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Genetic diversity and demography of Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn in Iran

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 April 2025

Maedeh Alaeifar ,
Masoud Sheidai Open the ORCID record for Masoud Sheidai [Opens in a new window]  and
Fahimeh Koohdar Open the ORCID record for Fahimeh Koohdar [Opens in a new window]
Maedeh Alaeifar
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
Masoud Sheidai*
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
Fahimeh Koohdar*
Affiliation:
Department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
*
Corresponding authors: Masoud Sheidai; Email: [email protected]; Fahimeh Koohdar; Email: [email protected]
Corresponding authors: Masoud Sheidai; Email: [email protected]; Fahimeh Koohdar; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Pteridium aquilinum, commonly known as bracken, is a fern species distributed in temperate and subtropical regions. In Iran, it primarily grows in isolated populations in the northern regions, and its genetic structure, gene flow and population genetics are not well understood. This study aimed to investigate gene flow and genetic diversity in 11 geographical populations of P. aquilinum in Iran for the first time. A total of 133 plants from different populations were examined, and both morphological and genetic diversity were assessed using start codon targeted (SCoT) molecular markers. Results showed genetic and morphological admixture within populations, likely due to the high mobility of dispersal units in this species. Significant genetic differences were found among populations, but a high degree of genetic variability was observed within individual populations. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between geographical and genetic distances, indicating gene flow between populations. The assignment test revealed genetic admixture among plants from different populations, and Gst analysis of SCoT loci yielded Nm = 0.95, confirming gene flow among the populations. Overall, this study demonstrates that the Iranian populations of P. aquilinum maintain substantial gene flow, which may contribute to the long-term survival and adaptability of this species in the region.

Keywords

brackengene flowgenetic polymorphismRDASCoT
Type
Research Article
Information
Plant Genetic Resources , First View , pp. 1 - 8
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of National Institute of Agricultural Botany

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