Evaluation of existing diversity of Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal accessions using multivariate analysis methods

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    Withania coagulans is a multi-purpose medicinal plant. Distribution of the species in Iran is limited and located only in the southeastern sections of Sistan and Baluchestan province. Genetic diversity of 20 accessions of W. coagulans from different natural habitats of Sistan and Baluchestan province was characterized by 18 morphologic characters. Recorded data were analyzed using multivariate analyses. ANOVA revealed high significanct differences between the accessions based on all of the measured characteristics. The most diversity was related to number of branch (60.82%) and the least was related to root length (13.28%). Among the accessions, ‘Pigol’ and ‘Damin’ showed the highest values for most of the studied traits. Principal components analysis indicated that the first three principal components with eigenvalues more than 1 explained 86.62% of the variability amongst the accessions. Cluster analysis based on Euclidian distance, divided the accessions into three major groups. Considering the grouping, there was no relationship between genetic diversity and geographical distance of the accessions. The differential grouping indicated that a factor other than geographical distribution may be responsible for genetic divergence. The results suggested that there is a considerable genetic variation among W.coagulans accessions. Knowledge of genetic diversity in W.coagulans provides different levels of information which is important in the management of germplasm resources and breeding programs.

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