Genetic Diversity of Pistacia Species in Iraqi Kurdistan and Yazd, Iran: Insights from ISSR Markers

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 College of Basic Education, University of Halabja, KRG, Iraq

2 Department of Arid Land and Desert Management, School of Natural Resources & Desert Studies, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran.

3 Department of Biotechnology and Crop Science, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Sulaimani, KRG, Iraq.

Abstract

Objective
Ongoing climate change and anthropogenic pressures are accelerating the loss of genetic diversity in numerous plant species, including those within the Pistacia genus, which holds significant economic and ecological importance. Despite their critical roles as rootstocks and sources of traits such as drought and salinity tolerance, wild Pistacia populations in the western Zagros region of 0 and the arid zones of central Iran remain poorly characterized at the molecular level. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and structure of Pistacia species across these two regions utilizing inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers.

Materials and methods
Leaf samples from 24 representative genotypes of P. atlantica, P. khinjuk, and P. vera were selected from an initial pool of 67 trees collected in Iraq and Iran. DNA was extracted using the CTAB protocol and amplified with 10 ISSR primers. Genetic variation was assessed through polymorphism statistics and diversity indices, including polymorphic information content (PIC), marker index (MI), resolving power (Rp), and effective multiplex ratio (EMR). Cluster analysis (UPGMA), principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) were conducted to determine genetic structure and population differentiation.

Results
Out of 171 amplified bands, 163 (95.3%) were polymorphic, indicating a high level of genetic variability. The ISSR4 primer produced the highest number of polymorphic bands, while OW5 demonstrated the highest discriminative power (MI and Rp). AMOVA revealed that the majority of genetic variation (83%) was distributed within species. Notably, P. khinjuk exhibited the highest genetic diversity (He = 0.19; I = 0.30), followed by P. atlantica, while P. vera exhibited minimal variation. Neither the cluster analysis nor the PCoA revealed distinct geographic structuring, suggesting historical gene flow and potential anthropogenic influence.

Conclusions
These findings highlight significant intra-specific genetic diversity among wild Pistacia populations, particularly within P. khinjuk, underscoring their value as reservoirs of adaptive genetic traits. The absence of clear geographic clustering further supports the notion of long-term gene exchange across regions. This research provides a critical baseline for conservation efforts and cultivar development, especially in the context of increasing environmental stress. Future studies should incorporate co-dominant markers and environmental data to more effectively associate genetic variation with adaptive potential.

Keywords

References

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Agricultural Biotechnology Journal
Volume 18, Issue 2
February 2026
Pages 115-134

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