Assessment of genetic variation and identification of species-specific ISSR markers in five species of Cymbidium (Orchidaceae)

Thirty-five inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to analyze the genetic variation in Cymbidium spp. High number of polymorphic bands (217) with overall 90 % of polymorphism at inter-specific level was observed. Cumulative genetic similarity ranged from 0.40-0.93 with an average value of 66 % among the species. At intra-specific level, average polymorphism detected, ranged from 29.8 to 69.9 % within the five species of Cymbidium. All the species were apparently endowed with low genetic variation at intra-specific level compared to inter-specific level. UPGMA clustering evidently distinguished the representatives of C. aloifolium and C. tigrinum which may be linked to entirely different climatic conditions in which they grow, besides their discrete morphological characteristics. Nine ISSR primers revealed 11 unique species-specific banding patterns belonging to three Cymbidiums, which can further developed as SCAR markers. Thus, present investigation provides valuable baseline data of genetic variation in five species of Cymbidium and addresses the conservation concerns of this horticulturally important orchid.