Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA profiling in detecting genetic variation in Malva L. species: edible and medicinal plants

Malva L. (mallow) is the genus within the Malvaceae Juss. family, which includes twenty- five-forty. species and several hybrids. This genus contains herbaceous annual, biennial, and perennial species that are native to regions of Africa, Asia, and Europe. Malva species contain a lot of mucilage, malvin, flavonoids, terpenoids, polysaccharides, and vitamin. No detailed Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) studies were conducted to study Malva genetic diversity. Therefore, we collected and analyzed seven species from seven provinces of Iran regions. Overall, eighty-five plant specimens were collected. We showed significant differences in quantitative morphological characters in plant species. Malva verticillata L. depicted unbiased expected heterozygosity (UHe) in the range of 0.053. Shannon information was high (0.67) in Malva parviflora L. Malva vericillata showed the lowest value, 0.083. The observed number of alleles (Na) ranged from 1.16 to 2.33 in Malva vericillata and Malva parviflora. The effective number of alleles (Ne) was in the range of 1.078-1.922 for Malva vericillata and Malva parviflora.Gene flow (Nm) was relatively low (0.63) in Malva. The Mantel test showed correlation (r = 0.76, p=0.0001) between genetic and geographical distances. We reported high genetic diversity, which clearly shows the Malva species can adapt to changing environments since high genetic diversity is linked to species adaptability. Present results highlighted the utility of RAPD markers and morphometry methods to investigate genetic diversity in Malva species.Our aims were 1) to assess genetic diversity among Malva species 2) is there a correlation between species genetic and geographical distance? 3) Genetic structure of populations and taxa.