Transferability of SSR markers from distantly related legumes to Glycyrrhiza species

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.) is an important medicinal plant and its distribution of natural habitats has been shrinking day by day due to extensive collection. Genetic diversity identification will likely assist in conserving the different Glycyrrhiza species. A total of 127 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers from Medicago truncatula Gaertn., Phaseolus vulgaris L., and Cicer arietinum L. were used and 26 of them were amplified on Glycyrrhiza genomes. The highest transferability rate (33%) was obtained from M. truncatula markers, while the highest genetic diversity values were obtained in P. vulgaris markers. The markers BM153 and PV-ag004 from P. vulgaris had the largest polymorphism information content. The amplified primers were also used to identify genetic diversity among three Glycyrrhiza species. The gene diversity values among Glycyrrhiza species appeared to be similar; however, donor species mostly had lower diversity values than those of Glycyrrhiza species. Additionally, the genetic analysis showed that G. flavescens Boiss. subsp. flavescens is more distantly related to species G. glabra L. var. glandulifera and G. echinata L. The number of alleles was mostly higher than in the donor species, possibly proposing a multiallelic and/or polyploid structure in Glycyrrhiza species.