Genetic diversity and population structure of Iranian Ephedra major

Document Type : Systematics and Biodiversity of Plants

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

2 Research Associate Prof., Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), P.O. Box 13185-116, Tehran, Iran

3 Associate Prof., Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

As a highly valuable source of ephedrine, Ephedra major is well-adapted to various habitats in Iran. Over the last few decades, human’s activity, in particular, over exploitation of its populations to extract medicinally valuable constitutes, have endangered this species. In this investigation, the level of genetic diversity and genetic structure in 16 natural populations of E. major for the very first time have been assessed utilizing molecular markers, inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR). A high level of genetic diversity was revealed among the population where Dehbar region (Khorasan Razavi province, Iran) exhibited the highest quantity of genetic parameters
(P = 67.96%, H = 0.365 236, I = 0.365). Intra-population genetic diversity (71%) was significantly higher than inter-population genetic diversity (29%) and only 1% genetic diversity among-regions. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) and Bayesian clustering methods indicated the presence of a relatively strong population structure and to some extent in accordance with the geographical origin of populations. However, the success of UPGMA in grouping populations in congruence with their geographical location was more tangible. From the outcomes of this study, it could be asserted that, ISSR markers are effective in detecting the pattern of genetic diversity in E. major populations. On the other hand, by having reliable knowledge of the status of genetic diversity and structure of populations of this species, the first steps can be taken to protect populations with low genetic diversity, and also pave the way for breeding programs to finding and selection of superior populations.
 
 

Keywords

Article Title [Persian]

مطالعه تنوع ژنتیکی و ساختار جمعیتی Ephedra major در ایران

Authors [Persian]

  • سمیه قنبری همدانی 1
  • یونس عصری 2
  • ایرج مهرگان 3
1 دانشجوی دکتری، گروه زیست‌شناسی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران
2 دانشیار پژوهش، مؤسسه تحقیقات جنگل‌ها و مراتع کشور، سازمان تحقیقات، آموزش و ترویج کشاورزی، صندوق پستی 116-13185، تهران، ایران
3 دانشیار گروه زیست‌شناسی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، تهران، ایران
Abstract [Persian]

Ephedra major Host (Ephedraceae)، به عنوان منبع بسیار ارزنده ماده افدرین، با زیستگاه‌های مختلف در ایران سازگار شده است.
طی چند دهه اخیر فعالیت‌های انسانی، به ویژه بهره‌برداری بیش از حد از جمعیت‌های گونه مذکور جهت استخراج مواد دارویی ارزشمند، این گونه را در معرض خطر قرار داده است. در این تحقیق، سطح تنوع ژنتیکی و ساختار ژنتیکی در 16 جمعیت E. major برای نخستین بار با استفاده از نشانگرهای مولکولی inter-simple sequence repeat  (ISSR)ارزیابی شد. سطح بالایی از تنوع ژنتیکی در میان جمعیت مشاهده شد که منطقه دهبار واقع در استان خراسان رضوی بیش‌ترین تنوع در پارامترهای ژنتیکی را نشان داد (P = 67.96%, H = 0.365 236, I = 0.365). تنوع ژنتیکی درون جمعیت (71٪) به طور قابل توجهی بالاتر از تنوع ژنتیکی بین جمعیت (29%) بود و تنها 1 درصد تنوع ژنتیکی بین مناطق وجود داشت. روش‌های متوسط فاصله بین گروه‌ها  (UPGMA)و همچنین روش‌های خوشه‌بندی بایسین (Bayesian) بیانگر وجود ساختار نسبتا قوی جمعیت است تا حدودی منطبق با منش جغرافیایی جمعیت می‌باشد. با این حال، موفقیت UPGMA در گروه‌بندی جمعیت متناسب با موقعیت جغرافیایی آن‌ها محسوس‌تر بوده و با توجه به نتایج این مطالعه، می‌توان ادعا کرد، نشانگرهای ISSR در تشخیص الگوی تنوع ژنتیکی در جمعیت‌های E. major مؤثر هستند. از سوی دیگر، با داشتن دانش قابل اعتماد از وضعیت تنوع ژنتیکی و ساختار جمعیتی این گونه، می‌توان گام‌های نخستین را در راستای حفاظت از جمعیت‌های با تنوع ژنتیکی پایین استوار نمود تا راه برای اجرای برنامه­های اصلاحی در انتخاب جمیعت‌های برتر هموار گردد.

Keywords [Persian]

  • افدرا
  • حفاظت
  • خوشه‌بندی
  • فاصله ژنتیکی
  • ISSR

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Rostaniha
Volume 21, Issue 2 - Serial Number 60
December 2020
Pages 231-247

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History

  • Receive Date: 08 September 2020
  • Revise Date: 11 October 2020
  • Accept Date: 04 November 2020

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