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The salinity caused changes in plant metabolic processes. Cotton is one of the important fiber products which may be affected by salinity stress in Iran. In the present study, the effects of salinity stress and salicylic acid (SA) as improvement of abiotic stress were examined on biochemical traits and retrotransposon based markers profile (IRAP and REMAP) in cotton cultivars. Cotton seeds of two cultivars (GT40 and NNC) were cultivated in pots and different treatments; control plants with normal irrigation, 0.5 and 1mM SA, 100 and 150mM NaCl treatments and, combination of 0.5mM SA and 150mM NaCl were performed. Physiological, morphological, cellular and, genetic diversity parameters were measured after treating and following seven days of irrigation. Activity of antioxidant enzymes; catalase, peroxidase and proline in 150mM NaCl treated plants were more than other treatments. In comparison to two cultivars, GT40 cultivar had a higher activity of antioxidant enzymes. Based on retrotransposon based markers analyses, the highest heterozygosity was shown in 0.5mM SA treatment of GT40 cultivar as well as 0.5 mM SA, 150mM NaCl treatments in NNC cultivar. Totally, GT40 showed the highest genetic variation in retrotransposon profiles. The Salt stress and salicylic acid treatment provided discriminate profiles from retrotransposon movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catharanthus roseus L. (G) Don, commonly known as Madagascar periwinkle, is an important medicinal plant receiving much attention from researchers. This plant is a rich source of terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs). The gamma radiation and somaclonal variation may provide suitable methods for genetic changes to increase medicinal components of C. roseus. In the present study, 30 and 60 (Gy) gamma rays were irradiated on seeds. C. roseus seeds were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium in three different groups, 0 Gy (control) 30, and 60 Gy gamma irradiations. Morphological characteristics of regenerated plantlets were measured for surface area of leaves, stem length, root length, and fresh weight. The genetic variations were evaluated using nine inter-simple sequence repeats and 25 sequences related amplified polymorphism markers. Morphological results showed a significant difference between studied groups in leaf surface and twisted leaf in 60 Gy irradiated plantlets. The analysis of molecular variance revealed the significant genetic difference among groups. STRUCTURE analysis showed genetic variability both within and among groups. Using the NJ tree analysis, the plants studied were categorized into three distinct groups, which were supported by principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). In conclusion, gamma irradiation produced morphological and genetic changes in C. roseus regenerated in vitro plantlets providing to be a suitable method for further mutation breeding in periwinkle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the ever-increasing number of GM crops introduced to the market, it is required to respect customers' freedom of choice and their perception toward GMOs. According to obligatory demand by food and drug administration for GM testing on raw and processed materials, efficient and robust analytical approaches are needed for screening and identification of GM crops. This article describes the development and applicability of a PCR-based GMO testing of the most frequent constructs used in transgenic soy, corn and rice varieties which include CaMV35S promoter and the NOS terminator and also plant endogenous sequences Lectin, Zein, SPS as internal controls. A total of 2866 different sample inputs collected during the year 2015 to 2017 including GM and non-GM materials have been tested. Results obtained from qualitative PCR test on rice, maize and soybean-containing food samples showed that in total, 1.59% of maize samples and 7.53% of soya samples were GM positive and no GM positive rice sample was detected. The presented method showed high specificity and sensitivity offering an absolute limit of detection of 0.25% GM construct in the samples and sufficient reproducibility of the method was proved. This method fits the purpose of GMO testing laboratories due to its convenience and robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) is one of the most important fiber and oil crop plants cultivated since ancient time. The flax seeds contain high amount of omega- 3-fatty acids and biologically active lignans. In spite of economic importance of cultivated flax, no information is available on its genetic variability and population structure in Iran. Therefore, we used six inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphism (IRAP) markers and 15 combined IRAP markers to reveal within and among population genetic diversity in this crop plant. We used 30 randomly selected plants in three geographical populations for present investigation. AMOVA test produced significant genetic difference (PhiPT = 0.40, P = 0.010) among the studied populations and also revealed that, 40% of total genetic variability was due to within population diversity while, 60% was due to among population genetic differentiation. Gst (0.78, P = 0.001), Hedrick, standardised fixation index (G'st = 0.83, P = 0.001), revealed that the studied populations are genetically differentiated. STRUCTURE plot based on admixture model revealed that the studied populations differed extensively in their genetic content, but some degree of shared alleles occurred between them. Some adaptive IRAP loci were identified by LFMM analysis. These loci were private alleles restricted to geographical populations. Data obtained may be used in breeding and hybridization program of flax in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is estimated that about 15% of couples concern with the inability to conceive after 1 year of unprotected intercourse. Genetic and environmental factors play important roles in male infertility. MTHFR (Methylene Tetrahydro Folate Reductase) is encoded by a gene which