Investigation of genetic variation among Iran's Persian Zira (Bunium persicum Boiss) landraces using RAPD marker

Persian Zira (Bunium persicum) is one of the most important medicinal and economical plants. The first step for breeding purposes is to determine the genetic variation. There isn’t any report on using molecular markers for evaluating genetic variation in Persian Zira. In order to evaluate the genetic variation the genomic DNA was extracted as a bulk method (40 plantlets of each landrace) using modified CTAB protocol with increasing DNA washing steps. The quality and quantity of DNA were examined using electrophoresis and spectrophotometry methods. Genetic variation of the plants was analyzed by RAPD molecular methods. Amplification with 21 random primers in PCR generated 108 reproducible bands, 45 of which were polymorphic (41%). Data were analyzed using NTSYS and POPGENE software and a dendrogram was drawn based on UPGMA results. On the basis of molecular data, the scope of samples ranged from 0.66 to 0.93. There was a direct relationship between genetic distance and geographical distribution and in 85% level of similarity. Samples of each province were classified in the same group. Finally, investigation of genetic variation on this species indicated that RAPD marker is suitable approach to determine the polymorphic loci and to estimate the genetic distance between the populations of the species.