Integrated Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Iranian Cyclamen Populations: Morphological Variation and Phylogenetic Insights from ITS and trnL Molecular Markers

Cyclamen, known for its ornamental appeal and medicinal applications, is one of the most significant potted plants worldwide. However, all wild species within this genus face various levels of endangerment, making their conservation critical. Identifying different wild species of Cyclamen is essential for enhancing conservation efforts and optimizing breeding programs. Previous studies on Cyclamen populations native to Iran have utilized morphological, phytochemical, and cytogenetic markers, all confirming notable variations among these populations. Molecular markers, particularly, have provided more accurate insights into species identification and taxonomic relationships. In this study, we used morphological characteristics alongside the ITS molecular marker to precisely identify the species within Iranian Cyclamen populations. We further analyzed chloroplast trnL (UAA) intron sequence variation to investigate distinctions among Cyclamen coum subspecies. Comparative analysis of ITS۱ and ITS۴ ribosomal DNA sequences, and phylogenetic tree construction, placed wild Iranian Cyclamen within C. coum, aligning with morphological findings. The trnL sequence data also provided a new perspective on subspecies differentiation in Cyclamen and showed a close affinity with Cyclamen elegans. Morphological and molecular analyses revealed clear regional differentiation, with the Pasand population showing distinct structural and genetic characteristics. This suggests that Pasand may represent an ecologically specialized or partially isolated group within C. coum, emphasizing its importance for conservation and future breeding programs. However, due to the complexities of taxonomic classification within this genus, further studies are needed to clarify the species and subspecies of Cyclamen in Iran.

کلیدواژه ها:

Genetic diversity ، internal transcribed spacer region ، chloroplast region ، Population differentiation ، species identification ، Conservation genetics