Genetic diversity and spatial genetic structure of Caucasian apple (Malus orientalis Uglitzk.) populations based on microsatellite markers for conservation strategy.

ABSTRACT: An important tree in Eurasia, Malus orientalis Uglitzk. (Caucasian apple) provides ecological and economic benefits. To evaluate the genetic diversity of this species, we sampled 167 individuals from 20 populations across the Zagros Mountains (6 populations) and Hyrcanian forests (14 populations). We assessed six quantitative morphological traits and employed 26 microsatellite (SSR) markers, which revealed a total of 455 alleles in the wild apple populations, all of which were polymorphic. The markers revealed mean values for genetic diversity indices, including allelic richness (Ar = 0.21), private alleles (Ap = 0.65), expected heterozygosity (H_E = 0.74), and observed heterozygosity (H_O = 0.71). Our analyses identified three major genetic clusters and two significant

SUBMITTER: Bina H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12599105 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature