Analysis of Genetic Diversity in Improved Varieties and Iranian Landraces of Alfalfa Using EST, POX, GOT and MDH Allozyme Markers

Genetic diversity of five improved varieties (Kaysari, Kadi, Ranger, Mesmir, Sea-River) and seven Iranian landraces (Gharayonje, Amozeynadin, Rahnani, Tazekand, Shazand, Hamedani, Yazdi) of alfalfa were assessed using Esterase (EST), Peroxidase (POX), Glutamate Oxaloacetate Transaminase (GOT) and Malate Dehydrogerase (MDH). GOT and MDH were monomorphic, whereas EST and POX showed polymorphic banding patterns. In total, four allozyme loci were detected for EST and POX. There were no significant differences between improved varieties and landraces for allelic frequency in the polymorphic markers. However, average heterozygosity in landraces (0.623) was higher than that of improved varieties (0.594). Genetic distance among populations was less than 0.02. FST of landraces versus improved varieties was 0.003 showing no differentiation based on the studied marker systems. The value of FIS was about 0.089, which indicated that inbreeding effect was larger than the genetic drift in alfalfa. Applying test showed that Hamedani was significantly different from nine varieties and Shazand from seven varieties. Based on cluster analysis, alfalfa landraces and improved varieties were not arranged in separate groups. This means that there were not appreciable differences between these groups for allozyme markers.