maps to human chromosome 1p36.22. The c.677C>T mutation causes an amino - acid change of Alanine to Valine (Ala222Val) in exon 4 which is related to oligospermia and azoospermia. Our purpose was to investigate the association of rs1801133 in MTHFR gene with azoospermia and also genetic diversity of some Iranian folks. Peripheral blood samples of 100 men suffered from azoospermia and 55 controls collected from Infertility Clinic of Jihad-university of Qom. DNA was extracted by salting-out method and SNP-Genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP technique and sequencing. Furthermore, statistical and population genetics analysis were done. The rs1801133 showed no significant relation with azoospermia according to statistical analysis. Furthermore, population genetics analysis showed that there is no genetic differentiation between Turk and Fars ethnics and case and control individuals. MTHFR studied SNP has no significant relation with azoospermia infertility, although further studies on more samples are demanded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aloe belonging to the family Asphodelaceae family, formerly Liliaceae, is a genus of herbaceous and succulents. Shoot tip of 2-3 cm were collected from offshoot of Aloe barbadensis and Aloe littoralis, explants were surface sterilized, after were inoculated with MS medium containing various concentrations of BA (0.5, 1, 2 mg/L), IAA (0.5, 1 mg/L). The cultures were incubated at 25 ± 2°C under a 16 h photoperiod. In A. barbadensis and A. littoralis, the best treatment for highest shoot number and bud proliferation was MS medium containing 2 mg/L BA and 0.5 mg/L IAA. Maximum percentage of proliferated shoot buds (90% and 95%) from a single explant were obtained in MS medium after 4-5 weeks of the second and the first subcultures, respectively. Both of the species were adventitious root induced in MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L BAP and 0.5 mg/L IAA after the second subculture. Genome size of the regenerated plants in A. barbadensis and A. littoralis species were differed in different treatments (from 30.66 pg to 39.62 pg, 2C value). One sample T-test showed significant difference (P=0.001) between genome sizes of two species studied when A. littoralis showed higher C-value in comparison to A. barbadensis. Different genome sizes were also indicated among treatments and subcultures. The mixoploids identified in flow cytometry histograms by the presence of two or three peaks of in A. barbadensis and A. littoralis histograms in apple regenerated plants in different treatments and subcultures in treatment 2 (BA 1 mg/L, IAA 0.5 mg/L). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cirsium aduncum Fisch. & C.A.Mey. Ex DC. and C. haussknechtii Boiss., (Asteraceae) are important medicinal plant species that grow in different geographical regions of Iran. We had no knowledge about population genetic structure, intra-specific and inter-specific gene flow and the presence of hybrid zone for this two species in Iran. Therefore, in order to provide data for conservation of these two medicinally important species, the population genetic analysis and morphometric studies were performed in 18 geographical populations of these species. ANOVA and MDS analyses revealed significant morphological difference among the studied populations in either species, while MDS plot showed morphological overlap in plants of these two species. AMOVA test revealed significant genetic difference among the studied populations. Mantel test showed positive significant correlation between genetic and geographical distances and the occurrence of isolation by distance. Population assignment test and STRUCTURE plot of genetic data revealed inter-specific introgression between these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helichrysum armenium and H. rubicundum are two medicinally important plants of Iran that are distributed in various regions of the country. They are extensively used by locals as medicinal plants and a great negative selection pressure is applied on them. Therefore, due to importance of these plant species, we performed a population genetic study in both species. For this study, we used 66 randomly collected plants from 24 geographical populations of Helichrysum armenium and H. rubicundu. These species had areas of overlap and contact and we found some intermediate plants that were included in our study too. UPGMA and MDS analyses revealed morphological separation of these closely related species and placed intermediate plants in an intermediate position. ISSR analysis revealed inter-population genetic diversity and K-Means clustering and STRUCTURE analyses revealed populations. genetic stratification in both species. Genetic difference of the studied populations was not correlated to geographical distance. Triangle plot of Bayesian analysis and NeighborNet plot showed inter-specific gene flow. The studied populations showed plants with 2n = 2x = 14 and 2n = 4x = 28 chromosomes and differed significantly in their meiotic behavior. Therefore, a combination of genetic stratification, and genetic admixture as well as polyploidy and chromosomes structural changes, have played rule in Helichrysum diversification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peganum harmala L. is a perennial herbaceous plant and it has long been used for medicinal purposes as herbicide due to the presence of harmine. P. harmala is a famous medicinal plant used in the Iranian traditional medicine, due to the antimicrobial compounds found in its seeds and roots. Population genetic study is an essential scientific approach for studying medicinal plants; as it produces data on genetic variability, genetic structure, and gene flow versus genetic fragmentation of these plants. We have no detailed information on genetic structure of this plant species in the country. Therefore, a through population genetic study was conducted in four geographical populations of these valuable plants by using start codon targeted (SCoT), and sequence related amplified polymorphic (SRAP) molecular markers. Both these