Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman and Iranian Biotechnology Society Agricultural Biotechnology Journal 2228-6705 8 3 2016 11 21 Genetic diversity assessment of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.) ecotypes using ISSR markers Genetic diversity assessment of Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum L.) ecotypes using ISSR markers 51 64 1545 10.22103/jab.2016.1545 FA Azizeh Saghalli Former graduate student of Biotechnology, University of Khuzestan Ramin Agriculture and Natural Resources Mohammad Farkhari Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Ramin Khuzestan. Afshin Salavati Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Ramin Khuzestan. Khalil Alamisaeid Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Ramin Khuzestan. Alireza Abdali Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Ramin Khuzestan Journal Article 2014 04 20 Milk Thistle (<em>Silybum marianum </em>L.) is one of the important ancient medicinal plants that have been used to treat liver disease, bile-related diseases and poisoned individuals by poisonous mushrooms. Assessment of genetic variation in Milk Thistle like the other important plants is a key component in breeding programs. The aim of this study was studying genetic variation of some Iranian Milk Thistle ecotypes using ISSR marker. A total of 41 repeatable polymorphic marker loci were produced by 9 ISSR primers. The average of polymorphism information content (PIC), Shannon’s information index and Nei’s gene diversity were 0.38, 0.49 and 0.33, respectively. Using cluster analysis by UPGMA algorithm and Jaccard similarity matrix, different ecotypes of Milk thistle grouped in 4 main clusters. We did not find an exact match between dendrogram grouping and geographical grouping of ecotypes. This could be due to the high diversity of this plant or relocation of ecotypes. The results indicate existence of a significant variation among Iranian Milk thistle ecotypes to start the breeding programs. Milk Thistle (<em>Silybum marianum </em>L.) is one of the important ancient medicinal plants that have been used to treat liver disease, bile-related diseases and poisoned individuals by poisonous mushrooms. Assessment of genetic variation in Milk Thistle like the other important plants is a key component in breeding programs. The aim of this study was studying genetic variation of some Iranian Milk Thistle ecotypes using ISSR marker. A total of 41 repeatable polymorphic marker loci were produced by 9 ISSR primers. The average of polymorphism information content (PIC), Shannon’s information index and Nei’s gene diversity were 0.38, 0.49 and 0.33, respectively. Using cluster analysis by UPGMA algorithm and Jaccard similarity matrix, different ecotypes of Milk thistle grouped in 4 main clusters. We did not find an exact match between dendrogram grouping and geographical grouping of ecotypes. This could be due to the high diversity of this plant or relocation of ecotypes. The results indicate existence of a significant variation among Iranian Milk thistle ecotypes to start the breeding programs. https://jab.uk.ac.ir/article_1545_8ad0ed9a03e4155558b8afb64521a8e6.pdf