Association analysis and molecular tagging of phytochemicals in the endangered medicinal plant licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.)

52 Pags.- 10 Figs.- 11 Tabls. The definitive version is available at: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00319422Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) is a medicinal plant species valued in many countries in Asia and Europe for its phytochemical characteristics. Licorice biodiversity is becoming threatened nowadays in Iran due to increasing demand and a drastic decline of its natural habitats. Therefore, licorice domestication would be necessary in the near future, and molecular breeding would help to introduce genotypes suitable for cultivation. The present study was carried out with 170 individual licorice plants sampled in the wild in 59 localizations in 21 provinces of Iran. The association of 436 polymorphic AFLP markers, produced by 15 primer combinations (EcoRI/MseI), with six phenotypic phytochemical traits was studied. The AMOVA analysis show gene diversity among and within localizations. The population structure analysis identified two main sub-populations with significant genetic variation. Significant associations were identified between three markers (E3/M40-4, E34/M4-12 and E12/M31-15) and glycyrrhizin concentration, and between four markers (E11/M34-12, E11/M34-15, E9/M7-29, and E9/M7-30) and phenolic compounds contents. Markers detected can be useful in the domestication of licorice as well as in breeding programs. Licorice sampled in four localizations (KBA1, KBA2, SKh2 and Fa1) were found to be superior in terms of glycyrrhizin and antioxidants content, and therefore they can be considered as elite genotypes which could be included in the domestication process.Authors acknowledge the support of the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran-Central Branch (ABRII-CB). This work was part of the research project on licorice 2-05-05-94109 in ABRII. Partial support was obtained from the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) co-financed with the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) (projects AGL2016-75226-R to J.A., and AGL2017-83358-R to Y.G; AEI/FEDER, EU), and the Aragón Government (Group A09-20R).Peer reviewe