Genetic relationships of Iranian Hypericum perforatum L. wild populations as evaluated by ISSR markers

Abstract

St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.), as the most important medicinal species of the genus Hypericum, is medicinally used for many purposes such as treatment of mild and moderate depression. Considering importance of knowledge on genetic structure of wild relatives of crop plants, the present study was aimed to assess genetic variability among ten wild populations of H. perforatum growing in different climatic regions of Iran via ISSR markers. In general 15 selected primers generated 191 polymorphic fragments with an average of 12 in each primer. According to the UPGMA constructed dendrogram and PCoA, studied populations were classified into four main groups which was, to the some extent, in accordance with their geographical origins. Genetic distances of these populations ranged from 0.109 (Nor and Nowshahr) to 0.345 (Ardebil and Galogah). Also, Nei gene diversity (H e) values were calculated to be from 0.066 to 0.216 and Shannon’s information indices (I) varied from 0.321 to 0.097. Nei’s genetic differentiation index (G st) was high (0.573) indicating the high levels of genetic variation among the studied populations. Finally, the gene flow (N m) value was found to be 0.372. Obtained information is useful for use of Iranian H. perforatum germplasm for breeding programs and for development of effective conservation strategies.