Evaluation of Genetic Diversity in Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus eryngii) Isolates Using RAPD Marker

In this study, 45 Pleurotus isolates with a wide range of geographical origins (in five provinces of Iran: Isfahan, Chaharmahal Bakhtiary, Kohkiloye boyrahmad, Lorestan and Fars) were collected. A random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR) was used to assess the genetic diversity in ten populations of the Pleurotus eryngii complex. The use of ten primers allowed the production of 150 polymorphic bands. In addition, the evalution of the principal ecological and morphological characters provided further evidence for discriminating between populations. The results show a higher level of diversity of RAPD polymorphism in the populations. 28.67% of the RAPD diversity was among populations and 71.33% was within populations. In the RAPD patterns, Pleurotus strains growing on Ferula assa-foetida, Ferula ovina and Prangus ferulacea formed distinct groups. In this study, the resolution of the RAPD-PCR analysis was better than the morphological analysis.