Asghar Estaji - Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran
Zahra Khazaei - Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

Tuber species are edible fungi and plant-symbiotic microorganisms that form a beneficial relationship with the roots of certain trees and plants (ectomycorrhizae). After interaction with a plant host, tuber species produced hypogeous fruit bodies of great economic value known as forest truffles. There are different species of truffles, but based on species and place of origin varied their quality and market price. Truffle identification is based on morphological analysis maybe fail to distinguish them due to highly susceptible to environmental conditions. But using molecular markers to identify truffles can be more accurate, less expensive and reliable monitoring. In this context, twelve inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primers were chosen for amplifying the genetic materials of black and brown truffles. In this study, a total of ۵۷ polymorphic bands were amplified (an average of ۵.۱۸ bands). The Polymorphism Information Content (PIC) value and gene diversity (H) was with an average ۰.۳۷ and ۰.۵۰, respectively. During the ISSR screening good amplification products were obtained from primers based on GA, (AG) G, (AG)T, and GAC repeats. The population analysis result revealed that there are three main clusters A, B and C. Four strains Ardabil, Khalkhal, Zanjan and Urmia were identified to be in the group A cluster.  The strains of at second and third groups were black and brown truffles respectively. The results indicated that truffles had two separate speciation events (DK = ۲). According to DK = ۲, the samples of Ardabil, Khalkhal, Zanjan and Urmia grouped in the same group and rest of truffles in other groups.

Iranian truffles, Genetic variations, cluster analysis, Tuberaceae