Efficiency of inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers in differentiating anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) cultivars

Abstract

The objective of this research was to assess the genetic diversity and similarity of three varieties of anise (Pimpinella anisum L.) by intergenic sequence markers (ISSR) technique. The experiment employed 10 randomly binding primers and yielded the amplification of 112 bands of DNA; out of these, 89 (79.46%) were found to be polymorphic. The results revealed that primer UBC 834 outperformed other primers in identifying genetic differences (92.86% polymorphism). Genetic distance estimation indicated high genetic similarity between varieties 1 and 3 (distance measure 0.16746), whereas variety 2 displayed marked genetic distance (distance measure 0.30927). The UPGMA tree joined varieties 1 and 3 to form a cluster at similarity value 83.25%, whereas each separate cultivar had identity values of 78.73% to be distinct. The experiment had the particularity to note 17 gene bands specific to each cultivar to form its distinct genetic fingerprint. The experiment marked success in identifying genetic differences among the three varieties of anise by employing the ISSR technique; it presented new approaches to preserve and improve genetic material.