Population structure and genetic diversity of Ferula gummosa (Apiaceae) in North Khorasan, Iran: Insights from morphological and ISSR markers

In the watershed of North Khorasan, Iran, Ferula gummosa is a perennial plant with deep roots whose presence stabilises the soil texture. The study of its molecular and morphological characteristics is crucial to find effective methods to protect it and prevent its extinction. Ferula gummosa is a species native to Iran and an important medicinal plant in Iranian traditional medicine. The morphological and genetic diversity of 6 populations of this species was studied in North Khorasan. Multivariate statistical analyses were performed on 15 quantitative and qualitative traits selected for biometric and morphological studies. Four primers (ISSR13, ISSR826, ISSR810, ISSR7) were used to assess genetic diversity, which resulted in 19 bands. According to the present study, the morphological traits and ISSR molecular data are useful to differentiate the studied population of F. gummosa. Both the quantitative and qualitative morphological characteristics of the studied species can be used to differentiate between populations. In the present study, a high degree of genetic diversity between populations was found. Using morphological and molecular data, WARD cluster analysis provided important information on community relationships. Based on the results of this study, there is a high degree of diversity between the existing ecotypes of F. gummosa. Due to the fact that the ecotypes of F. gummosa originate from different geographical regions, the morphological diversity confirms that the morphological differences between the samples are not only due to environmental influences but also to genetic influences.