Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman and Iranian Biotechnology Society Agricultural Biotechnology Journal 2228-6705 16 2 2024 05 21 Using regression to investigate the relationship between SCoT molecular markers and agronomic and physiological traits of basil under drought stress conditions Using regression to investigate the relationship between SCoT molecular markers and agronomic and physiological traits of basil under drought stress conditions 25 50 4316 10.22103/jab.2024.22047.1506 FA Atousa Keshavarzi Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran. Mehdi Rahimi Corresponding author. Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran 0000-0001-5625-3275 Amin Baghizadeh Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Science and High Technology and Environmental Sciences, Graduate University of Advanced Technology, Kerman, Iran Journal Article 2024 01 08 Objective: Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is one of the most important medicinal as well as vegetables plants that are cultivated and consumed worldwide One of the essential aspects of plant breeding programs is to study the correlation between DNA polymorphisms and phenotypic trait diversity. The purpose of this research is to investigate the genetic diversity of five basil cultivars under drought stress conditions using SCoT markers and traits, and also to analyze the relationship between traits and markers by stepwise regression.<br />Materials and Methods: In this research, five basil genotypes were studied under drought stress in the form of a split plot based on a completely randomized design with three replications in pots and under greenhouse conditions. The main plot included drought stress in two levels (normal and drought stress) and the sub plot factor included genotype (5 levels) and their morphological and physiological traits were evaluated. Also, their genomic DNA was extracted from the leaves, and the genotypic diversity of the genotypes was investigated based on eight SCoT primers, and finally, the relationship between the traits and markers was determined by stepwise regression.<br />Results: Correlation of traits in two conditions showed that leaf yield had a positive and significant correlation with traits of plant height and total chlorophyll. The percentage of trait changes under stress conditions showed that root length, chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll traits had the greatest decrease and cluster analysis based on them placed the genotypes in three groups and the traits in three groups. Eight primers amplified a total of 101 polymorphic bands and ScoT1 produced the most bands with 17 polymorphic bands. Cluster analysis by UPGMA and dice similarity criterion based on SCoT data were placed five basil genotypes in three groups. The results of regression analysis showed that in normal and drought stress conditions, 15 and 12 markers (alleles) had a significant relationship with the studied traits, respectively.<br />Conclusion: Selection based on molecular markers provides a rapid method for breeding programs. The obtained genetic information of markers in this study showed their important role. Therefore, in addition to traits, it is possible to select superior genotypes and high value populations in breeding programs. The findings showed that certain markers are associated with multiple traits and emphasized the critical importance of this trait in plant breeding for simultaneous improvement of multiple traits. Insights from this study on markers have potential for application in breeding programs. Objective: Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is one of the most important medicinal as well as vegetables plants that are cultivated and consumed worldwide One of the essential aspects of plant breeding programs is to study the correlation between DNA polymorphisms and phenotypic trait diversity. The purpose of this research is to investigate the genetic diversity of five basil cultivars under drought stress conditions using SCoT markers and traits, and also to analyze the relationship between traits and markers by stepwise regression.<br />Materials and Methods: In this research, five basil genotypes were studied under drought stress in the form of a split plot based on a completely randomized design with three replications in pots and under greenhouse conditions. The main plot included drought stress in two levels (normal and drought stress) and the sub plot factor included genotype (5 levels) and their morphological and physiological traits were evaluated. Also, their genomic DNA was extracted from the leaves, and the genotypic diversity of the genotypes was investigated based on eight SCoT primers, and finally, the relationship between the traits and markers was determined by stepwise regression.<br />Results: Correlation of traits in two conditions showed that leaf yield had a positive and significant correlation with traits of plant height and total chlorophyll. The percentage of trait changes under stress conditions showed that root length, chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll traits had the greatest decrease and cluster analysis based on them placed the genotypes in three groups and the traits in three groups. Eight primers amplified a total of 101 polymorphic bands and ScoT1 produced the most bands with 17 polymorphic bands. Cluster analysis by UPGMA and dice similarity criterion based on SCoT data were placed five basil genotypes in three groups. The results of regression analysis showed that in normal and drought stress conditions, 15 and 12 markers (alleles) had a significant relationship with the studied traits, respectively.<br />Conclusion: Selection based on molecular markers provides a rapid method for breeding programs. The obtained genetic information of markers in this study showed their important role. Therefore, in addition to traits, it is possible to select superior genotypes and high value populations in breeding programs. The findings showed that certain markers are associated with multiple traits and emphasized the critical importance of this trait in plant breeding for simultaneous improvement of multiple traits. Insights from this study on markers have potential for application in breeding programs. https://jab.uk.ac.ir/article_4316_9f0c0c00d79f8dff2d06351a269f0eae.pdf