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Plant Gene and Trait 2012, Vol.3, No.8, 43
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Figure 2 Dendrogram showing the genetic relationship among
63 individuals of
C. sempervirence
based on SSR data, UPGMA
clustering method and Simple Mathing's coefficient. 63
individuals were divided in 4 different clusters
Note: The numbers represent the sample codes in table 4
Figure 3 The scatter plot of the first and second principal
coordinates analysis on 63 individuals of
Cupressus sempervirence
based on the SSR obtained with eight primer combinations
Note: The numbers represent the sample codes in table 4
samples. Total number of alleles, mean of effective
allele, PIC, average expected heterozygosity (H
E
) and
Shannon indices (H
O
) was observed in the natural
stands of Iranian Cypress (Hafezi et al. 2011) were
more than the results of this study. Also average H
E
and H
O
were 0.35 and 0.32 in the natural stands of
Turkey Cypress (Raddi and Sumer, 1999) and 0.50
and 0.29 in Italian Cypress (Valgimigli et al., 2005),
respectively. The analysis shows that
Cupressus sem
-
pervirence
had a low level of heterozygosity. The
average Nei’s gene diversity (H
E
) (0.26) and Shannon
indices (H
O
) (0.41) indicate a low genetic variation
within the population. Such a narrow variation can be
detrimental to the sustainability of the species. Small
populations with low gene diversity will be affected
much by lack of gene flow, limited gene drift and
reduced mutation rate. Therefore, a high genetic diversity
further supports greater differentiation (Nagylaki, 1998;
Anand et at., 2004).
Genetic diversity maintained in a plant species is
influenced by specific characteristics of the species
(Hamrick and Godt, 1989), as well as by its evolu-
tionary history. The low level of genetic variation in
C.
sempervirence
may be attributed to both its evolutionary
and cultural history and its very small isolated
populations (one to ten individuals) throughout Iran.
Cypress trees in Iranian culture were symbol of long
life and holly trees in Zoroaster religion (Iranian
traditional religion). It seems that is the main reason
it
̕
s wide distribution and low genetic diversity
outside the natural stands (north of Iran) by artificial