Germination capacity of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) seeds related to genotypic variation and phytochemical contents

Abstract

Genetic diversity and phytochemical components are the endogenous factors that influence seed germination. The current study aimed to compare the seed germination capacity of 15 Pistacia vera genotypes after assessing their genotypic variation using 32 primers (16 ISSR and 16 RAPD) and phytochemical contents. The obtained results explained that the ISSR primers classified the 15 P. vera genotypes into four groups, while the RAPD primers classified them into three groups. The genotypes G11, G5, G1, G9, G6, G14, and G10 had the highest germination percentages (98.89, 97.67, 96.67, 94.44, 93.33, 93.33, and 91.11%), respectively. Additionally, their germination speeds were also the highest. However, the lowest germination percentages (62.22 and 68.59%) were recorded in G8 and G4, respectively. Meanwhile, (G9, G10, and G11), (G1 and G14), and (G5 and G6) were identified together in the same group in accordance with both ISSR and RAPD primers. Also, G4 and G8 were in the same subgroup based on RAPD primers. Moreover, the maximum percent protein values (21.88, 21.88, and 20.78%) were measured in the seed kernels of G9, G11, and G1, respectively. Soluble sugar content was the best (798.9 ug g-1) in G11. The best percentage of oil (45.3%) was observed in G5.