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Abstract:The genus Linum L. (Lineacea) has over 15 species, subspecies or ecotypes in Iran. These species show extensive geographical distribution and form many local populations throughout the country. Linum album is herbaceous medicinal plant containing important lignans such as podophyllotoxin (PTOX) and 6-methoxy podophyllotoxin (MPTOX), which have antiviral and anticancer properties. Studying the genetic and morphological diversity of different geographical populations produces detailed knowledge about population divergence and identification of the infra-species taxa if at all they are present. Moreover, the populations that differ in their genetic content and structure may also differ in their chemical and medicinal properties. The present study considers morphological and genetic diversity analyses of 20 L. album geographical populations by using nuclear ISSR markers, genome size, and cytogenetic characteristics. These populations differed significantly in many of their quantitative morphological characters and in some of their qualitative features. They also differed significantly in their molecular characteristics and genome size. Details of morphological and molecular variations are reported and discussed.

Bieb.) also named Dragon's head" is an annual plant cultivated for its seeds that contain about 30%-38% drying oil (siccative oil). Its seed oil is used in foods, dye and varnish industry. L. iberica seeds have traditional uses as reconstitute, stimulant, diuretic and expectorant. L. iberica in an important medicinal plant in our country and grows in various regions with different environmental conditions. At present no investigation has been reported about population genetic structure of this valuable plant species in Iran. Therefore, we carried out population genetic analysis of 11 populations of L. iberica by using ISSR molecular markers for the first time. Genetic diversity analysis revealed high within population genetic variability. AMOVA test produced significant genetic difference among the studied populations. Mantel test revealed significant correlation between genetic distance and geographical distance of the populations. STRUCTURE analysis and K-Means clustering revealed population genetic fragmentation and the presence of three gene pools for this species. The assignment test revealed the occurrence of limited gene flow among the populations. The results suggested that genetic divergence, limited gene flow, genetic drift and local adaptation have played role in diversification of L. iberica.

Abstract. Azimishad F, Sheidai M, Talebi SM, Noormohammadi Z. 2019. Species relationship and genetic diversity in some Iranian Lamium L. species using ISSR markers. Biodiversitas 20: 1963-1972. Lamium is a widespread and taxonomically complex genus of Lamiaceae which comprises of 16-38 species. This genus is represented in Iran by nine species. In the present study, we used morphological and molecular (ISSR, Cp DNA, and nrITS) data to evaluate species relationships, genetic diversity and population genetic structure of the genus. 27 morphological characteristics, including 13 qualitative and 14 quantitative, and ten ISSR markers were used for morphological and genetical evaluation of 73 accessions from eight taxa. In general, species relationships obtained from morphological and molecular data were largely congruent. In the morphological study, characteristics like the life form, leaf shape, absence/existence of bracts and shape of corolla, were distinctive traits and we did not encounter intermediate forms. Our findings indicated a very high efficiency of the ISSR markers in the identification and delimitation of Lamium species. These results confirmed the placement of L. galeobdolon in the genus Lamium and segregation of L. purpureum and L. garganicum in section Lamium. AMOVA analysis revealed that the species of this genus are genetically differentiated. Nm analysis showed very low value of gene flow among the studied species and mantel test indicated isolation by distance occurred among them.

Abstract. Talebi SM, Sheidai M, Ariyanejad F, Matsyura A. 2019. Stem anatomical study of some Iranian Marrubium L. species. Biodiversitas 20: 2589-2595. Marrubium is one of problematic genera of Lamiaceae family which distributed in different parts of Iran with 11 species. These species have been used in folk medicine for treatment of different disorders. In the present study, we used stem anatomical characteristics of six Marrubium species for taxonomical treatment of the genus and delimitation of these species. Based on the geographical distribution, one to three populations were selected from each species. Stem hand transverses were double-stained and studied using Light Microscopy. In total, sixteen qualitative and quantitative anatomical traits were studied. Anatomical data were analyzed using MVSP and SPSS software. Stems in transverse section were quadrangle, with a continuous ring of vascular tissue. The anatomical characteristics varied among the species, while the ANOVA test revealed significant variations for some of them. The studied species and their populations were divided into two groups in the UPGMA dendrogram of anatomical data. Populations of each species did not cluster together and were scattered in these groups, except those for M. cuneatum, which were clustered in only one group. Furthermore, these groups were clearly observed in PCA plot. According to CA-joined plot, each group or population had distinct anatomical feature (s) which was useful in identification of them. In some cases, the clustering pattern agreed with previous molecular and morphological studies, while in several times populations clustering did not agree with traditional classification of species as Flora of Iran and Flora Iranica. It seems that some infraspecific ranks must be redefined.