Genetic diversity of several Iranian sumac (Rhus coriaria) populations using genomic inter-microsatellites markers

Sumac (Rhus coriaria L.) as a forest shrub has been dispersed in Mediterranean and Eastern Asia specially Iran and has several medicinal and industrial applications. In this research, intermicrosatellites markers were used to study genetic diversity of sumac genotypes collected from five natural habitats located in North West of Iran (West and East Azerbaijan provinces). Fifteen samples were select randomly from each population and genomic DNA was fingerprinted by 18 ISSR markers. Results revealed existence of suitable genetic variation among the studied sumac genotypes and portion of inter population (79.8%) variation were higher than intra population (20.2%) variation. Minimum value of genetic distance (14.18) was observed between Aghberaz-Horand (East Azerbaijan province) and Nir-Arasbaran (East Azerbaijan province) populations and the maximum one (31.08) was observed between Kachelleh-Urmia (West Azerbaijan) and Nir-Arasbaran populations. According to classification of genotypes based on molecular data, Aghberaz-Horand and Nir-Arasbaran populations located in the same group and populations from other habits located in distinguished groups. Classification of genotypes via ISSR markers was in agreement with their geographical distributions. ISSR markers could be effectively applicable in genetic evaluation of sumac germplasm and also in identification of genetic relatedness among known and unknown sumac samples.