Genome Size and Genetic Diversity of Some Ornithogalum Species

Abstract

Ornithogalum is an important species used as vegetable, ornamental and medicinal plant. Although several studies have been carried out on Ornithogalum genus, there is still limited information on its genome size and genetic diversity. The objective of the study was to determine genetic similarity of 13 Ornithogalum species (eleven non-endemic, two endemic) grown in southwest of Turkey by nuclear DNA content analysis determined by flow cytometer, and molecular markers using Random-Aplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) and Sequence-Related Amplified Polymorphism (SRAP). The 2C nuclear DNA content of Ornithogalum species ranged from 18.7 to 45.7. The deduced ploidy levels of the species ranged from diploids to tetraploids. The correlation between the elevation at the place of origins of the species and predicted ploidy levels were significant with r(2)=0.42, possibly indicating that poliploidization might have contributed adaptation to higher elevation. In the study 19 RAPD, 6 ISSR and 2 SRAP primers were used that generated 315 molecular markers. Genetic similarities were determined by UPGMA (Unweighted-Pair Group Method Aritmetic Average) and similarity index was calculated according to Dice. The results showed a % 47 similarity determined between an O. nutans species and an O. alpigenum species. On the other hand, O. pyrenaicum separated from all other species. The wide genetic variation was detected among the Ornithogalum species. However, the total marker loci counted from RAPD, ISSR and SRAP markers did not correlate with the estimated ploidy levels.