Molecular characterization of some Tunisian biferous fig accessions (Ficus carica L.) using RAPD and ISSR markers

This work studied the evaluatation of the genetic diversity of twelve biferous Tunisian fig accessions ('Bither Akhal,' 'Bither Ahmer1', 'Bither4', 'Bither Ahmer2', 'Bither2', 'Bither3', 'Bither1', 'Besbessi,' 'Wahchi,' 'Khenziri,' 'Garghi' and 'Bouholi') using molecular markers (RAPD and ISSR) and to determine the relatedness between accessions. Among 31 DNA loci, 29 were polymorphic (93.61 %). With primers OPL11 and OPW04, DNA fragments produced a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 11 polymorphic bands. Primers had a collective resolving power value (Rp) of 13. Regarding ISSR markers, 47 DNA loci were found, with 41 loci (87.24 %) polymorphic. Polymorphic DNA fragment bands ranged from 8 (AM5) to 14 (AM6). Primers revealed 14.8 collective resolving power values (Rp). For RAPD and ISSR markers, the 'Bither3' and 'Bither4' accessions showed the highest genetic distances. UPGMA generated independent dendrograms based on RAPD and ISSR banding patterns. Overall, this study indicated a high level of genetic diversity among local fig accessions, making them promising genetic sources for possible breeding programs for fig selection.