molecular markers are highly reproducible and polymorphic molecular markers and are very efficient in genetic variation studies in plants. In present study, both multidimensional scaling (MDS) plot and analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) based on both SCOT and SRAP molecular markers revealed genetic differentiation of the studied populations. This indicates that local populations may be genetically isolated and due to that gained specific genetic content. This is good news for genetic conservation of these medicinally important plants. We should continue for hunting new P. harmala wild populations in the country and study their genetic structure; in this way we can broaden P. harmala gene pools which can be utilized for future breeding studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L. amplexicaule L. grows in different regions of Iran and forms several populations that can be invasive in some area. Morphological and genetic variation of L. amplexicaule in Iran was studied to evaluate the differentiation among three presumed varieties within this species. Morphometric study was accompanied by the analysis of ISSR and chloroplast genome (psbA-trnH). Results of the molecular methods show that L. amplexicaule var. bornmuelleri Mennema. does not form any genetically distinct group. Genetic study of 103 plant specimens of 13 different populations using ISSR molecular marker revealed a high degree of within-population (67%) and among (33%) populations genetic diversity. AMOVA and Gst analyses produced a significant difference. Nm estimation revealed certain degree of gene flow/shared alleles between these populations, indicating that L. amplexicaule is predominantly an out-crossing species in Iran. Mantel test produced significant correlation between genetic distance and geographical distance of the studied populations (r = 0.097, P = 0.04). STRUCTURE plot identified two main gene pools for this species in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Senecio (Asteraceae, Senecioneae) with about 1250 species is one of the largest genera in the family. Due to historical and present time inter-specific hybridization and reticulate evolution in the genus, the morphological and molecular phylogenetic evolution are disjunct. The genus contains 17 species belonging to four sections, sect. Crociseris, sect. Quadridentati, sect. Jacobaea and sect. Senecio, in Iran out of which, six are endemic. Therefore, the present study was performed with the aim to provide data on the above issues. In general, ISSR molecular markers could delimit the studied Senecio species and revealed the species relationships, but did not support any of the sections. The ITS and cp-DNA sequencing of six species of S. iranicus, S. vulcanicus, S. kotschyanus, S. paulsenii subsp. khorasanicus and S. joharchii were obtained for the first time. S-DIVA suggests three possible ancestral ranges, of Kordestan (A), Mazandaran (G), and West-Azarbayejan (D), for Sececio species in Iran. These areas are located in the western parts of Iran. Mazandaran province played important role in the speciation process that led to the formation of endemic Sececio species in the country, while, Kordestan and West-Azarbayejan are the main road for the entrance of Sececio species from Europe via neighboring countries. The morphological characters used could also delimit the four sections of the genus Senecio. However, ISSR, cp-DNA and nuclear genes sequences-based phylogenetic trees portrayed the species relationship much different from that of morphological dendrogram. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Tragopogon L. with about 110-150 species is distributed in Asia and Europe, while it is represented by 26 species in Iran. Hybridization and polyploidy occurs in the genus Tragopogon that bring about extensive morphological variation in its species. Tragopogon buphthalmoides (Asteraceae) is a perennial herb with common Persian name "Sheng e Iran" and "Sheng e cheshmgaavi" and is used as traditional medicine. Two varieties have been cited for this species in the country, but due to extensive morphological variability, it is difficult to delimit the two varieties. Therefore, the present study was performed to delimit these varieties by using both morphological and molecular markers (cpDNA and ISSRs). We also aimed to provide data on population genetics of the studied species due to its medicinal importance. In total 134 plant specimens of T. buphthalmoides were randomly collected from 16 geographical populations in 7 provinces. The studied plants were considered as two different varieties based on morphological criteria and were subjected to numerical and phylogenetic analyses. PCOA plot of morphological data, identified some plants with intermediate characters. Moreover, MDS plot of ISSR data and ML tree of cpDNA sequences, did not separate plants of the two varieties and the plants were placed intermixed. Therefore, we consider T. buphthalmoides as a single species with extensive morphological variability and it is complex species. Population genetic study identified four genetic groups in the country, while, STRUCTURE analysis based on admixture model as well as population assignment test revealed some degree of gene flow in the studied populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 KMeans 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ziziphora tenuior L. is a medicinal plant species of the genus Ziziphora (Labiatae) that grows in different areas of Iran. In order to study the population genetic structure in Ziziphora tenuior,we collected 107 plant specimens from 20 geographical populations that are located in 17 provinces. ISSR molecular markers were used for genetic diversity analysis. The populations studied revealed intra- and inter-population genetic variability. AMOVA test showed significant genetic difference among the studied populations. STRUCTURE plot identified two main gene pools for Ziziphora tenuior in Iran. These populations showed isolation by distance and restrict gene flow occurred among them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]