There are 46 species of Hesperis plant around the world, 6 of these species grow in Iran. Humans have used some of the Hesperis species for their beneficial aspects over centuries. These species are mainly found in damp areas, specifically in the phytogeographic region of Euro-Siberian. As stated by Busch, Central Asia as well as the Mediterranean region are considered the origin location of the Hesperis. Their genetic diversity is evaluated by the Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP). Their genetic diversity and characteristics are also examined by considering their morphology and acquired molecular data. 65 specimens of 4 Hesperis species from 5 provinces have been gathered. The PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) technique employing 5 selective primers has been performed on the four mentioned Hesperis species, resulting in 85 DNA bands (total loci number), with each species producing between 10 to 25 amplified fragments. The results of SRAP1 markers indicated that the least similarity appeared between two H. straussii and H. odorata species. A remarkable sign of isolation has been observed among these species, according to the results of the Mantel test. Furthermore, the genetic affinity of Hesperis taxa can be determined and deciphered by SRAP as well. Moreover, the conservation and biodiversity programs can benefit from these findings, and they also can be utilized in Iran to select an appropriate ecotype for pastures and forages. 1 Sequence-related Amplified polymorphism
Hossein Babaei (Fri,) studied this question.