The study of genetic diversity of cumin ecotypes of Khorasan provinces using protein markers

Cuminum cyminum is one of the oldest and most economically important species in the Apiaceae family that has the highest cultivated areas of Khorasan provinces in Iran. Genetic diversity of 20 ecotypes of Cuminum cyminum was investigated by protein markers. The ecotypes were randomly collected from three provinces of North, Razavi and South Khorasan provinces. Protein profile analysis was carried out by SDS-PAGE method. The method included: extracting protein from the sample seeds, determining samples concentration, and finally running on electrophoresis gel. Analysis of molecular variance showed that there was variation between and within the populations. Based on the protein markers %24 of the variations belonged to between populations and %76 belonged to within populations. Polymorphism percentage, polymorphic content mean, Shannon's information index and the average of Nei's information index were 27%, 0.01, 0.49, and 0.68, respectively. Results of PCoA showed that the first three components accounted for 83% of the variation. Cluster analysis based on the similarity matrix classified the studied ecotypes in 5 clusters.