Genetic diversity of endangered primrose (Primula heterochroma Stapf.) accessions from Iran revealed by ISSR and IRAP markers

• Primula heterochroma is an endemic endangered plant to the north of Iran.
• An analysis of molecular variance showed that genetic variation occurred within accessions.
• ISSR and IRAP are both effective in genetic diversity analysis of P. heterochroma.
• Conservation of P. heterochroma and other rare plants are necessary.

Primula heterochroma Stapf. is an endemic plant to the north of Iran. In this study, 24 individuals and combinations of ISSR and IRAP markers were used for evaluation of genetic diversity among 50 P. heterochroma accessions. Analysis of polymorphic bands using simple matching coefficient indicated that genetic similarity ranged from 0.39 to 0.95. Among the markers and marker combinations tested, IRAP had the higher mean values of genetic diversity parameters. The results indicated that the UBC873, UBC817, TOS-2 and UBC813 + UBC815 primers were the most informative which could be used to assess the diversity of wild primrose accessions. The cluster analysis with UPGMA method separated the accessions into six main groups. Accessions from the same regions generally were clustered into the same group or subgroups. The results supported that ISSR and IRAP analyses could be used for the characterization and grouping of P. heterochroma accessions.