Evaluation of genetic variability in Iranian Thymus daenensis subsp. daenensis, by use of inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers

Thymus is one of most important and valuable plants in the world. In order to investigation of genetical diversity of Thyme genus¡ 13 population of Iranian Thymus deanensis , planted in green house and DNA from young leaves was extracted. In order to genetical diversity analysis, 12 ISSR primers were used. Among used primers, 10 primers produced unique band and 57 allel were detected. The size range of the amplified products was 200–2000 bp. Based on Issr data cluster analysis, studied populations classified in two independent groups. The population genetic distance were different from 0.041 for lorestan and kordestan to 0.282 for lorestan and Isfahan. evaluation of genetic diversity within populations by Nei genetic diversity analysis and shanon information index indicated that the diversity within Daran Isfahan population (I=0.43, h= 0.29) was more than other populations while the genetic diversity within Semirom population (I=0.2 , h= 0.13) was less than other populations. The intra and inter populations diversity was 75% and 25%, respectively. In this research, the primers that had AC and AG motifs produced clearer bands in Th. daenensis than those with other motifs. Cross between Isfahan and lorestan population that have a distance to gether can have an important role to get a good population. Thymus deanensis have a high genetic variety that could be considered in hybridization and breeding.