PJB-2019-709
Genetic diversity, genetic structure and conservation of Salvadora persica L., rare and medicinal plant species grown in Rabigh province, Saudi Arabia
Hassan Mansour
Abstract
Salvadora persica L. is a medicinal plant distributed in desert and subtropical regions. In Rabigh Province, western region of Saudi Arabia, few persisting populations of this plant are grown associated with valleys slopes and exposed to many threats including overcutting, overgrazing and recent human habilitation. These threats are predicted to exacerbate with the advancing of climate change caused aridification. Conservation and reviving the declined populations of S. persica require a crucial assessment for their genetic diversity and genetic differentiation. For this aspect, we applied 25 primers of simple-sequence-repeat (SSR) that produced 22 polymorphic loci to determine the population genetics of 240 plant accessions sampled from twenty populations of S. persica located in four sites located in Rabigh Province: Wadi EL Khaneg, Wadi Al Johfa, Wadi Al Hakak, and Wadi Khurieba. Low to moderate level of genetic diversity have been assessed for all populations (values of PPL% ranged between 60% and 32% and decreased value of HT = 0.490, in addition to considerable value of inbreeding F= 0.906 that verified an obvious shortfall of heterozygotes. AMOVA revealed elevated differentiation of 76% among populations and high value of RST = 0.761. Such data strongly suggest a status of isolation among S. persica populations that caused a severe deficiency in gene migration as it appeared in low value of gene flow (Nm = 0.079). The obtained data will be inspiring for several recommendations for protection and recovery of the existing populations including seed preservation, restoration of highly endangered sites and management the cutting and grazing activities. All of these prompt actions are urgent to prevent imminent danger of extinction.
To Cite this article:
Download
