Genetic diversity and population structure analysis in Lonicera L. (Caprifoliaceae) with the use of ISSR molecular markers

Species delimitation is essential since species is regarded as the basic unit of analysis in nearly all biological disciplines, such as ecology, biogeography, conservation biology, and macroevolution. The genus Lonicera, which includes approximately 200 species, is a major component of the family Caprifoliaceae, comprising a large number of horticultural and economically important shrubs and tree species. This genus is represented in Iran by 9 species. In spite vast distribution of many Lonicera species that grow in Iran, there are not any available report on their genetic diversity, mode of divergence and patterns of dispersal. Therefore data molecular (ISSR markers) with four primer pairs generated 77 polymorphic bands and morphological studies of 70 accessions from 7 species of Lonicera, that were collected from different habitats in Iran were performed. The aims of the present study are: 1) to find the diagnostic value of ISSR markers in delimitation of Lonicera species, 2) to find the genetic structure of these taxa in Iran, and 3) to investigate the .species inter-relationship. The present study revealed that combination of morphological and ISSR data can delimit the species. AMOVA and STRUCTURE analysis revealed that the species of Lonicera are genetically differentiated but have some degree of shared common alleles.