In this study we investigated the genetic variation, using RAPD data in 69 individuals of nine natural populations representing two species of Dianthus L. growing in Northeast of Iran. Eleven RAPD primers generated 111 polymorphic DNA bands. The percentage of polymorphic bands, Nails genetic diversity (h), as well as Shannon index (I), were assessed. A dendrogram based on UPGMA segregated examined populations into two main clusters matching the two species and the two subspecies of Dianthus polylepis subsp. polylepis and D. polylepis subsp. D.binaludensis were to each other. AMOVA showed 82% and 18% of the variation within and among populations respectively. Furthermore, principal coordinate analysis (PCA) based on a Euclidean metric revealed that three populations of D. crinitus subsp. turcomanicus were genetically different from six populations of D. polylepis. According to our results, geographical distances, mating system and gene flow have important effects on genetic polymorphism of populations.

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