Evaluation of the genetic fidelity of in vitro propagated Damask Rose (Rosa damascena Mill.) plants using SCoT and ISSR markers

Genetic uniformity is one of the most important prerequisites in micropropagation of plant species. In the present study, the genetic fidelity of 28 plantlets of damask rose(Rosa damascena ) derived from three different media treatments supplemented with various concentrations of Plant Growth regulators(PGRs) was assessed by SCoT and ISSR markers. solid MS medium was used for the establishment stage of explants and regenerated shoots  were subcultured in VS medium supplemented with three different combinations of PGRs. For rooting, the plantlets were subcultured on MS medium supplemented with IAA and IBA and the rooted plants were transferred and acclimated in the greenhouse. Genomic DNA of in vitro raised clones was extracted from young leaf tissues. 20 SCoT and 20 ISSR primers were used to evaluate of the genetic fidelity of in vitro propagated plantlets. Out of 40 primers screened, only 14 SCoT and 11 ISSR primers produced clear and scorable bands. 25 SCoT and ISSR primers amplified 139 loci, of which only 35 bands were polymorphic. The average number of polymorphic bands per primer were 1.5 and 1.3 for SCoT and ISSR markers respectively. Based on the estimated genetic parameters and results of data analysis, in general, a low variability was detected among the tissue culture-raised plantlets. Particularly, the plantlets derived from the media II and III shower a lower variability than those derived from the media I; hence, the media II and III can be successfully employed for the commercial multiplication of damask rose without much risk of genetic instability.