ISSR-based genetic diversity assessment of five populations of Juniperus polycarpos K. Koch in southern habitats of Iran

Juniperus polycarpos K. Koch is a durable conifer species with different growth habit that grow in ecological landscapes. In this study, genetic diversity was investigated for five populations of juniper that grew in Fasa, Sepidan, Khabr, Rabor, and Genow habitat in the south of Iran. For DNA extraction, leaf samples of 10 diverse accessions of each habitat were collected (totally 50 accessions). Populations genetic diversity was evaluated based on 12 inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. Assessment of ISSR markers predicted 75 loci with 67 (89.33%) polymorphic loci, polymorphic information content (PIC) 0.45, resolving power (Rp) 3.78, and effective multiplex ratio (EMR) and marker index (MI) of primers were 5.50 and 2.47, respectively. Populations Nei’s genetic diversity showed higher intra-population genetic diversity (0.25) than inter-population genetic diversity (0.13). Results indicated the highest different loci (Na) for Sepidan population (56) and the highest effective alleles (Ne) were obtained in two populations of Sepidan (1.49) and Genow (1.49). Furthermore, the highest gene diversity (H) observed in the population of Sepidan (0.27) and Genow (0.27). The population of Sepidan has the highest Shannon’s information index (I) (0.41) and percentage of polymorphic loci (P) (74.67). Investigated populations showed high total genetic diversity (Ht) (0.38), intra-population genetic diversity (Hs) (0.25), and inter-population genetic diversity (Dst) (0.13), and moderate genetic differentiation among populations (Gst = 0.34). High gene flow (Nm) was obtained between evaluated populations (0.94). Moreover, AMOVA analysis indicated 70% within and 30% among populations genetic variation.