GENETIC DIVERSITY AND MORPHOLOGICAL VARIABILITY IN Geranium purpureum VILL. (GERANIACEAE) OF IRAN

Genetic variability and populations, structure were studied in 15 geographical populations of Geranium purpureum Vill. (Geraniaceae). Genetic diversity parameters were determined in these populations. AMOVA and Gst analyses revealed the presence of genetic variability within populations and significant molecular difference among the studied populations. Mantel test showed positive significant correlation between genetic distance and geographical distance of the studied populations. STRUCTURE and K-Means clustering revealed populations, genetic stratification. UPGMA dendrogram of populations based on morphological characters was in agreement with NJ tree of molecular data. These results indicated that geographical populations of G. purpureum are well differentiated both in genetic content as well as morphological characteristics. Consensus tree based on morphological and genetic data separated some of these populations from the others suggesting the existence of ecotypes within this species.