Genetic diversity among Russian olive genotypes in three different regions of East-Azerbaijan
province (includes Tabriz, Maragheh and Malekan) were assessed using morphological and molecular
(AFLP) markers. Results of the quantitative and qualitative traits statistics showed a significant
genetic variation among studied germplasm and categorized them in five distinguished groups. The
most number of genotypes from Maragheh region were in group 1, while, the group 3 consisted of the
majority of genotypes from Tabriz region. All genotypes were analyzed with 14 EcoRI-MseI primer
combinations. A total of 439 informative and polymorph AFLP markers was generated and analyzed.
Based on Jaccard Similarity Index, the minimum genetic similarity was observed between genotype 19
(from Malekan region) and 27 (from Maragheh). The principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) showed the
suitable genomic distribution of AFLP markers among individuals. The highest (0.83 %) and lowest
(0.33 %) polymorphic information content achieved by primers combination MTTT-EGA and MGTETA, respectively. Cluster analysis using molecular data and UPGMA algorithm, classified the studied genotypes in three distinguished groups. The genotypes at the same geographical region did not classify in the same group based on clustering by molecular data. However, this achieved to a large extent when they were classified groups using morphological traits. This result might be
explained in terms of convergent evolution and some in part due to asexual propagation of Russian olive from the limited maternal genotypes and distribution across the different geographical regions.