SCoT molecular markers are efficient in genetic fingerprinting of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cultivars

The pomegranate is an economically important fruit plant species which has been utilized since ancient time as a source of food and medicine by mankind. This plant although is cultivated in certain geographical regions, but its fruits are imported and sold throughout the world. Iran is the center of origin for pomegranate and contains huge number of known cultivars. However, genetic studied on these cultivars are very limited and much detailed information has to be produced for better hybridization and breeding tasks in the country. A fingerprinting study was performed on 178 Punica trees in 47 known cultivars by using SCoT molecular markers. We obtained 61 SCoT bands/loci which were used for genetic diversity analyses and grouping of the cultivars. A low genetic variability was obtained within and among Punica cultivars, but as revealed by AMOVA, this was quiet enough to produce significant genetic difference among them. DAPC analysis revealed a trace of genetic admixture among the cultivars either due to gene flow or as a result of common ancestral shared alleles. Discriminating SCoT loci may be used in germplasm evaluation of Punica. The genetic difference of these cultivars can be utilized for hybridization and breeding programs.