Molecular analyses of genetic variability in the populations of Bergenia ciliata in Indian Himalayan Region (IHR)

Bergenia ciliata is an important medicinal plant species of Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). Genetic variability and population genetic structure of B. ciliata sampled from IHR was studied using two single primer amplification reaction (SPAR) methods (DAMD: Directed Amplification of Minisatellite region DNA; ISSR: Inter Simple Sequence Repeats). To provide a reasonable scientific basis for management and conservation of B. ciliata populations in IHR, genetic diversity analysis of 11 populations with 24 SPAR markers (15 ISSR and 9 DAMD) revealed significantly high level of (90.03%) polymorphism at species level. However, genetic variability was low at population level and KUL and BWS populations showed maximum while SHM population revealed least genetic diversity among the 11 populations. Analysis of molecular variance revealed highest percentage of variation (73%) within populations, followed by 17% among populations and least (10%) among the Himalayan regions. Clustering pattern obtained from UPGMA dendrogram was supported by STRUCTURE and principal coordinate analysis, segregating all the 11 natural populations of B. ciliata into two genetic clusters: Eastern and Western Himalayan populations. The clustering patterns of all the three statistical methods indicated that populations of B. ciliata have structured in response to the local micro-climates of the habitats in IHR, and therefore, it can be concluded that genetic variability is in congruence with the geographical diversity.