Molecular Diversity of Fern Species of Agumbe Ghats of Karnataka using ISSR Markers

Survey of the fern flora of the Agumbe Ghats in Karnataka was undertaken to assess the genetic diversity of ferns. Nine ISSR primers were selected to study the genetic diversity among 12 fern species. The annealing temperature for all ISSR primers was standardized using gradient PCR, where the annealing temperatures ranged from 42 °C to 56°C. ISSR fragments generated 32 to 66 bands per primer. A total of 389 polymorphic bands exhibited 100 per cent polymorphism per primer. The similarity coefficient between the species was within the range of 4 to 35 per cent. The dendrogram generated by ISSR markers revealed two major clusters, indicating that fern species have distributed based on frond shape, frond type, rhizome, habitat, stipe colour and texture. Based on molecular data, the highest genetic similarity of 35 % was observed between Pteris confusa and Pteris biaurita. In comparison, Tectaria coadunate and Adiantum philippense showed the least genetic similarity index of 4 per cent.