A Review on Genetic Diversity and Molecular Identification of Iranian Native Origanum sp. Ecotypes and Cultivated Varieties Using DNA Markers

Nowadays, the significance of medicinal plants and their role in achieving national self-sufficiency, and economic goals are visibly clear. Medicinal plants, as the valuable genetic resources, are one of the most important national wealth for any country. Plants of Lamiaceae family have always been considered as important genetic resources for plant breeding in biotechnology programs; mainly due to their great ecological flexibility as well as their adaptability to different climates. Origanum sp. is one of the most important and best-selling medicinal and spicy plants in the world because of antimicrobial and antioxidant properties in its extracts and essential oils. The utilization of molecular markers is becoming the preferred method for genetic fingerprinting in biotechnology researches. Molecular markers are very operative in identifying the genetic diversity of related plants, especially when phenotypic markers are not able to detect it. They are more efficient and reliable than morphological markers because they are unlimited in number and less affected by growth conditions. Here we attempt to provide a literature review on the native varieties of Origanum and the use of DNA markers in identifying the intra- and inter- species genetic diversity within this genus in Iran.

Keywords:

Medicinal plant , DNA marker , genetic fingerprinting , phylogenetic relations , Oregano , Marjoram