Evaluation of Mazandaran nettle (Urtica Dioica) population structure and genetic diversity by AFLP markers.

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) is an important medicinal dioecious plant that is widely distributed around the north of Iran. Reproduction of the species is sexual and asexual. In this study, ten AFLP primer combinations were used to evaluate genetic diversity and population structure of five nettle populations collected from Mazandaran province. From 798 bands, 722 bands (90.5%) were polymorphic. Average polymorphic information content (PIC), 0.23, genetic similarity range based on Jaccard's similarity coefficient were between 0.44 to 0.14. Clustering based on UPGMA separated the studied populations into four groups. Analysis of molecular variance indicated high variance within the populations. Wide variation, high rates of Fst and number of migration (Nm) suggested that populations are not isolated implying gene flow between the populations. The results showed that Nettle plant with wide diversity selected the Caspian region as suitable place to reside.

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