Study of genetic diversity in local rose varieties (Rosa spp.) using molecular markers

This study was undertaken to evaluate genetic diversity in a germplasm consisting of rose varieties. Genetic distances were estimated using three different molecular marker techniques including: start codon targeted (SCoT), conserved DNA–Derived Polymorphism (CDDP) and directly amplified minisatellite DNA (DAMD). According to the results, the average polymorphism information content was 0.37, 0.36, and 0.36 for SCoT, CDDP and DAMD markers, respectively indicating that the studied marker types were equal in terms of assessing diversity. Cluster analysis using SCoT and CDDP divided the varieties to four distinct clusters whereas DAMD markers data, grouped the varieties into three clusters. There was a positive significant correlation (r=0.92, p<0.01) between similarity matrix obtained by SCoT and CDDP. Results suggested that the efficiency of SCOT, CDDP and DAMD markers had a relatively same efficiency in fingerprinting of varieties. This is the first time that the efficiency of the three molecular markers have been compared with each other in a set of rose samples. The results showed that the studied markers had an appropriate polymorphism and thus were suitable for the study of genetic diversity in rose. Keyword: Fingerprinting, PIC, molecular marker, genetic distance, correlation.