Genetic diversity and relationship of Hedychium from Northeast India as dissected using PCA analysis and hierarchical clustering

•Molecular genetic fingerprints of eleven Hedychium species from Northeast India were developed using PCR based markers.•Fifteen ISSRs and five AFLP primers produced 547 polymorphic fragments.•AFLP and ISSR markers were able to group the species according to its altitude and intensity of flower aroma.•Genetic characterization of Hedychium from Northeast India contributes to the knowledge of genetic structure of the species and can be used to define strategies for their conservation and management.

Molecular genetic fingerprints of eleven Hedychium species from Northeast India were developed using PCR based markers. Fifteen inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSRs) and five amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) primers produced 547 polymorphic fragments. Positive correlation (r = 0.46) was observed between the mean genetic similarity and genetic diversity parameters at the inter-species level. AFLP and ISSR markers were able to group the species according to its altitude and intensity of flower aroma. Cophenetic correlation coefficients between the dendrogram and the original similarity matrix were significant for ISSR (r = 0.89) compared to AFLP (r = 0.83) markers. This genetic characterization of Hedychium from Northeast India contributes to the knowledge of genetic structure of the species and can be used to define strategies for their conservation and management.