Molecular studies (ISSR, cpDNA) in Tragopogon buphthalmoides (Asteraceae): Population genetics and taxonomic implication

• Main Authors: Azizi Hejraneh, Sheidai Masoud, Mozaffarian Valiollah, Noormohammadi Zahra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Serbian Genetics Society 2017-01-01
• Series: Genetika
• Subjects: Genetic diversity; STRUCTURE analysis; Taxonomic delimitation; Tragopogon buphthalmoides
• Online Access: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0534-0012/2017/0534-00121703775A.pdf

The genus Tragopogon L. with about 110-150 species is distributed in Asia and Europe, while it is represented by 26 species in Iran. Hybridization and polyploidy occurs in the genus Tragopogon that bring about extensive morphological variation in its species. Tragopogon buphthalmoides (Asteraceae) is a perennial herb with common Persian name "Sheng e Iran" and "Sheng e cheshmgaavi" and is used as traditional medicine. Two varieties have been cited for this species in the country, but due to extensive morphological variability, it is difficult to delimit the two varieties. Therefore, the present study was performed to delimit these varieties by using both morphological and molecular markers (cpDNA and ISSRs). We also aimed to provide data on population genetics of the studied species due to its medicinal importance. In total 134 plant specimens of T. buphthalmoides were randomly collected from 16 geographical populations in 7 provinces. The studied plants were considered as two different varieties based on morphological criteria and were subjected to numerical and phylogenetic analyses. PCOA plot of morphological data, identified some plants with intermediate characters. Moreover, MDS plot of ISSR data and ML tree of cpDNA sequences, did not separate plants of the two varieties and the plants were placed intermixed. Therefore, we consider T. buphthalmoides as a single species with extensive morphological variability and it is complex species. Population genetic study identified four genetic groups in the country, while, STRUCTURE analysis based on admixture model as well as population assignment test revealed some degree of gene flow in the studied populations.