Plant, Algae, and Environment

Plant, Algae, and Environment

Genetic Diversity and Trait Association Analysis in the Economically Important Fiber-Producing Species Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mahmod Eslami 1
Mohammadreza Kordasti 2
Somayeh Safiallah 3
Masoud Sheidai 4
1 Department of Agricultural Engineering, National University of Skill(NUS), Tehran, Iran
2 Faculty of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Agricultural Science, National University of Skill(NUS), Tehran
4 Department of Plant Sciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
10.48308/pae.2026.244400.1144
Abstract
Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T.Aiton is an evergreen, perennial shrub of the family Apocynaceae which has been utilized in traditional medicinal systems in North Africa, the Middle East Asia, as well as Southeast Asia. We can also cite this plant importance as a fodder, and used for fuel purposes, timber and fiber production, phytoremediation, and synthesis of nanoparticles. From the economic point of view, this species is in demand for its pharmacological applications. Beside the above said applications, C. procera has also been used as an ornamental species. We have a limited geographical distribution of this species in Iran and almost no report is available on genetic diversity, gene flow and the populations’ genetic structure of this precious plant in the country. We used SCoT molecular markers to conduct a population genetic study of C. procera and to generate novel data on the associations of genetic regions with geographical, landscape as well as important morphological characters that are related to fiber production. DCA analysis showed that SCoT loci are appropriate molecular markers for population genetic studies in C. procera bevause these loci are scattered throughout the genome. Genetic diversity analyses revealed some private SCoT bands or loci in the geographical populations studied. A moderate level of genetic polymorphism was observed in these populations and DAPC revealed frequent and extensive gene flow among the studied populations, probably due to cross-pollination in these plants. Association studies identified several SCoT loci significantly associated with geographical and landscape variables. We also identified some genetic regions, which are closely associated with morphological characteristics related to fiber production, as well as loci associated with fiber color.
Keywords
Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton
CCA
Gene flow
LFMM
RDA
SCoT
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Plant, Algae, and Environment
Volume 10, Issue 3
DOi
2026
Pages 19-36