Taxonomic status and genetic variation in Primula mazurenkoae (Primulaceae): evidence from ISSR-analysis and ITS sequencing

Abstract

The study aiming to clarify the taxonomic status of Primula mazurenkoae (Aleuritia section, Primulaceae) and determining the level of its genetic divergence in relation to the morphologically close P. farinosa was carried out. To study the genetic relationships between the closely related species, ISSR analysis was performed using five primers; 23 nucleotide sequences of nrITS region were obtained; 20 of them were revealed in the present study. Genetic analyses revealed a high level of variability in natural populations of P. mazurenkoae. Here we can conclude that the level of morphological similarity between P. mazurenkoae and P. farinosa correlates with the results of ISSR analysis and ITS nucleotide data obtained in the study.