Molecular characterization of some pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) genotypes with ISSR markers

Pomegranate, which is one of the oldest agricultural products, has an important place in human history. Pomegranate plant was used as medicinal plant in ancient times. In recent studies, has been proven to be a fruit that blood pressure stabilizing, energy-giving, improving the immune system, prevents the proliferation of cancer cells. Various breeding methods have been used in order to meet the market need of the pomegranate plant which is gaining importance in our country and in the world. In this study, molecular characterization of 90 pomegranate genotypes in the Pomegranate Genetic Collection of Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Cukurova University was carried out by using ISSR molecular marker technique. Genetic relationships of pomegranate genotypes were investigated by using 23 ISSR primers. Amplification was obtained from 21 primers among 23 primers used in the thesis. While 20 of the 21 primers produced polymorphic bands, 1 produced only monomorphic bands. The evaluated 21 primers produced a total of 96 bands, 80 of which were polymorphic. When the dendrogram produced after ISSR analysis was examined, it was seen that the genetic similarity level of 90 pomegranate genotypes ranged between 0.52 and 1.00.