Abstract
A preliminary assessment of genetic diversity is an essential step toward elucidating the evolutionary relationships and identifying valuable germplasm resources within Acanthophyllum species. In this study, genetic diversity was explored in different species of the genus Acanthophyllum using SCoT and SRAP molecular markers for the first time. A total of 71 accessions from seven Acanthophyllum species (A. bracteatum, A. glandulosum, A. korshinskyi, A. microcephalum, A. sordidum, A. spinosum, and A. squarrosum (were collected from natural habitats of Iran. The genetic diversity was analyzed using SCoT (12) and SRAP (20) molecular markers. Genetic diversity parameters, indices, and population differentiation were evaluated. Population structure was investigated using AMOVA, PCoA, UPGMA-based clustering, and Bayesian analysis (STRUCTURE).Both marker systems exhibited high informativeness, generating 200 (SCoT) and 242 (SRAP) fragments. Polymorphic information content (PIC = 0.37), Shannon’s information index (I = 0.41), and average expected heterozygosity (He = 0.27) generated by SCoT primers were higher than those obtained from SRAP analysis (PIC = 0.34, I = 0.34, and He = 0.22). A. glandulosum, A. sordidum, and A. microcephalum displayed the highest levels of genetic diversity, while A. korshinskyi showed consistently low variation. The results of the STRUCTURE analysis indicated that the Acanthophyllum species could be grouped into four genetically distinct subpopulations. AMOVA indicated that most genetic variation (~ 86%) occurred within populations, a pattern supported by high gene flow estimates (Nm > 2.3), which reflects considerable genetic connectivity across geographic regions. Widespread admixture, especially in A. bracteatum, A. korshinskyi, and A. spinosum, points to historical hybridization events and shared ancestry.Both SCoT and SRAP markers proved highly efficient in revealing inter and intra-specific genetic diversity within the Acanthophyllum genus. These results provide a critical foundation for identifying the diversity of Acanthophyllum germplasm. They highlight A. glandulosum as a genetically rich resource, due to its high genetic diversity revealed by both marker systems, and identify A. korshinskyi as a conservation priority. Subsequent genome-wide studies are recommended to build upon these findings and to explore the adaptive genetic variation associated with environmental resilience.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Research Council of the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) under grant number [4025857]. We also extend our sincere thanks to the Department of Natural Resources at Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran, for their institutional support.
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The author(s) declare that financial support was received from the Research Council of the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) for funding this project under grant number [4025857].
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For this study, we acquired permission to study “Acanthyphyllum genus” issued by the Agricultural and Natural Resources Ministry of Iran.
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The collected samples of all of all “Acanthyphyllum species and their accessions comply with relevant institutional, national, and international guidelines and domestic legislation of Iran.
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Balali, F., Golkar, P., Bashari, H. et al. Genetic diversity of Iranian Acanthophyllum species collection using SCoT and SRAP markers.
Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-54076-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-54076-0
Keywords
- Caryophyllaceae
- Cluster analysis
- Genetic distance
- Molecular variance
- Pairwise similarity
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