ASSESSMENT OF GENETIC DIVERSITY OF PERSIMMON (DIOSPYROS KAKI) GENOTYPES USING ISSR MARKERS IN AZERBAIJAN

Genetic diversity is a key factor determining the adaptive potential of plants and the effectiveness of breeding programs. In this study, the genetic diversity of five persimmon (Diospyros kaki) genotypes (BG03, ŞB04, QL02, ŞB05, ŞG03) was assessed using Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers. Primers UBC840, UBC845, and UBC851 were used for the analysis. After genomic DNA isolation, PCR amplification was performed, and the obtained products were separated by agarose gel electrophoresis. ISSR analysis revealed a high level of polymorphism (95.8%), indicating significant genetic variability of the studied genotypes. PIC values ranged from 0.32 to 0.48, indicating the moderate informativeness of the markers. Calculation of genetic similarity using the Dice coefficient demonstrated clear differentiation of genotypes. The obtained results confirm the effectiveness of ISSR markers for assessing persimmon genetic diversity and can be used in breeding programs.