Genetic diversity analysis of lesser burnet (Sanguisorba minor Scop.) genotypes collected from Erzurum Province, Türkiye Using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers

This research was conducted over a three-year period from 2021 to 2023, utilizing the ISSR marker system to determine the kinship relationships among populations obtained from seeds of lesser burnet (Sanguisorba minor Scop.) collected from the natural pasture areas of the Erzurum region. The study revealed genetic diversity among 42 burnet genotypes, including 40 genotypes and 2 control cultivars (Bünyan 80 and Altınova). The work with ISSR primers yielded PIC values ranging from 0.24 to 0.34, with an average of 0.30. The highest PIC value (0.34) was obtained from the UBC811 primer, while the lowest value (0.24) was from the UBC812 primer. Among the ISSR primers, UBC811 showed the highest Na, Ne, I, and h values with 2, 1.63, 0.54, and 0.37, respectively, whereas the UBC812 primer displayed the lowest Na, Ne, I, and h values with 2, 1.40, 0.42, and 0.26, respectively. When the results were evaluated as a whole, it was determined that there was no relationship among the collected lesser burnet (S. minor Scop.) populations solely in terms of geographical isolation. Additionally, we recorded that almost all of the 40 collected genotypes significantly differed from the commercial cultivars used as controls, indicating potential for the development of new cultivars.