups. Analysis of variance and mean square into three main groups. The genetic diversity among ecotypes will provide the possibility of selection purposes.