Population genetic study and barcoding in Iran saffron (Crocus sativus L.)

Abstract Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is an economical important plant species with High demand throughout the world. Population genetic study can produce data on genetic structure and genetic diversity in saffron populations to be used in breeding programs. We collected 50 samples in saffron farms of 8 different populations in South and West Khorasan states which is considered as the main geographical region of saffron production in Iran. Two types of molecular markers viz. Inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and Chloroplast DNA (trnH-psbA) region were used in this study. ISSR markers produced 18 reproducible bands which were used in further analyses. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) produced significant genetic difference among the studied saffron populations (PhiPT = 0.72, P = 0.001). It revealed that 72% of total genetic difference is due to among population difference, while 28% is due to within population genetic variability. These indicate that saffron populations are genetically differentiated and we can use such genetic difference in future breeding programs of this valuable crop plant species. Principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) of ISSR data separated the studied saffron populations in different groups. Chloroplast DNA (trnH-psbA) region sequences determined in saffron genotypes of Iran as well as the other countries, could differentiate these two types saffron cultivars from each other. Nei's gene diversity index (GST) analysis produced significant molecular difference between the two groups of saffron. The method of templeton (TCS) revealed that 80 nucleotide mutations differentiate these saffron genotypes. However, within Iranian saffron genotypes as well as foreign genotypes, only 1 or 2 mutations occur. This result indicates that we can produce barcode for Iran saffron which in high demand in the world market. We therefore, provided barcode of Iran saffron for the first time.