Efficacy of SCoT and ISSR markers in assessment of genetic diversity in some Iranian pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cultivars

Background: Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) and Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) markers were used to appraise genetic diversity existed in 20 samples of four Iranian pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) cultivars and relative efficiencies of the marker systems were compared. Materials and Methods: 20 and 15 primers were used in SCoT and ISSR markers, respectively. Effective Multiplex Ratio (EMR), Marker Index (MI), Resolving Power (RP) and Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) of the primers were assessed for the two marker systems. Cluster analysis for molecular data was performed. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) was done too. Results: The most of the parameters examined were found to be more suitable in ISSR system. The most remarkable result of the current research is that cluster analysis on SCoT and ISSR data clearly discriminated the cultivars in terms of their genetic characterizations. There was a high similarity between dendrogram derived from ISSR marker and dendrogram derived from both markers, in spite of some observed differences. Conclusions: It is shown in the current research that there is remarkable genetic diversity among evaluated samples. SCoT and ISSR analysis produces adequate polymorphisms for DNA fingerprinting. This research reports the first application of the SCoT marker in characterization of Iranian pistachio cultivars.