Author(s): Sabina Hajiyeva, Sevda Babayeva, Ziyafat Mustafayeva, Vusala Izzatullayeva
Vahid Guvendiyev, Elchin Hajiyev
Published: Jul 18 2024
Keywords:
Keywords: wild pomegranate, molecular markers, ISSR- primers, genetic polymorphism, cluster
analysis.
ABSTRACT. The study aimed to analyze 90 wild pomegranate genotypes collected from six
geographical regions of Azerbaijan. A total of 110 PCR fragments were amplified, 86 of which were
found to be polymorphic. The number of amplified fragments per primer ranged from 5 to 10, with
an average of 7.8. Polymorphic DNA fragments varied from 3 to 9, with a mean of 6.1. Polymorphism
percentage ranged from 57% to 100% depending on the primer, averaging 78% overall. The genetic
diversity index (GDI) had a mean value of 0.77, with the highest values observed for the IS15 (0.92),
UBC811 (0.90), and HB14 (0.90) primers. Cluster analysis grouped accessions into five main clusters,
with the genetic similarity index ranging from 0.03 to 1.00. The outcomes of the cluster analysis
unveiled the grouping of most accessions based on their collection sites. Results indicate significant
diversity in wild pomegranate germplasm in Azerbaijan, suggesting adaptability to various
environmental conditions. Further molecular analysis can elucidate the phylogenetic relationships
among genotypes, aiding in the understanding of domestication processes in the future.