AMPLIFIED FRAGMENT LENGTH POLYMORPHISMS (AFLPS) GROUP POPULATIONS OF SALVIA OFFICINALIS OF ALBANIA IN ACCORDANCE TO THEIR GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS

The gene pool under study contains 80 genotypes of Salvia officinalis L., belonging to eight geographically quite distant areas (Tomorr, Berat; Tepelenë; Përmet; Ulzë; Shëngjin; Valbonë; Qafë Thanë, Pogradec; Llogara, Vlorë) of Albania. The Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms were the category of molecular markers used to evaluate the intra-populational and inter-populational diversity. A total of 63 molecular markers were received from which 20 were polymorphic.The distribution of the molecular markers among the genotypes was used to construct binary matrices, which were elaborated via the soft NTSYS to construct dendrogrammas of similarity among genotypes of the same population, among the eight populations, among populations of close geographical locations, and finally among the eighty genotypes all together. They clarified the fact that genotypes of the same populations shared from 30% to 60% and to 80% similarity; that the populations of the near geographical locations grouped together giving this way a strong indication on the important role of the environmental conditions into the genoma of this species; and that the 80 genotypes compared to each other shared at least 70% similarity. Once more the AFLP-s proved to be a very useful tool for the effective evaluation of the genetic diversity in population level at plant species. They grouped the populations of Salvia officinalis according to their geographical affinity indicating that the intraspecific variability at this species is closely linked to the environmental conditions.