Genetic structure, clonality and diversity in commercial pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars

The pomegranate fruit is one of the most important horticultural products due to the presence of polyphenols, anti-oxidant and anti-fungal compounds. In the present study, we report the genetic fingerprinting, as well as genetic diversity in some Iranian commercial pomegranate cultivars by using simple sequence repeats (SSRs). In total 188 pomegranate trees of 47 presumed genotypes were used in genetic analyses. Based on multivariate and Bayesian statistical analyses, different genetic groups as well as clonal genotypes were identified. AMOVA, G’Nei as well as Jost D revealed significant genetic differentiation of the studied genotypes. LFMM analysis identified two potentially adaptive SSR alleles which differentiated pomegranate genotypes based on environmental conditions. Mantel test did not show correlation between genetic distance and geographical distances of the studied genotypes. Some of the hybrid plants obtained had new alleles which were not present in parental genotypes. These findings may be utilized in future selection and breeding pomegranate in the country.