Genetic Profiling of Regional Oregano Accessions (Thymus vulgaris L.) from Sivas/Divriği Using SCoT Molecular Markers

Year 2025, Volume: 39 Issue: 2, 459 - 466, 27.08.2025

Tuğçe Melda Temrel , Yeter Çilesiz

https://doi.org/10.15316/selcukjafsci.1685808

Abstract

This study investigates the genetic diversity among different Thymus vulgaris L. genotypes using the SCOT (Start Codon Targeted) marker system. A total of 136 bands were obtained from 15 markers, of which 106 were polymorphic, with an average of 9.07 bands per primer. The SCOT markers yielded a polymorphism rate of 77.9%. In order to interpret the genetic distance among Juglans regia L. genotypes, a UPGMA dendrogram was constructed using MVSP 3.22 software. According to the resulting dendrogram, the lowest similarity (0.593) was observed between samples W6 and W26, while the highest similarity (0.970) was observed between W1 and W4, followed by 0.962 between W4 and W5. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was also conducted using MVSP 3.22. The PCA results revealed a homogeneous distribution and wide variation. The UPGMA dendrogram and PCA analysis were consistent with each other. The SCOT analyses conducted on walnut genotypes provide highly valuable information for assessing the level of genetic diversity, understanding population structure, and selecting superior individuals. Such studies contribute to the conservation of genetic resources and support the development of new cultivars with high yield, disease resistance, and strong adaptation to climate change in future breeding programs. Based on this study, SCOT analyses demonstrate that the Sivas province constitutes an important genetic diversity reservoir and that oregano genotypes possess rich genetic variation.

Keywords

Thymus vulgaris L. , genetic diversity , SCOT

Investigation of Genetic Polymorphism in Selected Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) Accessions Using SCoT Molecular Markers

Abstract

Identifying plant species and evaluating their variation should not be based solely on morphological characteristics. Such studies should be expanded through biochemical and DNA analyses. In this context, the aim of our study is to reveal the genetic diversity of some thyme (Thymus) samples naturally growing in the flora of Divriği district of Sivas province, and to contribute to the sustainable conservation of natural resources as well as to determine their agricultural utilization potential. Additionally, this study aims to explore the use of SCoT (Start Codon Targeted) markers in evaluating the diversity among different thyme genotypes. The plants were collected from their natural habitats, and DNA was extracted from fresh leaves using the CTAB method. A total of 36 SCoT markers were screened in the samples and the 14 most polymorphic markers were selected for analysis. In this study, a total of 169 bands were obtained from the 14 SCoT primers used to determine the genetic relationships among the thyme samples. Among these, 141 bands were polymorphic, resulting in a polymorphism rate of 83.43%. The data obtained allowed for the construction of a dendrogram grouping the analyzed ecotypes according to their similarity indices. According to the UPGMA dendrogram and the correlation matrix generated from the SCoT molecular data, the lowest similarity (0.326) was observed between samples G12 and G17, while the highest similarity (0.854) was found between G8 and G10. As a result, it was demonstrated that evaluating variation in Thymus species and establishing similarity indices using SCoT markers is possible, providing a solid basis for advanced molecular genetic analyses.

Keywords

Thymus vulgaris L. , SCOT , genetic diversity

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