Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.) Accessions Using SCoT and CDDP Markers

Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.) is a plant from the Asteraceae family that has high therapeutic properties due to its secondary metabolites, such as silymarin. Considering the significant therapeutic effects of this plant and the necessity of its cultivation in Iran, evaluation of its genetic diversity is important for breeding purposes. In the present study, the genetic relationship of eight milk thistle accessions was studied using CDDP and SCoT markers. Based on the results of the molecular evaluation, a total of 62 detectable bands were obtained from seven selective SCoT primers, of which 53 polymorphic band (85.48%) were found, while from the seven CDDP primers, a total of 58 detectable bands were obtained, of which 50 bands were polymorphic (86.2%). The mean polymorphic information content index (PIC) obtained from CDDP and SCoT markers were 0.39 and 0.23, respectively. Both the CDDP and SCoT markers showed more variation between accessions than within accessions. The high level of genetic diversity observed in the studied accessions can be used in milk thistle breeding programs.