PJB-2011-65
POPULATION DIVERSITY OF AELUROPUS LAGOPOIDES: A POTENTIAL CASH CROP FOR SALINE LAND
MUHAMMAD ZAHEER AHMED1,2, SYED ABDULLAH GILANI2, AKIRA KIKUCHI2, SALMAN GULZAR1, M. AJMAL KHAN1* AND KAZUO N. WATANABE2
Abstract
Aeluropus lagopoides is a salt tolerant grass which propagates both through genets and ramets. Six disjunct populations of A. lagopoides from Pakistan were selected to test the hypothesis that genetic diversity would be low within but higher among populations. Genetic diversity was investigated using RAPD markers. AMOVA showed higher genetic diversity within population (74%) and lower among population (26%). Furthermore, there were no genetic differences between coastal and inland populations. However, substantial (11%) genetic variation existed among populations of Sindh and Balochistan. Higher genetic diversity within populations are possibly due to physical disturbances that may provide more opportunity for establishment of seeds and increase the possibility of out crossing. Low diversity among populations or between coastal and inland populations indicates fragmentation of a single meta-population due to anthropogenic activity. Geographical barrier between Sindh and Balochistan, appears to mediate gene flow among populations of A. lagopoides.
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